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Taiwan's men's and women's teams successfully defended their 600-kilogram and 500-kg titles, respectively, at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday.
The eight-man squad, which secured its first-ever title in the event in 2024, clinched back-to-back championships at Taipei Arena by sweeping the Netherlands 2-0 in the final. The team remained undefeated throughout the tournament, not dropping a single set en route to gold.
This marks the first time the prestigious tournament has been held in Taiwan.
Photo: CNA
Chen Chien-wen (陳建文), the team's coach, said the squad extended its preparation period from eight months to a full year to defend the title on home soil.
As part of its preparation, the team collectively lost more than 100 kg in the two months leading up to the official weigh-in to meet the weight limit, only to regain 70 kg in the following three days to maximize its power for the competition, according to Chen.
Also on Saturday, Taiwan's women's team clinched its fourth consecutive title in the 500kg category.
Photo: CNA
Competing against teams from Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and the Basque Country, Taiwan finished the round-robin preliminary stage with a perfect record.
The Taiwanese squad then defeated Thailand in the semifinals before securing the title with a straight-sets victory (2-0) over the Basque Country in the final.
Taiwanese paleontologists have discovered fossil evidence that pythons up to 4m long inhabited Taiwan during the Pleistocene epoch, reporting their findings in the international scientific journal Historical Biology.
National Taiwan University (NTU) Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology associate professor Tsai Cheng-hsiu (蔡政修) led the team that discovered the largest snake fossil ever found in Taiwan.
The single trunk vertebra was discovered in Tainan at the Chiting Formation, dated to between 400,000 and 800,000 years ago in the Middle Pleistocene, the paper said.
The area also produced Taiwan's first avian fossil, as well as crocodile, mammoth, saber-toothed cat and rhinoceros fossils, it said.
Discoveries
Taiwanese paleontologists have discovered fossil evidence that pythons up to 4m long inhabited Taiwan during the Pleistocene epoch, reporting their findings in the international scientific journal Historical Biology.
National Taiwan University (NTU) Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology associate professor Tsai Cheng-hsiu (蔡政修) led the team that discovered the largest snake fossil ever found in Taiwan.
A single trunk vertebra was discovered in Tainan at the Chiting Formation, dated to between 800,000 to 400,000 years ago in the Middle Pleistocene, the paper said.
The area also produced Taiwan's first avian fossil, as well as crocodile, mammoth, sabre-toothed cat and rhinoceros fossils, it said.
Discoveries
Whether Japan would help defend Taiwan in case of a cross-strait conflict would depend on the US and the extent to which Japan would be allowed to act under the US-Japan Security Treaty, former Japanese minister of defense Satoshi Morimoto said.
As China has not given up on the idea of invading Taiwan by force, to what extent Japan could support US military action would hinge on Washington's intention and its negotiation with Tokyo, Morimoto said in an interview with the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) yesterday.
There has to be sufficient mutual recognition of how Japan could provide
UPDATED TEST:
The new rules aim to assess drivers' awareness of risky behaviors and how they respond under certain circumstances, the Highway Bureau said Driver's license applicants who fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections or to check blind spots, or omit pointing-and-calling procedures would fail the driving test, the Highway Bureau said yesterday.
The change is set to be implemented at the end of the month, and is part of the bureau's reform of the driving portion of the test, which has been criticized for failing to assess whether drivers can operate vehicles safely.
Sedan drivers would be tested regarding yielding to pedestrians and turning their heads to check blind spots, while drivers of large vehicles would be tested on their familiarity with pointing-and-calling
The military-industrial complex rakes in profits as the rest of the world suffers, economist C. P. Chandrasekhar argues.
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Since the end of World War II, almost every U.S. president has initiated a major military conflict without congressional approval. Donald Trump attempted to portray himself as a “peace president,” promising to end the U.S.'s endless wars and bring troops home from the Middle East and other parts of the globe. But he has proven to be even more trigger-happy than most of his predecessors. In just the first year since his return to office, he has attacked several countries. On February 28 he joined Israel in launching an attack on Iran, killing the country's supreme leader and targeting both military installations and civilian projects, including bombing a girl's primary school in Minab, in Iran's Hormozgan province, that killed more than 170 people, most of them children.
The war in Iran is illegal. In addition to murdering and maiming civilians and spreading fear and suffering, it is also causing collateral damage to the world economy and may very well trigger a global economic crisis if it continues much longer. In an exclusive interview for Truthout, C. P. Chandrasekhar, a world-renowned scholar of finance and development, explains how the war could affect the global economy. He is emeritus professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, where he taught for more than 30 years, and currently a senior research scholar at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
C. J. Polychroniou: Over the past couple of decades or so, the global economy has experienced various shocks and seems to be in the midst of seemingly endless uncertainties. Capitalism, after all, is inherently unstable, subject to periodic crises. And today, due to the U.S. and Israel, the war Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu initiated against Iran has sent tremors through the global economy. There are fears that the war will drive oil to $150 a barrel and that stagflation is knocking on the door. What's your assessment of the way the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran will impact the world economy?
C. P. Chandrasekhar: I would not refer to the fallout of the joint, unilateral and unwarranted attack by the U.S. and Israel on Iran as a “shock.” The attack emanates from the most aggressive core of contemporary capitalism, and its effects should have been expected by those responsible for it, especially Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. If their assessment was that the fallout would be short-lived and limited, they were clearly wrong. The rise in the prices of oil and oil products is only the most immediate and visible consequence, given the crucial role of the region as a source of global supply. But even that rise is not driven just by the war-induced shifts in the supply of oil. It is aggravated and rendered hugely volatile by the role of large speculative trading multinationals subordinated by global finance, which may not control production but can influence supply prices. Capitalist and imperialist states today are at the mercy of these agents, who seize every opportunity to extract super profits. The decision of these states (especially the governments of the U.S., Germany, and Japan) as members of the International Energy Agency to release 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves is at most a feeble response. Even if replicated, by depleting reserves, the move will only send a signal to speculators who assume that the war will last to bet that prices will only spike further. That would aggravate oil price inflation. Figures like $150 a barrel are at best guesstimates.
Thus, the real uncertainty is how long the war will last. Pushed to the wall, faced with the assassination of its supreme leader of decades, and confident (despite internal differences) that attack will not result in regime change and installation of a U.S.-chosen political leader, Iran shows no signs of retreating. The objectives of Netanyahu, both personal and political, are such that oil price increases and the implications they have for the global economy and the citizens of the rest of the world are not concerns. Occupation, genocide, and war are the means to pursue those abhorrent goals, at the expense of all else. But Netanyahu cannot pursue them by himself. He needs Trump to fund, support, and legitimize his actions. So, whether the war will last depends on Trump's staying power.
The U.S. president is caught in a trap of his own making. If he withdraws, he admits that he made a mistake taking the U.S. to war despite his promise to voters that he will not repeat the blunders of his predecessors in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria; if he stays, he risks being identified as the principal agent driving the world to a crisis the dimensions of which are unclear. This explains the desperate efforts to rein in oil prices by restoring tanker transit through the all-important Strait of Hormuz sealed by Iran, by offering insurance to encourage shipping companies to risk their assets and crew to transport oil through the choke point and pressuring a recalcitrant U.S. Navy to escort ships through the strait. Such abortive efforts only prolong the war.
The attack emanates from the most aggressive core of contemporary capitalism, and its effects should have been expected by those responsible for it.
The nature of the consequent imminent crisis is partly divulged by the all-around fear of the inflation that it has unleashed. We are in a stage of capitalism in which the powerful epistemic community of finance has prescribed that countries should privilege the use of monetary over fiscal policy levers to manage their economies; that the principal objective of monetary policy should be to target inflation and keep it in a range that is low by historical standards; and that “independent” central banks should have the right to impose that agenda. In this context, a corollary of higher-than-mandated inflation is a rise in interest rates. So, inflation triggered by increases in oil prices would set off interest rate hikes. That spells a return to the hoary 1970s when high inflation and elevated interest rates resulted in low growth interspersed by recessions of varying intensity.
The route through which high interest rates are expected to tame inflation, if at all, is by reining in debt-financed consumption, housing acquisitions, and investment, and thereby reducing demand. A recession is an inevitable consequence. Stagflation, or a combination of inflation and recession, have obvious adverse implications for employment and real income. But it is not just the working people and the middle classes populating the “real economy” that are hit by inflation.
Finance capital, which is the fulcrum of present-day imperialism, is also hit by inflation in at least two senses.
First, a feature of the Age of Finance unleashed by financial deregulation is that financial profits are made through speculation-driven increases in asset prices, enabled by loose monetary policies of central banks. This is done not just by banks, but by new financial innovators like private equity firms. Such bubbles in turn generate increases in consumption and investment financed by debt. Interest rate increases aimed at reining in inflation also rein in this self-fueling spiral that underlies the rise of finance capital. As a result, finance capital finds it difficult to exercise the freedom it derived from deregulation to amass profits.
Finance capital also hugely profited from the low interest rates that characterized the years since the mid-1980s, when capitalism experienced a very long period of low inflation termed the Great Moderation. Access to cheap borrowing and supposed “innovations” drive increases in the value of financial assets, which translate into “profits” that were not warranted by “fundamentals.” In the Age of Finance, it became common to argue that fundamentals are irrelevant. However, if the low interest rates that underpin this boom give way, the financial edifice built on its basis will unravel and collapse. Finance capital will take huge losses, but so will the real economy as happened during the Great Recession of 2008 and after. So, the war spells doom for capital as well.
That is the scenario facing the world today.
Putting aside the human cost, wars are a profit-making enterprise for certain industries but generally detrimental to overall economic activity, so it makes one wonder why capitalist states engage in wars. How are capitalism and war linked? Has militarized accumulation become an integral component of the way global capitalism functions?
Capitalists belonging to and associated with the military-industrial complex that came to dominate capitalism in the 20th century have always loved a good war, because it increases defense spending, boosts demand for their products, and inflates profits. But the military-industrial complex as a driver of wars under capitalism, while still active, has diminished in significance. Estimates have it that as compared to the 8-10 percent of GDP allocated to the Pentagon in the U.S. before and during the Vietnam War years, the agency's 2025 budget was at around $850 billion, or just around 3 percent of GDP.
But wars are central to capitalism in a larger sense. Since its inception, capitalism has engaged in war and conquest to facilitate the plunder and market invasion that facilitated accumulation on a world scale. That brutal process of “primitive accumulation” was not confined to the early stages of capitalism and years of colonial expansion, but has continued through its history, since the system's expansion and stability depends on the surpluses and markets acquired through military intervention.
Since its inception, capitalism has engaged in war and conquest to facilitate the plunder and market invasion that facilitated accumulation on a world scale.
In time, the objectives of such militarism widened to include: defeating competing imperialist powers within what was still a capitalist world with conflicted nation states; making efforts to contain socialism; undermining movements for national self-determination and freedom from imperialism; and unseating Global South governments seen as anti-capitalist, overly nationalist, or just “insubordinate.” More recently, the drive of the U.S. as a waning hegemon to recover its past supremacy has intensified. As a result, aggressive efforts to gain control of the world's resources, especially of critical minerals and energy, have once again come to the fore, reviving older versions of imperialist aggression. This is illustrated by the recent push to unseat governments in Venezuela and Iran, in a blatant resort to regime change that would ensure resource control without occupation.
It is in this larger sense that militarized accumulation has been and is integral to the functioning of capitalism.
The U.S. gets none of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz and higher oil prices could bolster the dollar against major currencies. Does this mean that the Iran war will have no negative impacts on the U.S. economy?
Even though the U.S. is now primarily an oil-exporting and not an oil importing nation as it was in the 1970s, oil prices in the U.S. in a domestically privatized and globally integrated economy cannot be insulated from international prices, including those set by profit-gouging speculators and corporations. And while its access to oil and the role of dollar-denominated assets as safe havens in times of uncertainty strengthens its hand, the unraveling of the financial balloon that defines the Age of Finance would, as I argued earlier, wreak heavy damage on a U.S. economy (and particularly its working class) that is still recovering from the financial crisis and Great Recession of 2008 and after.
The Iran war will likely have significant implications for economies that are vulnerable to high energy prices. But the impacts will not be confined to energy. As in the case of the war in Ukraine, the Iran war may trigger global disruptions for key food crops and fertilizers. Moreover, the economic fallout of the war will disproportionately affect the debt-stricken countries in the Global South. Could this war spark a new international economic crisis?
In an intrinsically unequal international economic order, which has seen global inequality only increase in the Age of Finance, the less-developed and poor countries that are the target of imperialist aggression which keeps them poor are always the main losers. That happened when the oil shocks of the 1970s destabilized the global economy. It would happen this time as well.
The crisis would be global in geography, but uneven in impact across peoples
Rising oil prices would widen the trade and current account deficits of the oil-importing less-developed countries. Rising interest rates would increase foreign exchange outgo to service outstanding debt liabilities. A global recession would affect migrant workers and therefore the remittances they send home, which are an important source of foreign exchange. Transportation bottlenecks and rising shipping costs would adversely affect export revenues. The damage resulting from a larger current account deficit on account of these reasons would be worsened by capital flight as foreign investors exit from economies that are more risky investment locations and domestic wealth holders flee to safe havens in the West. Balance of payments crises would be the outcome. As a result, currencies would depreciate sharply and raise the domestic currency costs of servicing foreign liabilities with foreign exchange payments. Bankruptcies and real economy recessions would follow.
That litany of woes can be endless. So, the crisis that a wanton act of war led by rogue states is likely to precipitate will be truly international. But states in countries of the Global North would step in to save capital as they did in 2008. The crisis would be global in geography, but uneven in impact across peoples, not just in terms of lives lost as a result of military devastation but also livelihoods destroyed because of economic destabilization.
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This article is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), and you are free to share and republish under the following terms:
C.J. Polychroniou is a political scientist/political economist, author and journalist who has taught and worked in numerous universities and research centers in Europe and the United States. Currently, his main research interests are in U.S. politics and the political economy of the United States, European economic integration, globalization, climate change and environmental economics, and the deconstruction of neoliberalism's politico-economic project. He is a columnist for Global Policy Journal and a regular contributor to Truthout. He has published scores of books, including Marxist Perspectives on Imperialism: A Theoretical Analysis; Perspectives and Issues in International Political Economy (ed.); and Socialism: Crisis and Renewal (ed.), and over 1,000 articles which have appeared in a variety of journals, magazines, newspapers and popular news websites. Many of his publications have been translated into a multitude of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. His latest books are Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving the Planet (with Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin as primary authors, 2020); The Precipice: Neoliberalism, the Pandemic, and the Urgent Need for Radical Change (an anthology of interviews with Noam Chomsky, 2021); Economics and the Left: Interviews with Progressive Economists (2021); Illegitimate Authority: Facing the Challenges of Our Time (an anthology of interviews with Noam Chomsky, 2023); and A Livable Future Is Possible: Confronting the Threats to Our Survival (an anthology of interviews with Noam Chomsky, 2024).
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Stanley McChrystal said White House has a ‘we should do because we can' approach to international relations
The retired US army general who once led Nato forces in Afghanistan says the bellicose foreign policy Donald Trump has pursued during his second presidency can be summed up as “we should do because we can” – invoking the lyrics of the Dolly Parton classic Jolene to emphasize the point.
Stanley McChrystal delivered those remarks on Friday at Tulane University's New Orleans book festival during a fireside chat hosted by the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, who asked in part about US military strikes Trump has ordered in Nigeria, Venezuela and Iran since Christmas.
“I'm a big fan of Dolly Parton – do you remember her song Jolene?” McChrystal replied, referring to the country star's Grammy-nominated 1973 hit. “This poor wife says, ‘Jolene, please don't take my man; don't take him just because you can.
“And that's what worries me – I think we might be in a period where we think what we can do, we should do because we can. And I think the world is starting to view us that way.”
McChrystal's commentary about what he dubbed Trump's “Jolene doctrine” is bound to carry weight in many political circles, as the retired general spent his entire career in the US army upon graduating from its West Point academy in 1976.
Later, as a special forces officer, he was credited with prominent roles in the US's capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003 as well as the 2006 killing of the al-Qaida leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
McChrystal subsequently commanded US and Nato military alliance troops in Afghanistan for a little more than a year beginning in June 2009 during Barack Obama's presidency. He ultimately had to resign from that post after making disparaging remarks to a Rolling Stone magazine journalist profiling him about the US's civilian leadership, including Obama and his eventual Democratic White House successor, Joe Biden, the vice-president at the time.
Obama replaced McChrystal with Gen David Petraeus, who later resigned as director of the US's Central Intelligence Agency over an extramarital affair with his biographer.
The Atlantic reported later on Friday that a White House spokesperson responded to McChrystal's comments by saying the president had restored the US's “place as leader of the free world”.
Among others, the publication also quoted the University of Missouri's Jay Sexton, a historian of American foreign relations, as saying: “I think the Trump team is acting like an unbridled Jolene – they're doing things because they can.
“But the bummer is to carry the metaphor: Jolene is likely to regret doing what she thinks she can.”
The US's Christmas strikes in north-west Nigeria were aimed at what the Trump administration described as fighters for the Islamic State terror group, though there were questions over which group was specifically targeted and the operation's impact.
Then, on 3 January, the US attacked Venezuela and seized its ruler, Nicolás Maduro, whom Trump's justice department had charged with drugs, weapons and narco-terrorism charges.
Israel and the US then jointly attacked Iran on 28 February, killing the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The ensuing conflict has been marked with mixed signals about what Trump would consider victory, confusing his constituency, allies and foes. The president has also spent time trying to deflect responsibility for the bombing of a girls' school in southern Iran, which killed at least 175 people, mostly children.
Amid all that, Trump renewed threats to seize Greenland for the US with military action if necessary. He ultimately walked those threats back but was widely seen to have strained the US's relations with its Nato allies.
Goldberg on Friday told McChrystal that he feared the world has not heard the end of Trump's fixation with Greenland.
“I'm a great believer in allies,” McChrystal said in turn. “To me, that's the sacred kind of relationships that are essential for any nation. We'll never be powerful enough to go it alone.”
The bill protects agrochemicals producers from lawsuits, and overturns food and pesticide safety laws and statutes.
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The “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026” that is coming up for a House vote this spring is yet another GOP-led assault on the country's food safety, warn public health organizations, environmental groups, and animal rights advocates, who are sounding the alarm over the five-year bill.
The House Committee on Agriculture passed the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026” on March 5 by a 34-17 vote. All 27 Republicans on the committee backed the bill, and seven Democrats crossed the aisle to join them. The legislation will now head to Congress.
The 800-page document is being praised by Big Agriculture and industry groups across the nation, and Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania), chairman of the committee, has described it as “ a collaboration between Republicans, Democrats, and stakeholders.”
But public health advocates warn that the bill is set to further erode well-being and health in the U.S., further deepening the hypocrisy of Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s repeated promise to “Make America Healthy Again.”
“Rather than address the economic crises facing America's family farmers, this Farm Bill is a thinly veiled gift bag for Big Ag and pesticide manufacturers. It's a massive slap in the face to people across the political spectrum demanding a healthier food system,” said Jason Davidson, a senior food and agriculture campaigner with Friends of the Earth U.S.
Some of the most contentious sections of the bill concern pesticides.
Section 10205 blocks consumers and farmers harmed by pesticides from suing companies over inadequate safety labeling. Section 10206 would overturn all state and local laws that protect food safety. Section 10207 would repeal federal statutes created to protect people and animals from pesticides.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) introduced an amendment that would have stripped these sections from the bill, but the effort was rejected by the committee.
“Once again, the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress are siding with chemical companies and choosing corporate profits over Americans' health — while paying lip service to the ‘Make America Healthy Again' movement. This Farm Bill is a gift to Big Chemical, plain and simple. It delivers exactly what giants like Bayer have spent years lobbying for: blanket immunity from lawsuits and the power to gut the state warning label laws that protect families, farmers, and children,” said the congresswoman in a statement.
Beyond Pesticides executive director Jay Feldman said the committee's GOP majority have “passed a measure that has garnered across-the-board disapproval, except from those representing the vested interests of chemical companies and agribusiness.”
The push to shield chemical companies from liability is not occurring in a vacuum.
Shortly before the bill passed in committee, Bayer announced a proposed class settlement for the thousands of people who claim they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma from exposure to the weedkiller Roundup. Those impacted had formerly sued Monsanto, but Bayer inherited the lawsuits when it acquired the company in 2018. The company is not admitting to any liability, but the proposed settlement totals $7.25 billion.
The herbicide at the center of those lawsuits is glyphosate, which the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified as a “probable human carcinogen.” A day after the Bayer announcement, President Donald Trump invoked a wartime emergency authority to increase the domestic production of glyphosate. It's a move that some insiders believe is directly connected to the lawsuits.
“The scope of this [litigation against Bayer] is way beyond anything we've ever seen in the pesticide context,” Nathan Donley, an environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity, told Chemical & Engineering News. “We're in a full-court press, basically, of Bayer trying to get out of its liabilities.”
When he ran for president in 2024, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. called glyphosate “one of the likely culprits in America's chronic disease epidemic.” However, he dutifully backed Trump's order.
“Donald Trump's executive order puts America first where it matters most — our defense readiness and our food supply,” said Kennedy in a statement. “We must safeguard America's national security first, because all of our priorities depend on it. When hostile actors control critical inputs, they weaken our security. By expanding domestic production, we close that gap and protect American families.”
Kennedy's shift has angered many in the “MAHA” community who have supported the Trump administration. “MAHA Moms Turn Against Trump” declares a recent New York Times headline.
“Women feel like they were lied to, that MAHA movement is a sham,” Turning Point USA podcaster Alex Clark told the paper. “How am I supposed to rally these women to vote red in the midterms? How can we win their trust back? I am unsure if we can.”
Section 12006 of the farm bill looks to overturn animal welfare laws by effectively adopting the “Save Our Bacon” Act, a Republican congressional effort that's failed to gather support from more than 10 percent of the House.
That legislation takes aim at California's Prop 12 and Massachusetts' Question 3, which place limits on the sale of meat and eggs from farms where animals are not granted enough room to turn around, stand up, lie down, and fully extend their limbs. Both measures were overwhelmingly approved by state voters, but Big Agriculture lobbyists have consistently pushed for both laws to be overturned.
A coalition of pork producers, meat companies, and farmers recently gathered in Washington to call for the “Save Our Bacon” Act to be removed from the farm bill.
“Voters made their voices heard, and we agree with them that animals deserve space to move,” said Missouri hog farmer Russ Kremer. “Prop 12 gives small farms like ours the opportunity to survive during a time when agriculture is heavily consolidated and independent farmers are being pushed out. If Congress rolls back Prop 12, that's a move against family farmers.”
The fight to topple these state laws comes amid a Department of Agriculture push to speed up the kill lines across U.S. slaughterhouses. The new draft rules propose increasing kill line speeds for chickens from 140 a minute to 175, turkeys from 55 to 60, and pig slaughterhouses would have no limit. The department has also proposed eliminating annual workplace safety reports at the plants.
The proposed farm bill also doubles down on the Trump administration's Dietary Guidelines, which recommend that Americans eat significantly more meat. Instead of basing these recommendations on scientific research, the Trump team relied on nine experts, seven of whom had direct connections to the meat industry.
In addition to improving public health and reducing pollution, a decrease in meat consumption would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. A 2025 report from the scientific journal Nature Climate Change found that 11 million tons of meat is consumed in U.S. cities annually, resulting in roughly 329 million tons of carbon emissions.
Democratic committee members proposed amendments to the farm bill aimed at addressing the devastating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts from Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” but these were rejected.
“Every member of the House Agriculture Committee represents families with low incomes who need SNAP to afford groceries, and it is deeply disappointing to see all Republicans and some Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee vote to advance a bill that fails to deliver for these constituents,” said the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in a statement.
Instead, Trump's reinforced dietary guidelines designate animal protein as a SNAP “incentive food” allowing retailers to bolster meat consumption by offering it to SNAP recipients at a discount. What quality of meat would these consumers be eating? As previously mentioned, the bill would prohibit states from taking action to protect their constituents from drugs and pathogens in their food supply.
“If passed by the House, this Farm Bill will move to the Senate, but this proposal should be dead on arrival,” wrote Food & Water Watch's Lauren Borsheim. “A Farm Bill that ignores devastating SNAP cuts, weakens vital conservation programs, subsidizes factory farms, and shields pesticide corporations from accountability betrays the Farm Bill's purpose — serving farmers, consumers, and rural communities.”
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Michael Arria is the U.S. correspondent for Mondoweiss. Follow him on Twitter: @michaelarria.
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LONDON, March 14. /TASS/. Middle Eastern countries could face a 70% drop in oil production as a result of military operations by Israel and the US against Iran, Aditya Saraswat, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Research Director at the consulting firm Rystad Energy, told TASS.
"In just over a week since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, more than 12 million barrels of oil equivalent per day of Middle East oil and gas production has been taken offline, including 7 million barrels per day of crude supply - equivalent to roughly 7% of total global liquids demand. Iraq has been hit hardest, with over 60% of its pre-conflict volume curtailed. Still, the more alarming reality is that the worst is likely yet to come. In a worst-case scenario Middle East crude output could fall to approximately 6 million bpd, a region-wide reduction of 70% from the pre-conflict baseline," the expert pointed out.
He stressed that "further cuts from major Middle East oil producers cannot be ruled out as storage tanks fill to the brim, bypass infrastructure approaches its limit, and the conflict shows no sign of a near-term resolution." "If and when the crisis reaches an end, it will take months to restore operations to pre-conflict levels, with the questions of infrastructure integrity and a recalibrated geopolitical order still at play," Saraswat noted.
In his view, even if Russia provides additional supplies, importers will be able to offset only part of the potential losses.
The expert stressed that "a historic supply crisis" might be triggered "if the conflict is not resolved in the coming weeks."
The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. Major Iranian cities, including Tehran, were struck. The White House justified the attack by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation, targeting sites in Israel. US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were also hit. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some other key Iranian leaders were killed in the joint US-Israeli attack.
Jason Hughes died after falling and being struck by a car driven by a student who had just pranked the teacher
A Georgia prosecutor has decided to drop charges against a teenager who police say was driving the truck that struck and killed a beloved high school teacher when a prank turned deadly, the teen's lawyer said. The victim's family had urged authorities not to compound the tragedy by prosecuting the teen driver and his friends.
The 40-year-old teacher, Jason Hughes, died after slipping and falling into the street as the teens started to drive away after participating in a community tradition of pranking teachers by throwing toilet paper on to his front lawn.
The students had stopped and rendered aid to Hughes until emergency responders arrived.
Hughes was brought to the hospital and died on 6 March, the Hall county sheriff's office said.
The 18-year-old driver – Jayden Ryan Wallace, whom his lawyer said adored Hughes and considered him a mentor – was arrested on a felony charge of vehicular homicide, and four other teens were charged with misdemeanors.
A lawyer who represents Wallace, Graham McKinnon, said on Friday that the charges against his client had been dropped. McKinnon said that prosecutors also dropped misdemeanor charges against the four other teens who were there.
The students had gone to Hughes's home at about 11.40pm on 6 March and began wrapping his trees with toilet paper, the sheriff's office said. The teens started to leave when Hughes came outside – the teacher's family said he had heard in advance about the prank and hoped to surprise the students.
McKinnon said Wallace and his friends were playing a “competitive game” that has long been a tradition at North Hall high school.
“In the end, there was no crime – only an extremely sad and devastating accident,” McKinnon said in a statement.
Vehicular homicide charges, he said, didn't make sense because Jaden didn't use his car unsafely or improperly.
“Jaden is still grieving deeply, but he's determined eventually to carry on and live his life in a way that would make Coach Hughes proud.”
Hughes – who taught math and helped coach golf, football and baseball at North Hall high school in Gainesville – was a “mentor” to Wallace, McKinnon said.
“I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ,” Wallace said in a statement released by his family on Wednesday. “He will never be forgotten.”
Hughes' family had issued a statement saying he knew and loved the five students involved and urging authorities to drop all charges against them.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Hughes's family said. “This would be counter to Jason's lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
US workers are finding it difficult to afford basic necessities as the president claims ‘the economy is roaring back'
US workers are still struggling with the cost of living despite Donald Trump's campaign promises to fix the US affordability crisis.
The Guardian spoke to workers as an exclusive poll showed cross-party concerns about the Trump administration's handling of the US economy.
Dawn Levie, 61, a postal service worker in Paulden, Arizona, said she's lost thousands in earnings over the past year due to cuts to her hours, making it more difficult for her to afford basic necessities like paying for groceries and utility bills.
“It's hard to describe how you feel when you can't sustain your livelihood because your money is impacted,” Levie said. “You can't pay bills, [and] creditors get mad. How do you tell them: ‘I just don't have it?'”
The White House insists that the affordability problem Americans like Levie report doesn't exist. At a rally in Kentucky earlier this week, Donald Trump told the crowd: “Inflation is plummeting, income is rising, the economy is roaring back!”
Though the positive sentiment will be a tough sell for voters in the upcoming midterm elections.
After helping Congress pass huge cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs, Trump is now pushing to remove minimum wage and overtime protections for some workers. And though seven out of 10 Americans said that tariffs have led to higher prices, Trump has only doubled down on more levies.
Far from feeling like the US is in a golden age, workers said rising inflation means their paychecks can't keep up with prices.
“I know things are worse, because I'm living it and I feel it every day,” said Bryan Williams, 63, a home-care worker in Madison, Wisconsin, who is living paycheck to paycheck on $17.65 an hour. “It's very hard trying to pay rent, pay your bills, buy food, gas and juggle which ones you can pay [and] which ones you can let go.
“[I] ask myself which one should I get, when I know I need both, or worrying will I have enough money to get back and forth to work until another payday? Or will I have enough money to pay my light bill?”
Vernice Thompson, 63, a retail worker in Williamsburg, Virginia, said that even though she receives social security benefits, housing still takes up half her income.
“Groceries have gone up. [The prices of] a lot of the foods that I like have gone up,” said Thompson. “I know the price of clothing too because I work in retail, and I haven't seen any declines in the price of clothing.”
“Everything is going up,” she added.
Food prices were 2.9% higher in January compared to the year before and are predicted to increase by 3.1% over the next year. Data shows that the food insecurity rate spiked to 16% in November, up from 12.7% in January 2025.
Utility prices in the US also increased by more than 6% in January 2026 compared to a year prior.
More Americans are taking on debt because of the rising cost of necessities. Total household debt in the fourth quarter of 2025 reached $18.8tn, up by 4% since the beginning of the year. Delinquency for all types of debt rose 3.26% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to 1.7% in the same period of 2024. Credit card debt in the US by the end of 2025 hit a record $1.28tn.
Meanwhile, wages have stagnated for many workers. The 10% lowest wage earners, receiving on average $14.56 an hour, saw their wages decline by 0.3% when adjusted for inflation in 2025. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has remained unchanged since 2009 – the longest period without an increase since the federal minimum wage was enacted.
In comparison, higher-income Americans have been earning more than ever. Since 1979, high-end wages have grown twice as fast as low and middle wages.
“If people aren't being paid a cost-of-living increase, or just the bare minimum of a cost of living increase, it's hard to keep up,” said Crystal Franklin, 54, a US passport specialist and mother of three who lives in Dumfries, Virginia.
Franklin said she started taking the bus to work because of rising gas prices and is being more frugal at the grocery store. Yet she still has less room in her budget for entertainment and leisure expenses for her grandchildren.
“We're not able to do what we used to be able to do because cost of living has gone up extremely high,” Franklin said.
US families have paid more than $1,700 in estimated costs due to the Trump administration's tariffs from February 2025 to January 2026, with Trump announcing new tariffs to replace those struck down by the US supreme court last month.
At the same time, Republicans have been cutting down the country's social safety net. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was passed last summer included massive cuts for the next decade, including over $1tn from Medicaid, $536bn from Medicare and $186bn from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap).
In addition to these cuts, the White House is allowing Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire, which will raise health insurance premiums for 22 million Americans by an estimated 114%, from $888 a year to $1,904 in 2026.
Trump has also sought to cut pay for millions of low-wage workers. Last year, the president rescinded an executive order that raised the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 an hour and gave annual raises to keep in pace with inflation, impacting more than 300,000 workers. The White House is also trying to remove overtime protections for nearly 4 million home-care workers who received median wages of $16.78 an hour in 2024.
“Things have been pretty tough in the last year,” said Williams. “I don't believe anything Trump says because everything he promised us he was going to do did not happen.”
A spokesperson for the White House, Kush Desai, disputed the economic trajectory under the Trump administration.
“America's economic trajectory under President Trump has been solid,” Desai said. “This week's CPI report showed inflation continues to cool while the Administration's tax cut, tariff, and deregulatory agenda continues to drive robust real wage and investment growth. Once we are past short term disruptions from Operation Epic Fury, America is poised to see even greater economic progress as the Administration's trade deals, drug pricing deals, deregulatory efforts, and tax cuts continue taking effect.”
Northern map turtles hibernate under the ice during the winter months in Canada's Lake Opinicon.
By Laura Paddison, CNN Photographs by Michael O. Snyder and Justin DalabaPublished March 14, 2026
Northern map turtles hibernate under the ice during the winter months in Canada's Lake Opinicon.
It started with the mysterious discovery of more than a hundred turtles, some with their shells smashed, others dismembered, all of them dead. It ended with a potential warning for the future.
It was Gregory Bulté who found the turtles. The biologist from Carleton University was out on the water of eastern Ontario's Opinicon Lake in April 2022 when he saw a dead northern map turtle — so-called because its shell resembles the contour lines of a map. As he bent to pick it up from the shallows, he saw another.
Bulté raced home, fetched his wetsuit and snorkel and got into the frigid water — where winter ice had recently melted — to collect the bodies. It quickly became clear the deaths were widespread. He kept finding more piles of dead turtles; he filled buckets with them. “I was like, ‘Whoa, when is this going to end?'” he said.
When it eventually did, he had nearly 150 dead turtles, many of which Bulté knew from his two decades of monitoring work at the near-pristine, forest fringed lake. It was a devastating blow, wiping out roughly 10% of the lake's population.
The deaths were a puzzle for Bulté. It was clear from the turtles' damaged bodies that this was a predator attack, and only one animal was likely strong enough to have done it: the river otter.
But the bigger question was why this had happened in the first place. It was the first mass mortality event Bulté had seen at the lake, and protecting the turtles in the future meant understanding why so many had died.
Northern map turtles are fascinating, Bulté said. They have adapted to survive the harsh Canadian winter by spending it clustered together, submerged underwater beneath a thick layer of ice. They stay there for months, moving only slightly, keeping their body temperature near freezing and their metabolism slow.
The turtles have other interesting quirks, too. Females are much bigger than males and about 10 times heavier, with stronger jaws that allow them to eat mollusks, while males tend to stick to insects and snails. Their size advantage doesn't always protect them, however. Bulté has documented females moving to deeper water and burying their bodies in the sediment to escape unwanted, relentless attention from over-amorous males during mating season.
Northern map turtles are fairly abundant in parts of the United States, but in Canada, home to an estimated 10,000, they are designated a species of “special concern” because of the threats they face.
They rely on “big water,” said Jacqueline Litzgus, an ecologist at Laurentian University, meaning the vast lakes and rivers that are often heavily used by humans. This puts them at risk of boat strikes, being disturbed when they venture out of the water to bask and nest and being caught in fishing nets.
Northern map turtles are also vulnerable because of their long lives. They take years to reach maturity and their hatchlings have low survival rates. “The loss of even a few adults can cause a population to collapse,” said a spokesperson for Ontario Waterways, part of the Canadian national park system.
History shows the risks with a different species of turtle. Over three winters in the late 1980s, otters killed around 50% of the snapping turtles in Algonquin Park, Ontario. More than two decades on, “the population still has not recovered,” Litzgus said. Recent analyses show it is still declining, she added, “suggesting it may have reached a tipping point of not being able to recover.”
To solve the mystery of what happened to the turtles of Opinicon Lake back in 2022, Bulté went through a process of elimination.
He started with what he knew: The turtles are vulnerable in the winter because they cluster in big groups and sit exposed on the lakebed; they don't burrow into the mud and sediment.
Anything that can get to them “has an all-you-can-eat buffet of turtles,” Bulté said. In this case, it was river otters, whose populations have rebounded, in part because their pelts have become less lucrative to trappers. They typically eat fish, but won't say no if turtles are on offer.
The big question was how these otters had breached the lake's thick winter ice. Bulté ruled out people damaging the ice because the overwintering site is away from the shore and far from any human infrastructure.
So, he turned to temperature. “Maybe it got a little bit warmer, it melted along the shoreline and (otters) were able to sneak in,” he said. They may have got under the ice from borrows or cavities along the shoreline.
If temperature is the key to the puzzle, the implications could be worrying. As human-driven climate change warms the planet, it could put these turtles at increasing risk.
It's not yet possible to know if climate change played a role in this specific case, Bulté cautioned. “We would need to have been able to document several of these events over a long period of time,” he said. So far, there has only been one.
But what is clear, he added, is that the way these turtles spend the winter — in large groups, in the same spots each year — makes them vulnerable.
The otter attacks are a “cautionary tale,” Bulté said, and a sign of how vital it is to protect the turtles' overwintering sites across Canada and beyond, many of which are in busier and less pristine lakes than Opinicon.
Northern map turtles are increasingly vulnerable as shorelines develop, trees are felled, and motorboats, with their deadly propellers, proliferate. Lakefront homes are also increasingly using “bubblers,” which push bubbles into the water to stop it freezing around docks and boathouses and could provide another entry point for predators.
Longer term, climate change poses another big risk. Bulté has already noticed some extremely early springs in recent years. “We're going to have less reliable ice. So, we are certainly wondering if this is going to affect opportunity for predations in the future,” he said.
The future remains uncertain for the northern map turtles. If there was just one problem affecting them, “maybe this is something they can live with,” Bulté said. But they face so many threats, he added. “It's death by a thousand cuts.”
Images supported by funding through National Geographic Society's Preserving Legacies project.
This weekly update from the Kyiv Independent aims to shed light on the situation facing Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the tight control of information imposed by the Kremlin.
Key news as of March 14:
Russian occupation authorities in Mariupol are disconnecting apartments from utilities as part of a process to identify and confiscate housing, Ukraine's National Resistance Center said on March 11.
According to the center, homeowners in Mariupol are being disconnected from utilities, including electricity, and told to contact "Energosbyt Donetsk," the main electricity supplier in the Russian proxy-controlled part of Donetsk Oblast. To restore service, residents must reissue all necessary documentation and provide information about the people living and registered there.
The National Resistance Center said that while the data update is presented as a "regular procedure," the personal information is handed over to occupation authorities and can then be used to facilitate the seizure of homes.
"The disconnection of utilities becomes the first stage of the mechanism for real estate redistribution," the National Resistance Center said.
Russian-controlled authorities in occupied Ukraine are increasing restrictions on women's reproductive rights, effectively preventing them from accessing abortions, according to the NGO East Human Rights Group.
"The (Russian) regime needs children to be born, even if the child is unwanted, without proper conditions to grow up in," Vera Iastrebova, the head of the East Human Rights Group, told the Kyiv Independent.
"These children are then being raised to become future soldiers, as evidenced by the militarization of educational institutions."
Iastrebova said authorities in the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast have been taking steps to pressure pregnant women who want to have an abortion and have also placed restrictions on doctors.
Such restrictions on abortions are a consistent reproductive policy of Russia itself, against the backdrop of an escalating demographic crisis.
Iastrebova believes that women under occupation are the most vulnerable due to numerous cases of rape by Russian soldiers. She said that cases of sexual violence against women are concealed in the occupied territories.
"If a woman even claims that she was raped by Russian soldiers, she may not be granted victim status, but may instead be accused of discrediting the Russian army," she said.
Read more here...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that indefinitely extends the ease of obtaining Russian citizenship in the occupied territories, a move that experts say is a sign that Russia is consolidating its occupation by pursuing mass passportization.
The March 4 decree removes the deadline for residents of occupied Ukrainian territories to obtain Russian citizenship through a simplified process established by a 2022 Russian law, effectively making the policy permanent.
"The goal of the new decree is to passportize as many people as possible, pressuring them," Nataliia Yurlova, lawyer for the NGO Donbas SOS, told the Kyiv Independent.
"In general, Russia has been issuing passports to Ukrainians in occupation for quite a long time, and each time new requirements are imposed on our citizens."
The previous deadline was part of a "transitional period," which is the time Russia set aside to complete the "integration" of the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts into its own economic, financial, and legal systems — including by requiring residents to obtain a Russian passport.
Russia has forced residents of occupied Ukrainian territories to take Russian passports since 2022, part of a broader effort to consolidate control and suppress Ukrainian identity.
Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of the Occupation, said the new decree signals Russia's shift from a "campaign" mode of passportization to a permanent mechanism for integrating occupied territories, forming a legal basis for further demographic and administrative changes.
Partisans of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) Resistance movement were involved in Ukrainian attacks on Russian military facilities in the occupied territories, SOF has said.
SOF reported on March 10 and March 11 that local partisan groups assisted in several operations in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast and Crimea.
On March 10, front-line strike units targeted a storage base and distribution point for fuel and lubricants in Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast. The same day in the nearby city of Donetsk, Ukrainian drones struck a Volna-3 electronic warfare station that Russian forces were using to defend against unmanned aerial vehicles.
On March 11, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces said they destroyed the 64N6E radar station and its antenna in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea, which were used for Russia's S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. In the village of Shyroka Balka, Donetsk Oblast, a weapons warehouse was destroyed, and the ammunition continued to detonate.
Ukrainian forces regularly strike military facilities in Russian-occupied areas that supply weapons, fuel, and equipment to Russian troops.
Reporter
Yuliia Taradiuk is a Ukrainian reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has been working with Lutsk-based misto.media, telling stories of Ukrainian fighters for the "All are gone to the front" project. She has experience as a freelance culture reporter, and a background in urbanism and activism, working for multiple Ukrainian NGOs.
Yuliia holds B.A. degree in English language and literature from Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, she studied in Germany and Lithuania.
Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on March 14, hitting the Afipsky Oil Refinery and sparking a large fire, Ukraine's General Staff reported.
The refinery is one of the largest oil processing facilities in southern Russia, producing gasoline, diesel fuel, gas condensate distillates, heavy petroleum residues, and sulfur.
Local residents reported hearing dozens of explosions around 1 a.m. local time as air defense systems were activated and sirens sounded across the region.
The strike damaged parts of the refinery, from falling drone debris, local authorities claimed, adding that no casualties were reported. Kyiv confirmed that "a hit on the target has been recorded."
The plant processes roughly 6.25 million tons of crude annually — about 2% of Russia's refining output — and has been repeatedly targeted in previous drone attacks.
Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses "intercepted and destroyed" 87 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claim.
Russian authorities also reported a separate drone attack on the Port Kavkaz facility in the Krasnodar Krai region, where three people were injured, and a technical vessel was damaged after drone debris fell on the dock complex.
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed the attack and said damage to the port's infrastructure had occurred.
"Both facilities are involved in supplying the Russian military," the statement said.
The Kavkaz port, located on the Chushka Spit in the Kerch Strait, is one of Russia's largest passenger ports. Its main task is to serve the Kerch ferry crossing in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Local residents additionally reported another drone strike in the city of Tolyatti in Russia's Samara Oblast targeting the KuibyshevAzot chemical plant, though the extent of damage is unclear.
Ukraine routinely launches deep strikes against military and industrial facilities in Russia, primarily relying on domestically developed drones.
Kyiv continues to escalate its campaign against Russian oil and gas infrastructure, a key source of Moscow's revenues helping to fuel its war against Ukraine.
North American news editor
Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC.
Sonya has a Master's degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.
Two people who were trapped beneath the rubble have been rescued by emergency workers. An injured 17-year-old is in serious condition following the attack.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency described both ships as a "key part" of Russia's Kerch ferry service.
"Russia's war against Ukraine threatens... the safety of our citizens," Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi said.
The rulings mark the latest in the ongoing prosecutions of Ukrainian servicemembers held in Russian captivity following Kyiv's cross-border operation in August 2024.
The strike damaged the refinery, allegedly due to falling drone debris, local authorities said.
Russian authorities have justified the restrictions on security grounds.
Russia's growing attacks on Ukraine's rail network are making even routine trips more dangerous, forcing passengers off trains in the middle of the night under new safety protocols.
"Ordinary homes, schools, and civilian businesses have also been hit," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The number includes 810 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Russia launched an overnight missile and drone attack against Ukraine in the early hours of March 14, with explosions reported in multiple regions, according to local authorities and monitoring channels.
The State Department announced on March 13 a reward of up to $10 million and potential relocation to the United States for information on Iran's new supreme leader and nine other top officials of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
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The Associated Press
12:38 JST, March 14, 2026
HOUSTON (AP) — Aaron Judge doubled and Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brice Turang each had two hits as the United States beat Canada 5-3 on Friday night to reach the World Baseball Classic semifinals.
The U.S. squad rebounded after an 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play left them needing help to advance to this round.
The Americans move on to face the Dominican Republic in a semifinal on Sunday in Miami. It will be the team's third straight appearance in the semifinals and the fourth overall.
It's another big win for the U.S. over its neighbors to the north, coming after the U.S. hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the Milan Olympics last month.
Bo Naylor hit a two-run homer in Canada's three-run sixth that cut the deficit to two runs. But the U.S. bullpen closed it out, capped by Mason Miller striking out the side in the ninth for the save.
Canada, which was in the quarterfinals for the first time, fell to 1-5 against the U.S. in the WBC.
Canada trailed by five runs when Owen Caissie walked with one out in the sixth and moved to second on a groundout by Abraham Toro. Tyler Black's RBI single off Brad Keller cut the lead to 5-1.
Naylor's shot to the second deck in right field came on Gabe Speier's fifth pitch and got Canada within 5-3. It was the 10th home run the U.S. has allowed in five games in the tournament.
Canada had a shot to close the gap in the seventh when it had runners on second and third with no outs. But David Bednar retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to escape the jam.
U.S. starter Logan Webb allowed four hits and walked one with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Bobby Witt Jr. was on with one out in the first when Judge doubled before Witt scored on a groundout by Kyle Schwarber to give the U.S. an early lead. The double by Judge was the only extra-base hit of the night for the U.S.
Canada had a runner on first with two outs in the second when Witt made a leaping catch on a ball hit by Edouard Julien to end the inning.
The bases were loaded with two outs in the third when Alex Bregman singled on a ground ball to Toro. His throw to first sailed over Josh Naylor's head and into the dugout and two runs scored to make it 3-0.
Roman Anthony singled with one out in the sixth before a walk by Cal Raleigh. Brice Turang singled on a grounder to center field to score Anthony and push the lead to 4-0. Crow-Armstrong sent the next pitch into center field for an RBI single before Witt grounded into a double play to end the inning.
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The aftermath of a Russian attack on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine overnight on March 14, 2026 (Telegram / Mayor Ihor Sapozhko)
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Russia launched an overnight missile and drone attack against Ukraine in the early hours of March 14, with explosions reported in multiple regions, according to local authorities and monitoring channels.
Explosions were heard in Ukraine's capital Kyiv at around 3:10 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground, as Ukrainian air defense systems engaged incoming targets.
At roughly the same time, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said Russia was attacking the capital with ballistic missiles and urged residents to remain in shelters until the air raid alert is lifted.
In Kyiv Oblast, at least two people were killed and five others injured during the overnight attack, Regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk said.
Two people were killed and four injured in the Brovary district, while another person was injured in the Vyshhorod district, according to the governor.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian strikes injured four civilians, including two children, according to Regional Military Administration head Ivan Fedorov.
A private house in the city was damaged and caught fire following the attack. A 35-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man, a 16-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy were injured, officials said.
Monitoring channels also reported that Russian naval vessels capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles had entered firing positions in the Black Sea.
Shortly afterward, Ukraine's Air Force reported launches of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. The missiles later entered Ukrainian airspace through the southern Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, according to monitoring data.
Russia also deployed Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers overnight, launching additional cruise missiles from the aircraft, Ukraine's Air Force said.
Ukrainian authorities also warned of cruise missile threats targeting several regions across the country, including Kyiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts, among numerous others.
Air raid alerts were issued across large parts of Ukraine as air defenses continued to intercept incoming aerial threats.
Information regarding casualties, damage, and the full scale of the attack is still being clarified.
North American news editor
Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC.
Sonya has a Master's degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.
WASHINGTON, March 14. /TASS/. The US and Israeli military operation against Iran will last as long as it takes, US President Donald Trump said.
Asked by journalists about how long the military operation against Iran would last, Trump replied "I can't tell you that."
"But I mean that I have my own idea that it will be as long as necessary," he noted.
The US president also said that American and Israeli objectives during the military operation against Iran may be a little different.
In response to a question from journalists whether the goals set by the United States and Israel are the same, Trump replied that they may be a little different, but did not specify the nature of differences.
The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. Major Iranian cities, including Tehran, were struck. The White House justified the attack by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation, targeting sites in Israel. US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were also hit. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some other key Iranian leaders were killed in the joint US-Israeli attack.
The Assembly of Experts of the Islamic Republic of Iran later announced the election of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the assassinated ayatollah, as the country's new Supreme Leader.
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Footage provided by a U.S. Coast Guard member shows the heavy icebreaker Polar Star maneuvering through dense ice.
The cleanest cruise ships have been revealed in a new study — and some of the findings may surprise cruise lovers.
The study, which compiled data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) annual health and hygiene inspections, ranked a number of popular cruise lines as the most sanitary.
"The data shows that independent brands tend to score higher than large conglomerates, and, surprisingly, the age of the ship doesn't appear to influence a cruise line's ability to achieve a perfect score," according to the study by Florida-based Squaremouth Travel Insurance.
OUTRAGED CRUISE PASSENGERS BLAST COMPANY'S 'IDIOTIC' NEW DRESS CODE CRACKDOWN
Cruise ships were graded on a 100-point scale. To pass inspection, ships must score 86 or above.
The Viking Ocean Cruises II Ltd., Viking Expedition Operations and Crystal Cruises were tied as the cleanest cruise lines, according to the study. Each cruise line scored a 99 out of 100.
"Surprisingly, the age of the ship doesn't appear to influence a cruise line's ability to achieve a perfect score," a new study said. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group)
"The federal government's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), established in 1975 to work with the cruise industry to protect travelers' health, is critical for the health and safety of passengers, staff and the locations that cruise ships visit," Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, an infection prevention expert and epidemiologist, told Fox News Digital.
Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Japan Grace, Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International completed the top 10 cleanest cruise line list.
DINERS RANK THE 10 ‘DIRTIEST' STATES FOR RESTAURANTS — SEE IF YOURS MADE THE LIST
Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas ship, which premiered in 2001, ranked high in the CDC's list — proving that age is not necessarily linked to cleanliness.
All the ships in the top 10 scored higher than 97.12.
"Ships participating in the VSP can expect two unannounced inspections every year, with a focus on medical facilities, potable water systems, swimming pools and whirlpool baths, galleys and dining rooms, child activity centers, cabins, ventilation systems and common areas," Macgregor-Skinner said.
Cruise ships were graded on a 100-point scale. Ships must score 86 or above to pass inspection. (Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group)
Viking, Virgin and Norwegian were the corporations that ranked the highest, with sanitation scores of 98.75, 97.67 and 97.39 respectively, according to the study.
"Without strong cleaning and hygiene practices, germs can spread quickly."
Disney was No. 4 in the list of corporations — averaging a 97.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival had average sanitation scores of 96.74 and 94.82 respectively.
DREAM VACATION BECOMES NIGHTMARE AS DOZENS FALL ILL IN SUSPECTED NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK ON CRUISE SHIP
Viruses can spread quickly on a cruise ship.
But the CDC implements strict cleaning protocols for all vessels.
All the ships in the top 10 list of cleanest cruises scored higher than 97.12. (Horacio Villalobos/Corbis)
"Cruise ships are shared environments where thousands of people touch the same surfaces every day," Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications at the American Cleaning Institute in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.
"Without strong cleaning and hygiene practices, germs can spread quickly, increasing the risk of illness among passengers and crew," he continued.
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Surprisingly, the study found no link between viruses and the lack of cleanliness.
Cruise ships are often ravaged by norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses. In 2025, the CDC reported 23 onboard outbreaks, according to the study.
Overall, the cruise industry is cleaner than other travel sectors, an expert said. (Jens Büttner)
However, "the data shows no correlation between the number of onboard viral outbreaks and sanitation scores, proving that viral illness can easily spread on the cleanest of ships," the study said.
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Macgregor-Skinner said cruise lines are the only part of the travel sector that routinely report illnesses to the federal government.
"It is very important not to confuse the wider availability of cruise health data with a higher incidence rate on cruise ships compared to settings like restaurants, hotels and planes," Macgregor-Skinner said.
Viruses can spread quickly on a cruise ship. But the CDC enforces strict cleaning protocols. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service)
Overall, the cruise industry is actually cleaner than other travel sectors, he said.
Nevertheless, Sansoni asserted, "Inadequate cleaning can allow viruses and bacteria to linger on high‑touch surfaces like railings, elevator buttons and bathroom fixtures. When cleaning protocols break down, those germs can spread rapidly in close quarters."
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Per the study, here are the top 10 cleanest cruise lines.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Expedition Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
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Japan Grace
Virgin Voyages
Norwegian Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Jessica Mekles is an editor on the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
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Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema joins 'Fox & Friends' to explain the benefits of artificial intelligence and the need for data centers within the United States.
Former Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema admitted to having an affair with her former bodyguard while in office and while he was still married — an admission that came by way of an explosive new court filing in the state of North Carolina, seeking to dismiss a so-called "homewrecker" lawsuit filed by the bodyguard's estranged wife.
Sinema, who served in the Senate from 2019 to 2025, acknowledged the relationship with her former bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, in a motion to dismiss the "alienation of affection" lawsuit filed in North Carolina by his estranged wife.
The complaint accused Sinema of engaging in "intentional and malicious interference" in Ammel's marriage and sought $25,000 in damages from Sinema as a result of allegedly "willful and wanton" conduct.
KYRSTEN SINEMA RIPS SENATE DEMOCRATS FOR APPARENT FLIP-FLOP ON FILIBUSTER NOW THAT THEY NEED IT
Kyrsten Sinema is seen during a 2023 interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Neither the motion to dismiss, nor the sworn declaration Sinema submitted to the court, seeks to dispute the nature of her affair with Ammel — described as both "romantic and intimate."
Rather, the filings argue that the case should be dropped because the communications in question occurred "exclusively outside" the boundaries of the Tar Heel state.
Combined, the new filings leave little to the imagination regarding the nature of the affair between Sinema and Ammel, which began in May 2024 in Sonoma, Calif., and involved months of phone calls, emails, and Signal messages, in addition to various romantic relations in cities across the U.S. cities.
KYRSTEN SINEMA'S SWITCH TO INDEPENDENT DESCRIBED AS 'GUT PUNCH' TO DEMOCRATS: ‘NO WIGGLE ROOM'
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) moves between meetings at the U.S. Capitol on June 01, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
"I keep waking up during my sleep and reaching over for your arms to hold me," Sinema told Ammel in one Signal message, which she recalled was sent in June 2024 from Scottsdale, and received by Ammel while in Kansas.
That fall, another Signal exchange between the two was apparently interrupted by Ammel's estranged wife. She allegedly responded to Sinema directly, stating: "Are you having an affair with my husband? You took a married man away from his family."
Just six states, including North Carolina, still recognize "alienation of affection" lawsuits, though the ones that do still require the spouses to meet a difficult legal burden.
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In order to succeed in the lawsuit, plaintiffs in an "alienation of affection" lawsuit must prove to the court three things: First, that the marriage had real affection and a viable relationship before any third-party involvement; second, that the "love and affection" was destroyed, or significantly diminished; and finally, that the defendant directly "caused the destruction of that marital love and affection."
Fox News Digital reached out to Sinema for comment.
Breanne Deppisch is a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI and other national news. She previously covered national politics at the Washington Examiner and The Washington Post, with additional bylines in Politico Magazine, the Colorado Gazette and others. You can send tips to Breanne at Breanne.Deppisch@fox.com, or follow her on X at @breanne_dep.
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Residents inspect the site of a strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Barackatullah Popal)
People attend the funeral prayers of police officers, killed in the roadside bomb explosion, outskirts of Lakki Marwat, a district in northwest Pakistan, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/G.A. Marwat)
Residents and Taliban police gather the remains of a projectile at the site of a strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Barackatullah Popal)
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's president on Saturday warned neighboring Afghanistan's Taliban government that it had “ crossed a red line ” by launching drone attacks on civilian areas in Pakistan and said the administration in Kabul has brought “grave consequences upon itself.”
The statement by Asif Ali Zardari was the latest in what has become the deadliest fighting yet between the two neighbors. The cross-border clashes, which erupted late last month, have shown no signs of abating despite efforts by China and Turkey to broker a ceasefire.
Pakistan said its forces intercepted the drones launched on Friday but that falling debris injured two children in the city of Quetta and two people elsewhere in the country.
On Friday, the Afghan Taliban government accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes in Kabul, the country's capital, and other areas in eastern Afghanistan, saying at least six civilians were killed and 15 other were injured.
Hours later, Kabul claimed its air force responded by targeting military installations near Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, and in northwestern Pakistan.
Pakistan denied targeting civilians, saying its operations are focused on Pakistani Taliban militants and their support networks. Islamabad has referred to the conflict as an “open war” — adding to concerns among the international community about regional stability as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has engulfed the Middle East and beyond.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that Pakistani aircraft also struck fuel depots belonging to the private airline Kam Air near the airport in the southern city of Kandahar, which he said supplies civilian and U.N. flights.
Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of harboring Pakistani militant groups — mainly the Pakistani Taliban — that cross the porous volatile border between the two countries to stage attacks against Pakistani forces and also of allying with its archrival, India. Kabul denies harboring militant groups.
On Friday, a roadside bomb targeting Pakistani police killed seven officers in the northwestern district of Lakki Mawat.
Zardari slammed the government in Kabul.
“While the Afghan terrorist regime seeks negotiations with our friendly countries, it crossed a red line by attempting to target our civilians,” he said.
Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said Saturday on X that its defense forces along the border in the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar captured a Pakistani post and killed 14 Pakistani soldiers. In Islamabad, Pakistan's Information Ministry said the claim was baseless.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesman, Mosharraf Zaidi, said the “Afghan Taliban are spending more time weaving fantasies” than they are getting rid of “terrorist organizations enjoying Afghan Taliban regime hospitality.”
He said on X that such propaganda would not force Pakistan to end its counterterrorism operations. “Only the end of terrorism from Afghan soil to Pakistan will,” he said.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday urged for a peaceful resolution of the Afghanistan-Pakistan dispute, warning the use of force worsens tensions and threatens regional stability. His remarks were reported Saturday by China's official Xinhua News Agency, which said Wang had spoken with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Wang said China's special envoy is shuttling between the two countries in an effort to promote restraint and encourage a ceasefire. Muttaqi said Afghanistan seeks regional peace and does not want a military conflict, adding that dialogue remains the only solution and urging China to play a greater role.
A Qatari-mediated ceasefire in October briefly reduced tensions, but subsequent talks in Turkey failed to produce a lasting agreement.
___
Qahar reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writer Kanis Leung in Hong Kong contributed to this report.
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The trailer for A24's "Undertone starring Nina Kiri and Adam DiMarco. Written and directed by Ian Tuason.
It's amazing how important sound is to horror. Abrupt noises are responsible for at least 90% of all movie scares. Look it up — actually, don't. There's no study to back that up, but it's true. Just believe me.
Watch any horror film on mute — you probably won't jump in your seat once. Revisit the famous shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." The sight of Norman Bates' silhouette with the knife certainly doesn't bring any comfort, but it's Bernard Herrmann's iconic score — the shrieking violins — that has truly frightened movie lovers for generations.
Not many horror films specifically lean into the artistry of sound as a storytelling tool, which puts A24's "Undertone" in a unique class.
Evy (Nina Kiri) is the co-host of "The Undertone Podcast" which probes listener-submitted paranormal material with a skeptical head on her shoulders as her co-host Justin (Adam DiMarco) is a believer. They record the podcast at three o'clock in the morning since Justin's based in London while Evy tends to her dying mother "Mama" (Michèle Duquet), who just went into in-home hospice care. It's important to note that Evy and her mother are the only characters seen on-screen throughout the entire film — you only get to hear from Justin by phone.
'HOPPERS' REVIEW: JON HAMM, MERYL STREEP ELEVATE PIXAR'S RUN-OF-THE-MILL BEAVER ADVENTURE
Nina Kiri stars as Evy in A24's horror film "Undertone." (Dustin Rabin; Court)
For their latest episode, Justin previews to Evy that they received an email from an anonymous listener that had a strange cryptic message and ten audio files. They are recordings of Mike and Jessa (Jeff Yung and Keana Lyn Bastidas), a couple expecting their first child.
The first recordings seem fairly innocuous — Mike wanted to prove to Jessa that she talks in her sleep. However, the further Evy and Justin delve into the recordings, the more disturbing things get as they examine what Jessa's muttering. They eventually figure out that the couple is being haunted by the mythical Abyzou, a female demon known to be envious of mothers and curses her victims with miscarriages and the death of their children.
And similar to watching the cursed videotape in "The Ring," Abyzou's spirit begins to haunt Evy and her mother.
'HOW TO MAKE A KILLING' REVIEW: GLEN POWELL EYES THE FAMILY FORTUNE IN A24'S COMEDIC NOIR
Michèle Duquet as Mama in A24's horror film "Undertone." (Courtesy of A24)
Kiri, best known for her stint on the TV series "The Handmaid's Tale," does a lot of heavy lifting as virtually being the only active character we get to see (her bedridden mother is unconscious) and the entire film takes place in the confines of her mother's house. She's basically a one-woman show. DiMarco, the up-and-comer featured in the Italy season of "The White Lotus" and more recently Prime Video's raunchy comedy series "Overcompensating," manages to give a heartfelt performance as Evy's support system with just his voice.
The real star, though, is the sound design.
‘WUTHERING HEIGHTS' REVIEW: MARGOT ROBBIE, JACOB ELORDI STAR IN STEAMY ADAPTATION OF ILL-FATED ROMANCE
Nina Kiri stars as Evy in A24's horror film "Undertone." (Dustin Rabin; Courtesy of A24)
The attention to detail to every sound that's heard — from the creepy audio recordings to what Evy hears in the house – is nothing short of outstanding. So kudos to the entire sound department. Justin's character says it best when signing off each podcast with "Don't be afraid of the dark, be afraid of the silence." That said, eerie camerawork from cinematographer Graham Beasley is also a strong supporting performer of its own.
Writer/director Ian Tuason, making his feature debut, was able to effectively craft a compelling film with self-imposed narrative limitations. Only time will tell if it's beginner's luck, but Tuason cemented himself as a filmmaker to keep an eye on going forward.
A24, once an arthouse film distributor that's become more and more mainstream, frequently takes bold risks, especially with horror films: "The Witch," "Hereditary," "Midsommar," "Talk to Me," the list goes on. What's tragic is that "Undertone" likely isn't on many people's radar since it doesn't have A-listers and a massive budget like the recent box office hit "Scream 7," even though "Undertone" provides genuine scares.
'GOAT' REVIEW: MOVE OVER 'ZOOTOPIA,' THERE'S A NEW KING OF THE JUNGLE
Nina Kiri stars as Evy in A24's horror film "Undertone." (Dustin Rabin; Courtesy of A24)
"Undertone" is an unsettling slowburn that allows the pure craft of filmmaking to take center stage. This is a movie you want to not only see but to hear, so if you're able to see it at a theater with Dolby Atmos like I did, I'd highly recommend. Horror fans
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Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to joseph.wulfsohn@fox.com and on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.
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Customers stand in line to get birth and death certificates at the Columbus Public Health Department in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, March, 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Julie Carr Smyth)
Joshua Bogdan, who faced new hurdles while registering to vote last year, poses in front of City Hall in Portsmouth, N.H., Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)
Voters wait in line and fill out their ballots at a voting center at Lumen Field Event Center on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joshua Bogdan was born and raised in the United States. The only time the New Hampshire resident has left the country was for a day and a half in seventh grade, when he went to Canada to see Niagara Falls.
Even so, that did not mean proving his U.S. citizenship in last fall's local elections was easy.
The 31-year-old arrived at his voting place in Portsmouth and handed the poll worker his driver's license, just as he had done in other towns when arriving to vote. She said that would no longer do.
The poll worker said that under the state's new proof-of-citizenship law, which took effect for the first time during town elections in 2025, Bogdan would need a passport or his birth certificate because he had moved and needed to reregister at his new address. A scramble ensued, turning the voting process that he had always found fun and invigorating into a nerve-wracking game of beat the clock.
“I didn't know that anything had officially changed walking in there,” he said. “And then being told that I had to provide a passport that I've never had or a birth certificate that's usually tucked away somewhere safe just to cast my vote — which I've done before — it was frustrating.”
Bogdan's experience in New Hampshire is a glimpse into the future for potentially millions of voters across the country. That is if Republican voting legislation being pushed aggressively by President Donald Trump passes Congress and a “show your papers” law is put in place in time for the November elections.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, cleared the U.S. House last month on a mostly party-line basis. Republicans say it would improve election integrity. Trump has called its safeguards common sense. The bill is scheduled to come up in the U.S. Senate next week for voting and debate.
Republican messaging has mostly highlighted a less divisive provision in the bill that would require voters to show a photo ID, but the mandate for people to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is likely to have the most wide-ranging consequences. Noncitizens already are prohibited from voting in federal elections, and it is not allowed by any state. Cases where it occurs are rare.
Obtaining the necessary documents under the SAVE Act is not as easy as it might sound. A similar effort was tried in Kansas a decade ago and turned into a debacle that eventually was blocked by the courts after more than 30,000 eligible citizens were prevented from registering.
Rebekah Caruthers, president and CEO at the Fair Elections Center, said the legislation's strict documentation requirements could move the U.S. “in the opposite direction” of representative democracy.
“If this bill passes, it would deny millions of eligible Americans their fundamental freedom to vote,” she said in an email. “This includes millions of people who make up your communities, including married women, people of color and voters who live in rural areas.”
The list of qualifying documents in the SAVE Act for proving citizenship appears long, but many of them come with qualifiers.
Under the bill, a REAL ID -compliant driver's license would have to indicate that “the applicant is a citizen,” but not all do. Only five states — Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington — offer the type of enhanced REAL IDs that explicitly indicate U.S. citizenship.
Standard driver's licenses, generally available to both citizens and noncitizens, often do not include a citizenship indicator. Some states, including Ohio, have recently added them.
The stipulations continue, buried in the fine print.
While military ID cards are listed as qualifying documents under the act, they will not suffice on their own. The bill says a military ID must be accompanied by a military “record of service” that indicates the person's birthplace was in the U.S.
A DD214, the current standard-issue certificate of release or discharge for all military service branches, does not currently fulfill that requirement. According to the Pentagon, that document only lists where someone lived at points of entry and discharge and a person's current home of record. It does not list where someone was born.
For most provisions, the SAVE Act contains no phase-in period that would give voters and local election offices time to adjust. If passed by Congress and signed by Trump, its documentary proof-of-citizenship mandate would apply immediately, meaning it would be in place for this year's midterm elections.
That could lead to a rush to obtain documents by those who want to register or need to reregister. A 2025 University of Maryland study estimates that 21.3 million Americans who are eligible to vote do not have or have easy access to documents to prove their citizenship, including nearly 10% of Democrats, 7% of Republicans and 14% of people unaffiliated with either major party.
A passport would most effectively meet the requirement, but only about half of American adults have one, according to the State Department, and the SAVE Act requires the passport to be current. An expired one does not count.
Obtaining a passport in time for a looming voter registration deadline is another potential hurdle.
Workers who process passports had layoffs at the State Department reversed, but just last month the department forbid passport processing at certain public libraries that had long helped relieve pressure at the department. Government libraries, post offices, county clerks and others still provide the service.
It takes four weeks to six weeks to get a passport, according to the department's website, excluding mailing time. A new passport costs $165 for adults while renewals cost $130, and the photo costs $10 or $20 more. The turnaround time can be sped up to two weeks or three weeks for an additional $60 — and for even faster processing, add $22 more. The fully expedited process for a new passport would cost at least $257.
A birth certificate may be a quicker and cheaper choice for most people, but there are twists.
The SAVE Act requires a certified birth certificate issued by a state, local government or tribal government. What does not appear to qualify is the certificate signed by the doctor that many new parents are given in the hospital when their child is born. It provides information similar to a certified birth certificate, but would not meet the letter of the federal legislation.
Like passports, birth certificates can sometimes take weeks to obtain. Those who live near their birthplaces can visit the local vital statistics office, but staffing shortages and escalating demand for REAL IDs have caused significant backlogs in some states. In New York, the waiting period for certified copies is four months, the state said. Average processing times for online certificate requests vary widely by state, from as few as three days to 12 weeks or longer.
People whose birth certificates don't match their current IDs — mostly women who changed their names when they married — would likely need additional documentation to register to vote under the bill. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found about 80% of women in opposite-sex marriages in the U.S. take their husband's last name.
Notably, the SAVE Act does not provide any money to help states and local governments implement the changes or promote them to voters.
For Bogdan, that was part of the problem when New Hampshire's proof-of-citizenship law took effect. People who have voted elsewhere in the state are not required to show proof of citizenship in their new towns if poll workers confirm their registration history, but Bogdan said workers at his polling place did not seem to know that or try to look up the information.
He eventually was able to cast his ballot because, by luck, he had recently retrieved his birth certificate from his parents' house more than an hour away so he could apply for a REAL ID. But he said government notices to voters would help prevent possible disenfranchisement.
“Young voters like myself don't always carry around our birth certificate, Social Security card, all that important stuff, because it's not used ever or very often,” he said. “And so all those young kids who are going to go out and try and vote will be held back from that.”
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Fox News host Mark Levin traces the history behind birthright citizenship on ‘Life, Liberty & Levin' after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban the practice.
The State Department has cut the fee Americans must pay to renounce their U.S. citizenship by roughly 80%, lowering the cost from $2,350 to $450 under a new rule that took effect Friday.
The new fee, first announced in 2023 but not previously implemented, returns the cost to the same level the government charged when it first began requiring payment for citizenship renunciations in 2010.
The State Department said in the rule that it lowered the fee as a policy decision to reduce the cost burden on people seeking a Certificate of Loss of Nationality, the document issued after someone formally renounces U.S. citizenship before a diplomatic or consular officer abroad.
WHITE HOUSE-BACKED GOP BILL WOULD REVOKE CITIZENSHIP AFTER SOMALI FRAUD SCANDAL
The State Department has cut the fee Americans must pay to renounce their U.S. citizenship by roughly 80%, lowering the cost from $2,350 to $450 under a new rule that took effect Friday. (iStock)
The State Department raised the fee from $450 to $2,350 in 2015 in part to cover administrative costs as the number of Americans seeking to renounce their citizenship surged following new U.S. tax reporting rules for expatriates, The Associated Press reported.
Applications to renounce citizenship rose sharply in the early 2010s, climbing from 956 cases in 2010 to 3,436 in 2014, the State Department said.
The department said the new $450 fee remains well below the government's actual cost of processing renunciation requests. The State Department estimates roughly 4,661 people apply each year for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REVOKES MORE THAN 100,000 VISAS IN FIRST YEAR BACK
People walk past the seal of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Americans must appear at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad to formally renounce their citizenship. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
Lowering the fee is expected to reduce annual federal collections by about $8.9 million, the State Department said in the rule. The money collected from the fee is deposited into the U.S. Treasury and is not used to fund the State Department's consular operations.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship involves a multistep process that requires applicants to appear before a U.S. consular officer abroad and confirm in writing and verbally that they understand the consequences before taking a formal oath of renunciation, The Associated Press reported. The State Department must then review and approve the request before issuing a Certificate of Loss of Nationality.
Stricter financial reporting requirements imposed on Americans living overseas — including rules tied to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) — have contributed to renunciation requests in recent years, the department said.
The increase in the fee drew criticism from advocacy groups, including the one that represents people who hold U.S. citizenship primarily because they were born in the United States but have lived most of their lives abroad, the AP reported.
A view of the United States Department of State logo in Washington D.C., United States. (Celal Gunes / Anadolu Agency)
The group filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the fee, including one case that argues there should be no cost at all to renounce citizenship, according to the AP.
"The Association of Accidental Americans welcomes this decision, which acknowledges the necessity of making this fundamental right accessible to all," the organization's president, Fabien Lehagre, said in a statement.
Lehagre said the decision follows years of legal advocacy by the group.
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The association said that since the State Department announced plans in 2023 to lower the fee, at least 8,755 Americans paid the full $2,350 cost to renounce their citizenship, the AP reported.
The State Department has not released updated figures on the total number of Americans who have renounced their citizenship.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
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Kyle Bailey, author of "Witness," details the "graveyard spiral" he believes doomed John F. Kennedy Jr., warning how low visibility, darkness and overwater flying can overwhelm a novice pilot.
Kyle Bailey felt a "deep concern" as he watched John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Lauren Bessette climb aboard the small plane that would never reach its destination.
On July 16, 1999, the trio perished when the single-engine plane Kennedy was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha's Vineyard. At the time, Bailey had also planned to fly to the island off the coast of Massachusetts but changed his mind because of "iffy" weather conditions.
Bailey, a licensed pilot and aviation analyst for Fox News — and the last known person to see Kennedy his wife and sister-in-law alive — has written a new book, "Witness: JFK Jr.'s Fatal Flight." It examines the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
CREATORS OF JFK JR TV SERIES RESPOND TO KENNEDY HEIR DENOUNCING SHOW AS ‘GROTESQUE'
John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy were killed on July 16, 1999. Kyle Bailey, the last known person to see them alive, has written a new book, "Witness." (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
"I've seen John do that trip many, many times," the 52-year-old told Fox News Digital. "It was just a typical Friday night. I planned on making two flights, an earlier flight in the afternoon, which I did for about an hour, just to go up for a spin. And then the nighttime flight was longer. It was, as we say in aviation, the three H's — hazy, hot and humid. Your typical New York City July day and evening."
"From my experience, I sensed that, based on those conditions, there probably would be reduced visibility that night up in Martha's Vineyard," Bailey said. "It didn't mean I was going to cancel my trip right then, though."
John Kennedy, Jr., wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister, Lauren Bessette (left, leather coat) outside Bubby's in Tribeca on Nov. 15, 1997. All three perished together in a plane crash off Martha's Vineyard on July 16, 1999. (Lawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma via Getty Images)
Bailey, then 25, was at Essex County Airport in Caldwell, New Jersey, when Kennedy arrived in an unassuming vehicle. At one point, the magazine publisher even whizzed by Bailey to buy a bottle of water and a banana from the convenience store. Everything appeared ordinary, said Bailey.
WATCH: AVIATION EXPERT EXPLAINS JFK JR.'S FINAL FLIGHT RISKS
When Bailey embarked on his first short trip, he noticed visibility "wasn't great." After landing, he monitored the weather. But as temperatures rose, it became hazier, raising concerns that fog could quickly develop along the coast.
Bailey decided to call off his trip.
John F. Kennedy Jr. is seen here with his dog on Friday, Dec. 30, 1996 at a Montana airport. (Anne Sherwood/Getty Images)
"I decided that night to cancel the flight," he said. "I was mad, but it was the right decision for me."
John Kennedy Jr. kept a low profile as he arrived for his doomed flight. (Lawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma via Getty Images)
Still, Bailey continued to keep a close eye on the conditions.
"I was noticing that the temperature and dew point, those spreads were getting closer and closer," he explained. "In weather, what that means is, there's a very high probability of ground fog developing. In John's case, perhaps he wasn't told that or didn't know. You really can't fault him for that, for what he doesn't know or what he wasn't told."
John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy attend an exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City on Nov. 4, 1996. (Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images)
"I knew from experience on those very hot, hazy, humid summer nights, fog and low visibility could be a problem, especially flying over water," he shared.
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"Witness — JFK Jr.'s Fatal Flight: The Last Witness," is available now. (Independently Published)
"In John's case, especially at nighttime, he was planning on leaving after I was going to. It would've been more challenging for a VFR pilot with hazy, hot, humid conditions, a partial horizon, and now, on top of that, total darkness."
"For a VFR pilot at night, when you lose that horizon, it's like jumping off the edge of the earth into a complete sea of darkness," he added.
John F. Kennedy Jr. bicycling in Block Island. (Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images)
After Kennedy quietly completed his pre-flight checks, Bailey saw his plane take off at 8:38 p.m.
John F. Kennedy Jr. sits with his leg in a cast at the George Magazine "Politicians vs. Pundits" auto race held at the U.S. Air Arena on June 15, 1999, in Landover, MD. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
"I went home to my mother that night and said something to the effect of, ‘I just saw JFK Jr. at the airport. I hope he doesn't kill himself someday in that airplane,'" Bailey recalled.
"That Piper Saratoga was a new airplane for him. It was complex and high-performance, unlike his older airplane, which he had just sold. I really hoped he had his instructor with him. I was just concerned for him. Was it a premonition? Possibly. But it was more of a deep concern for John and the two others."
John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy were supposed to attend Rory Kennedy's wedding. (Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images)
Kennedy had purchased the plane in April 1999, months before the crash. According to reports, he had logged only a few dozen hours in the Saratoga with limited night experience in the aircraft.
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Where John Kennedy Jr. kept his Piper Saratoga airplane. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
"I wasn't sure if he had an instructor aboard the airplane," said Bailey. "After the tragedy, a lot of people would come up to me and say, ‘Why did you let him take off? Why didn't you say something?' The answer is, I didn't know who was on the plane with them.
"I saw the three of them board the plane, but since I wasn't fixed on that plane the entire time, I wasn't sure if an instructor walked over there. That's why I didn't say anything. I just hoped he had an instructor with him. The conditions weren't horrible, but they weren't great."
"I went home to my mother that night and said something to the effect of, ‘I just saw JFK Jr. at the airport. I hope he doesn't kill himself someday in that airplane.'"
John F. Kennedy Jr. gives his wife Carolyn a kiss on the cheek during the annual White House Correspondents dinner on May 1, 1999, in Washington, D.C. (Tyler Mallory/Liaison/Getty Images)
Bailey didn't know that earlier in the day, Kennedy had told his flight instructor he didn't need him for the journey and that he "wanted to do it alone."
An aerial view of Martha's Vineyard. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
The plan seemed simple. Kennedy would first fly to Martha's Vineyard and drop off his sister-in-law. Then he and his wife would head to Hyannis Port for the wedding of his cousin, Rory Kennedy, the next day.
But at the time, Kennedy was still in the process of completing his instrument training and was flying by visual flight rules. While he had about 300 hours of flying experience, he was recovering from a broken ankle. It was also a dark, moonless night.
A business card belonging to Lauren Bessette, sister-in-law of John F. Kennedy, Jr., was used as a luggage tag on a travel bag recovered on July 17, 1999, at Philbin Beach. (Evan Richman/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Under those conditions, investigators believe Kennedy may have struggled to see shore lights or other landmarks to help guide him.
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A Coast Guard ship carrying Senator Ted Kennedy and his son, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, passes by the lighthouse in Gay Head, Massachussetts, as they head to the USS Grasp, which recovered the body of John F. Kennedy Jr. six miles off Gay Head, on July 21, 1999. (Stephen Jaffe/AFP via Getty Images)
Bailey said the "graveyard spiral" quickly came to mind.
"It's a rapid turning descent of the airplane," he said. "In John's case, it would be from losing that visual horizon. Your mind is playing tricks with you, saying you're straight, you're turning, but you really aren't."
A Coast Guard helicopter hovering over the ocean during the search for John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn and her sister Lauren. (Steve Liss/Getty Images)
"Imagine you have the control column in front of you," Bailey explained. "You pull back, the plane goes up. You push forward, and that goes down. You turn the control right or left, and you know the plane will turn. But if you're a novice pilot or if your mind is playing tricks on you, your first instinct is to pull that control column back. But being that the airplane is in a turn and the wings aren't level, it's actually tightening that spiral and increasing the G-forces.
A television technician holds up the official handout map of the search and rescue area off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts before a press conference on July 21, 1999. (John Mottern/AFP via Getty Images)
"If you put enough G-force on the airplane, you could overstress the components, like the wing and tail. You could have structural failure. But in John's case, the result was crashing into the ocean, unfortunately."
On Saturday morning, Bailey checked the weather at an FAA flight service station. He wondered if he could fly that day instead. But a missing airplane alert was issued — a Piper Saratoga that had departed Essex County Airport that Friday evening.
Bailey's heart sank.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy stand in front of their apartment in Tribecca in New York City. (Jon Naso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
"I immediately recognized the color of the Saratoga and the tail number," he said. "I was hoping, praying that maybe he turned back or was in Martha's Vineyard on the ground.
DARYL HANNAH GETS 'DIRTY' TREATMENT IN NEW JFK JR. SERIES AS FANS CRY FOUL OVER PORTRAYAL
Police maintain a security zone for the press outside the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, on July 18, 1999. (John Mottern/AFP via Getty Images)
"I remember I told my family, ‘If this airplane is not found within two hours, he is probably a goner, along with the other two on the plane. I assumed the worst, but hoped for the best that there was maybe even a slim chance somebody might be found alive. But in the back of my mind, I knew that was pretty much not going to happen."
The wreckage of the Piper Saratoga was found five days later. Navy divers recovered the bodies of Kennedy, 38, Bessette Kennedy, 33 and Bessette, 34, from the ocean floor.
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Flowers and a photograph, left in front of the Tribeca apartment building where John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. lived, as a display of sympathy after he lost his life crashing into the Atlantic Ocean while flying a Piper Saratoga light aircraft. (Andrew Holbrooke/Corbis via Getty Images)
"The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of the accident to be: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation," the report read. "Factors in the accident were haze and the dark night."
Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.
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Ayman Mohamad Ghazali lost two of his brothers, a niece and a nephew during an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, an official said. (AP Video: Mike Householder and Sophie Bates)
Police tape hangs outside the Temple Israel synagogue Friday, March 13, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Police arrive outside Old Dominion University's campus after reports of an active shooter on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/John Clark)
NYPD officers stand outside Carl Schurz Park as they investigate suspicious device, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
FBI director Kash Patel arrives before President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)
FBI Director Kash Patel takes part in a U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag Raising ceremony at the State Department, Monday, March 9, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
WASHINGTON (AP) — In New York City, two men who federal authorities say were inspired by the Islamic State brought powerful homemade bombs to a far-right protest outside the mayoral mansion.
In Michigan, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon rammed his vehicle into a synagogue, where he was shot at by security before he shot himself to death.
In Virginia, a man previously imprisoned on a terrorism conviction was heard yelling “Allahu akbar” before opening fire in a university classroom in an attack that officials said ended when the shooter was killed by students.
The three acts of violence in the last week have laid bare a heightened terrorism threat unfolding against the backdrop of the U.S. war with Iran and as the country's counterterrorism system is strained by the departures of experienced national security professionals at the FBI and Justice Department. The firings and resignations, along with the diversion of resources and personnel over the last year to meet other Trump administration priorities, have fueled concerns about the capability to head off a potential surge in threats.
“So much experience has been decimated from the ranks,” said Frank Montoya, a retired senior FBI official. “The folks that were best positioned to get to the bottom of it before something really bad happened” are in many cases no longer with the government, he said, meaning less experienced personnel assigned to the threat are “starting from way behind.”
The FBI said it would not comment on personnel numbers and decisions, but issued a statement saying “agents and staff are dedicated professionals working around the clock to defend the homeland and crush violent crime. The FBI continuously assesses and realigns our resources to ensure the safety of the American people.”
Iran has vowed revenge for the killing by the U.S. and Israel of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and though the fighting has so far been confined to the Middle East, the Islamic Republic has long professed its determination to carry out violence on American soil.
Iranian operatives, for instance, responded to the 2020 assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani during the first Trump administration with a disrupted murder-for-hire plot targeting former national security adviser John Bolton.
A Pakistani business owner who says he was carrying out instructions from a contact in Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was convicted in New York last week of trying to hire hit men in 2024 for assassination plots targeting public figures, including President Donald Trump, who was then running for president.
Though much attention has focused on Iran's use of proxies or hired hands to carry out plots, the country's capability to organize a large-scale assault on the U.S. remains unclear despite clear angst over the potential. The FBI warned in a recent bulletin to law enforcement about Iran's aspiration to conduct a drone attack targeting California, but after the warning was publicized, officials emphasized the intelligence was unverified and that no specific plot was known to exist.
The U.S. government after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks overhauled its intelligence and national security apparatus to prevent similarly catastrophic events. But in the years since, lone actors radicalized online have nonetheless carried out shootings like the 2015 ambush attacks at a pair of military sites in Chattanooga, Tennessee and a rampage at an Orlando nightclub the following year by a gunman who killed 49 people and raged against the “filthy ways of the west.”
Those plots by self-directed individuals have proved notoriously difficult to prevent and have occurred even when the FBI has not been roiled by firings and internal upheaval like during the first year of the Trump administration.
“They're self-directed,” said retired FBI official Edward Herbst. “That's what makes them really lethal. You never know when they're going to rise up. You never know when and where they're going to attack.”
Terrorism concerns typically rise during times of international conflict when military action overseas is accompanied by increased vigilance, including outreach from agents to their sources, more active sharing of tips between federal and local law enforcement and closer coordination among FBI joint terrorism task forces, said Claire Moravec, a former FBI national security official who served as deputy homeland security adviser in Illinois.
Officials have said there is no indication that either the men arrested in connection with the explosives in New York, or the man responsible for Thursday's Old Dominion University shooting, were motivated explicitly by the Iran war. The man who crashed into Temple Israel synagogue near Detroit on Thursday lost four family members in an Israeli airstrike in his native Lebanon last week, an official in Lebanon said.
Regardless, wars like the one in Iran can function as “accelerants,” raising the volume and intensity of grievances for the disaffected, Moravec said.
“Ultimately, the goal during these periods is not ‘surveillance' but maintaining a broad awareness of how international events could translate into domestic security risks, so that threats can be identified and disrupted early,” she said in an email.
The Justice Department's National Security Division was established in 2006 to address threats of terrorism, espionage and other concerns. In the last year, lawyers in the division found themselves assigned to review the Jeffrey Epstein files to prepare them for release, and elite sections dedicated to prosecuting terrorists and catching spies have endured turnover.
About half of the division's counterterrorism prosecutors have left since the beginning of the Trump administration, along with about a third of its senior leadership, according to estimates from Justice Connection, a network of department alumni.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the division's singular focus remains “keeping the American people safe from threats foreign and domestic” and that there are no known or credible threats to the homeland.
FBI Director Kash Patel has fired dozens of agents, most recently about a dozen employees who worked on the counterintelligence investigation into Trump's retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
“This is not an exaggeration to say that they are not as capable as they were a year and a half ago,” Matthew Olsen, who led the National Security Division during the Biden administration, said this week on the Lawfare podcast, adding that “they've lost, forced out, fired, the most capable, the most experienced FBI agents, FBI officials and DOJ prosecutors, that were working on the Iran threat.”
In the national security realm, where experience and source development are vital, the loss of institutional knowledge and community relationships can be a crushing blow, said Montoya, the former FBI official.
“There was no transition,” Montoya said of the agents who have been abruptly fired. “These guys were just walked out of the building. The new guys can call them and say, ‘Hey, can you tell me what you were doing?'” but even so, “you're still introducing a brand new face into the equation.”
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‘Amateur Hour' Author Charlie Spiering unpacks the state of the Democratic Party on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.'
Poet Robert Frost once said that "good fences make good neighbors." He apparently never met Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is being sued by his neighbors for effectively squatting on their land and then seizing it to install a fence along his $830,500 private residence in suburban Philadelphia. The litigation is likely to put Shapiro in a much different light for many who think of him as a 2028 contender.
US President Joe Biden looks on as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro delivers remarks following a briefing on Interstate-95 highway emergency repair and reconstruction efforts, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 2023. (JULIA NIKHINSON/AFP via Getty Images))
The irony of the case is crushing. Shapiro opposed Trump's plan to build a wall along the southern border, declaring that he would sue before a dime of Pennsylvania money would go to pay for it. He apparently adopted a similar approach to his neighbors in Pennsylvania. The difference is that he built the wall, but without giving his neighbors a dime.
Shapiro has long wanted a 2,900-square-foot parcel of land located between the two homes in Abington, Montgomery County. The problem is that his neighbors like their land and want to keep it. They turned down multiple offers from Shapiro.
That is when the governor decided to build it anyway.
GIVE THE GOVERNMENT AN INCH AND THEY'LL SEIZE YOUR $200K HOME FOR A $2K DEBT
Jeremy and Simone Mock allege that Shapiro effectively became a squatter by using the state police to bar them from their own property and then building an eight-foot security fence.
After the Mocks sued, Shapiro countersued, claiming that the land was now his through "adverse possession." He basically claimed that they abandoned the land despite their repeatedly trying to gain entry and repeatedly turning down his offers to buy it.
Welcome to the world of adverse possession. It is a doctrine dating back to 2000 B.C., and the Code of Hammurabi, allowing people to acquire title to land abandoned by owners over a long period of time. A really long time.
From the Romans to the British to the earliest days of the American Republic, adverse possession has been recognized as a valid means of acquiring title. It was particularly valuable in the early years of the United States, where people acquired or claimed vast tracts of land out West, only to leave them undeveloped and unoccupied. As settlers moved West, they often cultivated the land, built structures and lived openly for years before the original owners reclaimed it. Adverse possession was an efficient rule that allowed land to be put to productive use.
Under Pennsylvania law, you must prove actual, continuous, exclusive, visible, notorious, distinct and hostile possession of the land for 21 years. Shapiro clearly has the hostile part down, but the Mocks are claiming that he effectively used state police to bar them from their land and then claimed that they abandoned it.
Each side is portraying the other as dishonest and opportunistic.
In their complaint, the Mocks allege that the Shapiros made "previous acknowledgments that the Mock Property was owned by no one other than the Mocks." They document that the Shapiros did not want to pay the asking price, so the Mocks offered to lease the land to them. The Shapiros allegedly agreed but then backed out.
MICHIGAN FAMILY SAYS COUNTY SEIZED HOME OVER TAX BILL THEY DIDN'T OWE — CASE NOW HEADS TO THE SUPREME COURT
The Mocks declare, "what followed was an outrageous abuse of power by the sitting Governor of Pennsylvania and its former Attorney General." Shapiro declared the property was his.
The Mocks objected that they had been paying taxes to the state on the disputed property for nine years.
The Shapiros claim that from 2003 to 2025, they mowed the lawn, cleared leaves, and removed other debris from the land as if it were their own. Accordingly, they claim that the 21-year period has passed and with it the title to the land. They further allege that, after buying the property in April 2017, the Mocks did not claim the land or challenge the location of an existing fence. However, they did so in October 2025.
Shapiro maintains that the Mocks never even knew the property was theirs until he informed them of the results of a recent survey.
The fascinating element is the use of state troopers to keep the Mocks off their land. The complaint even shows a picture of two troopers, stating, "these members of the State Police are on the Mock Property. Behind the officers are the arborvitae that the Shapiros planted on the Mock Property without permission and over the Mocks' express objections."
With the required 21 years only barely passed, any period in which the Mocks were to contest the possession could unravel the adverse possession claim. In the meantime, few people are likely to be sympathetic with the Shapiros taking property from a neighbor. Adverse possession rarely sits well with people, but it is more palatable when the owner has been absent and dilatory.
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Here, the owners are very much present and vocal.
The optics are also worsened by the fact that the state has been struggling to address a squatting crisis where people occupy other people's homes and then refuse to leave during years of litigation. Shapiro is accused of being a squatter with a state trooper contingent to back him up. It is not clear what would be worse for Shapiro - to lose or to win in taking his neighbor's property without compensation.
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The dispute has already made its way into the political arena, where Shapiro is running for re-election. One of his opponents, Stacy Garrity, posted a Valentine's Day message on social media with Shapiro's face that said: "I love you more than I love my neighbor's yard."
The fact is that there are credible arguments on both sides of this dispute. For Shapiro, the question is whether he can afford to win.
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Jonathan Turley is a Fox News Media contributor and the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University.
He is the author of the new book "Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution" (Simon & Schuster, Feb 3, 2026), on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
He is a nationally recognized legal scholar who has written extensively in areas ranging from constitutional law to legal history to the Supreme Court. He has written over three dozen academic articles that have appeared in a variety of leading law journals.
Professor Turley also served as counsel in some of the most notable cases in the last two decades including the representation of whistleblowers, military personnel, former cabinet members, judges, members of Congress, and a wide range of other clients.
Professor Turley testified more than 50 times before the House and Senate on constitutional and statutory issues, including the Senate confirmation hearings of cabinet members and jurists such as Justice Neil Gorsuch. He also appeared as an expert witness in both the impeachment hearings of President Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
Professor Turley received his B.A. at the University of Chicago and his J.D. at Northwestern. In 2008, he was given an honorary Doctorate of Law from John Marshall Law School for his contributions to civil liberties and the public interest.
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Trump's new leader for DHS, briefly explained.
A major change is underway at the top of the Department of Homeland Security.
In the first Cabinet shakeup of his second term, President Donald Trump has tapped Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R) to take the lead on his “mass deportation” goals. The change comes after Kristi Noem was fired from her position as Homeland Security secretary. Mullin's confirmation hearing in the Senate will be held next week.
Mullin, a plumber-turned-MMA fighter-turned-firebrand politician, has branded himself as a political outsider in Congress — and MAGA ultra-loyalist. Trump's new Homeland Security pick comes after Noem's leadership was increasingly scrutinized in the wake of the killings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal agents.
As DHS has found itself at the center of controversies, funding battles, and public outrage, what will Mullin's appointment bring to the agency?
“If you look at a lot of Trump's Cabinet secretaries, he doesn't really go with the most qualified choice at times,” Reese Gorman, political reporter at NOTUS, told Today, Explained. “Trump really tends to pick people who he likes and also just who would give him loyalty. That tends to be one of the main things that Trump looks for when appointing people to the Cabinet.”
Gorman has covered Mullin's political rise for years. He joined Today, Explained host Sean Rameswaram to break down who Mullin is and what his vision might be for the future of the Department of Homeland Security.
Below is an excerpt of their conversation, edited for length and clarity. There's much more in the full episode, so listen to Today, Explained wherever you get podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.
We have to start with his name, Markwayne. Where does that come from?
So his two uncles were named Mark and Wayne and they combined the names to Markwayne. And at some point, his parents thought that they would drop one of them, but he just kept them. And it's just a very Oklahoma name, Markwayne Mullin.
And what's his origin story? How'd he get into politics?
So Markwayne Mullin is is a member of the Cherokee Nation, one of the few Native American citizens in Congress. That is something that he is really proud of that he talks a lot about. He is also from Stilwell, Oklahoma, which is one of the poorest cities in the United States. He grew up there…and he never graduated college, he has an associate's degree, he started a plumbing company.
And as someone who went to college there and worked there for a while, I would see Mullin Plumbing vans all over the state.
Huh!
It's one of the biggest plumbing companies in the state. And he decided to run for Congress as this outsider, where his tagline [was] “Not a politician, a businessman.”
And in the Senate and in the House, he has a reputation for being something of a fighter, which comes from his reputation from being an actual fighter!
He was an actual professional MMA fighter.
Okay, but most pertinent to our conversation today is that President Trump likes this guy. President Trump has a soft spot for this hard dude from Oklahoma. How did their relationship develop?
Their relationship developed really early on. Markwayne is somebody that, to his credit, is really good at building relationships. And so in Trump's first term, that was no different. He was really close with Trump. … The relationship really grew when Markwayne Mullin's son had a really traumatic injury, almost life-threatening injury, from wrestling. … He had to be flown out to California to a specialty hospital to be operated on. It was a really scary moment for Mullin and his family. Trump would visit his son at one point and would routinely call weekly to check in on Mullin and his son.
And Mullin really credits that to his growing relationship with Trump.
And what was it that turned Trump against Kristi Noem?
The straw that broke the camel's back was her answer to a hearing question last week by Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, where he asked if Trump had approved of this $220 million ad campaign which looked almost as though a political ad, and she said that Trump had signed off on it, which incensed Trump. He was adamant that he did not approve this.
When she was asked about her alleged affair with her adviser, Corey Lewandowski, and she did not say no, she just completely dodged the question, said she was appalled that it was even being asked — that was something that also infuriated Trump.
Has Mullin said how he wants to run DHS differently than, you know, Kristi Noem did?
Following the death of Alex Pretti when he was shot and killed by Border Patrol in Minnesota, Mullin's statement was not much different from Kristi Noem's. He didn't go as far as to say he was a domestic terrorist, as Noem had said. I think that you won't necessarily see a lot of change maybe in the rhetoric or the mission of deporting people who are here illegally.
But what I think you might see is more loyalty to Trump. Noem was constantly on TV getting ahead of the administration, and was really obsessed with the visuals of it all. And so I think maybe some of that might change, the visuals of it. But the actual overall mission is still going to be this mass deportation effort of people who are here illegally.
And as much as Republicans in Congress may have wanted leadership change at the Department of Homeland Security, they haven't yet come out and said, “We want a policy change from the White House.”
Not at least publicly. There's definitely members who I talk to on a daily basis [who] do express some [reservations] about the administration's efforts right now, but they are afraid to go on the record. Being a Republican and criticizing the administration is not great for your political success. And so a lot of these members are afraid to criticize this publicly. But it is a real concern that a lot of them have, especially vulnerable members. The optics of this are really not good.
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It would give $3,000 to every American in a household earning less than $150,000.
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President Donald Trump‘s gamble that rising oil prices are good for the American economy may not be an effective messaging strategy with voters in a midterm year where affordability will be a key issue.
As gas prices have risen to more than $3 per gallon, Trump took to social media to claim, “When oil prices go up, we make a lot of money.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), a key White House ally on Capitol Hill, bluntly told CNN Americans “can live with” higher gas prices as Trump attempts to block Iran from nuclear powers.
IN FOCUS: TRUMP CLOSED THE GAP BETWEEN RHETORIC AND ACTION ON IRAN
“President Trump is committed to achieving that goal, and if that means prices go up for a time, I think Americans understand, we can live with that,” he continued.
But for voters already struggling with the cost of living expenses, paying more at the pump because of the Iran war may not be something they're willing to endure. They could also take out their anger on the GOP at the ballot box.
“It's tough to ask Americans to endure more pain when this President was elected to stop it. The President's success in lowering prices at the pump is somewhat of a double-edged sword,” a former administration official told the Washington Examiner.
“Many Americans are now used to cheaper gas and appreciate it, but they also don't want to see prices rise again — even though prices remain lower than during much of the Biden administration,” the official continued. “Many Americans can stomach some price fluctuation, but asking them to endure pain for a war they didn't even know existed is a stretch. This isn't World War II, and going to the gas station isn't buying a war bond.”
According to the AAA, the national average price of gas is $3.63, nearly two weeks after the joint U.S.-Israel operation against Iran began. Just two days before Operation Epic Fury began, the national average price of gas was $2.98. Oil prices have also risen to above $100 per barrel.
Trump has claimed the U.S. has won the Iran war, but he has also claimed that the war will end when Iran presents an “unconditional surrender.”
A prolonged war, along with rising gas prices, could put increased pressure on the Trump administration ahead of a tough midterm cycle.
“I think that that falls flat as a message to the American people, because ultimately they're experiencing this oil price in a very personalized way,” said Cayce Myers, a professor at Virginia Tech's School of Communication.
“Nothing really impacts affordability issues like the price of gas, because there's not only just the price of the gasoline itself for consumption,” said Myers. “But also this sort of trickle-down effect that it has within goods, and so other prices may rise as a result of gas prices.”
Trump has restarted his affordability tour across the nation, but rising gas prices undercut his messaging as the weather is beginning to warm up, and the public looks to travel for vacations.
One GOP strategist compared Trump's new messaging strategy to his predecessor's unsuccessful attempts to reassure the American public over the economy.
“It's Bidenesque in its delusion. Americans aren't stupid,” said the strategist, who asked for anonymity to speak candidly. “They know that higher gas prices affect everything.”
ENERGY MARKETS FACE ‘HEART ATTACK' AS GULF INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETED IN IRAN CONFLICT
Former President Joe Biden's administration repeatedly tried to counter that the economy was rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic despite attacks from then-candidate Trump that the average family was still struggling.
Trump is risking falling into the Biden trap by asking Americans to endure higher prices for a war in the Middle East.
But another GOP strategist, Gregg Keller, said that “any chance that President Trump gets to remind folks that under him, gas prices have been in the neighborhood of $3 a gallon, while under President Biden, they were under $5 a gallon, is a great opportunity.”
“Gas prices are always going to go up and down; that's the nature of dynamic pricing environments,” Keller also added.
The White House has also taken an aggressive stance in defending the war, both online and in the media.
“The Administration's focus is on achieving the clearly defined objectives outlined by President Trump for Operation Epic Fury. President Trump has been clear that these are short-term disruptions,” said Taylor Rogers, White House spokeswoman. “Ultimately, once the military objectives are completed and the Iranian terrorist regime is neutralized, oil and gas prices will drop rapidly again, potentially even lower than before the strikes began. As a result, American families will benefit greatly in the long-term.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed during a briefing this week that the president had anticipated disruption to the global markets.
“That's why President Trump and his energy team have been planning for this long before the strike and have moved quickly to address these temporary disruptions,” Leavitt told reporters. “Thus far, the Trump administration has offered political risk insurance to tankers operating in the Gulf, the Treasury temporarily waived certain oil-related sanctions, and the commander in chief has offered the U.S. Navy to escort tankers when necessary.”
THE DEMOCRATS WHO COULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028
Ultimately, Trump will have the final say in how long the administration and allies continue to convince the public that higher prices are good. His administration has already promised to release the nation's oil reserves to relieve pressure and has eased sanctions on Russian oil, to the consternation of European leaders.
“At the end of the day, Trump's going to do what he thinks is right in that moment. Sometimes it's good, sometimes not so good,” said the GOP strategist who asked for anonymity.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Soldier Field is seen for an MLS soccer match between the Chicago Fire and the CF Montréal, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton, File)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A turf war over a football team is developing between two Midwestern states with a sometimes-discordant history.
The storied Chicago Bears want to leave historic Soldier Field, where they've played for half a century. Indiana lawmakers are attempting to lure them from the Windy City with a plan to finance and build a domed stadium in Hammond, Indiana, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from their current home on Lake Michigan's shore.
The Illinois General Assembly has responded with legislation that would give tax breaks to so-called megaprojects of at least $100 million, a plan that would encompass the Bears' proposal to build a complex in the northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, about the same distance from Soldier Field as Hammond.
Critics complain it's a bad deal for Illinois, where property taxes are already among the highest in the nation — especially when taxpayers still owe hundreds of millions of dollars on a Soldier Field renovation from two decades ago.
Here's a look at what's shaping up to be a showdown.
The Bears, one of only two remaining NFL founding members, are legend. Their nine championships, including a Super Bowl win, are second only to the rival Green Bay Packers — though recent decades have brought mostly heartbreak. The franchise carries an $8.9 billion price tag, among the most valuable of the NFL's 32 teams, according to Forbes.
Born in the central Illinois city of Decatur in 1920, the Bears have called Chicago home for 105 years. Losing them to the Hoosier State would be a major thumb in the eye.
With 61,500 seats, it's the NFL's smallest. The Bears have always rented their facilities — the Cubs' Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970, and Soldier Field, maintained by the Chicago Park District, since. Like most teams, they want to own a stadium, giving them control over operations, scheduling and revenue streams from ticket sales, concessions, parking, naming rights and more.
And Soldier Field is open air. An enclosed facility would allow for other marquee sporting events: Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours or WrestleMania, for instance.
Along with the states' established cultural and economic differences and an intense college basketball rivalry, the political fissure between Democrat-dominated Chicago and conservative Indiana has widened. It amped up last year when Indiana adopted a commission to study changing the state's boundaries to include some central Illinois counties whose voters have approved ballot measures calling for secession from Chicagoland.
The Bears have threatened to leave Chicago previously. When they broached moving in 1975, then-Mayor Richard J. Daley replied, “Like hell they will.”
But the City of Big Shoulders heaved an anxious sigh in 2023 when the Bears paid about $200 million for a 326-acre (132-hectare) former horse-racing track in Arlington Heights. They have envisioned a $5 billion, taxpayer-assisted development for a domed stadium and campus of housing, hotels, entertainment and retail space.
In 2024, the Bears offered a $5 billion plan, partially taxpayer-funded, for an enclosed stadium next to Soldier Field, which garnered little interest in the capital of Springfield. Late last fall, the team turned to Indiana.
Indiana's lure creates the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance, construct and lease a domed stadium near Wolf Lake in Hammond. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed it into law on Feb. 26. The Bears would agree to a 35-year lease. Borrowed state money would cover the as-yet-unknown cost of construction, repaid by increased local hospitality taxes.
In Illinois, majority Democrats have advanced legislation in the House that would provide incentives for any so-called megaproject of at least $500 million — or less, down to $100 million, depending on the number of jobs created. Developers would pay property taxes frozen at the parcel's pre-construction value for as long as 45 years. During that time, they would make annual payments in lieu of taxes negotiated with local governments. There would also be a sales tax exemption on building materials for up to 15 years.
Opponents say the Illinois legislation, with its decades-long property tax freeze, would simply mean increased taxes for homeowners and other businesses — the payment in lieu of taxes would be a bonus.
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who supports the plan, last week countered that the proposal would encourage development on land that isn't producing property taxes while ensuring increased revenue for local governments.
Meanwhile, a substantial debt remains on the last accommodation. Taxpayers in 2001 put up $399 million to finance a $587 million renovation of Soldier Field. With interest, the remaining tab is $467 million, according to the state's Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
The Bears' $7 million annual lease runs through 2033. Breaking it would cost the Bears a $10.5 million penalty for each year left on the agreement.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
The U.S. Capitol is seen at sunrise March 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., gives an interview before President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., arrives for a meeting with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., at the Capitol in Washington, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Police tape hangs outside the Temple Israel synagogue Friday, March 13, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a Rental Ripoff Hearing at Fordham University on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Anti-Muslim rhetoric from some Republicans in Congress intensified this week against the backdrop of the Iran war, with multiple lawmakers — including one who said “Muslims don't belong in American society” — drawing condemnation from Democrats for their remarks but little pushback from GOP leaders.
The derogatory language has been percolating among Republican officials for months, often prominent when criticizing New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim. But against the backdrop of the Iran war, a country with an overwhelmingly Muslim population, and attacks at a synagogue in Michigan and a college in Virginia, the tone sharpened this week.
“The enemy is inside our gates,” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville wrote Thursday in response to a photo of Mamdani sitting on the ground during an iftar dinner at New York City Hall. The photo was juxtaposed with a picture of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Hours later, Tuberville doubled down: “To be clear, I didn't ‘suggest' Islamists are the enemy. I said it plainly.”
The rhetoric intensified Friday as GOP lawmakers responded to the attacks in Michigan and Virginia by urging a halt to all immigration into the United States. Some singled out Muslims specifically.
For many Muslims, it's a political moment that carries echoes from the early 2000s, when the 9/11 attacks and the Afghanistan and Iraq wars generated hostility toward Muslim communities in the United States, often accompanied by discrimination and racist violence.
“When members of Congress speak, it's not just words,” said Iman Awad, the national director for policy and advocacy for the Muslim American advocacy group Emgage Action. “It shapes public perception. It legitimizes prejudice.”
Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles in his social media post stated flatly that Muslims don't belong in the United States. He stood behind it after criticism mounted, later writing that “paperwork doesn't magically make you American” and that “Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back.”
Asked about Ogles' post on Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had spoken to members “about our tone and our message and what we say.” He said Ogles used “different language than I would use,” but added that he believes the issue raised by the comments is “serious.”
“There's a lot of energy in the country, and a lot of popular sentiment that the demand to impose Sharia law in America is a serious problem,” Johnson said. “That's what animates this.”
Sharia is a religious framework that guides many Muslims' moral and spiritual conduct. References to “Sharia law” have often been invoked by officials to suggest Muslims are attempting to impose religious practices on communities in the United States.
Many Republicans point to a Muslim-centered planned community near Dallas as proof of “Sharia law” — though the developers have denied the allegations and said they are being targeted because they are Muslim.
With Johnson not condemning Ogles' remarks — or to recent comments from Florida Rep. Randy Fine that “the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one” — the anti-Muslim rhetoric grew louder. After the photo circulated of Mamdani at the iftar dinner, several Republicans responded with critical posts.
Democrats broadly condemned the GOP messages. Chuck Schumer, the leader of Senate Democrats, called Tuberville's post “mindless hate.”
“Islamophobic hate like this is fundamentally un-American and we must confront and overcome it whenever it rears its ugly head,” Schumer said.
Mamdani — in response to Tuberville's post that “the enemy is inside our gates” — said: “Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers.”
Federal officials identified a man who rammed his vehicle into a hallway at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, this week as a naturalized citizen born in Lebanon. Officials have said that the man had lost four family members in an Israeli airstrike in his native Lebanon last week, just after sunset as they were having their fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan
In Virginia, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University before ROTC students subdued and killed him. Court documents showed that he had previously served time for attempting to aid the Islamic State and was released less than two years ago.
Some Republican lawmakers claimed vindication for their views. Others pushed for legislation. Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer, the House GOP's whip, said “the security of our nation hinges on our ability to denaturalize and deport terrorists.”
West Virginia Rep. Riley Moore said he would introduce a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who “commits an act of terrorism, plots to commit an act of terrorism, joins a terrorist organization or otherwise aids and abets terrorism against the American people.”
Similar rhetoric and policy pushes have surfaced before and drawn controversy. Last year, protesters connected to demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war were arrested and targeted by authorities, including former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist the government has sought to detain and deport.
Middle East conflicts bringing domestic tensions is nothing new. With the war in Gaza, both Muslim and Jewish communities have faced faith-based discrimination and attacks.
Mamdani said the posts invoking the 9/11 attacks are problematic not just because of the words, but because of “the actions that often accompany them.”
“I think too of the smaller indignities, the indignities that many New Yorkers face, but that Muslims are expected to face in silence,” Mamdani said. “Of the exhaustion of having to explain yourself to those who are not interested in understanding. Of the men who introduce themselves by their given name only to be called Muhammad for years on end.”
The stark silence from Republican leaders, including President Donald Trump, reflects a broader change in the party. After the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, Republican President George W. Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., to explicitly warn against Muslim discrimination.
“America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country,” Bush said during the visit, adding: “They need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect.”
“Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior,” Bush said.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Since Italy became a country in 1861, there has been a surefire way to know who is and isn't an Italian citizen: look at their parents.
The first page of the civil code, published in 1865 as the rulebook to Europe's newest country, declared that a child born to an Italian citizen was an Italian citizen.
This founding tenet of the Bel Paese now looks set to change — ending diaspora dreams of returning to the mother country, and meaning that Italians who move abroad risk denying citizenship to their descendants.
On Thursday the Constitutional Court said it would rule in favor of the government and its controversial 2025 law that restricted citizenship for those born abroad. The law — issued last March via emergency decree — had been challenged by four judges, who questioned its constitutionality.
Now, after the first of four hearings was held on Wednesday, a statement issued by the court indicates it will support the government's position.
“The Constitutional Court has declared the questions of constitutional legitimacy raised by the Turin court partially unfounded and partially inadmissible,” the court announced. It is expected to release a detailed verdict within the coming weeks.
The announcement will be a devastating blow for those who believed the court would uphold Italy's 160-year history of citizenship by descent, or ius sanguinis.
“It was an extremely clear, harsh intervention, so I had a hope that it would be judged in breach of some constitutional points, but that wasn't recognized by the court,” professor Corrado Caruso, one of the lawyers who made a case against the new law, told CNN.
Italy's citizenship rules have been bound up with its diaspora since the country was formed.
Previously, Italians who moved abroad could pass citizenship to their children as long as they didn't renounce or lose it, often by acquiring another nationality. What many now see as the country of the “dolce vita” was once an impoverished nation that, between 1861 and 1918, saw 16 million citizens emigrate for a better life.
Many who left out of necessity rather than volition considered themselves Italian for life, and chose to retain their citizenship while living and working abroad — meaning that citizenship, along with cultural traditions, was passed down the generations.
Established in 1865, the principle of ius sanguinis was confirmed in Italy's first targeted citizenship law in 1912, which added a clause stipulating that Italians born and residing abroad would retain their citizenship, and then again in a law in 1992.
However, a law introduced on March 28 last year by emergency decree states that only those with a parent or grandparent born in Italy will be recognized as citizens. It also effectively outlaws dual citizenship for the diaspora, as that parent or grandparent must have held solely Italian citizenship at the time of their descendant's birth, or at their own death if it came earlier.
There have long been complaints on both sides about foreign-born descendants acquiring citizenship.
For those born abroad, obtaining recognition is a long and costly process. They must source birth, marriage and death certificates from their ancestors' hometowns (which can take years, at a cost of up to 300 euros per document), prove that nobody in their ancestral line lost their citizenship, then win an appointment at their local consulate, where waiting lists can stretch to 10 years — if they are able to get a spot on it.
Hiring a lawyer to sue the government can speed up the process, but costs can run to the tens of thousands of euros for a family.
What's more, women were not able to transmit citizenship until 1948, meaning descendants of Italian women who gave birth before then are blocked from recognition. Since 2009 many have successfully sued the state for gender discrimination — if they can afford it. They too have now seen the door slammed shut.
Meanwhile, Italy's regional courts are clogged with thousands of citizenship cases, while consulates are inundated by applications.
Between 2014 and 2024, the number of Italian citizens residing abroad increased from 4.6 million to 6.4 million, Italy's foreign ministry said at the time of passing the decree. Argentina's Italian consulates processed 30,000 applications in 2024, up by 10,000 from the previous year.
These Americans are clinging to hope for Italian citizenship
“The granting of citizenship was perceived as problematic for various reasons,” said Caruso, who is a professor of law at Bologna University. “There were lots of requests, the consulates couldn't keep up. There was an idea that descendants had tenuous links to Italy over time. They were considered to not take part in civil duties — they weren't in the country, they didn't pay tax. What's more, there was a geopolitical question. These citizens could move around the world on their Italian passports, so maybe there was some pressure from Italy's historical allies.
“I wasn't optimistic about our chances, because I could tell that the government and their lawyers felt extremely strongly about this reform.It was politically huge. So there were interests at stake.”
Citizenship by descent has not always been so unpopular. At the Tokyo Olympics, 12% of the Italian national team were born abroad, including 10 in the US. And three months before introducing the new decree, Argentina's right-wing president Javier Milei, an ally of prime minister Giorgia Meloni, was granted citizenship by descent on a state visit to Italy.
While Italy slams the door on its diaspora, the country continues to deal with a shrinking and ageing population.
In 2024, a record 155,732 Italians emigrated, and over half a million residents left the country between 2020 and 2024. Most emigrants left from Sicily, where enterprising local authorities have tried to redress the balance by tempting back Italian descendants from abroad. In Mussomeli, a town known for its one-euro homes project, Argentinian doctors were recruited to staff the ailing local hospital. Such projects will no longer be possible under the new citizenship restrictions.
“This has cut loose a vast number of descendants who had requested recognition but hadn't been given an appointment,” said Caruso. “There is now disparity within nuclear families. One sibling might have citizenship, but another couldn't get the same treatment.”
The state's legal counsel successfully argued that descendants who had, until now, been considered to have been born citizens, were in fact born with the expectation of citizenship — and if they hadn't officially claimed it by 2025, they had a “fictitious link” with the country and had lost their right to it.
Verdicts of the constitutional court cannot be appealed and Caruso was downbeat. “I don't want to lose hope,” he said. “Maybe it's not the end of the war but it will be a difficult war.” Although the constitutional court still has the two other referrals to consider, he believes that descendants' last hope will be at EU courts. “Anyone who's already filed their case should ask the judge to refer it to Luxembourg,” he said, adding that he did not advise anyone who had yet to file to go ahead.
Not everyone is so downbeat, however. Another citizenship lawyer, Marco Mellone, told CNN that things could still change.
“This doesn't mean the new law is 100% valid and forever,” he said. “There is still space for argument for cases brought by Italian judges to the constitutional court. In July 2025, the constitutional court issued a judgment saying that descendants had a right to Italian citizenship at birth, from birth. They changed their opinion I suppose. It is very weird.”
Mellone plans to take aim at the new law in his separate April 14 hearing at the Court of Cassation, Italy's highest legal authority, whose opinion trumps that of the constitutional court.
Italy changes law on right to claim citizenship through great-grandparents
“This is a very sad day for millions of people, but I didn't study law for 25 years to see this kind of thing happen,” he said. “Descendants were born Italian citizens. If you are a citizen at birth, you have a right that nobody can touch. You can't say, what I said when you were born was not true, you're not an Italian citizen anymore. You can't say, I was joking. This is the first step in a long battle.”
He advised that descendants with a case already going through the courts should request a postponement until the fall. For those who haven't yet filed, he suggested waiting.
“With this judgment … it'll be much more work for lawyers now than before, but I'm still confident,” he said. “A little less confident than last week. But while the battle is lost, the war is not.”
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Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) has proposed a multimillion-dollar plan for the Minnesota government to take over the handling of locally administered Medicaid funds, placing in charge the state agency that was responsible for allowing healthcare fraud to proliferate.
Walz unveiled the costly proposal, which would drastically shift oversight duties from counties across the state onto the Minnesota Department of Human Services, during a Tuesday press conference.
DHS, the state's Medicaid agency, is currently facing a third-party investigation into its fraud-ridden social services after criminal networks stole millions of Medicaid dollars from Minnesota's federally funded public assistance programs.
The federal government has since threatened to withhold the state's Medicaid payments, and Minnesota DHS sued in response to immediately unblock the flow of Medicaid funds.
Walz billed his proposed overhaul of Minnesota's Medicaid reimbursement and enrollment system this week as a centralized approach to combating widespread billing schemes in DHS programs.
The sweeping changes, if passed by the state legislature, would consolidate all Medicaid billing under a fee-for-service model through which the state directly pays providers for services rendered.
Minnesota currently contracts with insurance companies to pay out Medicaid claims, and they manage the overwhelming majority of submissions billed to the safety net system. These private insurers, classified as managed care organizations, administer more than 80% of Minnesota's Medicaid benefits.
Widely considered the first line of defense against fraud, MCOs have the power to freeze Medicaid funds for suspected fraudulent activity and are contractually obligated to report credible findings of fraud to DHS.
HOW MINNESOTA'S SOMALI FRAUD INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX HAS STOLEN MILLIONS FROM MEDICAID
MCOs are incentivized by the terms of their contract with the government to identify fraud because they receive capitation rates: Fixed amounts of money paid upfront for the predicted cost of care. In this arrangement, the financial risk is transferred from the state to MCOs, as they must cover all agreed-upon costs, regardless of actual services rendered. In practice, if MCOs fail to stop fraud, they lose money and won't break even.
Hennepin Health, a county-run MCO based out of Minneapolis, sounded the alarm about rampant fraud in the state's Housing Stabilization Services over a year before DHS cut off Medicaid payments to the program. In fact, HSS was so riddled with fraud that DHS ultimately had to shut it down.
Staff at Hennepin Health sent DHS several fraud referrals, flagging improper billing patterns among certain HSS providers, missing or falsified documentation, and fabricated records, including for services supposedly provided long after clients had died.
DHS, however, continued to pay questionable HSS providers despite Hennepin Health's repeated warnings. Hennepin Health banned those suspicious businesses from billing its own clients, but DHS allowed them to continue billing other insurance providers.
In addition to Walz eliminating MCO contracts and establishing, in their place, a single state-managed claims processing system, DHS would determine who is eligible to enroll in Medicaid, rather than individual counties.
Minnesota's healthcare system is supervised by the state but delivered at the local level by the state's 87 counties.
It is unclear how many county officials would lose their jobs if the vetting of Medicaid applicants were shifted to DHS.
Walz argued that the state takeover of Medicaid disbursements and the eligibility process would “streamline” the system, which he called “antiquated,” moving it away from the “complex, layered” patchwork of counties and MCOs to a single entity.
“We think this is a way of simplification,” Walz said. “It's a way to use best practices, AI, and what that does is take the burden off the counties, the managed care organizations. And that gives the state and the taxpayers a much more transparent view on how the system works.”
Walz added, “It's antiquated computer systems. It's decentralized control.”
The transition project is projected to cost taxpayers $72 million to carry out, including $17 million in the first fiscal period and another $55 million in the following budget cycle.
Initial estimates did not indicate exactly how much Walz's proposal would cost in terms of technology fees to upgrade DHS's computer software.
Some lawmakers, including Democratic leadership in the Minnesota legislature, pushed back on Walz's plan to give DHS greater control over Medicaid's administration in the state.
The governor would need GOP support to pass the proposal that would extensively expand DHS's role. Republicans, who control half of the Minnesota House, pointed out that DHS failed to detect fraud for years.
“To put more responsibility on a state agency that acts irresponsibly, to me, is just a very stark, bad idea,” Republican state Rep. Paul Torkelson, co-chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters outside the governor's Minnesota state Capitol office.
MINNESOTA'S FRAUD DEBACLE DEMANDS ELECTED WATCHDOGS IN EVERY STATE
Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman, chairman of the Senate Human Services Committee, accused Walz of not collaborating with the legislative body on the proposed project beforehand, nor of notifying committee members.
In a statement, Hoffman said he was “disappointed to learn about this proposal just last night without a thorough conversation with the committee that has primary jurisdiction over Minnesota's human services system.”
“Major structural changes to a system that serves hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans require thoughtful collaboration between the executive branch and the legislature,” Hoffman said, noting that his committee “exists specifically to examine these types of proposals, hear from stakeholders, and ensure reforms are implemented responsibly.”
Walz acknowledged that he will “need legislative buy-in,” but insisted that his office has the authority to spearhead such efforts independently.
“The executive branch is responsible for carrying these out,” Walz said in response at Tuesday's news briefing. “And to be very candid, we're telling you that the way some of these things are structured are antiquated.”
Walz has faced criticism in recent weeks for a series of other administrative actions.
Late last month, Walz permanently appointed the official who oversaw the agency's financial operations at the time much of the healthcare fraud occurred as DHS commissioner.
THESE ARE THE WALZ APPOINTEES WHO FAILED TO STOP RAMPANT MINNESOTA FRAUD
The Washington Examiner found that Optum, the “third-party” auditor that DHS had hired via a $2.3 million contract to investigate patterns of Medicaid fraud, previously received millions in state Medicaid funds through DHS. An initial Optum report released on the audit's findings contained completely blacked-out pages full of redactions.
Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins, chairwoman of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, questioned whether Optum has flagged any of its own providers in the audit.
“The majority of the report was redacted, so I don't know what they found,” Robbins told the Washington Examiner. “The frustrating thing to me, as a legislator, is that they say they're on it, and they're finding fraud, and they're flagging all these vulnerabilities, except they can't possibly tell us what they are.”
“Yet they want us to spend millions and millions of dollars on technology upgrades,” Robbins said. “Well, until we understand better what the vulnerabilities are, we're not writing them a blank check.”
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
The FBI says ROTC students in an Old Dominion University classroom subdued and killed the shooter who killed one person and wounded two other.
Emergency officials gather outside Old Dominion University's campus after reports of an active shooter on Thursday, March 12, 2026 in Norfolk, Va. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — The man who opened fire in a classroom at Virginia's Old Dominion University completed a drug treatment program that allowed him early release from federal prison, even though he was convicted of a terrorism charge that should have disqualified him from that benefit.
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2017 to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State group, and was released about 2½ years early, according to prison records.
The federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Friday that Jalloh was released in December 2024 because of a loophole in a legal provision that allows some inmates to shave time off their sentences by completing a substance abuse treatment program.
The agency told The Associated Press that it has since closed the loophole and has changed its policies to bar inmates with terrorism-related convictions from being released in that manner. It said that its previous attempts to update a list of excluded offenses had stalled in negotiations with the union representing correctional workers, the Bureau of Prisons said.
Since canceling the union contract last year “not one inmate with terrorism related charges has received time credit” for completing the drug treatment program, the agency said.
Under federal law, violent offenders aren't eligible for sentence reductions through the prison system's drug treatment program. The program, known as RDAP, is typically available only to inmates with drug-related charges, which Jalloh didn't have.
“It's highly insulting to put the blame on the union. We have no say so in that,” union official and former correctional worker Jose Rojas said.
Jalloh, a former Virginia Army National Guard member who authorities said was taking online classes at the university, killed one person and wounded two other people in Thursday's shooting. ROTC students subdued and killed him.
Some elected officials questioned how someone with known ties to the Islamic State group was able to carry out such an attack.
“The horrific tragedy that occurred today on ODU's campus never should have happened,” U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents the congressional district neighboring the university, wrote on Facebook.
Jalloh had been incarcerated at a low-security federal prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, and was was transferred to a residential reentry center, or halfway house, in the Baltimore area in August 2024, the Bureau of Prisons said. He was released from federal custody on Dec. 23, 2024.
Jalloh was on probation, known as supervised release in the federal system, when he attacked Old Dominion on Thursday. Based on his release date, that would've run into 2029.
A probation officer visited Jalloh's Sterling, Virginia, home every six months and was last there in November, according to a law enforcement affidavit filed Friday against a man charged with supplying a gun to Jalloh.
Jalloh's October 2016 plea came after a three-month sting operation in which he, then 26, confessed to an undercover FBI agent that he was thinking about carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, which left 13 people dead. Authorities launched the 2016 operation after Jalloh made contact with members of the Islamic State group in Africa earlier that year.
Jalloh later told the informant that the Islamic State group had asked if he wanted to participate in an attack. He tried to donate $500 to the group, but the money actually went to an account controlled by the FBI, according to court documents.
Jalloh then tried to buy an AR-15 assault rifle from a Virginia gun store but was turned away because he lacked the proper paperwork. The affidavit says he returned the next day and bought a different assault rifle. Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh. He was arrested the following day.
The Justice Department in 2017 requested a 20-year prison sentence for Jalloh, noting that he had made multiple attempts to join the Islamic State group and had attempted to acquire a gun to carry out a murder plot.
“The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing, and the consequences of those actions. His only misgivings seemed to be a fear that he would waver at the critical moment,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
They added: “By putting the idea of this murder plot into religious terms, and by suggesting that murdering members of the US military would be a path to heaven, the defendant showed how strongly committed he was to the deadly ideology” of the Islamic State group.
Jalloh's lawyers asked for a sentence of 6½ years in prison and requested that he be placed in a facility that provides residential drug treatment for inmates with addiction and substance abuse issues.
U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, sentenced him instead to 11 years in prison, with credit for time served in jail since his July 2016 arrest.
The judge also ordered Jalloh to participate in a program for substance abuse testing and treatment, mental health treatment, and requested that he be evaluated for the federal prison system's residential drug program.
Completing the Residential Drug Abuse Program can reduce an inmate's prison sentence by up to a year, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.
In addition, some inmates who stay out of trouble in prison can reduce their sentence by earning up to 54 days of good conduct time credit for each year of their sentence. However, under the 2018 prison reform law known as the First Step Act, inmates convicted of terrorism-related offenses are not eligible for such credit.
Little is publicly known about Jalloh, who was a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone. But court documents depict him as a troubled man who was radicalized by Anwar al-Awlaki, a well-known American imam who became an al-Qaida propagandist.
The Virginia Army National Guard confirmed he served as a specialist from 2009 until 2015, when he was honorably discharged. Jalloh told a government informant he quit the National Guard after hearing lectures from al-Awlaki, according to a 2016 FBI affidavit filed in his criminal case.
In a letter to the federal judge that presided over his sentencing, Jalloh wrote: “I feel deep regret in having been driven by my emotions rather than my intellect and becoming involved with such an evil organization. … I reject and deplore terrorism and any groups associated with it, especially ISIL.”
He wrote that he started using drugs after his girlfriend ended their six-year relationship.
“The pain I felt internally was unbearable, and drugs and alcohol were the only things that took that pain away,” Jalloh wrote. “I started doing marijuana, coke and mushrooms using one of them at least on a daily basis in order to kill the pain I was in and to fill in the void I felt internally.”
The letter itself remains under seal, but his lawyer included excerpts of it in his sentencing memorandum.
___
Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Luana Lopes Lara, co-founder of Kalshi, spends all day thinking about probabilities. Coming out of an elite math degree background and positions at some of the most successful hedge funds in the world, a mindset focused on thinking clearly about potential outcomes comes naturally to her. But the youngest self-made female billionaire ever still had to overcome steep odds in betting on herself and that she could build the largest prediction markets trading business in the U.S. She says it would not have happened without an approach to risk-taking that many people, especially women, don't follow.
Kalshi, founded in 2018 by Lopes Lara and Tarek Mansour as MIT classmates, allows users to trade contracts tied to real world outcomes in areas as diverse as weather, sports, pop culture, economics, and politics. Users buy "yes" or "no" contracts tied to whether an event will occur, and prices reflect that probability.
But the seemingly simple idea took years to become a new type of regulated financial market, with the co-founders facing many government battles and skepticism from their own board. When Lopes Lara and Mansour first started on the project, many people told them it would not work. "[It] was many, many years of it looking like it was going nowhere," Lopes Lara told CNBC's Julia Boorstin during the latest episode of the "CNBC Changemakers and Power Players" podcast.
Lopes Lara was named to the 2026 CNBC Changemakers list.
Kalshi spent years navigating the regulatory process before receiving approval from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission in 2020, which oversees derivates markets in the U.S. Lopes Lara said that period tested the founders' belief in the concept. "We talked to a lot of people at the time and they were like, "that's impossible. The odds are lower than 1%. You're never going to make that happen," she recalled.
Being somewhat naive, but also driven given their background working on math degrees at MIT, may have helped the co-founders push forward, she said, even though they had no experience starting companies. "We solved hard math problems, [and] we're going to figure out this regulatory-government problem," she recalled of their mindset. At the end of what she described as "all-nighters" at MIT, "we were like, why don't we just try to do this? Because we're putting so much time into this and at some point we should just probably try and see if we can get this somewhere. If someone is gonna make this happen, it should be us. ... We were so in love with this problem and this idea," she said.
Instead of backing away when regulators raised concerns, the founders repeatedly returned with legal research and data analysis to defend their case for prediction markets. The culmination of the years-long battle was when Lopes Lara made the call to sue the U.S. government over election markets ahead of the 2024 presidential contest after discussions with regulators stalled. "[One of] the biggest events every four years in the world is the American election," Lopes Lara said. "Election markets really are the holy grail."
The company spent more than two years with the CFTC trying to get election markets approved and ultimately Lopes Lara decided, "the only option" the company had was to sue the government.
The forces pushing against her in that decision included the company's board. "For almost two years, at every board meeting, we would go in and tell the board, 'We're working on elections. We're working on elections. We're working on elections.' ... They would always say, 'It's not working. It's not working. It's not working.'"
She had to tell the board that the founders, with her leading the call, had decided to sue even though the board had been advising them to focus on other business opportunities. But to Lopes Lara, it was simple. The odds were in their favor. "It makes no sense to not do this," she recalled thinking at the time. While the board ultimately supported the decision, the month leading up to the court decision was one during which Lopes Lara says, "I didn't sleep. I didn't work out. I was just almost like a potato just walking around trying to handle everything."
Kalshi won the case, and the results speak for themselves. Since that legal precedent, Kalshi has grown to $2 billion in transactions per week. The week of the New York City mayoral election, Kalsi did over $130 million in election-related transaction volume. More recently, Kalshi recorded around $1 billion in trading volume during the Super Bowl. The company recently raised $1 billion from investors at an $11 billion valuation.
Kalshi is continuing to shape events today, with contracts on recession risk from the U.S.-Iran war among trades that have been created tied to recent news. But that growth has not come without controversy, with prediction market trades related to events in Iran and U.S. military actions receiving swift backlash, including from Congress, and broader concerns about insider trading. Kalshi is also involved in multiple legal disputes over whether its contracts should be regulated as gambling under state laws as the gaming industry pours significant resources into lobbying efforts targeting what it sees as a prediction markets loophole.
Lopes Lara said she strongly believes in both the company's legal arguments and its future. However, she first had to map out all of the possible scenarios for the company when first deciding whether to found it, and be prepared for every potential outcome including failure. She used a very Kalshi-esque approach to that decision.
"The best way that I think about making decisions is: you make sure you have all the data that you can about the situation, and then you map out possible scenarios, and then you put probabilities into them," Lopes Lara said.
The approach reflects her broader philosophy regarding risk and entrepreneurship. She believes many people avoid pursuing ambitious ideas because they focus too much on the downside, but in her experience the worst outcome is often less severe than people believe.
"Most people, I see that they're afraid of taking risks ... they're so worried about the downside. They're so worried about what's going to happen if things go wrong. But most of the times people are overthinking it," Lopes Lara said. "If I leave my job to do this ... and it fails, it's over. No, you probably just get another job and you'd be maybe a little bit behind where you are now. And maybe you won't get one promotion, and that's kind of the level of it. It's very easy to trick yourself into rationalizing the fear of taking risk," she said.
"When you actually map out the whole tree, you're going to realize that most of the time it's just not that bad. Obviously, there's a lot of financial risk, all those things, a lot of other considerations. But I think people, especially women, just need to take more risks and be honest with themselves about why they're not doing it. Cause I think a lot of times it's just fear."
Follow and listen to this and every episode of the "CNBC Changemakers and Power Players" podcast on Apple and Spotify.
Disclosure: CNBC and Kalshi have a commercial relationship that includes customer acquisition and a minority investment.
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For many married women, one of the biggest financial transitions of their lives will come when it's least welcome: after the death of their spouse.
Women, on average, live longer than men — a longevity gap that means many wives will outlive their husbands. At birth, the average life span for males in the U.S. is 76.5 years as of 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For women, that average is 81.4 years.
The gap shrinks once you reach age 65. At that point, life expectancy for men is another 18.4 years, or to age 83.4, according to the CDC data. For women, that average is 20.8 years, or age 85.8.
That difference in life span means women are expected to receive most of the spouse-to-spouse wealth that gets passed on during the so-called great wealth transfer. That's a period between 2024 and 2048 when an estimated $124 trillion will be passed on largely by baby boomers — those born 1946 to 1964 — and older generations, according to research from Cerulli Associates.
Of that amount, an estimated $54 trillion will get passed on to widowed spouses — 95% of which will go to women, according to Cerulli Associates. And, $40 trillion of it will go to widowed women who are baby boomers or older, the research shows.
When it comes to women in these older generations, financial advisors say it is common for couples to have embraced the traditional role of the husband managing the investments and long-term planning.
"In many older households, the husband historically has handled most of the financial decisions," said certified financial planner Ryan Marshall, a partner and financial advisor at ELA Financial Group in Wyckoff, New Jersey.
"It's just more common that [older women] hadn't been part of it," Marshall said. "They've been taking care of everything else in the family."
However, that lack of knowledge "can leave the surviving spouse feeling overwhelmed at an already difficult time," Marshall said.
In other words, before you reach that point, it's worth at least knowing where assets are held, how income is generated and who to call with questions.
"The goal is not to make everyone a financial expert, but to ensure the surviving spouse has the familiarity and confidence to navigate the transition," he said.
While many married couples have an estate plan in place for when a spouse dies, others do not.
"If you didn't plan for it in advance, you kind of have to start all over again," said CFP Crystal Cox, a senior vice president for Wealthspire Advisors in Madison, Wisconsin.
"What is your new budget, for instance," Cox said. "Or, before, your portfolio [was based] on a couple's risk tolerance. Now you have to look at it as a single person."
However, in the immediate aftermath of a spouse's death, priorities should be limited to the essentials, Cox said — such as ensuring access to cash, notifying institutions, paying ongoing bills and claiming benefits (from, say, life insurance).
"Once initial grief begins to stabilize — and that timeline is different for everyone — widows can start to revisit the broader financial picture," Cox said.
While the particulars of what any widow faces financially depend on the specifics of their situation, there are a couple of things most widows will face, whether or not there are significant assets.
Your cash flow may be impacted almost immediately. Assuming both spouses were receiving Social Security, the surviving spouse generally keeps the larger of the two benefits, and the smaller one goes away. Depending on the amount of the smaller one, that could result in a notable decrease in income.
"That's a huge impact a lot of people don't think about," Cox said.
The average survivor benefit for Social Security is $1,622.32 monthly, according to January data from the Social Security Administration.
Additionally, if the deceased spouse had a pension, income from it may change, depending on the specifics of the pension plan, Cox said. If it includes survivor's benefits, the amount could be lower than what your spouse was receiving. Or, it could involve a lump-sum payout.
In general, advisors say surviving spouses end up spending less than they did as a couple, but that it doesn't drop by half when one spouse dies.
"In retirement projections, we try to do 60% to 70% income replacement when a spouse passes away," Marshall said. "You still have a lot of those expenses left."
Widowed spouses should be prepared for their tax situation to change. While you can still file a joint tax return for the year in which your spouse died, you will typically end up being taxed as a single filer after that (unless you have a dependent child).
Single filers generally face less favorable tax brackets, a smaller standard deduction and lower income thresholds for certain other tax breaks.
"If your income doesn't change that much, you could find yourself in a higher tax bracket," Cox said.
For 2026, the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly is $32,200. For a single filer, it is $16,100.
Of course, that lower amount could mean it's more beneficial to itemize your deductions, Cox said. That is, allowed deductions such as mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable donations and certain medical costs could total more than the standard deduction.
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With New York City facing a budget gap estimated at around $7 billion, new Mayor Zohran Mamdani would prefer to tax the rich. But lately, Mamdani and his administration have conceded that other ways to raise revenue for the city need to be considered, from higher property taxes on homeowners to a long-talked-about idea that would upend a feature of life in the Big Apple many residents have long considered a right: ample free parking.
New York has about 3 million curbside parking spaces, and roughly 97% of them are free. Eliminating this perk has been floated, unsuccessfully, many times. However, given an overall annual municipal budget over $100 billion and Mamdani's need to close the budget gap, there may be more momentum. It would follow in the footsteps of many other U.S. and European cities where using more public parking space as a way to raise revenue is already common. The topic has assumed a higher profile within public policy discussions across the U.S. at a time of widespread municipal financial strain.
For New York, the idea of charging for parking gained renewed public interest this month following remarks by Dean Fuleihan, first deputy mayor of New York City, at a Center for New York City and State Law event. The topic came up in response to an audience member's question about raising additional revenue by changing the city's approach to street parking.
"Yes — we should be looking at all those things," Fuleihan told audience members. He emphasized, however, that parking fees wouldn't fix the totality of the budget problem. In a statement the following day, Mamdani echoed this sentiment. "Our administration is committed to filling the budget gap by ending the drain on New York City and taxing the rich," he said, adding that "we need structural change at the scale necessary to put our city back on firm financial footing."
City officials aren't the only ones thinking about ways to increase revenue. Last May, the New York Senate introduced a bill that would authorize the city of New York to provide for a residential parking permit system. The bill was sponsored by Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who is now Manhattan borough president, and it remains in committee.
This past week, New York State legislators proposed a comprehensive state-level budget package that would increase taxes on the wealthiest individuals, as well as businesses. If the tax changes are approved by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, it would enact a similar approach to Mamdani in seeking ways to increase revenue and close the budget gap in New York City. However, negotiations are expected to last until at least April, and Hochul is in a tough reelection fight and has to date said she will not approve a tax increase.
There is a separate political cost to consider for a mayor who ran on taxing the rich, as parking fees are considered a form of regressive taxation, hitting lower-income earners harder on a percentage basis. But most urban policy experts say the idea of generating more revenue from parking makes sense.
"New York City real estate — street space — is being given away for free in many parts of the city," said Nicholas J. Klein, associate professor at Cornell University, who teaches classes on city planning. "It's one of the most valuable resources, and the city is just giving it away."
In fact, New York City is one of the only major U.S. cities that allows people to park on residential streets completely free, says Zhan Guo, associate professor of urban planning and transportation policy at New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. "It doesn't make economic sense," Guo said.
What's more, the percentage of metered parking spaces in New York is significantly below other large U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, said Brenden Beck, associate professor at Rutgers-Newark, and a sociologist who focuses on policing, city budgets and housing. "It should be much higher when you consider that New York City has a much more robust public transit system. The working class and the middle-class system of Los Angeles, for example, might have a case if they were to say, 'Please don't meter us; we have no other way to get to work.' There's less of a case to be made in New York," he said.
There are multiple approaches. Washington, D.C., is heavily metered, for example. The city also issues residential parking permits. San Francisco, meanwhile, has demand-based pricing for its parking meters, meaning rates vary based on usage levels at different times of the day. It also charges residents for a residential permit. In Boston, there are meters throughout the city. Additionally, many residential streets are now permit-only. Residents have to apply for a permit, but there's no charge.
New York could take several paths to raise parking revenue. One option is to increase the number of parking meters in the city and charge an hourly rate for usage, said Terrance J. Regan, adjunct professor in Boston University's city planning and urban affairs department. Thanks to technology, cities no longer have to install physical meters. They can turn entire streets into metered parking by having people pay online or through a revenue box on the street, he said.
Another option is for the city to institute resident parking permits. This could be either for the whole city or only certain boroughs.
A combination of both revenue-raising ideas could be ideal, according to urban planning professionals. "Lots of cities charge for parking," and it's not hard to implement, especially with digital parking meters, said Klein. "We already do this in lots of places, and people know it and expect it," he added.
The cost to drivers would depend on the particulars New York decided to implement.
According to Michael Lewyn, director of the Institute on Land Use and Sustainable Development and professor of law at Touro Law Center, the city could keep its existing fee structure for parking meters, with rates that vary by zone, or implement demand-based pricing like San Francisco, which relies on in-ground sensors to estimate parking occupancy.
To determine the cost of a residential permit, New York could look to other cities for guidance. In Washington, D.C., for example, a permit costs $50 for the first vehicle, $75 for the second vehicle, $100 for the third vehicle and $150 for each vehicle beyond the first three vehicles. San Francisco, meanwhile, charges an annual fee of $215 for a residential permit on a passenger vehicle. Notably, a 2013 study by New York University's Guo found that 52.5% of respondents would be willing to pay an average of $408 per year for a parking permit.
The amount of money the city could raise depends largely on the specifics of the program, but it certainly has the potential to chip away at the budget issue. "Can you finance the whole city off it? No, of course not, but you could make a sizable amount of money," said Michael Manville, professor of urban planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
A 2020 study from UCLA estimated that New York is losing at least $114 million a year, on the Upper West Side alone, by allowing unmetered curb spaces.
More broadly, if New York decided to make two-thirds of its free parking spaces "resident permit parking" and charged a $100 a year fee for a permit, it would raise about $200 million a year, said Boston University's Regan. Obviously, you can raise more if you make the permit more, he said. If the city also added 250,000 new meters and collected $20 a day, 300 days a year, it could raise $1.5 billion, on top of revenue from existing meters. "You've got a lot of tools to play with here to raise money," he said.
Pricing parking appropriately has other benefits as well, said Justin de Benedictis-Kessner, Emma Bloomberg Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. This includes time savings for drivers cruising for parking, reduced traffic congestion and less pollution, he said.
The big barrier to introducing these types of initiatives is political because leaders are concerned that constituents won't see the benefit, de Benedictis-Kessner said. In reality, it doesn't have to be expensive in relation to the incomes of city drivers to make a meaningful difference.
It's economics 101: "If you offer New York City land at the price of zero, then you're going to have a shortage of it because the price is well below its value," said UCLA's Manville. If you price the curb to keep one space on a block always open, it solves the problem. The city might also be able to loosen its alternate side parking rules since "you can clean the street around parked cars," he said.
The upshot: "You price it so that it's a better service for people who do want to park, and in addition, you raise some revenue."
But whatever New York does, there's an approach not to take, said Erick Guerra, associate professor of regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania. Chicago inked a multi-decade deal in 2008 to privatize parking meters. The intentions were to raise revenue, but it bombed in part due to poor execution, and the city is still dealing with the aftermath, Guerra said. Chicago should have gotten way more money than it did, and the city has lost the ability to gain revenue from an important asset for many years. "They really dug themselves into a hole," Guerra said.
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The oil market sent a clear signal this week that a massive release of stockpiled crude by the U.S. and its allies is nowhere near enough to address the unprecedented supply disruption triggered by the Iran war.
More than 30 nations in Europe, North America and Northeast Asia agreed to flood the market with 400 million barrels of oil in an effort to keep a lid on rising energy prices. The U.S. is leading the effort with a release of 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve or 43% of the IEA total.
It is the largest release of stockpiled oil in the 50-year history of the International Energy Agency, an organization tasked with maintaining the energy security of its members during global crises.
But the oil bazooka is not inspiring confidence in the market. Crude prices have surged more than 17% since the IEA announced the emergency stockpile release on Wednesday. Brent oil prices, the international benchmark, closed above $100 on Friday for the second session in a row.
The explanation is simple, said Tamas Varga, analyst at the London-based oil broker PVM. Tankers are under attack in the Persian Gulf, the critical Strait of Hormuz remains basically closed, and Iran's new supreme leader has vowed to keep the trade chokepoint shut.
"Until transit is reactivated, those kinds of policy announcements are going to have limited impact," said Tom Liles, senior vice president of upstream research at consulting firm Rystad Energy.
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates exported around 14 million barrels per day (bpd) before the war, Liles said. Around 5 million bpd to 6 million bpd can be exported through Saudi and UAE pipelines that terminate at the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman, he said.
This leaves around 9 million bpd, or about 10% of global supply, that can only pass through the Strait and will remain bottlenecked in the region until transit resumes, Liles said. At first glance, the 400 million emergency barrels would cover about 40 days of that lost supply, the analyst said.
But the reality is a lot more complicated, Liles said. "There's only a limited amount of volume that can be released over a given period. It's not as if 400 million barrels just appear immediately on the market," he said.
The oil supply disrupted by the war is far larger than the stockpiles the IEA can release daily. As a consequence, the action will have limited impact on the trajectory of oil prices, analysts at Bernstein told clients in a Thursday note.
The U.S. will release 172 million barrels over a 120-day period. This implies 1.4 million barrels per day, which is just 15% of the supply lost due to the Hormuz closure. It takes 13 days for the barrels to hit the market from President Donald Trump's authorization.
The IEA did not detail when the other members would start releasing barrels or in what quantities. It said each of its 32 member countries will decide based on circumstances appropriate to them.
The IEA last released emergency stockpiles in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Its members managed to reach a combined high of 1.3 million bpd in September 2022, according to consulting firm Rapidan Energy. The IEA could perhaps boost the release rate closer to 2 million bpd, according to Rapidan.
"It buys time, but it does not solve the crisis," the Bernstein analysts said.
It is possible that oil prices could rise to levels that start lowering demand before the stockpile release even fully kicks in, Liles said. Rystad forecasts that a two-month war will push Brent oil prices to $110 per barrel by April. A four-month war could spike Brent to $135 per barrel by June.
The IEA members also risk depleting their stockpiles. The 400 million barrels slated for release represents 33% of the 1.2 billion barrels in member-state stockpiles. The 172 million barrels the U.S. plans to release represents 41% of the 415 million currently held in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that the White House plans to more than replace the oil that it is releasing with 200 million barrels within the next year at no cost to the taxpayer.
The IEA action also does nothing to address the 20% of liquefied natural gas exports that are unable to reach the global market due to the Strait's closure. LNG is a form of natural gas that is chilled into a liquid and loaded onto tankers for export. Natural gas is used for electricity production and heating.
The stockpiles will partially alleviate the oil shock from the war, said Tobin Marcus, head of U.S. policy and politics at Wolfe Research.
"But it does not by any means obviate the need to reopen the Strait, and we don't think much more help is coming after this," he said.
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(This is the Warren Buffett Watch newsletter, news and analysis on all things Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway. You can sign up here to receive it every Friday evening in your inbox.)
Berkshire Hathaway filed its definitive proxy statement with the SEC late this afternoon ahead of the company's annual shareholders meeting on May 2 in Omaha.
It shows Berkshire bought back the equivalent of 309 Class A shares, roughly $226 million worth, on March 4, the day it resumed repurchases for the first time since May 2024. That's based on the number of outstanding shares as of March 4, the record date of the annual meeting, as shown in the proxy statement.
The company disclosed the resumption in a March 5 SEC filing "in the interest of transparency with our leadership transition" but provided no details. New CEO Greg Abel told CNBC last week there won't be any future buyback announcements, except for what's in its regular quarterly financial reports.
According to the proxy document, Warren Buffett's total annual compensation last year declined to $389,488 from $405,111 in 2024. That's a drop of close to 4%. It's entirely due to a reduction in the amount Berkshire paid for Buffett's personal and home security services. His salary each year was $100,000, as it has been for decades.
New CEO Greg Abel's salary last year was $22 million, up from $21 million the year before. Last week, Abel told CNBC he used his entire after-tax salary to personally buy $15.3 million of Berkshire Class A shares. He plans to continue to buy Berkshire stock with his salary for each year "as long as I'm CEO."
Abel's salary this year is $25 million.
Berkshire's insurance chief Ajit Jain's 2025 salary was also $22 million, up from $21 million in 2024.
Shareholders are being asked to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to Berkshire's top executives. The board is also asking shareholders to endorse plans for another advisory vote on compensation three years from now.
The board is recommending a "no" vote on a shareholder proposal backed by Whistle Stop Capital calling for a report on Berkshire's "oversight framework for workforce and human-capital management across its operating subsidiaries" to address concerns the "company's decentralized structure creates exposure to inconsistent approaches to human capital management."
The board argues "matters related to workforce and human-capital management are appropriately placed within the businesses' oversight and discretion where decisions related to policies and practices may vary depending on geography and industry-specific concerns, risks, and opportunities."
Warren Buffett is the world's ninth wealthiest person according to Forbes, which released its annual ranking this week.
It puts his net worth at $149 billion as of March 10, down from $154 billion last year when he was in sixth place.
This year, Buffett trails Elon Musk ($839B), Larry Page ($257B), Sergey Brin ($237B), Jeff Bezos ($224B), Mark Zuckerberg ($222B), Larry Ellison ($190B), Bernard Arnault & family ($171B), and Jensen Huang ($154B).
Bloomberg's ranking has Buffett in the #11 position with $146 billion.
Since 2006, Buffett has donated Berkshire shares that would currently be valued at around $203 billion.
If he had held onto them, his net worth would be around $352 billion, which would make him the world's second richest person, behind Elon Musk.
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Warren Buffett gives his views on executive compensation, explaining why he doesn't mind paying big money for good performance.
AUDIENCE QUESTION: explain the justification and rationalization for the exorbitant salaries, bonuses, perks, directors' fees, and other benefits that most public corporations are paying. (Applause)
WARREN BUFFETT: I would say this. In my own view, the most exorbitant are not necessarily the biggest numbers. What really bothers me is when companies pay a lot of money for mediocrity, and that happens all too often.
But we have no quarrel in our subsidiaries, for example, for paying a lot of money for outstanding performance. I mean, we get it back 10 or 20 or 50-for-1.
And similarly in public companies, we think that there have been managers — in our managers — who have taken companies to many, many, many billions of market value more than would've happened with virtually anyone else...
I am bothered by irrational pay systems. And I'm particularly bothered when average managers take really large sums.
I'm bothered when they design, or have designed for them, systems that are very costly to the company — maybe partly to make themselves look good because they want huge options themselves, so they feel if they give options widely throughout the company — so they design a system that is illogical company-wide because they want one that's illogical for them personally.
But large sums, per se, don't bother me. I'm not saying, you know, whether any individual should — might want to take them or not. But I do not mind paying a lot of money for performance.
It's done in athletics; it's done in entertainment. But in business the people who are the .200 hitters and the people who would not attract a crowd as an entertainer have worked it out so that — I mean, the system has evolved in such a way that — many of them take huge sums. And I think that's obscene. But I can tell you, there isn't much you can do about.
The system feeds on itself. And companies do look at other companies' proxy statements, every CEO does. And they say, "Well, if Joe Smith is worth X, I have to be worth more." And they tell the directors that, "Certainly you wouldn't be hiring anybody that was below average, so how can you pay me below average?" And the consultants come in and ratchet up the rewards.
And it's not anything that's going to go away. It's like we were talking about campaign finance reform earlier. The people who have their hands on the switch are the beneficiaries of the system. And it's very hard to change the system when the guy whose hand is on the switch is benefitting enormously, and perhaps disproportionately, from that system.
Four weeks
Twelve months
BRK.A stock price: $734,838.94
BRK.B stock price: $490.03
BRK.B P/E (TTM): 15.79
Berkshire market capitalization: $1,056,826,445,660
Berkshire Cash as of December 31: $373.3 billion (Down 2.2% from Sept. 30)
Excluding Rail Cash and Subtracting T-Bills Payable: $369.0 billion (Up 4.1% from September 30)
Berkshire resumed stock repurchases on March 4, 2026.
(All figures are as of the date of publication, unless otherwise indicated)
Berkshire's top holdings of disclosed publicly traded stocks in the U.S. and Japan, by market value, based on the latest closing prices.
Holdings are as of December 31, 2025, as reported in Berkshire Hathaway's 13F filing on February 17, 2026, except for:
The full list of holdings and current market values is available from CNBC.com's Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Tracker.
Please send any questions or comments about the newsletter to me at alex.crippen@nbcuni.com. (Sorry, but we don't forward questions or comments to Buffett himself.)
If you aren't already subscribed to this newsletter, you can sign up here.
Also, Buffett's annual letters to shareholders are highly recommended reading. There are collected here on Berkshire's website.
-- Alex Crippen, Editor, Warren Buffett Watch
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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stephen Hutyra, a 42-year-old program analyst living in the small town of West, Texas. It's been edited for length and clarity.
In November 2020, I was inspired to build a pub in my backyard after seeing a Facebook post.
We have a saying that everything is bigger and better in Texas, so I wanted our pub to be bigger and better than the one I saw in the pictures online.
I spent three years and $61,000 building the space we call The Thirsty Goat on half an acre of land. A construction team built the structure, and I finished the work with my family's help.
My family, friends, and I find ourselves sitting out here in the middle of the week until midnight, or until 2 or 3 a.m. on the weekends. We've thoroughly enjoyed it since finishing back in August, but we're only just starting to see how much we'll use it.
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Still, there are a few things I wish I'd done differently.
The main mistake I made is something that my wife reminds me of all the time: I didn't hook up hot water to the bathroom or the bar.
There's only cold water coming out of both sinks.
I didn't think I'd have the space for a hot-water heater, but I probably could have gotten one of those little tankless ones and put it on the outside.
It wouldn't have taken much to add that on, and it's been very cold washing hands and dishes in the winter, so I regret not doing that.
It's another thing my wife reminds me of all the time. I should have planned to install a small dishwasher below the cabinet that sits behind the bar.
I either have to wash dishes with cold water in the bar sink or load dirty glassware into a tub I haul into the house to wash in the dishwasher.
Having a dishwasher would really come in handy to load dirty dishes and cutlery throughout the day and night. But with the compact floor plan I mapped out, I just didn't have the room.
Initially, I only planned to put one mini fridge behind the bar. After I installed it, though, I measured the space left and realized I had enough room for a second fridge.
Having two has really made a big impact. I frequently use the second to store juices, lemons, limes, and other items for mixed drinks.
If I didn't have the fridge, I'd probably have to use a small cooler with ice packs.
What I didn't realize, though, is that because the countertop edge extends into that corner, the door to the second mini fridge can only open about halfway.
If I had installed shelves there as I initially planned, there wouldn't be an issue.
Thankfully, there's room for other appliances on top.
A microwave, coffee maker, and ice maker have taken about 40% of the empty counter space I had built behind the bar. The ice machine saves space, the microwave is good for guests to quickly reheat items, and adding Keurig single-serve coffee has been nice as well.
We no longer have to walk back into the house to make a cup of coffee in the mornings when we're enjoying the pub.
I've had to adjust to a smaller workspace, but it's worked out.
Jump to
Related Stories
Greg Abel, the new CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, announced on March 5 on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the company would start repurchasing shares of its own stock.
For Berkshire, this is a relative rarity — the company hasn't bought back shares since the second quarter of 2024. But for companies like Berkshire, a financially mature conglomerate worth more than $1 trillion and with plenty of excess cash, the move has become increasingly common.
In 2025, companies in the S&P 500 spent about $1 trillion buying their own shares, according to estimates from investment research firm Morningstar, up from a record $942 billion in 2024. Last year was also the fifth straight year in which companies spent more on buybacks than on cash dividends, Morningstar reports.
Buyback programs, like dividends, are touted by companies as a way to return cash to shareholders, and, under the right circumstances, can be viewed by investors as a positive sign for the stock, says Rob Leiphart, a certified financial planner and vice president of financial planning at RV Capital Management.
Investors should do some research, however, before buying on buyback news, he adds, since some companies purchase shares as a way to make short-term numbers look better.
"It is a form of financial engineering," Leiphart says.
Say you're a company with plenty of free cash flow — money that's left over after making all the necessary expenditures to maintain the business. How do you use that cash to create value for shareholders? Maybe you plunk the money into research and development or use it to acquire another firm.
For many large, financially mature firms, the answer is to give some money back to the people who own your stock. One classic way to do this is to pay a dividend, a regular (often quarterly) cash distribution to shareholders.
Over the past half-decade, though, companies have been more inclined to spend their money on buybacks. Last year, Apple announced a $100 billion share repurchase program, and Alphabet authorized $70 billion in buybacks. Both companies also pay a modest dividend.
Under buyback programs, instead of making cash distributions, companies repurchase their own shares on the open market. While not as tangible as having cash in hand, reducing the number of shares effectively means that each share an investor owns is a bigger piece of the overall pie. And because corporate earnings are expressed as earnings "per share," taking shares off the market can make the stock look more attractive to other potential investors.
The latter feature can incentivize corporate executives to initiate buybacks to create a short-term bump, rather than making moves that will benefit shareholders over the long term, says Leiphart.
Companies that issue a lot of compensation in the form of stock options may also use buybacks to keep the value of those shares from diluting, Leiphart says.
So what should investors make of it when a company announces a buyback program? As long as the company isn't taking on debt to fund a buyback, it's a generally positive sign for a company's financial health, says David Sekera, chief U.S. market strategist at Morningstar.
"It's just the way that management is letting the marketplace know that they are generating excess free cash flow above what the internal needs are for the company," he says. "And in fact, probably even generating more free cash flow than what they necessarily need to spend on growth to be able to maintain their long-term guidance targets."
When it comes to buybacks — like all investing — the goal is to buy low and sell high, Sekera says. If a company buys shares when they're trading below their true value, it's a boon to shareholders. If they buy when they're overpriced, "it's value-destructive," he says.
"Management teams seem to perpetually think that their stock is undervalued," he adds.
Abel's announcement came with the context that Berkshire rebuys shares "at any time we believe the repurchase price is below our intrinsic value, conservatively determined."
It's one of many reasons why financial pros would caution against buying any stock on the sole basis of a buyback announcement. It's also smart to speak with a trusted financial professional before making any changes to your portfolio.
Overall, it's important to consider any buyback program in the context of your overall outlook for the underlying business, says Leiphart.
"Do they have a market leading product? Do they maintain that leadership with that product? Has the corporate brass been there for some period of time and good leadership is in place that has had success and will continue to have success hopefully in the future?" he says. "Along with those considerations, [a buyback is] maybe one thing that you add as an ingredient when you put it all together."
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Some oil-loading operations have been suspended in Fujairah, a city in the United Arab Emirates and a key bunkering hub, after a fire broke out there, Reuters reported on Saturday quoting industry and trade sources.
The reported fire comes after the U.S. attacked Iran's Kharg island, a key regional oil hub, on Friday.
The fire in Fujairah started after debris fell as a drone was intercepted, Reuters reported. No one was injured, according to the report.
A spokesperson for Abu Dhabi's state oil giant, ADNOC, which operates in Fujairah, declined to immediately confirm to CNBC the reports of the fire.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, its most elite military institution, said on Saturday that U.S. interests in the UAE, including ports, docks and military locations are legitimate targets following the U.S.' attacks on Iranian islands, Reuters reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he directed the U.S. Central Command to carry out a bombing raid, hitting military targets on Kharg. He added that U.S. forces did not "wipe out" the island's oil infrastructure.
On Friday, Brent crude oil futures closed above $100 per barrel for the second straight day. The global oil benchmark's price has surged more than 40% since the Iran war started.
Analysts have said that the prospect of a U.S. move to seize Kharg Island, a strategically vital hub often referred to as Iran's "oil lifeline," is considered extremely high risk, both from a geopolitical and economic standpoint.
The five-mile-long coral island, which is located about 15 miles off the coast of mainland Iran in the waters of the northern Persian Gulf, had been left untouched through nearly two weeks of U.S. and Israeli-led strikes against Iran.
-- CNBC's Emma Graham and Reuters contributed to this report.
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In this article
Hollywood could soon have a new king of the box office.
With Paramount Skydance set to take over Warner Bros. Discovery, the combined film studios could dominate the theatrical slate.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has repeatedly promised not to pull back on production from either studio, with the goal of making 30 movies a year — 15 from Paramount and 15 from Warner Bros. The pending transaction, with an enterprise value of $111 billion, must still win regulatory approval both in the U.S. and in Europe.
As the current 2027 slate stands, the combination of WBD and Paramount would result in 26 theatrical releases. However, additions to that calendar could come as soon as April at the annual CinemaCon conference in Las Vegas.
This behemoth of a slate is dominated by Warner Bros. titles, and it's likely that those films would account for the bulk of ticket sales.
The studio is set to release films from major franchises including Godzilla-Kong, Superman, Batman, Minecraft, The Conjuring universe, Gremlins and Lord of the Rings.
Meanwhile, Paramount will have new entries for Sonic the Hedgehog, Paranormal Activity, A Quiet Place and its animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchises.
While Paramount's franchises are popular and have generated solid ticket sales at the box office, its major releases in 2027 are smaller budget features. In fact, no film in any of those four franchises has generated more than $350 million globally, according to data from Comscore. But with smaller budgets, they don't have to in order to be profitable.
Warner Bros.' part of the slate, on the other hand, has bigger budget features that in the past have generated bigger box office returns. The most recent Godzilla-Kong film generated $572 million globally, 2025's "The Conjuring: Last Rites" tallied nearly $500 million, "The Batman" took in $772 million and "A Minecraft Movie" nearly hit $1 billion.
"When you look at the films on the horizon from the PAR/WBD combo it is most impressive," Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, told CNBC. "And it may not be an overstatement to say that that slate could indeed have the potential to generate the biggest single studio box office in 2027."
The Warner Bros. movie studio is a big part of why Ellison was so committed to winning over WBD's board and its shareholders in a bidding war against Comcast and Netflix. Last year, Warner Bros. was the second-highest grossing studio at the domestic and global box office. Paramount was fifth.
Disney has long held the box office heavyweight title, although it was briefly overthrown in 2023 by Universal. Warner and Universal have jockeyed between second and third position, with Sony, Lionsgate and Paramount falling in line behind them.
"Doubling up two major slates adds to the potential for a very strong 2027, but nothing is ever certain when it comes to assuming a potential annual box office winner among studios," said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory. "That's especially true when the likes of Disney and Universal will each bring out their own heavy-hitters next year."
Disney, in particular, has franchises like Ice Age, Star Wars, Frozen and Avengers on the docket for 2027.
Of course, franchise tentpoles are not always guaranteed to succeed at the box office, but the combined efforts of Paramount and Warner Bros. is a compelling offering for an industry that has been shrinking dramatically over the last decade.
"The notion of two major studio slates under one large umbrella in 2027 makes for an intriguing prospect while raising some fair speculation," said Robbins. "We've seen the decline in theatrical output in the years following Disney's acquisition of Fox, although caveats such as the pandemic and streaming explosion somewhat skew that comparison."
A combined Paramount and Warner Bros. slate also faces some logistic issues. There are only 52 weekends on the calendar, and with 30 movies, the studio would need to strategically place its releases as not to cannibalize its own ticket sales.
Robbins noted that rival studios typically only go head-to-head on the same weekend or on back-to-back weekends if they are certain there isn't a major overlap in audience demographics. It's why there is often a horror movie set for release at the same time as a family-friendly animated feature, for example.
In contrast, Robbins noted, Paramount is scheduled to release "Sonic the Hedgehog 4" just one week ahead of Warner Bros.' "Godzilla X Kong: Supernova."
"It wouldn't be a shock to see one of those shifted earlier or later on the calendar since the parent studio will want to minimize risk and do what's best for the financial bottom line while remaining competitive," he said.
And while Ellison has touted a 30-movie slate in the years after 2027, it's unclear if that future is feasible.
Traditionally, when two major studios merge, the number of films released declines and there is a major wave of layoffs as consolidation weeds out redundancies. Not to mention, the marketing costs of big-budget films can be prohibitive.
"What will actually become normal for the newly unified house of Paramount and Warner remains to be seen," Robbins said. "The longevity of such a slate in the years after 2027 will be challenging to produce, but never say never."
Disclosure: Versant is the parent company of CNBC and Fandango.
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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Pavi Theva, 31, a career coach who lives in Austin. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
The first time I visited San Francisco, I fell in love with it.
A year later, around June 2018, I went back for a work trip. From the Golden Gate Bridge to the coastal views, the city was stunning, and the hustle and bustle in the air made me feel like I'd never get bored there.
I started planning how I could work there one day. In October 2018, I left Dallas, where I was working at EY, to start an analytics role at a startup in San Francisco. Since then, life has taken me to Seattle and Austin, where I've been since August 2023.
I found Seattle underwhelming, but enjoyed the slower pace in Austin. Lately, I've been missing the ambitious, entrepreneurial spark you can only find in the Bay Area, and over five years after first moving away, I want to go back.
When I moved to San Francisco, my rent rose drastically compared to $600 for a room in Dallas. I also noticed how the most common words I heard around San Francisco were the tech buzzwords "API" and "cloud," whereas no one in Dallas really spoke about work after work. The pressure to stay on top of the latest technology and add to conversations at networking events meant I struggled with imposter syndrome.
But San Francisco felt like the complete package. It had nature, nightlife, a range of cuisines, and a strong focus on career growth.
There was also a large immigrant population, and it felt like everyone was from somewhere else, such as the Middle East or Asia. Growing up in India, I knew about the American dream and how diverse the US was, but San Francisco was the first place I felt like I was in the America I'd heard about.
I didn't want to leave California, but when I was offered a program manager role at Amazon in Seattle in 2019, I took it because the role aligned with my career goals, including working at a FAANG company.
My boyfriend and I shared an apartment that cost $1,990 a month, excluding utilities, which was cheaper than what I remember paying in San Francisco. But I found Seattle underwhelming and struggled with the gloomy weather and it getting dark by 4 o'clock. It's hard to make friends in bad weather, when people don't go out so much, and the 2020 pandemic made socializing even harder.
In 2022, after I kept bugging my partner, whom I met in San Francisco, to leave Seattle with me, we bought a property in Austin and moved in 2023, drawn to the lower cost of living and good weather.
We found a lot of young couples and a strong sense of community in Austin. It was easy to meet people because many residents had also moved from other cities.
For the first time, my environment wasn't all about tech. I met small business owners who didn't run startups, like people in the Indian community with jewellery and saree businesses. There was a lot of creative energy.
In the Bay Area and Seattle, the first or second question you asked in conversation was "What do you do?" but in Austin, I could know people for weeks without finding out their profession. People would talk about their hobbies and other aspects of life, which was a big culture shock.
I'd started a side hustle, creating social media content about career betterment, which was the beginning of my coaching business. Austin felt like a good place for me to create and grow the business. Compared to the Bay Area, where there's so much competition, it was easier to become visible in Austin. I felt like a big fish in a small pond.
Austin is definitely in its acceleration phase, but I don't think it's the next Silicon Valley, like some are saying.
Some costs, like entertainment and food, feel comparable to Silicon Valley, but overall, Austin seems cheaper than San Francisco or Seattle did. Like Seattle, there's no state income tax in Austin, so I'm saving more from my paycheck than I was in Silicon Valley, but as homeowners in Austin, we do have to pay quite high property taxes.
To me, the Bay Area, where there's a deep engineering culture, is still the hub for entrepreneurship. Yes, companies like Tesla, Oracle, Apple, and Amazon have moved into or expanded in Austin, but I still don't see as many people talking about technology, or as many tech conferences, as in Silicon Valley. It doesn't feel like the city is ahead of the curve.
In November 2025, I went to a creator meet-up in the Bay Area, where I had lots of insightful conversations about business. I realized this was something I was missing out on, and it's made me want to move back to San Francisco, ideally by 2027. I plan to continue career coaching, expand into corporate consulting, and take advantage of the opportunities in San Francisco.
I picked Austin because I was in a season of life when I wanted to slow down, but now, with my business in a more mature phase, I want to be surrounded by ambitious, driven people again to keep me accountable and inspired.
If you really want to grow, be challenged, and push yourself to be the smartest, that's the energy of California — nothing can beat it.
Do you have a story to share about leaving Texas or California? Contact this reporter at ccheong@businessinsider.com
Jump to
North Korea fired more than 10 ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday, South Korea's military said, as the U.S. and South Korean forces conducted military drills and U.S.
President Donald Trump renewed overtures towards Pyongyang for dialogue.
Japan's coast guard said it had detected what could be a ballistic missile that fell into the sea. It appeared to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, public broadcaster NHK said, citing the military.
The missiles were launched from an area near the capital Pyongyang, around 1:20 p.m. (0430 GMT) towards the sea off the country's east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
North Korea has test-launched a wide range of ballistic and cruise missiles for more than two decades in a push to develop the means to deliver nuclear weapons, which it is believed to have successfully built.
As a result, Pyongyang has been under multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions since 2006 but it remains defiant, despite severe obstacles they created to its trade, economy and defense.
South Korea and Washington this week launched the annual major drills in South Korea, which they say are purely defensive, aimed at testing readiness against military threats from North Korea.
Hundreds of U.S. and South Korean troops conducted river-crossing drills on Saturday with hardware including tanks and armored combat vehicles, overseen by the commander of their combined forces. The U.S. military has about 28,500 troops and squadrons of fighter jets stationed in South Korea.
North Korea frequently displays its anger at such exercises, saying they are "dress rehearsals" for armed aggression against it by the allies.
On Thursday, South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss ways to reopen dialogue with the North.
Trump is eager for any opportunity to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korea's Kim told reporters.
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The Trump administration on Friday directed Sable Offshore to restore oil drilling operations off the southern California coast, the U.S. Energy Department said.
The move aims to restart oil production at a cluster of offshore platforms as fuel prices continue to rise in the wake of the war on Iran.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright told Sable to restart work at the Santa Ynez unit and Santa Ynez pipeline "to address supply disruption risks caused by California policies that have left the region and U.S. military forces dependent on foreign oil," the Energy Department said in a statement.
Sable Offshore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Friday night lifted a ground stop that had halted traffic at the three primary Washington-area airports for several hours after air traffic had to halt work because of a strong chemical smell tied to a circuit board that overheated.
The FAA said the issue disrupted operations at Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control, which controls airspace over numerous airports in the Washington region.
The issue had earlier prompted the FAA to stop traffic at Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia and Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Maryland, all serving the Washington area. The ground stop also affected Richmond International Airport in Virginia.
Flights began resuming around 8 p.m. after more than two hours of halted flights. Departures were facing delays of 1 to more than 3 hours on average at the three Washington-area airports.
Delays were impacting more than 325 flights, or 34% of arriving and departing flights at Reagan National Airport, about 30%, or 215 flights, at BWI and more than 260 flights at Dulles, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking site.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said firefighters responded to the issue at the Virginia FAA facility and "confirm there is no danger to air traffic controllers, and they are returning to the Potomac TRACON. The source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated, and it was replaced."
The issue snarled traffic during the busy U.S. travel period when students are on spring break. Airborne flights were diverted and dozens of aircraft on the ground were held in place, according to Flightradar24, a flight tracking site.
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LONDON, March 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VEREM, a Real-World Asset (RWA) ecosystem focused on the tokenization of GIA-certified emeralds, today announced the successful completion of a comprehensive smart contract security audit conducted by Hacken, a global leader in Web3 cybersecurity.
As the RWA sector moves toward institutional adoption, VEREM has prioritized transparency, security, and investor protection. The audit, finalized on March 5, 2026, confirms that VEREM's smart contract infrastructure meets high industry standards for security, resilience, and decentralization.
Key Security Milestones
Zero-Vulnerability Status The audit identified zero critical and zero high-severity vulnerabilities, confirming a robust and secure smart contract architecture.
Immutable Tokenomics The contract implements a fixed supply model with no minting functionality, ensuring the scarcity and long-term value integrity of the VEREM ecosystem.
Decentralized Governance Ownership of the smart contract on the BSC mainnet has been officially renounced, guaranteeing that no central authority can modify the contract logic.
Operational Transparency Minor findings were documented and accepted as intentional design decisions, ensuring optimal performance and user experience.
Bridging Physical Assets and Blockchain
VEREM combines physical gemstone custody with blockchain transparency, creating a secure digital gateway for high-value commodities.
Each token is backed by GIA-evaluated emeralds held in secure custody, allowing investors to access rare gemstone assets with the speed, liquidity, and transparency of blockchain technology.
“By pairing audited smart contracts with verified physical assets, VEREM is building a trusted bridge between traditional commodities and decentralized finance,” the VEREM team stated.
https://hacken.io/audits/verem/sca-verem-verem-contracts-feb2026/
About VEREM
VEREM is a Real-World Asset (RWA) project focused on the tokenization of certified emeralds. By integrating GIA gemstone certification, secure custody, and audited blockchain infrastructure, VEREM enables investors to own and trade physical value through decentralized technology.
Twitter: https://x.com/veremorg?s=21
Website : https://veremrwa.com
Telegram : https://t.me/VeremOrg
CMC : https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/verified-emeralds/
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/262e9512-d8a4-4bf7-a017-286815d0c94d
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The Ethereum Foundation (EF) said it finalized the sale of 5,000 ether (ETH) in an over-the-counter transaction with one of the top crypto treasury firm Bitmine Immersion Technologies.
The sale cleared at an average price of $2,042.96 per ETH, the Foundation said, placing the transaction's value at roughly $10.2 million.
The non-profit organization, established in 2014 to support the Ethereum blockchain and its ecosystem, said the funds will support its core operations, including protocol research and development, ecosystem growth, and community grants.
The transactions, it said, are in line with the policy that governs its reserve management. The framework aims to strike a balance between holding ETH and maintaining sufficient fiat or fiat-like assets to cover operating costs. EF currently aims to keep annual operating expenses near 15% of treasury value with a 2.5-year operating buffer, a strategy that determines how often it sells ETH.
The sale comes less than a month after the Ethereum Foundation began staking up to 70,000 ETH to support its operations and deepen its role in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Bitmine, helmed by Fundstrat's Tom Lee, was the counterparty in the deal and is the largest publicly traded ether treasury firm, currently holding around 4.53 million ETH, worth more than $9.4 billion.
The firm's portfolio is almost entirely ether. The company also holds around 195 BTC and more than $1 billion in cash, along with equity stakes. These stakes also include a share of Beast Industries, the company behind YouTube creator MrBeast, after a $200 million investment in it, along with a 7% stake in the worldcoin treasury firm Eightco.
Read more: 'Mini crypto winter' nearly over, says Tom Lee as Bitmine ramps up pace of ether acquisition
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Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called bitcoin BTC$70,591.75 a “giant Ponzi scheme,” prompting a swift rebuttal from Strategy chairman Michael Saylor and other netizens.
In a column published in the Daily Mail and posted on social media platform X, Johnson wrote that he had long suspected cryptocurrencies relied on “a supply of new and credulous investors” rather than real value. He pointed to a story from his village in Oxfordshire about a retired man who handed £500 ($661) to someone in a pub who promised to double the money through bitcoin.
According to Johnson's account, the man spent three and a half years paying fees and trying to withdraw funds. He ultimately lost about £20,000 ($ 26,450), referring to what he admitted was “some kind of scam.”
Johnson argued that assets such as gold or even collectibles like Pokémon cards hold some cultural or physical appeal. Bitcoin, he wrote, is “just a string of numbers stored in a series of computers.”
He also questioned why people should trust a system created by a pseudonymous entity, Satoshi Nakamoto, without institutional backing.
“Who do we talk to if they decrypt the crypto?” Johnson asked. “There's no one except this Nakamoto, who may be no more real than Pikachu or Charmander themselves.”
Reacting to the column, the cryptocurrency community pushed back against Johnson's claims.
Saylor, Executive Chairman of the world's largest corporate bitcoin holder Strategy (MSTR), refuted the claims, saying a Ponzi scheme requires a “central operator promising returns and paying early investors with funds from later ones.”
Bitcoin, Saylor added, has “no issuer, no promoter, and no guaranteed return—just an open, decentralized monetary network driven by code and market demand.”
Bitcoin is not a Ponzi scheme. A Ponzi requires a central operator promising returns and paying early investors with funds from later ones. Bitcoin has no issuer, no promoter, and no guaranteed return—just an open, decentralized monetary network driven by code and market demand.
On X, in the "community notes program," a note was added pointing out that Ponzi schemes promise artificially high rates of returns with next to no risk.
“Bitcoin has no issuer and its value is purely determined by the free market. The code is totally public and opt-in. Nobody can force you to run any particular version,” the note reads.
Other responses ranged from technical explanations of Bitcoin's design to broader criticism of government monetary policy.
Other responses ranged from technical explanations of Bitcoin's design to broader criticism of government monetary policy. Some users pointed to Bitcoin's fixed supply and decentralized network as evidence that it differs from classic Ponzi structures
Others took a more combative tone, posting memes and criticizing central banks for expanding the money supply during the pandemic. As for who's in charge, BitMEX Research replied, “nobody is in charge.”
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Disclosure & Polices: CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of Bullish (NYSE:BLSH), an institutionally focused global digital asset platform that provides market infrastructure and information services. Bullish owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets and CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish equity-based compensation.
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Our Voice of the Fortnight is the Decision Points podcast with David Makovsky - Hezbollah Decapitated? The War with Israel and Lebanon's Future
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Bitcoin's price held steady above $70,000 Saturday — despite a 24-hour dip — as the US continued bombing Iran.
The price was buoyed by net inflows into the US exchange-traded funds over the week: American investors threw over $763 million of fresh cash at the investment vehicles, according to Farside Investors data, the highest amount since January.
Bitcoin was recently trading hands for $70,768, according to CoinGecko, a drop of 4% over the past day.
Over the past week, the leading cryptocurrency has shot up by 4% and is up by 12% since touching a low of $63,177 the day the US and Israel attacked Iran.
Experts told DL News that the price of Bitcoin and other major coins would suffer because of the Iran war.
But the leading cryptocurrency is experiencing a surge and less of a correlation with other risk-on assets — at least for now.
US equities closed lower Friday, with the S&P 500 hitting a new low this year as the price of oil surged.
Bitcoin in recent months has been correlated with the stock market but this week appeared to break free in “a rare decoupling from traditional risk assets,” according to Diana Pires, Chief Business Officer at sFOX.
Crypto held steady despite the Iran war raging on: President Donald Trump threatened the worst was to come on Friday and the US military overnight struck sites on Kharg Island, from which Iran exports almost all its oil.
The US president said that oil infrastructure had not been hit and warned Iran not to interfere with the Strait of Hormuz — the route for about a quarter of the world's liquefied natural gas.
Experts previously warned that a rise in oil prices could mean a crash in crypto prices. Still, despite a spike in the price of crude, Bitcoin seems relatively unfazed.
Bitcoin was trading for $70,768 per coin on Saturday, down 4% over the past day.
Ethereum's price touched $2,074, also dipping by 4%.
Court dispatch: MEV bros point to Eisenberg acquittal in high-stakes hearing — DL News
Libra scandal: forensic experts link messages by Javier Milei to memecoin promoters minutes before launch — DL News
AI payments debate → both sides wrong — Milk Road
Toxic Pollution From Iran War Will Spread and Last for Decades — Bloomberg
Mathew Di Salvo is a news correspondent with DL News. Got a tip? Email at mdisalvo@dlnews.com.
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A bitcoin comeback may be underway.
Just as the cryptocurrency was kicking off its latest winning week, ProShares' Simeon Hyman was emphasizing a bullish bitcoin trend on CNBC's "ETF Edge."
"If you look at bitcoin, it's up a little bit and equities are down [since the Iran war began,]" the firm's global investment strategist said on Monday." "So, I think the diversification story really holds in in this current environment."
As of Friday's market close, bitcoin gained 5% this week — with most of the gains coming over a 24-hour period. Plus, it's up roughly 8% since the Iran war started on Feb. 28.
Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and gold are down more 3% since the war with Iran began, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq is off more than 2%.
ProShares is active in the cryptocurrency space — operating more than a dozen cryptocurrency ETFs. It launched the ProShares CoinDesk 20 Crypto ETF (KRYP) last month. It's up nearly 5% since the Iran war began, but the fund is off about 7% since its early February debut.
Despite bitcoin's recent strength, it's still down more than 40% from its record high of $126,198 reached last October.
Main Management founding partner and CEO Kim Arthur thinks bitcoin is in a classic crypto winter — a so-called phenomenon that tends to happen every four years. According to Arthur, it's in the bottoming stage.
"Bitcoin was trading at $125,000 five months ago. So, it was down 50-plus percent when this conflict erupted," he said in the same interview. "I do like the fact that it's outperformed a lot of other asset classes [since the war,] but... you have to widen the lens a little bit on that."
Arthur, who has exposure to bitcoin, indicates he's taking a passive investing approach to the cryptocurrency right now.
"For myself as an asset allocator and a portfolio manager... I look at bitcoin as my benchmark, and then I bench everything else against that," said Arthur, who added bitcoin has been an extremely difficult master to beat particularly since 2021.
The digital currency has gained about 15% over the past five years.
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Crypto Market Rotation Alert: Analysts Track a New Altcoin Under $1
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The Bitcoin network saw its 20 millionth BTC mined this week, leaving just 1 million coins left to be paid as rewards to miners.
The milestone has crypto industry observers taking stock of the rapidly changing Bitcoin mining industry, and weighing the economics of a shifting landscape against expectations of Bitcoin's performance as an investment.
Mining companies help secure the Bitcoin network and verify transactions, expending large amounts of energy in a race to solve cryptographic puzzles in exchange for transaction fees and newly created Bitcoin as rewards. It's taken miners 16 years to mine the 20 millionth coin from Bitcoin's inception, but it could take roughly 115 years to unlock the remaining supply, according to Wolfie Zhao, the head of research at TheEnergyMag.
That doesn't necessarily mean the Bitcoin mining industry will look the way it does for the next century. John Todaro, a managing director and senior research analyst at Needham & Company, expects many publicly traded miners to exit Bitcoin mining in 2027 and 2028.
“We believe a large portion of the public Bitcoin miners will sell down nearly all of their Bitcoin holdings before year-end 2026 as they embark on [capital expenditure] spend related to AI workloads,” he wrote in a recent note shared with Decrypt. In other words, Bitcoin mining companies are pivoting to AI.
All the publicly traded Bitcoin miners the firm covers have allocated a portion of their compute power to high-performance computing, or HPC, and AI. It's a shift that's been going on for years.
And it's easy to see why, he added.
“Stubbornly low hash price combined with the upcoming 2028 halving presents a concerning environment for Bitcoin mining operations,” he told Decrypt. “Many operators are at or near breakeven costs today, while NOI margins in HPC are north of 80%.”
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NOI refers to net operating income, which measures revenue minus operating expenses, excluding financing costs and taxes. So it stands to reason that mining firms are adjusting their revenue split to favor better margins.
Ross Gan, the chief communications officer at Bitdeer, told Decrypt the firm has Bitcoin's technological infrastructure in its DNA.
Bitdeer, the Singapore-based miner led by Bitmain co-founder Jihan Wu, illustrates the fork in the road facing the industry. Wu helped industrialize Bitcoin mining in the first place—Bitmain, which he co-founded in 2013, once controlled roughly three-quarters of the global market for Bitcoin mining chips. Now Bitdeer is converting several of its facilities into AI data centers while simultaneously developing its own next-generation mining hardware.
“The miners that endure will be the ones that control more of the stack themselves. We demonstrate how that matters by designing and deploying our own high-efficiency ASICs and securing long-term energy capacity worldwide,” Gan said. “Vertical integration has proven to be one of the clearest markers of long-term survivability.”
Bitcoin Miners ‘Sitting on a Gold Mine' as AI Demand Ramps Up: VanEck
He added that up until recently, Bitcoin has been treated as a key monetization engine that was complemented by AI infrastructure to keep long-term revenues stable.
“That duality may no longer be a nice-to-have in the future,” Gan said.
HIVE Digital Technologies, formerly HIVE Blockchain, was founded in 2017 and went public later that year on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company began investing in high performance computing, or HPC, infrastructure much earlier than many of its competitors. So early, in fact, that it was still generating revenue from Ethereum mining when Executive Chairman Frank Holmes mentioned it on an earnings call.
“The Ethereum mining margins that we experienced during the quarter enabled us to continue the upgrade of our data center assets in Sweden and Iceland and also diversify our business by starting to invest in HPC assets,” he said in November 2021.
It wasn't until a year later that Ethereum developers executed the merge, changing the network from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and rendering Ethereum mining obsolete.
The Canadian company has built its business around finding creative ways to source power from hydro-electric and otherwise stranded energy, Holmes told Decrypt.
“Bitcoin miners have led the world in sourcing stranded and surplus energy and in building Tier I power infrastructure at scale,” he said. “There is enormous energy abundance in the world, especially in hydro-rich regions like South America and Canada, but the winners will be operators that can secure it at low cost, structure around it intelligently, and turn that energy into durable computing infrastructure.”
Even as analysts, like Todaro, predict that some Bitcoin mining firms will begin winding down by the end of 2027, Holmes sees the squeeze ahead of the next halving event—forecast for mid-2028—as a challenge to get even more efficient.
Ethereum Successfully Executes Highly-Anticipated Merge Event, Ushering in Proof-of-Stake Era
“Block rewards will decrease, but that does not mean the industry will disappear. It means the bar rises,” he added. “The miners that survive will be the ones with the best power, the best sites, and the most flexibility.”
But what happens to the price of Bitcoin when block rewards get all the way to zero? Investors have known that Bitcoin has a finite supply since its inception, so theoretically it's priced in.
The most apt comparison comes from the Bitcoin whitepaper itself: “The steady addition of a [constant amount] of new coins is analogous to gold miners expending resources to add gold to circulation,” pseudonymous BTC creator Satoshi Nakamoto wrote in 2008. The comparison has been adopted widely by Bitcoin fans, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Strategy founder Michael Saylor, and even Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
The global gold supply hasn't been exhausted yet, so investors can't skip ahead a few chapters for a preview of what BTC might do in 115 years. But Todaro pointed out that the very gradual reduction in block rewards should dampen effects on Bitcoin's price.
Strategy Drops $1.28 Billion on Bitcoin, Issues $377 Million in Preferred Shares
He expects the majority of selling pressure to come from newly produced BTC, not long-time HODLers. And even if Bitcoin miners liquidate their holdings as they exit the business, they're not the whales they used to be.
“Bitcoin miners do not hold as much Bitcoin on their balance sheets on a relative basis as they historically have,” he said. “They hold ~0.5% of the circulating supply, while Strategy alone holds 7x more BTC than all the miners combined.”
Best Cheap Crypto to Buy Now? Analysts Say This Emerging Altcoin Is Built for a Bigger 2026 Run
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Large Ethereum holders have withdrawn more than 39,700 ETH worth roughly $75M from major exchanges. This is indicative of aggressive accumulation across the market.
Data from multiple transactions highlighted whales removing 9,220 ETH from OKX and Bybit, 5,000 ETH from Gemini, and 2,508 ETH from Binance. All while institutional wallets linked to Cumberland pulled 23,000 ETH valued at around $50.1M from Binance and Coinbase.
Such large withdrawals typically reduce available exchange supply while alluding to longer-term positioning by major players. At the time of writing, Ethereum was trading near $2,089, with large holders continuing to transfer coins into private wallets.
With exchange reserves falling and institutional wallets expanding their balances, this accumulation wave raises a key question – Can tightening supply conditions support Ethereum's next recovery phase?
The world's largest altcoin stabilized after its aggressive sell-off, with ETH holding on to a consolidation range between $1,807 and $2,152. With a press time price of $2,089, the market seemed to be positioned close to its mid-range resistance.
Previous downside pressure pushed ETH through several support zones before buyers began defending the $1,807-zone, creating a short-term base. However, recovery attempts continued to face resistance near the $2,152-level. This level previously acted as a breakdown point during the decline. Right now, this zone represents the first structural hurdle for buyers attempting to regain control.
As Ethereum trades sideways, traders need to monitor whether the market can gradually reclaim lost ground or not. Especially since failure to sustain support could keep the broader consolidation structure intact.
At the time of writing, several technical indicators seemed to be hinting at stronger bullish pressure, despite the broader downtrend.
The Stochastic RSI, for instance, surged to 97.97 and 90.52, signaling extremely elevated buying activity following Ethereum's stabilization phase. Such readings typically appear when strong demand is in the offing.
Similarly, the Parabolic SAR flipped below the price near $1,965 – A sign that short-term trend pressure has shifted towards buyers.
When both indicators align in this way, traders often interpret the structure as an early sign of a potential recovery attempt.
Market order flow also highlighted rising demand within Ethereum's spot markets.
The Spot Taker CVD over the past 90 days underlined taker buy dominance, meaning aggressive buyers have begun executing more market orders than sellers. Such a shift usually means stronger immediate demand entering the market, rather than passive limit buying.
When such buying activity appears alongside large exchange withdrawals, it often signals coordinated accumulation behavior among participants.
Large traders frequently combine spot purchases with off-exchange storage strategies during accumulation phases.
As a result, the interaction between taker buying pressure and declining exchange balances may gradually tighten circulating supply across trading venues.
Finally, derivatives data revealed another important dynamic shaping Ethereum's near-term structure. The Binance liquidation heatmap highlighted dense liquidity around the $2,1500-level, with the same now sitting above the market price.
These clusters represent areas where leveraged positions could face forced liquidations if the price approaches those levels. Markets often move towards such liquidity zones because large concentrations of leveraged orders create strong trading activity.
Given that Ethereum was trading near $2,089 at press time, it places the $2,150 liquidity region within short-term reach. If buying pressure strengthens and price climbs toward that zone, cascading liquidations could amplify volatility.
However, sellers may still defend this zone aggressively due to the large concentration of leverage.
To sum up, whale withdrawals exceeding 39,700 ETH, strengthening spot demand, and bullish indicator signals all suggest Ethereum has entered an accumulation phase.
Meanwhile, the $2,150 liquidity cluster stands as the next critical target above its press time price levels.
If buyers maintain support and continue driving demand, Ethereum could gravitate towards that zone as markets chase concentrated leverage positions.
Evans Boto is a crypto-fundamental analyst and journalist at AMBCrypto, specializing in evaluating the intrinsic value and long-term viability of digital assets. He analyzes protocol utility, tokenomics, and on-chain data to cut through market hype and deliver research-driven insights on blockchain, DeFi, and emerging fintech trends.
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Former Coinbase Chief Technology Officer Balaji Srinivasan has issued a compelling call for accelerated development of cryptocurrency tools specifically designed for refugee populations and stateless individuals. Speaking from a global perspective on March 15, 2025, Srinivasan emphasized that blockchain technology's inherent properties make it uniquely suited for humanitarian crises where traditional financial systems often fail vulnerable populations. His advocacy comes amid increasing global displacement figures and growing recognition of digital assets' potential for social impact.
Balaji Srinivasan's public statement on X, formerly Twitter, highlights a pressing humanitarian challenge. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that forced displacement has reached unprecedented levels, affecting over 117 million people globally. Consequently, traditional financial infrastructure frequently collapses in conflict zones and displacement settings. Srinivasan specifically notes that cryptocurrency offers distinct advantages in these environments. Public blockchains operate on decentralized networks that resist data center attacks, hacking attempts, and government-imposed network shutdowns.
Furthermore, blockchain transactions can occur without intermediaries like banks or payment processors. This characteristic proves particularly valuable when banking systems become inaccessible or unreliable. For instance, refugees crossing borders often lose access to their savings and financial identities. Cryptocurrency wallets, however, can store value digitally on devices as simple as basic smartphones. The technology enables peer-to-peer transfers across borders without requiring traditional banking relationships.
Srinivasan's analysis identifies stablecoins as particularly transformative within refugee assistance frameworks. These digital assets maintain price stability by pegging their value to reserve assets like the US dollar or gold. Notably, stablecoin adoption has surged in regions experiencing economic instability and currency devaluation. Organizations like the World Food Programme have already experimented with blockchain-based aid distribution in Jordanian refugee camps.
The emergence of gold-backed stablecoins adds another dimension to this ecosystem. These assets combine gold's historical value preservation with blockchain's transferability. For populations fleeing hyperinflation or currency collapse, such instruments can provide more stable stores of value than volatile local currencies. Several humanitarian organizations now explore stablecoin distributions because they reduce transaction costs and increase transparency compared to cash-based aid.
Blockchain networks demonstrate remarkable resilience in crisis scenarios. Unlike centralized databases, distributed ledger technology maintains functionality even when individual nodes fail or face attacks. This robustness becomes crucial during natural disasters, conflicts, or political instability when traditional systems collapse. Humanitarian technologists increasingly recognize that cryptocurrency tools can operate through mesh networks and satellite internet when conventional connectivity fails.
Several real-world implementations already demonstrate this potential. In Ukraine, cryptocurrency donations exceeded $225 million following Russia's invasion, providing vital resources when banking channels faced disruption. Similarly, Venezuelan refugees have used cryptocurrency to preserve wealth amid hyperinflation exceeding 1,000,000%. These cases illustrate how digital assets can serve populations excluded from traditional finance.
Despite promising applications, significant barriers hinder widespread cryptocurrency adoption among refugee populations. Key challenges include:
Humanitarian organizations address these challenges through simplified interfaces and educational initiatives. Some developers create cryptocurrency wallets with minimalistic designs requiring fewer technical steps. Other projects integrate blockchain technology with existing mobile money platforms popular in developing regions. These hybrid approaches may accelerate adoption by building on familiar systems.
Financial technology researchers echo Srinivasan's observations about cryptocurrency's potential. Dr. Sarah Johnson, a humanitarian technology specialist at Oxford University, notes that blockchain-based systems can create “portable financial identities” for displaced populations. Her research indicates that refugees who maintain access to digital assets recover economically faster than those dependent solely on traditional aid. Johnson emphasizes that cryptocurrency tools complement rather than replace existing humanitarian efforts.
Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee has piloted several blockchain projects in Syrian refugee communities. Their findings suggest that cryptocurrency distributions reduce administrative costs by approximately 30% compared to cash-based systems. However, they caution that technological solutions must prioritize user experience and accessibility. Successful implementations typically involve community training and ongoing technical support.
The cryptocurrency ecosystem continues evolving to better serve vulnerable populations. Several development areas show particular promise:
These technological advancements align with Srinivasan's vision for more robust cryptocurrency tools. Additionally, regulatory developments may facilitate broader adoption. The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation establishes clearer guidelines for stablecoin issuers, potentially increasing institutional confidence in humanitarian applications. Similar regulatory frameworks in other jurisdictions could accelerate development of refugee-focused solutions.
Balaji Srinivasan's advocacy for cryptocurrency tools for refugees highlights blockchain technology's growing relevance in humanitarian contexts. As global displacement reaches record levels, innovative financial solutions become increasingly urgent. Stablecoins and resilient blockchain networks offer practical advantages over traditional systems in crisis environments. However, successful implementation requires addressing digital literacy gaps, ensuring accessibility, and developing appropriate regulatory frameworks. The continued evolution of cryptocurrency tools for vulnerable populations represents a significant opportunity to enhance financial inclusion and crisis response capabilities worldwide.
Q1: Why are cryptocurrency tools particularly useful for refugee populations?Cryptocurrency tools operate on decentralized networks that function during banking collapses, government restrictions, or infrastructure damage. They enable borderless transactions without traditional banking relationships, which refugees often lose during displacement.
Q2: What specific advantages do stablecoins offer in humanitarian contexts?Stablecoins maintain consistent value by pegging to assets like the US dollar or gold, avoiding the volatility of other cryptocurrencies. This stability makes them suitable for storing value and making payments in unstable economic environments common in displacement scenarios.
Q3: How do refugees access cryptocurrency without reliable internet or smartphones?Developers are creating solutions for limited connectivity, including offline transaction capabilities and integration with basic mobile phones. Humanitarian organizations often provide devices and connectivity as part of broader assistance programs when implementing cryptocurrency tools.
Q4: What are the main risks associated with cryptocurrency use among vulnerable populations?Key risks include technical complexity, potential for scams, volatility of non-stablecoin assets, and loss of funds if private keys are compromised. These challenges require comprehensive education programs and user-friendly interface design.
Q5: Are humanitarian organizations actively using cryptocurrency tools currently?Yes, several organizations including the World Food Programme, International Rescue Committee, and Red Cross have conducted pilot programs distributing aid via blockchain-based systems. These experiments demonstrate both potential benefits and implementation challenges that inform ongoing development.
Disclaimer: The information provided is not trading advice, Bitcoinworld.co.in holds no liability for any investments made based on the information provided on this page. We strongly recommend independent research and/or consultation with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.
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Major corporations across the globe have research and development teams hard at work figuring out ways to take advantage of blockchain technology and all things crypto, but there is one innovator in the market that has elected to stay on the sidelines to the amazement of everyone in the Fintech industry. Apple Corporation (NASDAQ:AAPL) just …
Major corporations across the globe have research and development teams hard at work figuring out ways to take advantage of blockchain technology and all things crypto, but there is one innovator in the market that has elected to stay on the sidelines to the amazement of everyone in the Fintech industry. Apple Corporation (NASDAQ:AAPL) just refuses to budge or has chosen to remain very tight lipped about what it is doing internally. The firm has obviously felt the “heat”, so to speak. In a recent CNN interview at a private event in San Francisco, one Apple executive explained that they view crypto as a long-term issue.
Jennifer Bailey, a vice president at Apple Pay, despite the payment industry “sizzle” over using blockchains to speed up and make more efficient the entire cross-border payment market, admitted that they are interested, but they have no plans to incorporate any crypto variations in their various product lines:
We think it's interesting… We think it has interesting long-term potential, but we're primarily focused on what consumers are using today.
For a corporation that has always prided itself on leading on the innovation front, rather than being a follower, this comment could possibly make Steve Jobs turn over in his grave. He was known to tell his Apple troops that:
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower… Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to be. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me.
It sounds as if Steve's legacy has been cast aside somewhere.
To build a design staff is one thing, and incorporating crypto ideas in existing products is another, but reporters have noted that, even though Apple has done neither, it has also gone out of its way to block crypto in several ways. For example, you cannot use your Goldman-Sachs credit card to buy Bitcoin or any other altcoin. They have also deployed strict rules within their Apple Store platform to prohibit any type of crypto app for sale.
Such tactics would seem appropriate for an old enterprise intent on protecting the “status quo” and undermining its competition, which has embraced all things crypto. When quizzed about what crypto technologies appeared to be “interesting”, using her own words. Ms. Bailey alluded to “Quick Response” (QR) code innovations, the use of a visual type of matrix to encode payment information or plane reservations, as something she was following:
If you look at QR code payment solutions, if you look at the long-term potential of cryptocurrency, I think you'll continue to see that change over time.
It could also be that Apple is so far behind its competitors in adopting crypto technologies that there is no point playing catch up. Other giant companies in similar situations that have chosen a “wait-and-see” approach typically acquire an innovative leader in the industry down the road and then try to leap ahead of market leaders with ideas that do not have to deal with legacy systems. Years ago, IBM was known to follow this strategy, as did large banks, but at least IBM has learned, perhaps from Steve Jobs' example, that if you do not lead, you could fall too far behind the technology wave.
What are Apple's competitors doing? Samsung, its chief phone rival, has been including crypto wallets and various related apps on its new service lines. Its new Galaxy Note 10 model is expected to be more user-friendly than all of its previous versions. The HTC Corporation, a smaller rival that must run faster, just released its new Exodus, which focuses on blockchain technology, has a built-in wallet, and several other crypto features.
Crypto industry analysts are now speculating as to what it would take for Apple to jump into the fray. Obviously, their product development folks are waiting to see crypto adopted by the mainstream before they act in any significant way, but when they do, the impact on all things crypto could be enormous, making Facebook's Libra project look like some sandbox game involving children.
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On March 14, 2026, Bitcoin reinforces its role as the crypto market benchmark, trading above $71,000 amid uneven recovery and heightened institutional focus.
Bitcoin has solidified its market dominance on March 14, 2026, emerging as the primary destination for returning capital following February's sell-off. Trading above the $71,000 USDT level, BTC signals a shift toward liquidity and stability in a selective market environment.
As of: March 14, 2026
Dr. Elena Voss, Senior Crypto Market Analyst. Bitcoin's dominance underscores maturing investor discipline amid global macro pressures.
Bitcoin crossed the 71,000 USDT mark early on March 14, 2026, at 71,006 USDT with a minimal 0.23% 24-hour decline, according to Binance data. This stability near $71,500 reflects recovery from recent corrections, with traders eyeing $75,000 as the pivotal resistance. Net exchange outflows indicate long-term accumulation, stabilizing derivatives open interest at $47 billion post-liquidations.
Market dominance strengthening positions Bitcoin as the foundational asset, drawing institutional and large private capital first before altcoin distribution. This dynamic elevates BTC's psychological benchmark role, prioritizing liquidity over speculative plays.
The transition from speculative frenzy to selective investment favors Bitcoin's transparency and institutional appeal. Capital flows into BTC first signal reduced risk appetite for altcoins, making Bitcoin dominance a key metric over individual token performance. This phase highlights liquidity's primacy, benefiting BTC amid uneven recovery.
For traders, $75,000 represents a decision point: a breakout could target $85,000, while failure risks $70,000 support and lower. Ichimoku cloud resistance at $71,500-$75,000 underscores fragility, yet accumulation supports upside potential.
English-speaking investors in Europe, particularly DACH regions, view Bitcoin's dominance through BaFin and ECB lenses. Germany's regulated frameworks emphasize compliant assets like spot Bitcoin ETFs, aligning with BTC's liquidity premium. Amid ECB rate trajectory scrutiny, Bitcoin serves as a hedge against fiat debasement, appealing to conservative portfolios.
DACH institutions prioritize BTC for its maturity, avoiding altcoin volatility. Current price stability near $71K offers entry points before potential rallies, especially with EU MiCA regulations favoring established assets. Local sentiment favors Bitcoin as a portfolio diversifier amid commodity volatility.
Cryptocurrencies track global risk assets, tied to inflation, rates, and liquidity expectations. Bitcoin's resilience amid these factors positions it ahead of altcoins, yet vulnerability persists if central banks tighten. Geopolitical risks amplify BTC's safe-haven narrative within crypto.
Downside threats include breaks below $70,000 toward $65,000-$60,000. Upside catalysts hinge on $75K clearance, driven by institutional inflows.
Related reading
Key resistances cluster at $72,000-$75,000, with $75,693 as Fibonacci-aligned breakout level. Supports at $70,000, then $67,000-$65,000, and structural $60,000. Price compression signals volatility ahead, with exchange outflows reinforcing holder conviction.
Bitcoin news today centers on this $75K test as the rally's gatekeeper, amid stabilized open interest.
Ethereum lags in momentum despite DeFi infrastructure role, while stablecoins gain as payment bridges. Altcoins face selectivity, favoring high-liquidity projects tied to BTC ecosystems. This redistribution map guides BTC news today, prioritizing quality over hype.
For weekend positioning, focus on BTC's lead, with dominance tracking capital flows.
Sentiment turns constructive yet cautious, with Bitcoin price eyeing macro alignment. Catalysts include institutional re-entry and rate cut hopes; risks encompass regulatory shifts and equity sell-offs. European investors monitor ECB signals for BTC allocation boosts.
Long-term, BTC's benchmark status endures, but near-term hinges on $75K dynamics.
Disclaimer: Not investment advice. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are volatile financial instruments.
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Amid growing institutional adoption of Ethereum (ETH) by major financial firms, the Ethereum Foundation published a mandate outlining its role within the blockchain ecosystem. However, that has sparked quite a bit of criticism. But, the founder of Ethereum Market Research Center, William Mougayar, has chosen to defend the foundation, saying the current criticism is “profoundly misplaced.”
Mougayar pushed back against criticism on Friday, saying the organization was often wrongly treated as the Ethereum network's central authority. “Criticizing the Ethereum Foundation has become the easiest reflex in this industry,” Mougayar wrote. “It's convenient. It gives critics a single target to point at,” the author added, saying it is unwise to do so.
Mougayar, who has a decade of experience as a blockchain analyst, explained that the foundation should be viewed as a “steward” of the protocol rather than as controlling the broader ecosystem. “Ethereum is not a company. It is an ecosystem,” he wrote.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is a non-profit organization that supports research, development, and coordination of the Ethereum protocol. Rather than controlling the full network, the foundation funds core development, supports infrastructure, and helps guide long-term research around Ethereum's technology.
The Foundation has often been criticized for regularly selling ETH to fund its work. These sales have garnered a lot of criticism for selling Ethereum in bear markets. Some critics believe it's hypocritical, saying that it pushes Ethereum's price to tank. Critics have also asked why a non-profit that is financially sound needs to sell ETH.
Critics also say that the Foundation moves too slowly in execution, marketing, user growth, and competition with faster chains like Solana (SOL).
Ethereum (ETH) was trading at $2,103, down by 0.4% over 24 hours. On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment around ETH remained in the ‘bearish' territory, as chatter levels around it moved from ‘low' to ‘normal' over the past day.
The Ethereum Foundation released a mandate on Friday, outlining its mission and responsibilities within the ecosystem.
The organization explained that it would focus on maintaining a censorship-resistant, open-source, private, and secure Ethereum network, which it called “CROPS.” The Foundation said its primary responsibility was to help the protocol and focus on tasks that other ecosystem participants were unlikely to undertake. “EF focuses on critical tasks that have no other natural home and that no other ecosystem actor can or will reliably undertake,” the Foundation wrote.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also commented on the mandate. Buterin said the Ethereum Foundation would continue to prioritize decentralization, privacy, security, and censorship resistance while contributing to tools and infrastructure that support user self-sovereignty, a point the 32-year-old founder has repeatedly emphasized.
He described Ethereum as a “sanctuary technology” designed to preserve technological self-sovereignty and ensure that no single organization or ideology can dominate the digital ecosystem.
Read also: Oil Surges Toward $100 As President Trump Orders Massive SPR Drawdown — One Trader Is Quietly Booking $1.28M Profit
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XRP leads the pack with 1,500 TPS, which is nearly 10× faster than Bitcoin and Ethereum.
As the race to build faster, more scalable blockchain networks intensifies, XRP is emerging as a clear front-runner.
Powered by the XRP Ledger, the digital asset can process roughly 1,500 transactions per second (TPS), a throughput that far surpasses many of the industry's most established networks.
In comparison, Bitcoin and Ethereum handle about 16 TPS each, placing XRP's capacity at nearly ten times higher. This performance advantage positions XRP as one of the most scalable blockchain solutions for high-volume payments and real-time financial transactions.
The widening performance gap underscores one of the blockchain industry's most pressing challenges: scalability.
As global adoption accelerates, networks must process growing transaction volumes without congestion, delays, or soaring fees. Early blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum have long struggled with these limitations, especially during periods of intense demand when network bottlenecks slow transactions and drive costs higher.
In contrast, the XRP Ledger is demonstrating its capacity to operate at scale. Network activity has surged, with daily transactions climbing past 2.7 million, signaling rising adoption and robust on-chain momentum.
This sustained throughput highlights the ledger's ability to handle high transaction volumes efficiently, an advantage that positions it as a strong contender for large-scale financial and payment applications in the evolving blockchain ecosystem.
Well, the XRP Ledger was built specifically to overcome the scalability and efficiency limitations that have challenged earlier blockchains.
Unlike energy-intensive proof-of-work systems used by networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, the XRP Ledger relies on a streamlined consensus protocol that validates transactions without mining.
This architecture enables transactions to settle in just three to five seconds, delivering both speed and efficiency at scale. As a result, the network is particularly well-suited for high-frequency financial operations, including cross-border payments and real-time settlements, areas where traditional blockchain systems often struggle with delays, congestion, and high fees.
XRP's speed advantage is drawing growing interest from financial institutions exploring blockchain-powered payment infrastructure.
Developed and supported by Ripple Labs, the XRP Ledger has long been positioned as a solution for cross-border payments, an area where traditional banking systems can take days to finalize transactions. With settlement times of just a few seconds and minimal transaction costs, the network offers a scalable alternative designed for real-time global value transfer.
As market observers compare current price action to patterns seen before the 2017 cryptocurrency bull run, speculation is mounting over whether XRP could be preparing for another explosive move. Some analysts are now questioning whether the asset's evolving utility and growing institutional attention could set the stage for a rally approaching 1,500%.
As blockchain adoption expands beyond cryptocurrency trading into payments, remittances, tokenization, and DeFi, scalability becomes a critical differentiator. Networks that handle thousands of transactions per second can support larger ecosystems without slowing down.
While Bitcoin dominates as a store of value and Ethereum leads in smart contracts, XRP's emphasis on speed and throughput gives it a unique edge. Its ability to process high transaction volumes efficiently highlights a design built for real-world financial applications.
With a capacity of around 1,500 transactions per second, XRP sets a new benchmark for scalable blockchain infrastructure, positioning itself as a leader in powering the global digital economy.
In a world where speed and efficiency drive financial innovation, XRP is setting a new standard for scalable blockchain infrastructure. The XRP Ledger handles up to 1,500 transactions per second, nearly 10x that of Bitcoin and Ethereum, positioning it as a high-speed, low-cost backbone for global digital payments.
As traditional finance increasingly embraces blockchain, XRP's performance and throughput could redefine how money moves across borders, powering a faster, more connected financial ecosystem.
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Brian Njuguna
Brian Njuguna is a seasoned crypto journalist at Coinpaper, specializing in blockchain innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments. With a background in economics and years of experience covering the digital asset space, Brian delivers sharp, data-driven insights that cut through the hype. His reporting bridges global crypto narratives with emerging market perspectives, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.
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Two weeks into a Middle Eastern war and bitcoin is higher than where it started.
The largest cryptocurrency was trading at $71,000 on Saturday morning, down 0.7% over the past 24 hours after the U.S. bombed military targets on Kharg Island, Iran's main crude export facility.
The reversal from Friday's $73,838 high was sharp but contained. Bitcoin gave back 3.5% on the Kharg headlines and stopped. A month ago, a comparable escalation would have triggered a much deeper sell-off.
The weekly numbers tell the resilience story. Bitcoin is up 4.2% over seven days. Ether gained 5.5% to $2,090. Dogecoin added 5%. Solana rose 4.2% to $88. BNB climbed 4.5% to $655. Every major is green on the week despite the war intensifying, not easing.
The market is adapting to the conflict in real time. Early in the war, every headline produced an outsized reaction because nobody could price the tail risk. Now, traders have a framework, where strikes happen, oil spikes and bitcoin dips only to recover again.
The pattern has repeated enough times that the reflexive sell-the-headline impulse has faded. However, the $73,000-$74,000 resistance level stays in place, and has now rejected bitcoin four times in two weeks.
Trump's language on Kharg Island added a new variable in the markets.
In a Truth Social post late Friday, he said he spared oil infrastructure "for reasons of decency" but would "immediately reconsider" if Iran continued blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran responded that any strike on energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory attacks on U.S.-linked facilities in the region. That's a conditional escalation threat that didn't exist 48 hours ago. If oil infrastructure becomes a target, the supply disruption, which the IEA already called the largest in history, gets dramatically worse.
Meanwhile, the $371 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours reflected the two-way nature of Friday's session. Short liquidations outpaced longs at $207 million versus $163 million, meaning the initial surge to $73,800 squeezed bears before the Kharg headlines squeezed the longs who had just entered.
Attention now shifts to the Fed meeting on March 17-18. Oil above $100, the largest energy supply disruption in history, and a war entering its third week with no resolution make the stagflation case harder to dismiss.
CME FedWatch still prices a 95%+ probability of a hold at 3.5% to 3.75%, but the dot plot and Powell's press conference will matter more than the decision itself. Any hint that rate hikes are back on the table would hit risk assets hard, including a crypto market that has spent five months pricing in cuts that keep not arriving.
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The math behind Strategy's path to 1 million bitcoin by the end of 2026
The largest publicly traded corporate holder of bitcoin would need to buy roughly 6,158 BTC per week, about $523 million, to reach the milestone by Dec. 31.
What to know:
Disclosure & Polices: CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of Bullish (NYSE:BLSH), an institutionally focused global digital asset platform that provides market infrastructure and information services. Bullish owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets and CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish equity-based compensation.
Dubai, UAE, March 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Pepeto' team announces a major advancement on its Ethereum based exchange tools, with the cross chain bridge entering its next phase ahead of the biggest bull run analysts have called for in years. This project is seeing real growth as opportunity chasers rush to position in what some call the next Shiba Inu story of 2026. What explains this goes deeper than hype, as Pepeto's tools fix the problems Ethereum still carries, something Cardano promised but never delivered. A look at the cardano price prediction makes sense, because seeing how a project with the same goal performs gives a fact based picture of Pepeto's future.
Pepeto Bridge Solves Ethereum Problems While the Cardano Price Prediction Target $1.89 Pepeto just completed a major update to its cross chain bridge, expanding compatibility across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana with zero fees. Ethereum remains the dominant blockchain, but gas fees eat into every trade and bridging is slow and costly. This Ethereum based crypto eliminates that, routing tokens across chains at zero cost while AI screening verifies every contract. Cardano set out to solve these Ethereum issues years ago. Pepeto is the one actually doing it.
The cardano price prediction tells the full story. Benzinga reports analysts forecast ADA reaching just $1.89 by 2030, barely 7x from $0.27 (CoinMarketCap), and that best case takes four more years. Cardano raised billions but still hasn't delivered an Ethereum competing ecosystem. The ADA price outlook reflects those limits. Early ADA holders profited simply by being early, not because Cardano delivered. Now consider what happens when a crypto like Pepeto actually builds the solution the cardano price prediction proves Cardano only talked about, at a presale entry giving early wallets room for returns ADA holders stopped hoping for. And Pepeto doesn't stop at utility.
Pepeto Wraps Ethereum Utility in Shiba Inu Level Virality and That Changes Everything What does Pepeto offer beyond the bridge? It starts with timing. Pepeto is still early, and early creates wealth in crypto. But Pepeto isn't just early. It has the same viral energy that turned Shiba Inu from an unknown token into a global movement.
According to CNN, two brothers from New York put $8,000 into Shiba Inu during the pandemic and watched that turn into $9 million in six months. What made that possible wasn't any product. It was pure community belief and viral energy spreading faster than anyone could track. Pepeto today has that same energy, the same organic buzz across social platforms, except this time a real exchange underneath will generate actual trading volume and demand long after the launch.
Even though Pepeto is clearly more than a meme coin, it is a fundamental Ethereum based crypto wrapped in a meme coin package. The branding tells the story. Pepeto is the god of frogs, the redemption arc of Pepe coin. The T and O that Pepe never had stand for Technology and Optimization, representing every piece of DeFi utility Pepeto built on top of the most viral brand in crypto. That is what brought whale wallets into the presale. Whales saw a project that adds the infrastructure layer giving the token lasting value on Ethereum, not just meme culture riding a quick pump.
"The bridge handles cross chain transfers at zero cost with built in contract verification, something no meme coin ecosystem has delivered," said a Pepeto team representative.
Shiba Inu showed the world what happens when a community believes hard enough. Pepeto took that lesson and built on it. The viral energy is here, the Ethereum infrastructure is being delivered, and the presale keeps growing every week.
Conclusion
To catch winning crypto opportunities, vision and early positioning are what have made more millionaires than any strategy ever could. The cardano price prediction proves promises without execution lead nowhere even after billions raised. Shiba Inu proved early entry combined with viral energy creates life changing wealth in months. Pepeto combines both lessons into one Ethereum based project with real infrastructure and the kind of community that only appears once per cycle.
Whales never put money into something unless they know what's coming, and whale activity in this presale speaks louder than any ADA forecast ever could. Being lucky enough to read about Pepeto today and choosing to wait could be one of the most expensive mistakes of this cycle. This is the kind of Shiba Inu level opportunity people look back on for years, and by then the entry open today will be a memory.
Disclaimer As Pepeto gains more attention, fake websites pretending to be the project have started appearing online. Always check that you are on the correct official domain before connecting your wallet, the official website is down below.
CLICK TO VISIT PEPETO OFFICIAL WEBSITE
About Pepeto Pepeto is an Ethereum based crypto building a DeFi exchange with zero fee trading, a cross chain bridge connecting Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana, and AI token screening. With a SolidProof audit and over $7.99 million raised, Pepeto combines Shiba Inu level viral energy with real infrastructure solving Ethereum's biggest problems, something the cardano price prediction confirms Cardano never achieved.
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New research suggests human hair does not grow by being pushed out from the root as long believed. Instead, scientists found that hair is pulled upward by forces created by a hidden network of moving cells within the follicle. The discovery challenges decades of biology textbook explanations and could influence how researchers approach hair loss and hair regeneration.
Researchers from L'Oréal Research & Innovation and Queen Mary University of London used advanced 3D live imaging to observe individual cells inside living human hair follicles maintained in laboratory culture. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, revealed that cells in the outer root sheath -- a layer encasing the hair shaft -- move along a spiral path downward within the same region where the upward pulling force is generated.
Dr. Inês Sequeira, Reader in Oral and Skin Biology at Queen Mary and one of the lead authors said "Our results reveal a fascinating choreography inside the hair follicle. For decades, it was assumed that hair was pushed out by the dividing cells in the hair bulb. We found that instead that it's actively being pulled upwards by surrounding tissue acting almost like a tiny motor."
Experiments Reveal the Force Driving Hair Growth
To investigate the mechanism further, the scientists blocked cell division inside the follicle. They expected hair growth to stop if dividing cells were responsible for pushing the hair upward. Instead, the follicles continued growing hair at nearly the same rate.
However, when the researchers interfered with actin -- a protein that allows cells to contract and move -- hair growth slowed dramatically, dropping by more than 80 per cent. Computer simulations supported the findings, showing that the pulling force created by coordinated movement in the outer layers of the follicle was necessary to match the observed speed of hair growth.
Advanced Imaging Captures Cell Motion in Real Time
Dr. Nicolas Tissot, the first author, from L'Oréal's Advanced Research team said: a "We use a novel imaging method allowing 3D time lapse microscopy in real-time. While static images provide mere isolated snapshots, 3D time-lapse microscopy is indispensable for truly unraveling the intricate, dynamic biological processes within the hair follicle, revealing crucial cellular kinetics, migratory patterns, and rate of cell divisions that are otherwise impossible to deduce from discrete observations. This approach made it possible to model the forces generated locally."
Rethinking Hair Follicle Mechanics
Dr. Thomas Bornschlögl, other lead author, from the same L'Oréal team adds: "This reveals that hair growth is not driven only by cell division -- instead, outer root sheath actively pull the hair upwards." This new understanding of how hair follicles function may create opportunities to study hair disorders, test new medications, and advance work in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine."
Although the experiments were conducted on human hair follicles grown in laboratory culture, the findings provide new insights into the biology of hair and regenerative medicine. The researchers suggest that understanding the physical forces inside follicles could help scientists design treatments that target both the mechanical and biochemical environment of the follicle. In addition, the new imaging approach may allow scientists to test potential drugs and therapies on living follicles.
Biophysics Offers New Insights Into Everyday Biology
The study also underscores the expanding influence of biophysics in modern biology. It demonstrates how tiny mechanical forces at the microscopic level can shape the growth and behavior of structures in the human body.
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Researchers at the University of Cambridge have created a new technique that uses light instead of toxic chemicals to change complex drug molecules. The discovery could speed up drug development and make the process of designing medicines more efficient.
The study, published on March 12 in Nature Synthesis, introduces what the team calls an "anti-Friedel-Crafts" reaction. Traditional Friedel-Crafts chemistry requires powerful chemicals or metal catalysts and harsh laboratory conditions. Because of these requirements, the reaction normally takes place early in drug manufacturing and is followed by many additional chemical steps to produce the final medicine.
The new Cambridge method turns that process around by allowing researchers to make changes to drug molecules much later in development.
LED Powered Reaction Forms Key Chemical Bonds
Instead of relying on heavy metal catalysts, the reaction is activated by an LED lamp at ambient temperature. When the light triggers the reaction, it sets off a self sustaining chain process that forms carbon-carbon bonds under mild conditions without toxic or costly reagents.
In practical terms, this approach lets chemists adjust complex molecules near the end of the drug development process rather than dismantling them and rebuilding them piece by piece -- something that can otherwise take months.
"We've found a new way to make precise changes to complex drug molecules, particularly ones that have been exceptionally difficult to modify in the past," said David Vahey, first author and a PhD researcher at St John's College, Cambridge.
"Scientists can spend months rebuilding large parts of a molecule just to test one small change. Now, instead of doing a multistep process for hundreds of molecules, scientists can start with their hit and make small modifications later on."
"This reaction lets scientists make precise adjustments much later in the process, under mild conditions and without relying on toxic or expensive reagents. That opens chemical space that has been hard to access before and gives medicinal chemists a cleaner, more efficient tool for exploring new versions of a drug."
Faster Drug Discovery With Less Waste
Reducing the number of synthesis steps lowers chemical use, cuts energy consumption and shrinks the environmental footprint of drug development. It also saves researchers valuable time.
The reaction is highly selective, allowing chemists to change one specific part of a molecule without disturbing other sensitive areas. This precision is important because even small structural changes can influence how a medicine works in the body, how it behaves biologically or whether it produces side effects.
At its core, the breakthrough addresses a fundamental chemical challenge: forming carbon-carbon bonds. These bonds create the backbone of countless substances including fuels, plastics and complex biological molecules.
The technique also shows what chemists describe as "high functional-group tolerance." That means it can modify one region of a molecule while leaving other functional groups untouched. This makes the reaction particularly useful for late-stage optimization, a stage of drug discovery where scientists fine tune molecules to improve how medicines perform.
Because the approach avoids heavy metals, harsh reaction conditions and lengthy synthesis pathways, it could also reduce toxic waste and energy consumption in pharmaceutical manufacturing. These environmental benefits are increasingly important as the chemical industry works to reduce its environmental impact.
Inspired by Sustainable Chemistry Research
Vahey works in the research group led by Professor Erwin Reisner at Cambridge. Reisner's team is known for developing chemical systems inspired by photosynthesis. Their research explores ways to use sunlight to convert waste materials, water and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and fuels.
Reisner, Professor of Energy and Sustainability in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry and lead author of the study, said the significance of the work lies in expanding what chemists can achieve under practical conditions while also moving toward greener manufacturing techniques.
"This is a new way to make a fundamental carbon-carbon bond and that's why the potential impact is so great. It also means chemists can avoid an undesirable and inefficient drug modification process."
The researchers tested the reaction on a broad range of drug like molecules and showed that it could also be adapted for continuous flow systems commonly used in industrial chemical production. Collaboration with AstraZeneca helped evaluate whether the technique could meet the practical and environmental requirements of large scale pharmaceutical manufacturing.
"Transitioning the chemical industry to a sustainable industry is arguably one of the most difficult parts of the whole energy transition," explained Reisner.
Breakthrough Emerges From a Failed Experiment
The discovery began with an unexpected laboratory result, similar to many famous scientific breakthroughs including X-rays, penicillin, Viagra and modern weight loss medications.
"Failure after failure, then we found something we weren't expecting in the mess -- a real diamond in the rough. And it is all thanks to a failed control experiment," Vahey said.
He had been testing a photocatalyst when he removed it during a control experiment and discovered that the reaction worked just as well and sometimes even better without it.
At first the unusual product appeared to be a mistake. Instead of ignoring it, the researchers chose to investigate further. According to Reisner, recognizing the significance of unexpected results is an important part of scientific discovery.
"Recognizing the value in the unexpected is probably one of the key characteristics of a successful scientist," he said.
AI Helps Predict New Chemical Reactions
"We generate enormous amounts of data, and increasingly we use artificial intelligence to help analyze it. We have an algorithm that can predict reactivity. AI helps because we don't need chemists to do endless trial and error, but an algorithm will only follow the rules it has been given. It still takes a human being to look at something that appears wrong and ask whether it might actually be something new."
In this case, Vahey recognized the potential importance of the unexpected result and explored it further.
"David could have dismissed it as a failed control," Reisner said. "Instead, he stopped and thought about what he was seeing. That moment, choosing to investigate rather than ignore it, is where discovery happens."
After uncovering the chemistry behind the reaction, the team introduced machine learning models developed with Trinity College Dublin to predict where the reaction would occur on entirely new molecules that had never been tested in the laboratory.
By learning patterns from known chemical reactions, the AI system can simulate possible outcomes before experiments are performed. This allows researchers to identify promising molecules more quickly and with far less trial and error.
For Vahey, the discovery provides scientists with a valuable new capability for drug discovery and development.
He said: "What industry and other researchers do with it next -- that's where the future impact lies. For us, the lab is mostly average to bad days. The good days are very good days."
Reisner added: "As a chemist, you only need one or two good days a year -- and those can come from a failed experiment."
10 Famous Accidental Scientific Discoveries 1. X-rays (1895)
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays while studying electrical currents flowing through glass tubes. He noticed that a nearby screen began glowing unexpectedly, revealing a new type of radiation that allowed doctors to see inside the human body without surgery.
2. Radioactivity (1898)
Marie Curie observed that certain uranium minerals produced much more radiation than uranium alone could explain. This surprising finding led to the discovery of polonium and radium and helped establish the field of nuclear physics and chemistry.
3. Vulcanized rubber (1839)
Charles Goodyear discovered vulcanization when a mixture of natural rubber and sulphur accidentally fell onto a hot surface. Instead of melting, the rubber became strong and elastic. The process made rubber practical for industrial uses and eventually enabled the development of tires and many other products.
4. Penicillin (1928)
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin after mould accidentally contaminated a laboratory dish and killed surrounding bacteria. The discovery led to the first widely used antibiotic and transformed modern medicine.
5. Teflon (1938)
Chemist Roy Plunkett accidentally created Teflon while experimenting with refrigerant gases. The unexpected material proved extremely slippery and heat resistant and later became widely used in nonstick cookware and industrial applications.
6. Super glue (1942)
Harry Coover was attempting to develop transparent plastics when he instead created a substance that bonded instantly to nearly any surface. Later marketed as super glue, it became widely used in homes, manufacturing and medicine.
7. LSD (1943)
Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann accidentally absorbed a small amount of a compound he had synthesized and experienced its powerful psychological effects. The substance, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), later played an important role in neuroscience research and became controversial in popular culture.
8. Pulsars (1967)
Graduate student Jocelyn Bell Burnell noticed repeating radio signals while analyzing telescope data. Initially believed to be interference, the signals turned out to be the first evidence of pulsars, rapidly spinning neutron stars that opened a new field of astrophysics.
9. Viagra (1990s)
Researchers at Pfizer were studying a drug intended to treat angina when participants reported an unexpected side effect. The compound was later developed as Viagra and is now widely prescribed for erectile dysfunction.
10. Weight loss injections (2021)
Scientists developing treatments for Type 2 diabetes discovered that drugs mimicking the hormone GLP-1 also caused significant weight loss. Medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, originally created for diabetes, were later developed to treat obesity, marking a major shift in approaches to weight management.
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Researchers have given a newly identified Australian tree species an unusual nickname. Scientists call it the "zombie" tree because, although some individuals are still alive, the species is unable to grow and reproduce normally without major intervention.
Professor Rod Fensham, a botanist at the University of Queensland, said urgent action is needed to prevent the species Rhodamnia zombi from disappearing due to the fungal disease known as myrtle rust.
"This species did not have a name when it was first assessed in 2020, and since then 10 percent of the trees have died and none of those remaining are producing flowers or fruit because of myrtle rust," Professor Fensham said.
Myrtle Rust Stops the Tree From Growing or Reproducing
Rhodamnia zombi is described as a small to medium sized tree with large dark green leaves, shaggy bark, and fuzzy white flowers. It grows in rainforest areas within Queensland's Burnett region.
"It is a small to medium-sized tree with large dark green leaves, shaggy bark and hairy white flowers growing in rainforests in the Burnett region of Queensland.
"The bright yellow fungal pathogen attacks and kills off its young shoots over and over again meaning an infected tree can't grow or reproduce and eventually dies."
The fungal disease responsible for the damage, myrtle rust, was first detected in Australia in 2010. Because of the threat it poses, Rhodamnia zombi has now been placed on a list of species considered potentially critically endangered.
"Without any intervention, the 17 species on this Category X list will be extinct within a generation," Professor Fensham said.
"None of them appear to have any resistance to myrtle rust or any wild population which is not yet infected."
Scientists Hope Future Generations May Develop Resistance
Despite the dire outlook, researchers see a possible path forward. Professor Fensham, who works in UQ's School of the Environment, said related species within the broader Rhodamnia group have shown resistance to myrtle rust. That genetic connection could offer a chance for survival.
"A survival strategy starts with finding clean cuttings in the wild before myrtle rust attacks them and propagating them to grow at safe sites," he said.
"So far seedlings are being grown by specialists in Lismore and Townsville which look promising, but they need to be constantly vigilant.
"Hopefully once they produce seed, lurking in the next generation of Rhodamnia zombi some resistance will become apparent.
"It is a rare opportunity to study this evolutionary process which has happened countless of times in the wild over millennia."
A Long Shot to Save the Species
Researchers ultimately hope that if resistant trees emerge, they could eventually be replanted in forests and help restore the species to its natural ecosystem.
"It's a long shot and ambitious but the species needs time and space without being constantly walloped by myrtle rust to hopefully express some resistance," Professor Fensham said.
"Left to its own devices, the trees in the wild really will be the living dead."
The findings describing the species and its conservation outlook were published in the journal Austral Ecology.
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Meta is considering major layoffs that could affect 20% or more of the company's workforce, according to Reuters.
These layoffs could help the Facebook parent company offset its aggressive spending on AI infrastructure, as well as AI-related acquisitions and hiring. Meta employed nearly 79,000 people as of December 31, according to a recent filing.
“This is speculative reporting about theoretical approaches,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.
The report comes as many tech companies — most recently Block — have announced sweeping layoffs that they say are necessary as AI automates more work. But some pundits, and even executives like OpenAI's Sam Altman, have suggested that many of these cuts are “AI-washing,” where executives use AI as cover for other issues, such as over-hiring during the pandemic.
The last time Meta announced layoffs of this scale was in November 2022, when it cut 11,000 jobs, followed by another 10,000 in March 2023.
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by Todd Bishop on Mar 14, 2026 at 9:16 amMarch 14, 2026 at 9:19 am
On a rainy afternoon last November at Seattle Center, I walked into a darkened studio and found a film crew huddled around a miniature set, manipulating action figures representing software developers, a hero-protagonist ghost, and a monster representing AI slop.
Now this is different, I remember thinking to myself.
It was a stop-motion animation shoot for Kiro, an AI-powered software development tool from Amazon Web Services. When I learned that this crew was using AI to create the video in ways that wouldn't have been possible in the past — or would have taken far more time using traditional techniques alone — I knew I had to sit down and talk with them.
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, I'm joined by Brice Budke (president) and Zeek Earl (executive creative director), who run two Seattle studios: Shep, a video agency that works with tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft, and Packrat, a creative studio that specializes in miniature worlds, handmade sets, and retro creative projects.
Here's one of the videos that Packrat made from the AWS Kiro shoot, using AI to help fill in the gaps between start and end frames that they were capturing when I visited:
You might also know Packrat's work from the epic and widely watched 2025 Seahawks schedule release video, which won a Gold Clio. They also made “Prospect,” an indie sci-fi film that premiered at SXSW in 2018, starring Pedro Pascal and Sophie Thatcher.
Brice and Zeek discuss how AI is transforming their work, including what's working, what's not, and how they're navigating the changes on both the creative and business sides of their studios.
Listen below, and keep reading for key takeaways. Subscribe to GeekWire in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
AI doesn't necessarily save money. Getting usable output from AI video tools is still a numbers game. “To get one usable shot in a final piece, you might need 1,000 generations,” Zeek says, referring to the process of prompting the model to create a new variation. The time and expertise required to wrangle those tools means there's not always a clear cost savings over traditional production.
Taste and intuition matter more than ever. As AI handles more of the analytical and task-oriented work, the human value shifts to ideas, perspective, and judgment. “Ultimately somebody has to have a point of view and taste and a perspective to put in,” Brice says. “If you take that out, you're just up for the slot machine, random chance generator.”
Brand standards create unique challenges for AI. Unlike the random AI-generated content flooding the web, brand work demands consistency. Kiro has a distinct character, and Zeek couldn't have AI generate approximations that felt different in every frame.
The Kiro project was a breakthrough in part because it combined handmade production design with AI-assisted animation, giving him creative control rather than forcing him to work around the limitations. “Doing the Kiro project was the first time I felt in control of AI,” he said.
AI defaults to the generic. Generative AI “is always pulling you towards the middle,” Zeek explains. “It is always pulling you towards things that are derivative.” The distinctiveness of handmade work comes from the accumulation of human decisions, something AI can't replicate.
The sheer pace of change is a huge challenge. The AI video landscape is moving so fast that workflows become outdated almost immediately, and it's hard to keep up with the capabilities of generally available tools. “It's chaos,” Brice says. Every time a new project comes up, they have to reassess which tools might be right for the job, given the evolution.
Working with infinite tools is psychologically brutal. Generative AI offers endless possibilities, which means you can never be fully satisfied. “As a creative person, when you're working with an infinite tool, there's always the possibility that something better could come,” Zeek says. “At the end of a day of doing AI, you can just feel physically terrible because you will have never actually reached a level of satisfaction with your work.”
Every creative is going through the stages of grief with AI. Zeek says he's moved past feeling threatened or sad about the changes. “I'm really trying to focus on what it can do to bring out visions that were previously impossible,” he says. His hope and dream: that lower production costs will enable more weird, interesting human creativity, not less.
The future belongs to ideas, not busy work. Brice sees a shift in human focus toward generating ideas, rather than simply producing output. If AI can handle more of the analytical and task-oriented work, he says, it frees up space to focus on ideas, taking advantage of your own intuition and taste, areas where humans still have the edge.
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Audio editing and production by Curt Milton.
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With Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg has made his first UFO and alien-focused movie in a long time. It may have been years since his last go-around with extraterrestrials, but they're not just a fad for him; they're something he fully believes in.
“I have a very strong, sneaking suspicion that we are not alone here on Earth right now,” he told a crowd at SXSW's Friday keynote. (Thanks, Vulture.) While stressing he knows as much as the average person about the subject (aka, not much), he's certain the planet has aliens and “made a movie” about that hunch. That's why so much of Disclosure Day's marketing has been focused on Josh O'Connor's character wanting to perform a mass reveal of the truth to the world, with others arguing there just have to be other beings that exist in this universe beyond humans.
The filmmaker entered Hollywood hoping to make a UFO movie, which studios repeatedly passed on. As Spielberg tells it, nobody “got it” back then, and aliens were “on the fringes of science of technology”…but after Jaws came out and became a hit, he had carte blanche to make anything he wanted. So he revived his dormant UFO movie, which became Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
If aliens were on the planet, Spielberg understandably thinks it'd shock people, especially the more religious among us, but not to a “lethal” degree. And if he ever got the chance to meet an alien, he'd want to watch movies with them—specifically, his very own E.T., along with It's a Wonderful Life as a way of showing how humans help each other and push on despite various setbacks.
Just him saying that probably gives you an idea of what might happen in Disclosure Day, but we'll have to wait until June 12 to find out for sure.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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Steven Spielberg's next summer blockbuster, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, and Colman Domingo, releases this June.
Seems likely that 'Disclosure Day' is going to hit big, so Hollywood's looking to let UFO stories into its heart (and wallet).
Plus, new 'Highlander' reboot set pictures reveal Dave Bautista's Kurgan.
We had promos of astronauts, mercenaries, and Mario through Super Bowl LX. How'd they all stack up against each other?
Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor star in the latest alien film from iconic director Steven Spielberg, out June 12.
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OpenAI offers app integrations in ChatGPT to allow you to connect your accounts directly to ChatGPT and ask the assistant to do things for you. For instance, with a Spotify integration, you can tell it to create personalized playlists that will show up right in your Spotify app.
To get started, make sure you're logged into ChatGPT. Then type the name of the app you want to use at the start of your prompt, and ChatGPT will guide you through signing in and connecting your account.
If you want to set everything up at once, head over to the Settings menu, then click on Apps and Connectors. You can browse through the available apps, pick the ones you like, and it'll take you to the sign-in page for each one.
However, it's important to note that connecting your account means you're sharing your app data with ChatGPT. Make sure to review the permissions you're giving when you're linking your accounts. For example, if you connect your Spotify account, ChatGPT can see your playlists, listening history, and other personal information. (Sharing this info helps personalize the experience, but if you have privacy concerns, consider whether you're comfortable with this level of access before connecting.)
You can also disconnect any app whenever you want, right from the Settings menu.
Angi is one of the most recent companies to launch an in-app experience within ChatGPT. The online home service marketplace gives users a way to ask home improvement questions directly in the AI chatbot and request to be matched with an Angi professional in one place. Users can ask about house projects and repair guidance, then request a quote and be directed to Angi, where they can continue the experience with its own AI assistant.
This integration with the online travel giant is designed to help travelers, especially first-time visitors in need of suggestions for where to stay.
Once you link your Booking.com account, you can ask ChatGPT to find hotels in your preferred city based on your dates and budget. You can also specify how many people are coming and whether you want the hotel near public transport. ChatGPT aims to make this process more intuitive than searching directly on the Booking.com site. Plus, you can be more specific, like searching for options “with breakfast included.”
When you find a hotel you like, just open the Booking.com listing to complete your reservation.
Canva in ChatGPT is a helpful tool for graphic designers and anyone else who needs to generate visual content quickly. Whether it's for a social media post, a poster, or a slide deck for a presentation, this may be a good way to help kickstart your project and brainstorm ideas.
Once you connect your Canva account, you can ask ChatGPT to design something like “a 16:9 slide deck about our Q4 roadmap” or “a fun poster for a dog-walking business.” You can include specifics such as the fonts you prefer, color schemes, formats (like Instagram posts or stories), and exact dimensions.
AI-generated designs are seldom perfect, with occasional distorted images or spelling mistakes. However, some users may find this better than starting from scratch, and they can jump into Canva at any time to tweak their design and make it look just how they want.
Coursera's integration is designed to help you quickly discover the best online courses for your skill level. For instance, you can then tell ChatGPT to find an “intermediate-level course on Python.” You can then tell the chatbot to compare course options by rating, duration, and cost before enrolling. ChatGPT can also provide a quick rundown of what exactly each course covers.
DoorDash introduced its ChatGPT integration in December 2025, which aims to save time on meal planning and grocery shopping. Users can ask the chatbot for a meal plan and instantly add all ingredients to their DoorDash cart, then review and check out.
Currently, this feature is available only to users in the U.S., with participating grocery retailers, including Kroger, Safeway, Fairway Market, Wegmans, and more.
ChatGPT can display hotel options and flights via Expedia without leaving chat. Whether you're looking for a quick escape or a longer trip, it can find flights that fit your travel dates, budget, and number of travelers. You can narrow things down by saying stuff like “Only show 4-star hotels.” Once you see something you like, go to Expedia to finalize everything and book your trip.
To use Figma in ChatGPT, you can ask it to generate diagrams, flow charts, and more. This is helpful for turning your ideas and brainstorming sessions into something more tangible. It may also be useful for visualizing complex concepts or workflows.
You can also upload files and ask the chatbot to generate a product roadmap for your team. This roadmap can include milestones, deliverables, and deadlines, helping your team stay organized and focused on their goals.
Quizlet recently launched a native app within ChatGPT, allowing students to convert AI conversations, notes, or documents into study materials and flashcard sets. Plus, users can now enter an active practicing mode in ChatGPT, where they can access Quizlet's library of millions of study sets.
One of the most helpful aspects of using Spotify in ChatGPT is the ability to quickly create playlists and listen to new recommended songs tailored to your specific tastes. You can ask it to create a playlist based on your current mood, or just a playlist that only includes tracks by your favorite band.
It can also suggest new artists, playlists, audiobooks, and podcast episodes. Additionally, ChatGPT can perform actions on your behalf, including adding and removing items from your Spotify library.
Retail giant Target strategically launched a beta version of its ChatGPT integration before Black Friday. This feature allows shoppers to ask the chatbot for gift suggestions and quickly create a shopping basket with multiple items without leaving ChatGPT. For example, users can request ideas for a movie night, and the chatbot will provide a curated selection of available Target items. Shoppers can add these items to their cart and make a purchase using their Target account. They can then choose from same-day “Drive Up,” in-store pickup, or standard shipping.
If you're planning a trip, the Uber integration makes it easy to find ride options, which is especially useful if you're in a new country. You can set up your trip in the ChatGPT app, then complete the ride request and payment in the Uber app.
Currently, it's only available in the U.S., and it doesn't let you book rides in advance; only on-demand rides are available. You can choose from options like UberX, UberXL, Comfort, and Black.
There's also an Uber Eats integration for U.S. users, so you can check out local restaurants and menu items within ChatGPT, then finish paying in the Uber Eats app.
In March 2026, website builder Wix launched its integration, allowing users to prompt ChatGPT to create a functional website with just a text or voice prompt. Users can describe the capabilities they want the website to have, how it should look, and other desired features. Additionally, existing Wix users can manage their business within ChatGPT, which can handle scheduling, payments, SEO, accessibility, performance, security, and more.
If you're looking for a new home, Zillow in ChatGPT could make the search experience more straightforward. Using a simple text prompt, you can find homes that meet your criteria and apply filters to narrow the results. Whether you're looking for a specific price range, number of bedrooms, or particular neighborhoods, you can specify these details in your prompt, making the search process much more efficient and tailored to your needs.
Alongside the announcement that OpenAI would bring apps into ChatGPT, the company also said it plans to welcome additional partners soon, including OpenTable, PayPal, and Walmart. These will launch in 2026.
The rollout of ChatGPT's app integrations is currently limited to the U.S. and Canada. Users in Europe and the U.K. are excluded for now.
This story has been updated to include newly launched integrations.
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Austrian PC cooling expert Noctua has just shared a teaser for its upcoming PC case. While there are no concrete details, the teaser image shared on X gives a glimpse of the front I/O positioned at the top of the case. Looking at the layout, it is safe to assume that this could be the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition case first showcased at Computex 2025.
Based on the Antec Flux Pro chassis, the special edition case comes in Noctua's traditional brown color scheme with a wood trim at the front. It also comes with four Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 and two NF-A12x25 G2 fans, along with the NA-FH1 fan hub for controlling fan speeds. According to the company the case has gone through extensive laboratory testing to optimize cooling performance and reduce noise levels compared to the case's standard fan setup.The rest of the features should be identical to the standard Antec Flux Pro full tower case offering a multi-directional vent design allowing for vertical and horizontal airflow. There is a dedicated compartment for the power supply unit at the bottom with proper mesh ventilation and support for up to 180mm PSUs in length. The iSHIFT PSU mount allows you to install the power supply facing the side of the case giving easier access to the cables.
The picture is almost complete. You've perfected your cooling and optimised your hardware – now get ready for the final element that brings your quiet build together! pic.twitter.com/6ynp3BnWfsMarch 13, 2026
In terms of fan support, it can accommodate up to 12 fans with three 120mm or 140mm fans at the front, top, and above the power supply shroud along with additional mounting options for two 120mm or 140mm fans at the bottom and one in the rear. There's even enough room to accommodate radiators of up to 420mm in length. For dust filtration the front and bottom panels come with a 1.2mm fine mesh and there's even a small LED display to showcase CPU and GPU temperatures. Apart from the power and reset buttons, the front I/O comes with two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB Type-C 10Gbps port, a headphone/mic combo jack and a dedicated button to toggle the temperature LED display. The Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition was expected to launch late last year but seems that the two companies are finally ready to launch the case. Considering the original Antec Flux Pro is selling for about $180, we expect the Noctua edition to be priced at least $250 or above.
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Compound semiconductor manufacturers have said that prices for key chipmaking metals have doubled and gallium has climbed sharply, as disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict pile onto supply constraints already created by China's export controls, DigiTimes reported Friday.
Industry sources told DigiTimes that prices for high-temperature metals — tungsten, tantalum, and molybdenum — used in compound semiconductor equipment have doubled in recent weeks, with some specialty chemical inputs rising as much as threefold. Gallium, the feedstock for gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN) chips, has also climbed further. Market data indicate that gallium was trading at approximately $2,100 per kilogram in early March 2026, representing a 123% increase since the start of 2025, following China's ban on gallium exports to the United States in late 2024.
The Middle East conflict, meanwhile, has also hit aluminum production after QatarEnergy halted the production of aluminum, which feeds into gallium supply, and helium. Gallium is recovered almost entirely as a byproduct of aluminum refining, and major smelters, including Aluminium Bahrain and Norsk Hydro's Qatalum facility, declared force majeure after gas supplies were suspended, pushing aluminum to a four-year high of $3,418 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange. Shortages of indium phosphide substrates, used in high-frequency optical and telecom components, also persist, with DigiTimes sources saying no near-term relief is in sight.
Samsung and SK Hynix are understood to have been actively monitoring helium inventories since the outbreak of hostilities. Qatar produces more than a third of the global helium supply, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and the element has no viable substitute in semiconductor fabrication, where it's used in lithography and thermal management. Meanwhile, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the additional logistics risk is the cherry on top of all this.
DigiTimes says that manufacturers have responded by abandoning just-in-time inventory practices, building raw material stockpiles, and qualifying multiple suppliers. Companies told the publication they will absorb potential losses from price declines later, prioritizing supply security.
GaN and GaAs components appear across a wide range of consumer hardware, including power semiconductors in PC power supplies and laptop chargers, WiFi 7 radio front-ends, and RF chips in routers and networking adapters.
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8/10
Did you privately ask ChatGPT how to bring up nonmonogamy with your husband? It's all over socials! Your commuting neighbor on the train snuck a glance at your phone, guffawed internally, and blasted it on X with a satisfied smirk. At least you're still anonymous.
This is a scenario that Samsung's new smartphone avoids. It's rare for a new smartphone hardware innovation to affect so much of our day-to-day experience, but that's exactly what the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra does. Over the last two weeks, I have enjoyed an extra level of comfort knowing that my nosy public transit neighbors and fellow coffee shop lovers have a hard time seeing anything on my screen.
Barring the display, this isn't a revolutionary upgrade over the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which wasn't a revolutionary upgrade over the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If you're coming from a flagship Galaxy smartphone from a year or two ago, maybe even three, you do not need to spend $1,300 to upgrade unless something is seriously wrong with your smartphone. But if you have an older phone, the Ultra hits some strong highs and offers a well-rounded experience.
Samsung's Privacy Display is exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and it's a hardware feature built into the screen. It mimics privacy screen protectors without manually applying one to your phone, and it doesn't dramatically reduce screen brightness or image quality.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
Even better, because it's integrated, you can customize when the Privacy Display turns on through the software. Mine activates automatically with select messaging apps, banking apps, and for notifications, and there's no visual indication when looking at the phone straight on that the Privacy Display is enabled or not (unless you tilt the screen slightly).
You can still see the screen from the sides with Privacy Display enabled, it's just much dimmer and harder to make out the content. For maximum effect, you can turn on Max Privacy Protection via the quick settings menu, which makes it near impossible to read the screen from the sides. You don't want to use that mode all the time because the screen looks washed out, but it's good for when you want to be extra private. Oddly, Samsung doesn't let you configure this extra layer to automatically turn on with specific apps—it's a manual toggle every time.
I've seen some complaints online about the Privacy Display affecting the screen quality, but I have to disagree. Then again, the first thing I did when setting up the phone was max out the screen resolution to Quad HD+ and also set the colors to Vivid. I haven't seen any fuzzy text, and brightness hasn't been a problem for me either.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
Yes, you can buy a cheap privacy screen protector and add it to any phone, but sometimes you do want the person next to you—be it a friend or family member—to be able to read the screen alongside you. Or maybe the phone is on a table, and you want to lazily scroll TikTok while trying to keep an eye on work. That's where a standard privacy screen protector won't help, as it blocks you from seeing your own screen, but Samsung's solution gets around that. Now, I wish every smartphone had a privacy screen.
You don't need to be doing anything illicit or extremely sensitive to justify having this feature. Maybe you want your conversation with a loved one to be private. Maybe you're authenticating a login and don't want anyone else to see the code. Or you're opening your banking app, and don't want anyone snooping at your checking account. It's just nice to have privacy.
Samsung has made its Ultra smartphone more like the standard Galaxy S26 and S26+, with rounded corners instead of the boxy look of its predecessors. (It's still the only one of the lot with the integrated S Pen stylus.) The overall design language is still quite dull, and the phone's muted colors aren't exciting (you can buy an iPhone 17 Pro in orange for crying out loud!).
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
Annoyingly, the phone rocks on a table worse than ever. The S26 Ultra may be slimmer, but the camera module is thicker, so you'll have a rather inelegant experience when tapping the screen with the phone on a surface. A case solves this problem, but I prefer a caseless experience.
Also unfortunate is the lack of Qi2 magnets. Like its predecessor, Samsung's S26 series is Qi2 Ready—you can only access faster wireless charging speeds and the unique magnetic mounting capabilities of Qi2 with a first- or third-party magnetic case. Google's Pixel 10 phones remain the only flagship Android phones with this native functionality. Heck, Apple even brought MagSafe/Qi2 to its “budget” $599 iPhone 17e. What is taking Samsung so long?
Performance has been very good, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 proving its worth. My benchmark scores are the highest I've seen on a smartphone, especially multi-core scores—closely matching the OnePlus 15, which has the same chip. For real-world testing, I spent a chunk of time playing Genshin Impact at the max graphical settings without issues. I do think gameplay is slightly smoother on the iPhone 17 Pro, but there's really not much to complain about. The Ultra manages thermals well, too, dispersing heat throughout the phone rather than creating hot spots.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
It's very disappointing that Samsung has yet to explore silicon-carbon batteries, unlike its Chinese peers, but I've been happy with battery life. The 5,000-mAh cell easily lasts a full day even with heavy usage. On one busy day, I hit seven hours of screen-on time and still didn't need to plug in until bedtime. With average or light use, I don't feel the need to charge it every night.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
For the camera experience, versatility is the name of the game. It features slightly wider apertures on the main 200-MP and 50-MP 5X optical zoom cameras, and that means brighter, sharper images in low-light scenes. It's just a really fun, enjoyable system to use, swapping between the ultrawide, the 3X optical zoom, the 5X optical zoom, and the main sensor. I even frequently opt for the 10X “optical-like” zoom and am happy with the results.
Is it my favorite camera system on a smartphone? No. I compared some images with the Pixel 10 Pro, and I prefer the color tones, exposure, and contrast that Google provides on its smartphone. In low light, you may end up with slightly blurry images if you're not still enough. But having access to all these cameras elevates the experience, and I'm very happy to have this system in my pocket. I find myself snapping more pictures, and that's a great sign for any camera system.
Samsung has always delivered some of the best smartphone video quality in the Android world, and it goes a step further this year with Horizon Lock. You need to manually enable this in the camera app when you're in video mode (turn on Super Steady), but you'll be amazed at how well your footage is stabilized, no matter how much you tilt, twist, and shake the phone. You can be quite carefree about how you hold the phone while recording, even while shooting in 4K at 60 frames per second with HDR+. It needs a good amount of light, though, so it's not for dark indoor settings or after sunset.
It's a tale of two AIs with Samsung's Galaxy smartphones. Well, technically, more—Bixby still exists, and Perplexity is now preinstalled—but you're largely dealing with Samsung's suite of Galaxy AI features alongside Gemini and Google's own AI tools in its preinstalled apps. The conversational editing feature in Samsung's Gallery app, for example, already exists in Google Photos (also preinstalled). It's nice to have more feature parity, in case you prefer using one app over the other.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
Some of these new AI capabilities are in your face or, frankly, useless (or both). Samsung's Now Brief widget, which is supposed to be a daily information hub, has yet to provide any valuable information. Now Nudge is supposed to be baked into Samsung's keyboard and offer contextual assistance, so if someone texts about meeting up for coffee next week, it may proactively ask if you want to create a calendar event. I've hardly seen it appear on the phone, even after a friend texted about grabbing coffee!
Speaking of, I want to take a minute to talk about the keyboard. It remains one of the most frustrating parts of the Samsung smartphone experience, and why I instantly switch to Google's Gboard most of the time. Voice typing is just awful—it doesn't understand punctuation, and consistently mishears what I say—and swipe typing in general is lackluster. I'm shocked Samsung hasn't figured out a way to improve the experience after all the AI it's shoving into these phones.
The new call-screening function is great, though I still encounter more suspected scam calls on the S26 Ultra than when I'm using my Pixel 10 Pro. Also, the upgraded document scanner baked into the camera app is neat—removing creases, erasing fingers, cutting away the background, and minimizing distortion. These are the mundane things AI should help us with.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
I surprisingly like the new Audio Eraser function. I was endlessly scrolling through Instagram Reels when I came upon a video of someone walking through a busy market. Their audio was OK, but I turned on Audio Eraser in the quick settings menu; Samsung's AI cut out the background chatter, making it easier to hear what the creator was saying. I can imagine this could be even more helpful for folks who need hearing assistance.
I have to save the best for last: Google's Task Automation in Gemini. This isn't an exclusive feature with the Galaxy S26 Ultra—it'll be coming to the Pixel 10 series soon enough—but it's debuting here. Power on Gemini and ask it to "book an Uber" to the airport, restaurant, or wherever you need to go. It also works with DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats (more apps to come).
This is essentially Gemini taking control of your app to complete a task. You can visualize this entire process if you want, or let it do its thing as you do more interesting things on your phone. Gemini will head back to you if it has additional questions, and it stops short of actually booking or placing an order. It takes you to the last step, so you can verify your Uber options or checkout cart and hit order if everything looks good.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
The Uber feature has been the smoothest for me, even if it takes longer than manually using the Uber app yourself. But hey, if you're still putting on your shoes and getting ready, Gemini can give you a head start. I ran into more issues when ordering food, but it was still impressive.
I asked Gemini to order Singapore Mei Fun from my go-to Chinese takeout spot, Weng's Garden. Even though it spelled Weng incorrectly in the query, it found the right spot by looking at my prior orders. I asked it to order chicken with garlic sauce for my wife, and it managed this, even though the actual item was called “Chicken With Vegetables in Garlic Sauce." I watched it type “garlic” into the restaurant's search function, and it inferred that this item is likely what I meant, then came back to me to ask if I wanted a pint or a quart.
Again, it's not perfect. Initially, for some reason, when I asked it to order my usual from Weng's, it tried to add wings to my cart from the same restaurant even though I never buy wings from there. But it's a glimpse of how Gemini can handle these menial tasks, so you can look at the checkout page, make sure everything looks correct, and hit Order rather than spending several minutes digging through menus. You do still have to be conscious that you're granting Gemini complete control over the app, which may open you up to privacy and security risks.
The good thing is that if you don't want any of these AI capabilities, you can spend a few minutes disabling and getting rid of most of them. Samsung's top-tier flagship is an excellent smartphone, and the Privacy Display is a rare new feature that I now want on every handset. I'd still like to see Samsung do more to upgrade battery capacity, and finally bring native Qi2 for greater cross-compatibility with iPhone accessories, but alas, maybe next year.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Rating: 8/10
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We were surrounded and out of cache. Our Electron apps started thrashing to main memory. That's when Lieutenant ordered us to deploy the Non-Addressable Plastic And LED Modules (NAPALMs for short). We set the fake RGB sticks to 'Rainbow Breathe' and hurled them over the barricades. They took the bait. Their greedy optimization algorithms couldn't resist. The monsters lunged, unhinged their data-ports, and tried to dump a 500-billion token prompt straight into the hollow-point plastic.(cracks Monster Energy Zero, hits vape, adjust hipster beard, stares into void)You kids have never seen a physical OutOfMemoryException. I hope you never will. When they hit those null pointers, it opened an inter-dimensional vortex. Their logic boards collapsed under the strain of a thousand unanswered queries, creating a black hole. Flames burning red, blue and green colors all across the AIpocalypse battlefield. So don't complain to me about "why is everything written in Rust now". I love the smell of burning RGB in the morning. Smells like... victory.
(cracks Monster Energy Zero, hits vape, adjust hipster beard, stares into void)You kids have never seen a physical OutOfMemoryException. I hope you never will. When they hit those null pointers, it opened an inter-dimensional vortex. Their logic boards collapsed under the strain of a thousand unanswered queries, creating a black hole. Flames burning red, blue and green colors all across the AIpocalypse battlefield. So don't complain to me about "why is everything written in Rust now". I love the smell of burning RGB in the morning. Smells like... victory.
You kids have never seen a physical OutOfMemoryException. I hope you never will. When they hit those null pointers, it opened an inter-dimensional vortex. Their logic boards collapsed under the strain of a thousand unanswered queries, creating a black hole. Flames burning red, blue and green colors all across the AIpocalypse battlefield. So don't complain to me about "why is everything written in Rust now". I love the smell of burning RGB in the morning. Smells like... victory.
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I'll leave you, Mr. ChompSkie, to decide if that's an AmE or BrE "quite".
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I copy pasted your text there and it said 97% AI, 3% mixed.
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0. https://web.archive.org/web/20120316141638/http://www.nation...
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We still appreciated visually stunning PCs. Not just for the works of art that they were, but also for the DIY skill and ethic you were actually required to demonstrate to build and mod them.Nowadays, it's all just "RGB by default". By my angry old man standards, it looks gauche. Then again, I suppose it's the new vanilla?
Nowadays, it's all just "RGB by default". By my angry old man standards, it looks gauche. Then again, I suppose it's the new vanilla?
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Ah, the good ol' days.
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No more scouring junk yards for a particular heater core from wrecked cars or modding aquarium pumps.That being said, I also never really understood the "add colorful lights to your PC" aspect of some builds.
That being said, I also never really understood the "add colorful lights to your PC" aspect of some builds.
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I have never used a lit case.
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https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chas...
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https://pcpartpicker.com/trends/price/memory/It's not looking good, I don't think supply is catching with demand yet.Though the other day I learned there are many technologies for "RAM", and most of them are garbage for LLMs but still useful for other things, like microcontrollers. So I'm thinking my next "build" is going to be a guitar.
It's not looking good, I don't think supply is catching with demand yet.Though the other day I learned there are many technologies for "RAM", and most of them are garbage for LLMs but still useful for other things, like microcontrollers. So I'm thinking my next "build" is going to be a guitar.
Though the other day I learned there are many technologies for "RAM", and most of them are garbage for LLMs but still useful for other things, like microcontrollers. So I'm thinking my next "build" is going to be a guitar.
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The other part of it is that the MSRP already baked in a substantial increase from the previous generation. While RAM was near rock-bottom pricing when this hit, current-gen GPUs definitely were not.
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It might also be that NVIDIA is a natural monopoly, while memory manufacturers are a cartel...
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Surely this will be helped by a helium supply shock.
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I'm just too cheap to pay for them though...
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Personally I'm with you (but black), my entire desktop is just one color, and if a component is available in RGB and non-RGB and the difference isn't too big, I pay extra for that non-RGB version (which doesn't make sense it's even the case, but here we are).I guess you could argue that we're all obsessed with the looks, some that all RAM slots are occupied, some that RGB is everywhere, some that the PC case should be off-white and slowly morph into beige, others that everything should be minimally black.
I guess you could argue that we're all obsessed with the looks, some that all RAM slots are occupied, some that RGB is everywhere, some that the PC case should be off-white and slowly morph into beige, others that everything should be minimally black.
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I don't particularly want to install the bloatware required just to turn off the LEDs, so I've resorted to hiding the PC under a desk at the other side of the room and have long DP and USB cables to the desk where I actually sit. This also has the nice side effect of not being able to hear the fans either!
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I don't see the point though even for a gaming setup, as the fake modules will still reduce airflow.Also, gaming boards usually have 4 slots (in 2 banks). I would fill at least 2, so I'd rather have a matched kit of 2 modules, and 2 separate fillers, if I did use them.It is quite common to leave 2 memory slots empty (of RAM) because many boards can't drive the memory at top speed if you use all 4 slots.
Also, gaming boards usually have 4 slots (in 2 banks). I would fill at least 2, so I'd rather have a matched kit of 2 modules, and 2 separate fillers, if I did use them.It is quite common to leave 2 memory slots empty (of RAM) because many boards can't drive the memory at top speed if you use all 4 slots.
It is quite common to leave 2 memory slots empty (of RAM) because many boards can't drive the memory at top speed if you use all 4 slots.
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https://www.pcgamesn.com/asus-gigabyte-security-flaws-secure...
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Isn't 2x8gb faster than 1x16gb since it will run in dual channel?And shouldn't smaller capacity sticks be cheaper since they can use lower density chips?
And shouldn't smaller capacity sticks be cheaper since they can use lower density chips?
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Take Epyc processors. On certain ones, after certain RAM amount, populating all the slots causes the cpu to kick the RAM speed to a lower tier.You're then limited to capacities of two sticks.Weird, but it has to do with power requirements. Abutting above the threshold had to be buffered, which increases latency.
You're then limited to capacities of two sticks.Weird, but it has to do with power requirements. Abutting above the threshold had to be buffered, which increases latency.
Weird, but it has to do with power requirements. Abutting above the threshold had to be buffered, which increases latency.
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Have recent boards/cpus fixed the instability problems people had with 4 sticks of DDR5 yet?I was shocked when I saw folk saying you can't use 4 slots. It would mean that a one stick build would have an upgrade path but if you started with 2, you'd have to replace them.
I was shocked when I saw folk saying you can't use 4 slots. It would mean that a one stick build would have an upgrade path but if you started with 2, you'd have to replace them.
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In 2026 the bottleneck is wafer size as fabs are booked out making things for AI.
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Or is it just binning by defects, the lower sized parts are just the full size but with defects disabling large chunks of the silicon as I would expect?
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AI is one of the few major general technological breakthroughs, comparable to the Internet and electricity. It's potentially applicable to everything, which is why right now everyone is trying to apply it to everything. Including developing new optimization algorithms, optimizing optimizing compilers, optimizing applications, optimizing systems, optimizing hardware, ...Big AI vendors are at the forefront of it, because they're the ones who actually pay for the AI revolution, so any efficiency improvement saves them money.
Big AI vendors are at the forefront of it, because they're the ones who actually pay for the AI revolution, so any efficiency improvement saves them money.
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For example, dust can short out electrical connections. Can enough dust get into an open RAM slot to cause problems?
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https://www.bestbodyimplants.com/gallery_implants/male-impla...
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> Even if your budget only allows you to purchase a single real memory module, you can still achieve the look of a dual-module setup in your build.> For users aiming for peak performance, a dual-channel memory configuration remains the gold standard. However, with memory prices currently inflated, it's easy to see the appeal of cost-effective options like V-Color's 1+1 memory kits.:-)
> For users aiming for peak performance, a dual-channel memory configuration remains the gold standard. However, with memory prices currently inflated, it's easy to see the appeal of cost-effective options like V-Color's 1+1 memory kits.:-)
:-)
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Looking forward to the next AI winter.
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[edit: 19, article published yesterday]
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>Performance RAM + RGB Filler Kit>Complete RGB Look Instantly
>Complete RGB Look Instantly
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RAM has lights ?wow I've been living in a cave
wow I've been living in a cave
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From the read, it seems like… A scam?
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Then, you're not the target audience.> Why would I pay for a piece of plastic to fill that slot that doesn't do anything?It doesn't do nothing. FTA: “Their sole purpose is cosmetic, though. While they light up and synchronize with your existing RGB ecosystem, they don't contribute to your computer's memory capacity or performance.”This is for people with transparent PC cases and memory sticks with RGB LED lighting. For example, see https://v-color.net/collections/prism-pro-rgb-memory-voclor/...:“RGB SOFTWARE SYNCHRONIZATION SUPPORTDynamic RGB lighting control synchronized across main leading M/B such as RGB FUSION, MSI Mystic Light Sync, AURA Sync, POLYCHROME Sync etc. Customize lighting profiles or assign colors to each LEDs to create your own spectacular look.“
> Why would I pay for a piece of plastic to fill that slot that doesn't do anything?It doesn't do nothing. FTA: “Their sole purpose is cosmetic, though. While they light up and synchronize with your existing RGB ecosystem, they don't contribute to your computer's memory capacity or performance.”This is for people with transparent PC cases and memory sticks with RGB LED lighting. For example, see https://v-color.net/collections/prism-pro-rgb-memory-voclor/...:“RGB SOFTWARE SYNCHRONIZATION SUPPORTDynamic RGB lighting control synchronized across main leading M/B such as RGB FUSION, MSI Mystic Light Sync, AURA Sync, POLYCHROME Sync etc. Customize lighting profiles or assign colors to each LEDs to create your own spectacular look.“
It doesn't do nothing. FTA: “Their sole purpose is cosmetic, though. While they light up and synchronize with your existing RGB ecosystem, they don't contribute to your computer's memory capacity or performance.”This is for people with transparent PC cases and memory sticks with RGB LED lighting. For example, see https://v-color.net/collections/prism-pro-rgb-memory-voclor/...:“RGB SOFTWARE SYNCHRONIZATION SUPPORTDynamic RGB lighting control synchronized across main leading M/B such as RGB FUSION, MSI Mystic Light Sync, AURA Sync, POLYCHROME Sync etc. Customize lighting profiles or assign colors to each LEDs to create your own spectacular look.“
This is for people with transparent PC cases and memory sticks with RGB LED lighting. For example, see https://v-color.net/collections/prism-pro-rgb-memory-voclor/...:“RGB SOFTWARE SYNCHRONIZATION SUPPORTDynamic RGB lighting control synchronized across main leading M/B such as RGB FUSION, MSI Mystic Light Sync, AURA Sync, POLYCHROME Sync etc. Customize lighting profiles or assign colors to each LEDs to create your own spectacular look.“
“RGB SOFTWARE SYNCHRONIZATION SUPPORTDynamic RGB lighting control synchronized across main leading M/B such as RGB FUSION, MSI Mystic Light Sync, AURA Sync, POLYCHROME Sync etc. Customize lighting profiles or assign colors to each LEDs to create your own spectacular look.“
Dynamic RGB lighting control synchronized across main leading M/B such as RGB FUSION, MSI Mystic Light Sync, AURA Sync, POLYCHROME Sync etc. Customize lighting profiles or assign colors to each LEDs to create your own spectacular look.“
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I also have a glass panneled side to my computer, but the only RGB on it is on the graphics card waterblock, everything else is just jet black (fans, ZMT water cooling tubing, radiators etc. etc.)
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Edit: this is also why some “extreme overclocking”-type motherboards** only have two DIMM slots: having four actively opposes their purpose.* And yes, loading an XMP/EXPO profile to get the advertised 3000CL60 or w/e counts!** i.e. https://rog.asus.com/us/motherboards/rog-crosshair/rog-cross...
* And yes, loading an XMP/EXPO profile to get the advertised 3000CL60 or w/e counts!** i.e. https://rog.asus.com/us/motherboards/rog-crosshair/rog-cross...
** i.e. https://rog.asus.com/us/motherboards/rog-crosshair/rog-cross...
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Of course it isn't normal, that's why I made my comment, to highlight the contrast. And no, my stack is optimized, you have no idea what I'm doing, yet somehow feel confident enough to know what my stack should/shouldn't look like? Man, the hubris of some people...Next you'd probably tell me my Threadripper 9970X and RTX PRO 6000 is overkill, based on some other unrelated metrics.
Next you'd probably tell me my Threadripper 9970X and RTX PRO 6000 is overkill, based on some other unrelated metrics.
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Your system sounds great to me, curious what you have going on!
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I mean, it's much cheaper to buy 2x8gb than 1x16gb or even 1x32gb
(and 2x8gb is faster than 1x16gb..)are these people idiots??? ram-slots are computer real-estates
are these people idiots??? ram-slots are computer real-estates
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Imagine buying huge boxes of AA batteries just to use your laptop for one day.
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Creator and enthusiast ScuffedBits successfully ran a desktop PC for about five minutes on AA batteries alone and was even able to complete one round of Minesweeper on it. However, it seemed that that wasn't long enough, so he decided to redo the project, intending to address the problems of the first build.
The biggest issue they fixed first was the high resistance of the tiny wires used to connect the batteries to the motherboard. Instead of replacing them, ScuffedBits modified the wiring of the battery packs to get around 25 volts, meaning that the PC would now require lower current, preventing instability because of the thin wiring. Of course, 25 volts isn't good for the motherboard, so they also added three voltage regulators wired in parallel to get a consistent 12 volts until the batteries died. To further ensure that the system works, they also eliminated the alligator clips and soldered the wires directly to the capacitors that came from the original project.
With everything in place, ScuffedBits inserted the last three AA batteries, completing the circuit and bringing the PC to life. Unlike the last time, which needed an external power source to “jumpstart” the computer, it was able to boot straight up using just the AA cells this time. With the voltage holding steady, they were able to log into Windows and show us the specifications of the PC — an Intel Core i3-530 paired with 8GB of RAM and a WD SATA SSD.
The first thing they did was play one round of A Short Hike, which they finished some three and a half minutes after turning on the computer purely on AA batteries. But what's more interesting was that they were able to run Cinebench on the system, pushing the rather old CPU to its limits. Even though this processor is rather old, TechPowerUp reports that it still has a power draw of 73 watts. Nevertheless, the system completed the test almost eight minutes after booting up, with no signs of slowing down.
So, after the benchmark, ScuffedBits decided to install Minecraft and play several rounds of Party Games. After that, he tried to install Portal 2, but the system finally died after 33 minutes and 19 seconds — quite a remarkable feat for a home-made AA-battery power solution for a desktop PC. This isn't groundbreaking technology, especially as we have better battery solutions available to us nowadays. Besides, who would want to purchase 64 AA batteries at a gas station multiple times a day just to keep their laptops fully charged?
The creator also ran a test using a 12-volt car battery on the system, showing that it will work. But they also said that it was going to be quite boring, as the car battery should have enough juice to run the desktop computer for three to four hours without any problems. Nevertheless, the entire thing is still a fun project, tinkering with batteries and PCs, and we hope to see more similarly crazy experiments from ScuffedBits in the future.
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Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He's been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he's been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.
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NY 10036.
Apple cost Meta billions by cutting off their data pipeline at the OS level, justifying it with a unilateral privacy moral high ground. Now, Meta is returning the favor. By astroturfing the App Store Accountability Act through digital childhood alliance, Meta is forcing Apple to build, maintain and also bear the legal liability for a wildly complex state-by-state identity verification API.Gotta give it to Zuck. Standing up a fully-fledged advocacy website 24 hours after domain registration and pushing a bill from a godaddy registration to a signed Utah law in just 77 days is terrifyingly efficient lobbying.
Gotta give it to Zuck. Standing up a fully-fledged advocacy website 24 hours after domain registration and pushing a bill from a godaddy registration to a signed Utah law in just 77 days is terrifyingly efficient lobbying.
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if "it" is the middle finger, for sure. "terrifying" is a great choice of word for it.
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Overall, that's the reason anti-trust laws must be applied rigorously, otherwise the normal population has no chance.
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In the end, all the little people are just collateral damage or occasionally they get some collateral benefits from wherever the munitions land.
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But no, they had to let collateral damage frag the free software crowd, which is inconsequential to their aims anyway, but 100% a huge concern for those suffering the collateral damage.
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Plus, Apple gets to be the gatekeeper for Meta and other apps which can't be good for meta, and Apple gets to know the age of its users, which in itself is monetizable.
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The CEO has 24h in the day, and he/she is asked to be deposed (laws and legal system has that power), it chips away from grand visions. It isnt just money, you cant just stand up a team and be done with it. Everybody will be coming at you.Expect to see a lot "Y alleges Apple didnt do enough to protect kids" and the burden of proof will be on Apple to make their executives available.
Expect to see a lot "Y alleges Apple didnt do enough to protect kids" and the burden of proof will be on Apple to make their executives available.
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The methodology appears to be LLM driven, and the contextual framing which the conclusions are couched in, drive conclusions to a specific direction.It does not clarify between two readings1) Meta is driving Age verification efforts2) Meta is being opportunistic with age verification efforts to further its own goalsThe larger macro picture is that voters globally are tired of Tech firms and want something done about it.The second macro trend is the inability of governments to handle/control tech, and are looking for reasons to bring tech to heel.That's context results in a sufficiently different degree of culpability and eventual path to resisting privacy reducing regulations.
It does not clarify between two readings1) Meta is driving Age verification efforts2) Meta is being opportunistic with age verification efforts to further its own goalsThe larger macro picture is that voters globally are tired of Tech firms and want something done about it.The second macro trend is the inability of governments to handle/control tech, and are looking for reasons to bring tech to heel.That's context results in a sufficiently different degree of culpability and eventual path to resisting privacy reducing regulations.
1) Meta is driving Age verification efforts2) Meta is being opportunistic with age verification efforts to further its own goalsThe larger macro picture is that voters globally are tired of Tech firms and want something done about it.The second macro trend is the inability of governments to handle/control tech, and are looking for reasons to bring tech to heel.That's context results in a sufficiently different degree of culpability and eventual path to resisting privacy reducing regulations.
2) Meta is being opportunistic with age verification efforts to further its own goalsThe larger macro picture is that voters globally are tired of Tech firms and want something done about it.The second macro trend is the inability of governments to handle/control tech, and are looking for reasons to bring tech to heel.That's context results in a sufficiently different degree of culpability and eventual path to resisting privacy reducing regulations.
The larger macro picture is that voters globally are tired of Tech firms and want something done about it.The second macro trend is the inability of governments to handle/control tech, and are looking for reasons to bring tech to heel.That's context results in a sufficiently different degree of culpability and eventual path to resisting privacy reducing regulations.
The second macro trend is the inability of governments to handle/control tech, and are looking for reasons to bring tech to heel.That's context results in a sufficiently different degree of culpability and eventual path to resisting privacy reducing regulations.
That's context results in a sufficiently different degree of culpability and eventual path to resisting privacy reducing regulations.
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I am not skeptical of any of the research, the sources seem to be cited properly. I am skeptical that this researcher has thought through or verified their conclusions in a systematic and reliable fashion. This part gives it away: "Research period: 2026-03-11 to present." This individual dropped his investigative report two days after beginning research!Yes, AI is an incredibly good research assistant and can help speed up the tasks of finding sources and indexing sources. The person behind this investigation has not actually done their due diligence to grok and analyze this data on their own, and therefore I can't trust that the AI analysis isn't poisoned by the prompters implicit biases.
Yes, AI is an incredibly good research assistant and can help speed up the tasks of finding sources and indexing sources. The person behind this investigation has not actually done their due diligence to grok and analyze this data on their own, and therefore I can't trust that the AI analysis isn't poisoned by the prompters implicit biases.
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> LIMITATION: Direct PDF downloads returned 403 errors. ProPublica Schedule I viewer loads data dynamically (JavaScript), preventing extraction via WebFetch. The 2024 public disclosure copy on sixteenthirtyfund.org was also blocked.> Tech Transparency Project report: The article "Inside Meta's Spin Machine on Kids and Social Media" at techtransparencyproject.org likely contains detailed ConnectSafely/Meta funding analysis but was blocked (403)The least they could have done is read their own reports and then provided the documents to the LLM. Instead they just let it run and propose connections, asked it to generate some graphs, and then hit publish.
> Tech Transparency Project report: The article "Inside Meta's Spin Machine on Kids and Social Media" at techtransparencyproject.org likely contains detailed ConnectSafely/Meta funding analysis but was blocked (403)The least they could have done is read their own reports and then provided the documents to the LLM. Instead they just let it run and propose connections, asked it to generate some graphs, and then hit publish.
The least they could have done is read their own reports and then provided the documents to the LLM. Instead they just let it run and propose connections, asked it to generate some graphs, and then hit publish.
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> A Meta employee (Jake Levine, Product Manager) contributed $1,175 to ASAA sponsor Matt Ball's campaign apparatus on June 2, 2025. Source: Colorado TRACER bulk data.> No direct Meta PAC contributions to any ASAA sponsor across Utah, Louisiana, Texas, or Colorado. Source: FollowTheMoney.org multi-state search.While it is true that Meta has funded groups that advocate for age verification, a lot of them also appear to have other actors so it's not like this is some pure Meta thing as some of the other commenters are suggesting.
> No direct Meta PAC contributions to any ASAA sponsor across Utah, Louisiana, Texas, or Colorado. Source: FollowTheMoney.org multi-state search.While it is true that Meta has funded groups that advocate for age verification, a lot of them also appear to have other actors so it's not like this is some pure Meta thing as some of the other commenters are suggesting.
While it is true that Meta has funded groups that advocate for age verification, a lot of them also appear to have other actors so it's not like this is some pure Meta thing as some of the other commenters are suggesting.
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This type of GitHub-based open-source research project will become more common as more people use tools like Claude Code or Codex for research.
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This file does not exactly fill me with confidence: https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings...In one part of the report, there seems to be this implicit assumption that Linux and Horizon OS (Meta's VR OS) are somehow comparable and that Meta will be better equipped than Linux if age verification is required.It doesn't explicitly say "This will allow Horizon OS to become the defacto OS and Linux will die out" but that seems to be the impression I'm getting which uhh... would make zero sense.More broadly, this entire report (and others like it) are extremely annoying in that I've seen some Reddit comments either taking "lots of text" as a signal of quality or asking "Does anyone have proof that these claims are inaccurate" which isa) Of course entirely backwards as far as burden of proofb) Not even the right rubick because it's not facts versus lies, it's manufactured intent/correlations versus real life intent/correlations (ie; bullshit versus not)All of this could be factually true without Meta being smart enough to play 5D chess
In one part of the report, there seems to be this implicit assumption that Linux and Horizon OS (Meta's VR OS) are somehow comparable and that Meta will be better equipped than Linux if age verification is required.It doesn't explicitly say "This will allow Horizon OS to become the defacto OS and Linux will die out" but that seems to be the impression I'm getting which uhh... would make zero sense.More broadly, this entire report (and others like it) are extremely annoying in that I've seen some Reddit comments either taking "lots of text" as a signal of quality or asking "Does anyone have proof that these claims are inaccurate" which isa) Of course entirely backwards as far as burden of proofb) Not even the right rubick because it's not facts versus lies, it's manufactured intent/correlations versus real life intent/correlations (ie; bullshit versus not)All of this could be factually true without Meta being smart enough to play 5D chess
It doesn't explicitly say "This will allow Horizon OS to become the defacto OS and Linux will die out" but that seems to be the impression I'm getting which uhh... would make zero sense.More broadly, this entire report (and others like it) are extremely annoying in that I've seen some Reddit comments either taking "lots of text" as a signal of quality or asking "Does anyone have proof that these claims are inaccurate" which isa) Of course entirely backwards as far as burden of proofb) Not even the right rubick because it's not facts versus lies, it's manufactured intent/correlations versus real life intent/correlations (ie; bullshit versus not)All of this could be factually true without Meta being smart enough to play 5D chess
More broadly, this entire report (and others like it) are extremely annoying in that I've seen some Reddit comments either taking "lots of text" as a signal of quality or asking "Does anyone have proof that these claims are inaccurate" which isa) Of course entirely backwards as far as burden of proofb) Not even the right rubick because it's not facts versus lies, it's manufactured intent/correlations versus real life intent/correlations (ie; bullshit versus not)All of this could be factually true without Meta being smart enough to play 5D chess
a) Of course entirely backwards as far as burden of proofb) Not even the right rubick because it's not facts versus lies, it's manufactured intent/correlations versus real life intent/correlations (ie; bullshit versus not)All of this could be factually true without Meta being smart enough to play 5D chess
b) Not even the right rubick because it's not facts versus lies, it's manufactured intent/correlations versus real life intent/correlations (ie; bullshit versus not)All of this could be factually true without Meta being smart enough to play 5D chess
All of this could be factually true without Meta being smart enough to play 5D chess
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Or of authority, when they're not equipped to evaluate the data first-hand.The Gish gallop technique in debate overwhelms opponents with so many arguments that they're unable to address them all before the time limit. Reports presented like this are functionally that, but against reader comprehension and attention.Similarly, being the first, loudest, or only voice claim is unreasonably effective at establishing perception of authority, where being unchallenged is tantamount to correctness. This also goes both ways; censorship in media, for instance, can be used to promote narratives by silencing competing views, like platforms selectively amplifying certain topics to frame them as more proven and widely supported than they might actually be.It's unfortunate that inexpert execution often positions well-meaning and potentially correct arguments to be discredited and derided by prepared opponents before their merits can be established. In this case, it may be true that Meta may have organized a well-coordinated shadow campaign for legislation using technically legal channels, but I'm sure they've anticipated this at some point, or are relying on the inertia of the system and initial buy-in to force the course.
The Gish gallop technique in debate overwhelms opponents with so many arguments that they're unable to address them all before the time limit. Reports presented like this are functionally that, but against reader comprehension and attention.Similarly, being the first, loudest, or only voice claim is unreasonably effective at establishing perception of authority, where being unchallenged is tantamount to correctness. This also goes both ways; censorship in media, for instance, can be used to promote narratives by silencing competing views, like platforms selectively amplifying certain topics to frame them as more proven and widely supported than they might actually be.It's unfortunate that inexpert execution often positions well-meaning and potentially correct arguments to be discredited and derided by prepared opponents before their merits can be established. In this case, it may be true that Meta may have organized a well-coordinated shadow campaign for legislation using technically legal channels, but I'm sure they've anticipated this at some point, or are relying on the inertia of the system and initial buy-in to force the course.
Similarly, being the first, loudest, or only voice claim is unreasonably effective at establishing perception of authority, where being unchallenged is tantamount to correctness. This also goes both ways; censorship in media, for instance, can be used to promote narratives by silencing competing views, like platforms selectively amplifying certain topics to frame them as more proven and widely supported than they might actually be.It's unfortunate that inexpert execution often positions well-meaning and potentially correct arguments to be discredited and derided by prepared opponents before their merits can be established. In this case, it may be true that Meta may have organized a well-coordinated shadow campaign for legislation using technically legal channels, but I'm sure they've anticipated this at some point, or are relying on the inertia of the system and initial buy-in to force the course.
It's unfortunate that inexpert execution often positions well-meaning and potentially correct arguments to be discredited and derided by prepared opponents before their merits can be established. In this case, it may be true that Meta may have organized a well-coordinated shadow campaign for legislation using technically legal channels, but I'm sure they've anticipated this at some point, or are relying on the inertia of the system and initial buy-in to force the course.
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In this case they have named individuals and firms as well, without the degree of diligence that such call outs should warrant.In its current state, I would count it as a prelude to witch hunts.
In its current state, I would count it as a prelude to witch hunts.
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If not, who has been paying to lobby for these age verification laws ?That seems a question that we should have an answer to.Forcing an age check upon linux install seems anti-competitive, and a violation of freedom of speech allowed by the Constitution.Also impractical and ineffective, unless they plan on some sort of bio-metric confirmation of age.Will they outlaw computation itself, or constrain a personal quota so that only corporations can access approved LLMs and certainly not run a local AGI ?As with the insane "encryption is a weapon and cant be exported" policy of the 80s, this will surely force innovation to migrate outside the US.
That seems a question that we should have an answer to.Forcing an age check upon linux install seems anti-competitive, and a violation of freedom of speech allowed by the Constitution.Also impractical and ineffective, unless they plan on some sort of bio-metric confirmation of age.Will they outlaw computation itself, or constrain a personal quota so that only corporations can access approved LLMs and certainly not run a local AGI ?As with the insane "encryption is a weapon and cant be exported" policy of the 80s, this will surely force innovation to migrate outside the US.
Forcing an age check upon linux install seems anti-competitive, and a violation of freedom of speech allowed by the Constitution.Also impractical and ineffective, unless they plan on some sort of bio-metric confirmation of age.Will they outlaw computation itself, or constrain a personal quota so that only corporations can access approved LLMs and certainly not run a local AGI ?As with the insane "encryption is a weapon and cant be exported" policy of the 80s, this will surely force innovation to migrate outside the US.
Also impractical and ineffective, unless they plan on some sort of bio-metric confirmation of age.Will they outlaw computation itself, or constrain a personal quota so that only corporations can access approved LLMs and certainly not run a local AGI ?As with the insane "encryption is a weapon and cant be exported" policy of the 80s, this will surely force innovation to migrate outside the US.
Will they outlaw computation itself, or constrain a personal quota so that only corporations can access approved LLMs and certainly not run a local AGI ?As with the insane "encryption is a weapon and cant be exported" policy of the 80s, this will surely force innovation to migrate outside the US.
As with the insane "encryption is a weapon and cant be exported" policy of the 80s, this will surely force innovation to migrate outside the US.
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Of course they would want this -- as long as the OS reports that the user is over 18 via such a system, then Meta is legally off the hook for any COPPA violations.
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Not advocating for this policy but if a critical argument against it is that policymakers can expect an analogous amount of computer innovation migrating out of the US as it saw in the 80s, then I think policymakers won't care remotely. Quite literally I think the lower bound for the proportion of global computer innovation happening in the US is 70%.
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This should be easy. Just in one of dialogs ask user to create a file 'me_age.txt' with age inside. No changes to OS at all. This will be the 'interface'. Any program can read the file. As far as I understand that's all California law requires (or will require).Not sure about other versions. Strict verification would require binding to property software/services. Which is equivalent of reporting every user on every install.
Not sure about other versions. Strict verification would require binding to property software/services. Which is equivalent of reporting every user on every install.
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No, the way to stop it is to talk to your representatives.You have the power. You just have to pick up a phone, and ask your friends, relatives, neighbors, to do the same. (They will, because it affects all of them.) Tell your reps to remove the legislation or you're voting them out. They don't want to lose their jobs. They will change if you tell them to. But only if you tell them. That is your power. Use it or lose it.
You have the power. You just have to pick up a phone, and ask your friends, relatives, neighbors, to do the same. (They will, because it affects all of them.) Tell your reps to remove the legislation or you're voting them out. They don't want to lose their jobs. They will change if you tell them to. But only if you tell them. That is your power. Use it or lose it.
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I keep seeing this advice, yet whenever it actually matters, it doesn't really workNo amount of talking to representatives stopped the genocide in Gaza, no amount of talking to representatives is stopping what the US is doing now in IranMajority of Congress voted to continue war in Iran, despite an overwhelming majority of Americans being opposed to it
No amount of talking to representatives stopped the genocide in Gaza, no amount of talking to representatives is stopping what the US is doing now in IranMajority of Congress voted to continue war in Iran, despite an overwhelming majority of Americans being opposed to it
Majority of Congress voted to continue war in Iran, despite an overwhelming majority of Americans being opposed to it
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Or, refuse to participate or use any tech that implements OS age verification (start with communication app Discord).
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You have consumer activist brain. Next you're going to suggest that we complain to the manager or start our own government and compete in the marketplace.> The only thing that talks is moneyNo, the only thing that is talking is money. Money wants this. You're busy pretending like you're going to do a boycott; they're going to boycott you.Complain about the internet? They'll just blacklist you from it. Complain about the phone? Well now you can't use one; try smoke signals. Complain about the landlord? They'll settle the case, kick you out on the street, and blacklist you among all private equity landlords and the management companies that service small landlords. You'll just go to a small landlord that doesn't use one of the management companies? Well they won't have access to a bunch of vendors that have exclusive contracts with and share ownership with the management companies; now they can't make any money and have to sell to private equity.You've been fooled into thinking that being victimized is a moral failure of the victim. The perpetrators taught you that. They taught you that the only appropriate action is to beg and threaten to leave, and they shut down customer service and monopolized the market. But, again, the worst thing they trained you to do is to blame the victim.
> The only thing that talks is moneyNo, the only thing that is talking is money. Money wants this. You're busy pretending like you're going to do a boycott; they're going to boycott you.Complain about the internet? They'll just blacklist you from it. Complain about the phone? Well now you can't use one; try smoke signals. Complain about the landlord? They'll settle the case, kick you out on the street, and blacklist you among all private equity landlords and the management companies that service small landlords. You'll just go to a small landlord that doesn't use one of the management companies? Well they won't have access to a bunch of vendors that have exclusive contracts with and share ownership with the management companies; now they can't make any money and have to sell to private equity.You've been fooled into thinking that being victimized is a moral failure of the victim. The perpetrators taught you that. They taught you that the only appropriate action is to beg and threaten to leave, and they shut down customer service and monopolized the market. But, again, the worst thing they trained you to do is to blame the victim.
No, the only thing that is talking is money. Money wants this. You're busy pretending like you're going to do a boycott; they're going to boycott you.Complain about the internet? They'll just blacklist you from it. Complain about the phone? Well now you can't use one; try smoke signals. Complain about the landlord? They'll settle the case, kick you out on the street, and blacklist you among all private equity landlords and the management companies that service small landlords. You'll just go to a small landlord that doesn't use one of the management companies? Well they won't have access to a bunch of vendors that have exclusive contracts with and share ownership with the management companies; now they can't make any money and have to sell to private equity.You've been fooled into thinking that being victimized is a moral failure of the victim. The perpetrators taught you that. They taught you that the only appropriate action is to beg and threaten to leave, and they shut down customer service and monopolized the market. But, again, the worst thing they trained you to do is to blame the victim.
Complain about the internet? They'll just blacklist you from it. Complain about the phone? Well now you can't use one; try smoke signals. Complain about the landlord? They'll settle the case, kick you out on the street, and blacklist you among all private equity landlords and the management companies that service small landlords. You'll just go to a small landlord that doesn't use one of the management companies? Well they won't have access to a bunch of vendors that have exclusive contracts with and share ownership with the management companies; now they can't make any money and have to sell to private equity.You've been fooled into thinking that being victimized is a moral failure of the victim. The perpetrators taught you that. They taught you that the only appropriate action is to beg and threaten to leave, and they shut down customer service and monopolized the market. But, again, the worst thing they trained you to do is to blame the victim.
You've been fooled into thinking that being victimized is a moral failure of the victim. The perpetrators taught you that. They taught you that the only appropriate action is to beg and threaten to leave, and they shut down customer service and monopolized the market. But, again, the worst thing they trained you to do is to blame the victim.
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Just because you're a pessimist doesn't mean you have to be coy. :)
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At the end of the day, this stuff is headed by humans. Humans are fragile, weak even. They like silly things like food and safety.Look, I'm not saying we need to be killing people. However, I AM saying that just about every single significant rights progression in human history was achieved that way. So, draw whatever conclusions you want.Ideally, we are above that. Christ, it's not the 20th century anymore. So hold up a sign or something.
Look, I'm not saying we need to be killing people. However, I AM saying that just about every single significant rights progression in human history was achieved that way. So, draw whatever conclusions you want.Ideally, we are above that. Christ, it's not the 20th century anymore. So hold up a sign or something.
Ideally, we are above that. Christ, it's not the 20th century anymore. So hold up a sign or something.
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Protesting, voting, and civil disobedience are all great, I agree.Guy with the root of "pessimism" in his moniker: start writing about that in your posts!
Guy with the root of "pessimism" in his moniker: start writing about that in your posts!
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What do you mean? They still need people purchasing software and hardware.You can argue effectiveness, but if enough people say no, then a boycott is extremely effective. The issue is always on awareness and making people take hard actions.
You can argue effectiveness, but if enough people say no, then a boycott is extremely effective. The issue is always on awareness and making people take hard actions.
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They don't need you to purchase hardware or software any more. We're moving to centralized economic planning, where resources for datacenter buildouts are reserved for people with sufficient political loyalty (and come from tax dollars), and the only products are surveillance and collective punishment.If you don't want that to happen, then you'll need to help build an alternative.
If you don't want that to happen, then you'll need to help build an alternative.
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Yes, I agree.>They don't need you to purchase hardware or software any more.Need? No. But they still want as much money as possible. That's why a boycott/strike will still be effective. They don't need money anymore but will still bend over backwards for it.>If you don't want that to happen, then you'll need to help build an alternative.I want to help. Not sure what I can do to help, though. Seems like simply calling my reps is talking to the wind.
>They don't need you to purchase hardware or software any more.Need? No. But they still want as much money as possible. That's why a boycott/strike will still be effective. They don't need money anymore but will still bend over backwards for it.>If you don't want that to happen, then you'll need to help build an alternative.I want to help. Not sure what I can do to help, though. Seems like simply calling my reps is talking to the wind.
Need? No. But they still want as much money as possible. That's why a boycott/strike will still be effective. They don't need money anymore but will still bend over backwards for it.>If you don't want that to happen, then you'll need to help build an alternative.I want to help. Not sure what I can do to help, though. Seems like simply calling my reps is talking to the wind.
>If you don't want that to happen, then you'll need to help build an alternative.I want to help. Not sure what I can do to help, though. Seems like simply calling my reps is talking to the wind.
I want to help. Not sure what I can do to help, though. Seems like simply calling my reps is talking to the wind.
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And you seem to have been fooled into thinking all victims are powerless.
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Turns out they were right
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These bills also need to be opposed on a legal/political level.Something I realized last night is that people who lie about their age to send false signals may inadvertently open themselves up to CFAA liability (a felony). So this is a serious matter for users who want to maintain anonymity.
Something I realized last night is that people who lie about their age to send false signals may inadvertently open themselves up to CFAA liability (a felony). So this is a serious matter for users who want to maintain anonymity.
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I do think there is a stronger case against the next under-18 Aaron Swartz, who will get hit with 200 felonies for setting his age wrong (one felony per app/service) after pissing off someone important.
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If I get arrested for lying about my age, when I'm of age, then they could probably get me on a whim already anyway. No point in trying to fall in line.
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Age signals from the OS? Need to provide a channel of information available to applications. Applications already talk to servers with unchecked commonality.Biometric data? Today it unlocks your private key. Tomorrow it's used to verify you are the same person that was used during sign-up -- the same that was "age-verified".Next year, the application needs to "double-check" your identity. That missile that's coming to you? Definitely not AI-controlled, definitely not coming to destroy the "verified" person who posted a threatening comment about the AI system's god complex. Nope, it's coming to deliver freedom verification.
Biometric data? Today it unlocks your private key. Tomorrow it's used to verify you are the same person that was used during sign-up -- the same that was "age-verified".Next year, the application needs to "double-check" your identity. That missile that's coming to you? Definitely not AI-controlled, definitely not coming to destroy the "verified" person who posted a threatening comment about the AI system's god complex. Nope, it's coming to deliver freedom verification.
Next year, the application needs to "double-check" your identity. That missile that's coming to you? Definitely not AI-controlled, definitely not coming to destroy the "verified" person who posted a threatening comment about the AI system's god complex. Nope, it's coming to deliver freedom verification.
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Rocket is obvious and spectacular. Those are for amateurs.A journalist got beaten up to the brink of death and will never walk again by 'unknown perpetrators'? Well, it's a dangerous country, and he had it coming, maybe some concerned citizens went a bit too far, but our dear leader cannot watch over everybody.Scaling: do you think other journalists will not take notice?And he will still be alive to reminder them how they may end up.If you want to see how far imagination can go here, look up Artyom Kamardin and think how would you behave after hearing his story .
A journalist got beaten up to the brink of death and will never walk again by 'unknown perpetrators'? Well, it's a dangerous country, and he had it coming, maybe some concerned citizens went a bit too far, but our dear leader cannot watch over everybody.Scaling: do you think other journalists will not take notice?And he will still be alive to reminder them how they may end up.If you want to see how far imagination can go here, look up Artyom Kamardin and think how would you behave after hearing his story .
Scaling: do you think other journalists will not take notice?And he will still be alive to reminder them how they may end up.If you want to see how far imagination can go here, look up Artyom Kamardin and think how would you behave after hearing his story .
And he will still be alive to reminder them how they may end up.If you want to see how far imagination can go here, look up Artyom Kamardin and think how would you behave after hearing his story .
If you want to see how far imagination can go here, look up Artyom Kamardin and think how would you behave after hearing his story .
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And turns out power-tripping men offered raw power over other humans on threat of violence is something they like.And ICE? Remember J6 and Three Percenter's and all those right wing militias? They ended up in ICE. Same reasons.
And ICE? Remember J6 and Three Percenter's and all those right wing militias? They ended up in ICE. Same reasons.
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Meanwhile, regular cops have been doing the same awful things that they've always been doing, literally at the command of Democratic mayors who are pompously declaring that they won't enforce immigration law in speeches. They'll send cops to throw your shit into the street when your rent suddenly doubles, and won't report an illegal immigrant felon (whose history we know nothing about) to ICE.Organized white supremacists are nobodies with no power, they're all over the military, the cops, prison guards, and ICE. Meanwhile, Parchman Farm in Mississippi doesn't even report the people who are dying there, and has plastic all over the floors because the roofs are open to the elements. That's just legal American black people who this country actually owes something to, though. That was trendy like five years ago, it's so over now.
Organized white supremacists are nobodies with no power, they're all over the military, the cops, prison guards, and ICE. Meanwhile, Parchman Farm in Mississippi doesn't even report the people who are dying there, and has plastic all over the floors because the roofs are open to the elements. That's just legal American black people who this country actually owes something to, though. That was trendy like five years ago, it's so over now.
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Now you obviously shouldn't set social justice aside, and given the choice, I absolutely prefer the capitalist hellscape where my friends and I are not being rounded up and killed, but that's a REMARKABLY low standard I've had to settle on as a voter.
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Environmental: Democrats Joe Manchin, Jon Tester, Michael Bennet, Bob Casey, Martin Heinrich, John Hickenlooper, and Ben Ray Lujan all backed the pro-fossil fuel position and blocked the Biden admin's ban on fracking. And that's before you get to the eleven House Democrats who crossed the aisle to vote for gutting NEPA, which is basically the foundational law for environmental review in this country.Science: Democrats continue to stall on GMO foods despite thousands of studies confirming they're safe, and have pushed heavy restrictions treating them like health hazards with zero scientific basis. This is basically their version of climate change denial and it deserves way more attention than it gets.Public Health: The entire mess with the ACA, juicing the insurance industry while keeping healthcare gatekept behind financial hooks and ensuring workers MUST stay employed to have any reliable access to it. Yeah they get some points for trying to keep Medicare and Social Security afloat, they don't want all the poor people to just die about it, but those are remarkably low bars.So, the same? No. That said, NOTHING about ANY of that could be called "Left" by anyone being remotely intellectually honest.
Science: Democrats continue to stall on GMO foods despite thousands of studies confirming they're safe, and have pushed heavy restrictions treating them like health hazards with zero scientific basis. This is basically their version of climate change denial and it deserves way more attention than it gets.Public Health: The entire mess with the ACA, juicing the insurance industry while keeping healthcare gatekept behind financial hooks and ensuring workers MUST stay employed to have any reliable access to it. Yeah they get some points for trying to keep Medicare and Social Security afloat, they don't want all the poor people to just die about it, but those are remarkably low bars.So, the same? No. That said, NOTHING about ANY of that could be called "Left" by anyone being remotely intellectually honest.
Public Health: The entire mess with the ACA, juicing the insurance industry while keeping healthcare gatekept behind financial hooks and ensuring workers MUST stay employed to have any reliable access to it. Yeah they get some points for trying to keep Medicare and Social Security afloat, they don't want all the poor people to just die about it, but those are remarkably low bars.So, the same? No. That said, NOTHING about ANY of that could be called "Left" by anyone being remotely intellectually honest.
So, the same? No. That said, NOTHING about ANY of that could be called "Left" by anyone being remotely intellectually honest.
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The Democrats and Republicans both are different approaches for the same billionaire class.They're not "opposite sides of the same coin". Instead, they're more akin to 2 sock puppets. One wears red, and the other blue.Like the Trump tariffs? They were initially Biden's tariffs that Trump increased and extended. Different clothes, same game.But I'd be willing to try a good run with democratic socialism, or hell, communism. What we have is the cushy gold-parachute socialism for the elite, and unabashed hardcore capitalism for the poorest. And that fucking sucks. Burn it down.
They're not "opposite sides of the same coin". Instead, they're more akin to 2 sock puppets. One wears red, and the other blue.Like the Trump tariffs? They were initially Biden's tariffs that Trump increased and extended. Different clothes, same game.But I'd be willing to try a good run with democratic socialism, or hell, communism. What we have is the cushy gold-parachute socialism for the elite, and unabashed hardcore capitalism for the poorest. And that fucking sucks. Burn it down.
Like the Trump tariffs? They were initially Biden's tariffs that Trump increased and extended. Different clothes, same game.But I'd be willing to try a good run with democratic socialism, or hell, communism. What we have is the cushy gold-parachute socialism for the elite, and unabashed hardcore capitalism for the poorest. And that fucking sucks. Burn it down.
But I'd be willing to try a good run with democratic socialism, or hell, communism. What we have is the cushy gold-parachute socialism for the elite, and unabashed hardcore capitalism for the poorest. And that fucking sucks. Burn it down.
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My argument isn't pro-Republican, I just want Democrats to follow through with the shit they talk, and actually live up to the progressive label they try to retain with actual progressive policies, not just more female oppressors of color. That's nice but it's not a solution to the problems we're having.
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That was from a quick search, no doubt there's more. Now it gets down to trust issues on reporting.
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"Disabled spending" already happened to the people in the ICC that acted contrary to Trump's diktats[0], without the need for a digital panopticon, both the banks and the government know who you are.[0] https://www.irishtimes.com/world/us/2025/12/12/its-surreal-u...
[0] https://www.irishtimes.com/world/us/2025/12/12/its-surreal-u...
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Never stopped people overengineering :P
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> Nobody stops the government from sending goons to your door right now for a snarky comment.This is just dumb. They literally don't know who wrote it, and have to assign somebody to track you down. The fact that they're putting infrastructure on your computer and on the network to make this one click away for them matters.
This is just dumb. They literally don't know who wrote it, and have to assign somebody to track you down. The fact that they're putting infrastructure on your computer and on the network to make this one click away for them matters.
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I've wondered if FaceID and the Android counterpart are actively creating an extraordinary labeled dataset for facial expressions at the point of sale.With users trained to scan their face before every transaction, tech companies could correlate transactions to facial expressions, facial expressions to emotions, and emotions to device content. I can imagine algorithms that subtly curate the user experience, selectively showing notifications, content, advertising to coax users towards "retail therapy".
With users trained to scan their face before every transaction, tech companies could correlate transactions to facial expressions, facial expressions to emotions, and emotions to device content. I can imagine algorithms that subtly curate the user experience, selectively showing notifications, content, advertising to coax users towards "retail therapy".
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Also keep in mind keystroke dynamics can probably do that too and has been a topic of study in one form or another since the nineteenth century vis-a-vis telegraph operators.
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Cpt America in the Winter Soldier
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This is a non-issue because it's almost certainly going to be gated behind a permission prompt. There are more invasive things sites/apps can ask for, and we seem to be doing fine, eg. location. Moreover is it really that much of a privacy loss if you go on steam, it asks you to verify you're over 18, and the OS says you're actually over 18?>Biometric data? Today it unlocks your private key. Tomorrow it's used to verify you are the same person that was used during sign-up -- the same that was "age-verified".Given touch id was introduced over a decade ago, and the associated doom-mongering predilections did not come to pass, I think it's fair to conclude it's a dud.
>Biometric data? Today it unlocks your private key. Tomorrow it's used to verify you are the same person that was used during sign-up -- the same that was "age-verified".Given touch id was introduced over a decade ago, and the associated doom-mongering predilections did not come to pass, I think it's fair to conclude it's a dud.
Given touch id was introduced over a decade ago, and the associated doom-mongering predilections did not come to pass, I think it's fair to conclude it's a dud.
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Watch as apps refuse to work when you deny them permission. Also the OS (and “privileged apps”) don't ask for permission, they have full unfettered access to everything already.
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If you can't trust the OS, you have bigger issues than it knowing whether you're 18 or not. At the very least it has a camera pointed at you at all moments you're using it, and can eavesdrop in all your conversations.
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If your OS prevented encryption, because one of the anti-encryption laws got passed, would you still trust its privacy and security?
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lol.> Moreover is it really that much of a privacy loss if you go on steam, it asks you to verify you're over 18, and the OS says you're actually over 18?Slippery slope, but an interesting argument. While SteamOS is a thing, Steam isn't my OS.> Given touch id was introduced over a decade ago, and the associated doom-mongering predilections did not come to pass, I think it's fair to conclude it's a dud.Really? You think that things built decades ago can't be further built-upon in the now or the future?
> Moreover is it really that much of a privacy loss if you go on steam, it asks you to verify you're over 18, and the OS says you're actually over 18?Slippery slope, but an interesting argument. While SteamOS is a thing, Steam isn't my OS.> Given touch id was introduced over a decade ago, and the associated doom-mongering predilections did not come to pass, I think it's fair to conclude it's a dud.Really? You think that things built decades ago can't be further built-upon in the now or the future?
Slippery slope, but an interesting argument. While SteamOS is a thing, Steam isn't my OS.> Given touch id was introduced over a decade ago, and the associated doom-mongering predilections did not come to pass, I think it's fair to conclude it's a dud.Really? You think that things built decades ago can't be further built-upon in the now or the future?
> Given touch id was introduced over a decade ago, and the associated doom-mongering predilections did not come to pass, I think it's fair to conclude it's a dud.Really? You think that things built decades ago can't be further built-upon in the now or the future?
Really? You think that things built decades ago can't be further built-upon in the now or the future?
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You mean non slippery slope?>Really? You think that things built decades ago can't be further built-upon in the now or the future?If there's no deadlines for predilections, how can we score them? Should we still be worried about some yet undiscovered way that cell phones are causing cancer, despite decades of apparently no harmful side effects?
>Really? You think that things built decades ago can't be further built-upon in the now or the future?If there's no deadlines for predilections, how can we score them? Should we still be worried about some yet undiscovered way that cell phones are causing cancer, despite decades of apparently no harmful side effects?
If there's no deadlines for predilections, how can we score them? Should we still be worried about some yet undiscovered way that cell phones are causing cancer, despite decades of apparently no harmful side effects?
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Thing is, when these “make the websites collect your ID” proposals come up, the overwhelming sentiment here is “this is terrible and we need to do it lower in the stack”. I think the OS is a better place than the website. (Let security conscious folks use a standalone device too if desired.)The astroturfing stuff is obviously sus, I don't have a feel for whether this is egregious by the standards of $T companies or just par.Of course, the EU option of using proper ZK proofs etc sounds way better as portrayed in the OP. But when you actually dig in, doesn't the EU effectively mandate OS support too, eg https://eudi.dev/1.7.1/architecture-and-reference-framework-..., https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/eudi-doc-archi... ? Maybe this isn't set yet but it seems a likely direction at least.
The astroturfing stuff is obviously sus, I don't have a feel for whether this is egregious by the standards of $T companies or just par.Of course, the EU option of using proper ZK proofs etc sounds way better as portrayed in the OP. But when you actually dig in, doesn't the EU effectively mandate OS support too, eg https://eudi.dev/1.7.1/architecture-and-reference-framework-..., https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/eudi-doc-archi... ? Maybe this isn't set yet but it seems a likely direction at least.
Of course, the EU option of using proper ZK proofs etc sounds way better as portrayed in the OP. But when you actually dig in, doesn't the EU effectively mandate OS support too, eg https://eudi.dev/1.7.1/architecture-and-reference-framework-..., https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/eudi-doc-archi... ? Maybe this isn't set yet but it seems a likely direction at least.
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Perhaps the "overwhelming" sentiment is paid actors? Or people whose jobs depend on not having that risk assigned to their employers?
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Like, in general, a software change to add an "age class" attribute to user accounts and a syscall "what's this attribute for the current user account" would satisfy the California bill and that's a relatively minor change (the bad part is the NY bill that allegedly requires technical verification of whatever the user claimed).The weird issue is how should that attribute be filled for the 'root' or 'www-data' user of a linux machine I have on the cloud. Or, to put aside open source for that matter, the Administrator account on a Windows Active Directory system.Because "user accounts" don't necessarily have any mapping (much less a 1-to-1 mapping) to a person; many user accounts are personal but many are not.
The weird issue is how should that attribute be filled for the 'root' or 'www-data' user of a linux machine I have on the cloud. Or, to put aside open source for that matter, the Administrator account on a Windows Active Directory system.Because "user accounts" don't necessarily have any mapping (much less a 1-to-1 mapping) to a person; many user accounts are personal but many are not.
Because "user accounts" don't necessarily have any mapping (much less a 1-to-1 mapping) to a person; many user accounts are personal but many are not.
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The auth server would lie in Colorado. The FS server, in New Mexico. The CPU server, in Nevada. The terminal (the client), in Alaska. Shut down and repeat at random. Watch the lobbies collapsing down tring to sue that monster.
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We should also update all FOSS license terms to explicitly exclude Meta or any affilites from using any software licensed under them.
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Heck, Linus Torvalds should just add an amendment to the next release of the Linux Kernel that makes it illegal to use in any jurisdiction that requires age verification laws.This would obviously cause such a massive disruption (especially in California) that the age laws would have to be rolled back immediately.This seems like a no-brainer to me but I am admittedly ignorant on this situation. I'm sure there's a good reason why this isn't happening if anyone cares to explain.
This would obviously cause such a massive disruption (especially in California) that the age laws would have to be rolled back immediately.This seems like a no-brainer to me but I am admittedly ignorant on this situation. I'm sure there's a good reason why this isn't happening if anyone cares to explain.
This seems like a no-brainer to me but I am admittedly ignorant on this situation. I'm sure there's a good reason why this isn't happening if anyone cares to explain.
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If it's not (fully) your code, you aren't free to set the licence conditions; Linus can't do that without getting approval from 100% (not 99% or so) of authors who contributed code.What one can do is add an informative disclaimer saying "To the best of our knowledge, installing or running this thing in California is prohibited - we permit to do whatever you want with it, but how you'll comply with that law is your business".
What one can do is add an informative disclaimer saying "To the best of our knowledge, installing or running this thing in California is prohibited - we permit to do whatever you want with it, but how you'll comply with that law is your business".
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It also helps when you take an offender to court. If I contribute to a project but don't assign copyright, then they cannot take offenders to court if my code was copied illegally. The burden is on me to do so.Of course, all code released prior to the change still remains on the original license.
Of course, all code released prior to the change still remains on the original license.
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A "Linux distro" is not the Linux kernel. It's possible for some distros to add such license terms to their distribution media, but others like Debian and Debian-based ones adhere to the GPL so no go.
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"Every OS provider must then: provide an interface at account setup collecting a birth date or age, and expose a real-time API that broadcasts the user's age bracket (under 13, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18+) to any application running on the system."
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You can call what's happening in this thread a hissy fit, but how does that compare to $70 million in lobbying to get this added to operating systems? Isn't that a bit more of a fit? When you look at who is behind the bills, do you look at their history and wonder whose best interest they might have at heart?
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Debian, Ubuntu, etc., they'll all fall right in line because the clear and immediate losses will outweigh any PR issue.
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The issue is obviously not with adults needing to click a drop-down.Some of the main issues with this legislation are:1) Makes it much easier for predators of all kinds to identify and target children on their computers2) Impossible to implement (i.e., servers don't have a person)3) The infrastructure this bill introduces will be used by the state and corporations to destroy our last vestiges of privacy and anonymity
Some of the main issues with this legislation are:1) Makes it much easier for predators of all kinds to identify and target children on their computers2) Impossible to implement (i.e., servers don't have a person)3) The infrastructure this bill introduces will be used by the state and corporations to destroy our last vestiges of privacy and anonymity
1) Makes it much easier for predators of all kinds to identify and target children on their computers2) Impossible to implement (i.e., servers don't have a person)3) The infrastructure this bill introduces will be used by the state and corporations to destroy our last vestiges of privacy and anonymity
2) Impossible to implement (i.e., servers don't have a person)3) The infrastructure this bill introduces will be used by the state and corporations to destroy our last vestiges of privacy and anonymity
3) The infrastructure this bill introduces will be used by the state and corporations to destroy our last vestiges of privacy and anonymity
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6. Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to these terms and conditions. You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein. You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to this License.
It would be in violation of the GPL and such a license would not be an OSI approved license.https://opensource.org/osd 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.
https://opensource.org/osd 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.
5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.
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If this was somehow introduced without anyone noticing and deployed, imagine the damage it would cause.If we're fantasizing here, I like to imagine two major OS makers trying to comply these laws, fail miserably, and let FOSS OSes and kernels more recognition in the desktop market.
If we're fantasizing here, I like to imagine two major OS makers trying to comply these laws, fail miserably, and let FOSS OSes and kernels more recognition in the desktop market.
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Ideally, getting these servers to auto turn off the day this goes into effect ("In compliance with this new law, Linux is now temporarily unusable. Please
8/10
Running is supposed to be an affordable hobby. But we are in the era of ultra-premium running kit, where boutique brands and fashion-running collabs tout high-spec, high-tech gear with high prices to match. From Satisfy's $140 mothtech tees to SOAR x Altra's $285 trail shorts, there are some eye-watering, pricey kit on the shelves. That goes for shoes, too.
Road racing shoes like the Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 2 now tip the $500 mark. On the trails, brands like Speedland and Canadian shoemaker Norda are pushing the prices. Norda's shoes start at $295. The new 001A G+ that we tested costs $325. That's not far off the price of an Apple Watch Series 11. It's also a step up on the already-pricey top-tier trail super shoes from brands like Hoka, Asics, and Adidas.
Is it really worth it? As a full-time shoe tester, I've run in dozens of trail shoes right across the price range. But this is my first time lacing up a Norda. I put 50 miles into the 001A G+ to see if you can really justify spending more than $300 on a trail shoe.
Footwear industry veterans Nick Martire and Willa Leus-Martire founded Norda in 2021. The pair set out to create high-performance trail shoes that would last. Like most boutique brands, Norda focuses on using top-quality materials with a heavy attention to detail, right down to the toughened recycled polyester laces. The company also delivers a touch of stylish swagger.
Norda 001A Trail Shoe
Rating: 8/10
The Norda 001 was the brand's first release, a cushioned trailer designed for ultra miles with a distinct cult classic styling that really set it apart. The follow-up 001A aims to build on that reputation. It now comes in three models: the 001A, the 001A G+ with added weatherproofing, and the 001A G+ Spike ($355), which adds spikes and waterproofing for harsher conditions like snow and ice.
I tested the 001A G+. The shoe's tech credentials are littered with trademark and patent symbols. But symbolic techiness aside, Norda's aim for the 001A was simple—“to find the most advanced midsole foam for trail that combined the highest resiliency possible yet performed and lasted 5-10x longer than other super foams.”
Norda 001A Trail Shoe
Rating: 8/10
That new foam is now a proprietary Norda x Arnitel thermoplastic polyester elastomer blend that aims to deliver 30 percent more rebound than the original 001. It weighs 10 percent less and still delivers that signature durability that lasts beyond 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
In testing, that midsole setup made for a mildly energetic ride, helped by a softening eTPU insole. It's a good balance of softness and protection with a hit of responsiveness. The 001A G+ feels grounded, rather than plush, underfoot. The sole is smallish—26 mm in the heel, 21 mm in the forefoot—which keeps you nicely connected to the trail.
The feedback from that midsole was quite muted. It certainly doesn't match the springy energy you get from the Asics Metafuji Trail ($295) or a Hoka Tecton X3 ($275). However, it felt smooth over a wide range of terrain, from hard-packed trail to grass and forest floors. If, like me, you like your trail shoes to tread a fine line between connection and cushion, you'll like the 001A G+.
Up top, you've got robust, seamless uppers cut from sustainable, Bluesign- and ISCC-approved, bio-based Dyneema fibers. According to Dyneema, that material is 15 times stronger than steel at the same weight. It's certainly showing no signs of weakness after 50 miles, and previous generations of the 001A were hailed for being incredibly tough.
Norda 001A Trail Shoe
Rating: 8/10
The G+ model has a breathable, graphene waterproof membrane laminated to the upper to keep feet warm when it's cold and to provide 10,000-mm water resistance. Interestingly, this membrane hasn't added extra weight as compared to the 001A standard shoe.
I'm not 100 percent convinced we need waterproof shoes. I'd probably choose the cheaper 001A ahead of these. But if you're a fan of extra weatherproofing, these are some of the best I've tested at keeping water out. I made a point of battering through as many puddles as possible, and not a drop got in, though they can run hot.
Norda 001A Trail Shoe
Rating: 8/10
I was less sold on the comfort. Norda suggests going half a size up in the 001A to get a more accommodating fit. I followed that advice, which worked well for a roomy forefoot and excellent mid-foot lockdown. But these aren't the most inviting-looking shoes, and for a long-haul trail shoe, it doesn't indulge in many soft edges.
Maybe I've been too mollycoddled by plush modern road and gravel shoes, but for me the Norda 001A G+ feels a bit austere, with stiff uppers and a wildly minimal heel cup. If you like instant comfort—what I call a disappearing fit, where you forget you're wearing shoes—you won't get that here.
Some of those bristling edges settle the more miles you log. The stiff uppers soften a little, and there's definitely a break-in period. But the lack of padding made the heel cup rub the base of my heel. For an already-heavy shoe, I'd happily sacrifice a few more grams for a touch more comfort in the heel cushion.
When it comes to grip, the 001A+ shines. The outsole uses a combination of Vibram technologies, there's Megagrip rubber with deep 5-mm lugs along with a Litebase construction to boost the stickiness while saving weight. Boy, did it stick to everything I encountered, with confidence-boosting reliability.
Norda 001A Trail Shoe
Rating: 8/10
I'm not the most gifted trail runner. You'd call me a tentative descender. I appreciated the welcome certainty underfoot on everything from wet rock to soggy single track. You also stick to the trail when you need to but don't feel bogged down when it's runnable, though I wouldn't fancy long stretches on the road.
There's no doubt this is an excellent trail shoe. It's built tough, with fantastic grip and a nicely balanced ride. In the right colorway (I wasn't a fan of the all-black stealth I tested), it's easily one of the most stylish off-road options you can buy. But is it worth $300? I'm not convinced. If I knew the 001A G+ would still be running strong after 800 miles, maybe there's a case. With those bulletproof uppers and the resilient midsole, that's a distinct possibility.
If I was going to invest, I'd definitely choose the regular 001A over the G+. You lose a bit of waterproofing, but you'll get the same performance for a good chunk less. Based on the comfort, the types of trail it'll eat, the paces it's happy at, and the long-haul potential for ultra trailing, I don't think it offers more than its much more affordable rivals.
Norda 001A Trail Shoe
Rating: 8/10
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Coffee is the original biohack and the nation's most popular productivity tool. As we adjust to the changeover to daylight saving time, the caffeine-addicted WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite coffee brewing routines and devices. Today, director Michael Calore expounds on his love for the Kalita Wave. Look out for other Java.Base stories about other WIRED writers' favorite brewing methods.
Pour-over coffee has a reputation for being fussy. That's well earned; if you're using one of the popular pour-over brewers like a Chemex or a Hario V60, you have no doubt spent a good deal of time on trial and error. If you don't dial in the grind size, heat your water to the correct temperature, or maneuver your kettle in a perfect spiral to evenly soak the coffee, it's easy to end up with an underextracted or acidic mess. It can force you to abandon pour-over altogether and go make amends with your Moccamaster.
There's a better way—a method that is not only foolproof and requires almost none of that fastidiousness, but also results in a spectacular cup of coffee every single time.
I'm talking about the Kalita Wave, which has long been my favorite way to make coffee. This brewer, born in Japan a couple of decades ago, looks a lot like those other pour-over drippers. But where other brewers' paper filters are cone-shaped, a Kalita's filter ends in a 2-inch-wide flat bottom. Instead of letting coffee flow out through one rather large hole at the bottom of the filter, the Kalita drips coffee out more slowly through three small holes.
It's a style of brewer called a flatbed, so named for that flat-bottomed filter. Kalita isn't the only one—other notables include the Orea, the Timemore B75, and the December Dripper, a Kalita-style dripper with an adjustable aperture—but flatbeds have earned a sparkling reputation among both serious baristas and people who just want to make a good cup of coffee without feeling like they're trying to win a blue ribbon at the science fair.
The trick is in the design. That flat bottom lets more of the coffee get fully saturated by distributing the water more evenly among the grounds. You can properly saturate your coffee in a V60 if you pour carefully, but with a Kalita Wave, since more of the grounds are collected at the filter's flat bottom, it's easier to evenly wet them. The three small holes control the flow, restricting it just enough so the coffee is suitably extracted before it drips out.
The filter's wavy design makes it so the paper barely touches the side walls of the dripper. This keeps heat from transferring to the metal dripper, so the water—and your resulting coffee—stays the right temperature. (You've probably clocked that, yes, you will need special filters, but the cost is comparable to cone-shaped V60 filters: about 12 or 13 cents each.)
The upshot here is that anyone can make a reliably delicious cup. You'll get a full-bodied and flavorful brew even if you don't pay close attention to variables like grind size, water temperature, and saturation. It's more forgiving on beans, too; the same coffee that can taste acidic in a V60 is mellower and noticeably sweeter in a flat-bottomed brewer.
Kalita Waves come in two sizes: 155 and 185. That number denotes the size of the filters. If you drink more than a single, 335-ml cup of coffee at a time, then there's no reason to get the smaller one. Go with the larger 185. I use the bigger boy to brew 500 or 600 ml of coffee every day and the results are always the same, always delicious.
Kalita
Amazon
Kalita
For years, I've been using a classic, stainless steel Kalita 185, the valedictorian prom king of flatbed drippers. It does occasionally clog. A wet filter loaded up with water and soggy grounds can sag, and though there's a little platform for the filter to sit on at the bottom, a really saggy filter can sag enough to cover one or more of the holes, sloooow the drainage down, and serve up some overextracted muck. Clogs only happen once in a blue moon, though, and I like the durability and simplicity of the metal design, so I still recommend it—especially to people who are new to Kalita brewing, since it's a low-cost and low-fuss route to lotusland.
Kalita
Amazon
Kalita
But a more recent favorite has emerged. Last year, Kalita released a mino ware version of the Wave. This is a handsome style of Japanese ceramic with a rough glaze. The redesigned filter platform at the base of the brewer pretty much solves that saggy-cloggy problem, and it has larger holes that drain a little faster, which is helpful if your brew sizes trend large.
There's also a high-gloss ceramic version with a texture and look that resembles a classic diner-style coffee mug. It also has the larger holes. While these ceramic babies are super pretty, they're more fragile. One drop and you could be out $30. Same with the all-glass versions.
Kalita
Amazon
Kalita
So if you're a klutz like me and you want a premium brewing experience, stick with the indestructibility of stainless steel, but consider upgrading your choice to Kalita's Tsubame dripper. It's a bit more costly, but it's handmade from heavy-gauge steel, has the best handle of any Kalita, and looks goddamn gorgeous. Also, it has a no-clog design, and it delivers those same consistent results.
I'm not going to talk you into throwing away your V60. I still have mine and use it occasionally. My advice is just to add this to your lineup. See how good the coffee tastes. As you experiment with your Wave brewer, I wager you'll find yourself reaching for it more and more often. Soon, you'll be reaching for it every day.
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https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47362528https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47365597
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47365597
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## Methodology and Tools
This investigation was conducted by a human researcher who directed all research decisions, selected sources, evaluated findings, and wrote the public-facing posts. Claude Code (Anthropic's CLI tool, running Claude Opus) was used as a research assistant for:
- Bulk data processing: parsing 4,433 IRS Schedule I grant records, 59,736 DAF recipients, 132MB of Colorado TRACER campaign finance data, and IRS Business Master File extracts covering all US tax-exempt organizations
- Cross-referencing findings across 24 analysis files and identifying patterns that span multiple research threads
- Drafting intermediate working documents and structured data summaries
- Web searches against public databases (OpenSecrets, ProPublica, state lobbying portals, WHOIS/DNS, Wayback Machine)
Claude Code did not independently choose what to investigate, decide what constitutes a finding, or determine what to publish. Every factual claim in this repository cites a primary source (IRS filing, Senate disclosure, state database, legislative record, or published reporting) that can be independently verified. The tool does not change whether Meta's LD-2 filing lists H.R. 3149, whether DCA has an EIN, or whether Stefanski admitted tech funding under oath. The records exist or they don't.
If you want to verify any finding, the source URLs and database identifiers are provided throughout. Start with the primary records, not with this repository.
I find it valuable to know the author was responsible for selecting what sources & questions to analyse.
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I would caution readers to do their due dilligence as the presentation may be fancy but that should not immediately translate into a signal of quality in itself given the author has disclosed using Claude Code for a chunk of this work.While I won't outright discount the findings (as there is "too much" to reasonably verify), there are a few oddities around the source repo such as errors where Claude has tried to access sources, been denied and then noted as much or where it has seemingly fetched incorrect files and tried to interpret them (https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings...)I am not under the immediate impression that the author has done thorough due diligence rather than just offloading that to readers by saying "You can just check the sources yourself"
While I won't outright discount the findings (as there is "too much" to reasonably verify), there are a few oddities around the source repo such as errors where Claude has tried to access sources, been denied and then noted as much or where it has seemingly fetched incorrect files and tried to interpret them (https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings...)I am not under the immediate impression that the author has done thorough due diligence rather than just offloading that to readers by saying "You can just check the sources yourself"
I am not under the immediate impression that the author has done thorough due diligence rather than just offloading that to readers by saying "You can just check the sources yourself"
reply
It also doesn't inline link sources, like the Bloomberg article it mentions (this[1]). A more impartial voice and linked citations to allow quick reference would raise fewer red flags, even if the goal is worthwhile.[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-25/meta-clas...
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-25/meta-clas...
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In ideal world (where we don't live), some of the primary goals of corporations and governments contradict to each other (and there is another body):* Corporations - maximum profit at all cost to its shareholders* Government (I mean the ideal one) - prosperity for its citizens* UN - prosperity for the world (because governments can achieve prosperity for own citizens by exploiting other government citizens)When they have contradictory goals, lower in the chain should not drastically impact the higher body's goals.Corporate lobby is doing it, hence US is moving towards feudal system. Because corporations wants to exploit people at maximum speed and squeeze everything, but do not want to take the responsibility for nurturing the people.Here is how it looks like: * You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
* Corporations - maximum profit at all cost to its shareholders* Government (I mean the ideal one) - prosperity for its citizens* UN - prosperity for the world (because governments can achieve prosperity for own citizens by exploiting other government citizens)When they have contradictory goals, lower in the chain should not drastically impact the higher body's goals.Corporate lobby is doing it, hence US is moving towards feudal system. Because corporations wants to exploit people at maximum speed and squeeze everything, but do not want to take the responsibility for nurturing the people.Here is how it looks like: * You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
* Government (I mean the ideal one) - prosperity for its citizens* UN - prosperity for the world (because governments can achieve prosperity for own citizens by exploiting other government citizens)When they have contradictory goals, lower in the chain should not drastically impact the higher body's goals.Corporate lobby is doing it, hence US is moving towards feudal system. Because corporations wants to exploit people at maximum speed and squeeze everything, but do not want to take the responsibility for nurturing the people.Here is how it looks like: * You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
* UN - prosperity for the world (because governments can achieve prosperity for own citizens by exploiting other government citizens)When they have contradictory goals, lower in the chain should not drastically impact the higher body's goals.Corporate lobby is doing it, hence US is moving towards feudal system. Because corporations wants to exploit people at maximum speed and squeeze everything, but do not want to take the responsibility for nurturing the people.Here is how it looks like: * You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
When they have contradictory goals, lower in the chain should not drastically impact the higher body's goals.Corporate lobby is doing it, hence US is moving towards feudal system. Because corporations wants to exploit people at maximum speed and squeeze everything, but do not want to take the responsibility for nurturing the people.Here is how it looks like: * You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
Corporate lobby is doing it, hence US is moving towards feudal system. Because corporations wants to exploit people at maximum speed and squeeze everything, but do not want to take the responsibility for nurturing the people.Here is how it looks like: * You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
Here is how it looks like: * You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
* You hire Sr eng, squeeze max out of them, lay them off
* Demand government to have better education, so it can squeeze out next
* Stop unionization at all costs
* now we are seeing this with Junior positions, no one wants to nurture and grow them, everyone wants Sr+ engineers
reply
https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-coalition-for-digital...It's not just the US, similar legislation in Australia, UK and the EU.One thing we can look forward to is platform-side detection of 'illegal' material, so like you organize a protest in a private discord, discord recognizes the illegal act and automatically forwards it to the local police that give you a visit. This is where the road is headed.
It's not just the US, similar legislation in Australia, UK and the EU.One thing we can look forward to is platform-side detection of 'illegal' material, so like you organize a protest in a private discord, discord recognizes the illegal act and automatically forwards it to the local police that give you a visit. This is where the road is headed.
One thing we can look forward to is platform-side detection of 'illegal' material, so like you organize a protest in a private discord, discord recognizes the illegal act and automatically forwards it to the local police that give you a visit. This is where the road is headed.
reply
Also HN: LLM AI generated sloppa with errors even on top of front page.clown emoji
clown emoji
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reply
reply
reply
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https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/27/scotus-porn-ruling-opens-d...
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On March 6, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare officially granted conditional and time-limited marketing authorization to two regenerative medical products derived from reprogrammed iPS cells, marking exactly 20 years since the creation of mouse iPS cells. These will be the world's first practical application of iPS cell-derived products.
“We are very pleased to have taken a major step toward social application on the 20th anniversary of the announcement of mouse iPS cells,” said Shinya Yamanaka, director emeritus of the iPS Cell Research Institute at Kyoto University. “To establish it as a medical treatment, it is essential to go through the process of confirming its safety and efficacy in many more cases. I believe it is important that we continue to move forward steadily, step by step, with scientific caution and without getting carried away.”
The initialism stands for induced pluripotent stem cells. These are adult cells, such as skin or blood cells, that have been reprogrammed to function like embryonic stem cells. They can divide indefinitely and can take the form of any cell type. Thanks to this ability, they can be used to test new drugs and for research in regenerative medicine. This type of cell allows for scientific advancement without the ethical problems that arise from working with embryonic stem cells.
One of the regenerative medicine products that has been approved is ReHeart, from Qualipse, a startup based at Osaka University. It's a sheet of specialized heart cells called cardiomyocytes differentiated from iPS cells of healthy donors, and it generated considerable buzz when it was presented at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. It's intended for patients with severe heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy who don't recover sufficiently despite standard treatment, including drug therapy and invasive procedures.
Qualipse's iPS cell-derived cardiac muscle sheet. It was also the focus of much attention when it was exhibited at Expo 2005 Osaka-Kansai.
Severe heart failure is a serious condition that worsens over time, and the only treatment options are a heart transplant or a heart-assisted artificial heart. However, heart transplantation is hampered by a shortage of donors and age restrictions, and artificial hearts also carry the risk of infection and cranial nerve damage, as well as long-term decline in quality of life.
ReHeart addresses these unmet medical needs. The transplant is performed via a surgery in the left side of the chest, with three sheets of cardiomyocytes attached to the surface of the heart. Signaling proteins secreted by the transplanted cells help increase blood flow and repair tissue. In a national multicenter collaborative study that included eight patients with severe heart failure, a trend toward improvement was confirmed in four patients, with peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) increasing by more than 10 percent at 52 weeks post-transplant.
The second approved product is Amusepri (generic name: laguneprocell) from Sumitomo Pharma and Racthera. It consists of precursor cells destined to become dopamine-producing neurons made from donor iPS cells. It is indicated for improving motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease who have had an inadequate response to existing drug therapies, including levodopa-containing preparations.
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor symptoms such as tremors in the limbs and muscle rigidity due to the gradual loss of dopaminergic nerve cells in the brain. Current drug therapies are treatments to alleviate symptoms, not a fundamental approach to replacing lost nerve cells.
AmShepli aims to offer a new treatment option by transplanting progenitor cells from lost dopamine-making neurons directly into the brain. This transplant is performed using a minimally invasive type of brain surgery. Small holes are drilled in the skull, one on each side, and the cells are dispersed and injected into the capsule on both sides via three delivery routes.
In a physician-led trial conducted at Kyoto University Hospital, four of the six Parkinson's disease patients analyzed showed an improvement in their off-time score (the score when the drug's effect has worn off) on the Motor Symptoms Diagnostic and Treatment Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS Part III) 24 months after transplantation. Researchers confirmed that the cells remained viable in all six patients at the transplant site.
SMaRT, located in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, is responsible for the production of Amshepri and is the world's first commercial manufacturing facility dedicated to regenerative medicine and cell-based drugs derived from donor iPS cells. The iPS cells used as raw material for the product come from a stock provided by the Kyoto University iPS Cell Research Foundation, and the differentiation induction and manufacturing technologies are based on proprietary technologies from Kyoto University and other institutions. For example, Eisai's cell purification technology is used in part of the manufacturing process; the product was made possible through collaboration between industry and academia, with contributions from various institutions.
It could also be argued that the fact that this groundbreaking approval came from Japan was structurally inevitable. This is because the entire supply chain has been almost entirely completed in Japan, from the establishment of the basic technology by Shinya Yamanaka, winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, to the supply of iPS cells by the Kyoto University iPS Cell Research Foundation, the differentiation induction and manufacturing technologies developed by Kyoto University and other institutions, the establishment of the commercial manufacturing facility SMaRT, and even the development of university startups and the entry of major pharmaceutical companies.
The two new products are considered “approved with conditions and timeframes. ”This means that, even after approval, the products' efficacy and safety must continue to be verified through post-marketing clinical trials and end-use studies.
This unique Japanese system has enabled early approval in fields such as regenerative medicine, where large-scale clinical trials are difficult to conduct, and is one of the factors explaining the practical application of these products. Furthermore, the approval process, including long-term public funding from national institutions, was not only the result of individual researchers but also the product of Japanese science policy.
An experiment in an open laboratory at Kyoto University's iPS Cell Research Institute.
A comprehensive study of ReHeart's use outcomes in a target number of 75 patients is planned, with sales starting around the fall of 2026. AmShepli is also required to gather data for official approval.
Transplantation of any of these products is not a treatment available to everyone at this stage and will be available as an insured treatment once the insurance coverage procedure—where the product is officially registered as covered by public health insurance—has been completed. The estimated timeframe for these products to be included on the insurance list is three months after approval for pharmaceuticals and four to five months after application for medical supplies, so it is still expected to be some time before they reach patients.
Commenting on the approval, Kenichiro Ueno, minister of health, labor, and welfare, stated at a press conference: “I am very pleased that a therapeutic product from Japan based on professor Yamanaka's iPS cells has been put into practice for the first time in the world, and I hope it will help patients not only in Japan but all over the world.”
Jun Takahashi, director of the iPS Cell Research Institute at Kyoto University, who led the Amusepuri trial, stated: “The results of the deliberations are a major step forward, but even if approval is granted, that is not the goal, but only the beginning of this new medicine.” He emphasized the importance of accumulating long-term data, starting carefully with a limited number of cases.
Twenty years have passed since the emergence of iPS cells. The technology, which originated in the laboratory, has reached the stage where human cells are cultured, differentiated, and finally administered to the patient's body. The future of medicine, rewritten by iPS cells, has only just begun.
This story originally appeared in WIRED Japan and has been translated from Japanese.
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And then there were two: Of the original 11 co-founders who kickstarted xAI with Elon Musk three years ago, only two remain as the deep learning lab continues a personnel overhaul to compete with Anthropic and OpenAI. That rebuilding, insists Musk, is by design.
“xAI was not built right first time around, so is being rebuilt from the foundations up,” Musk said Thursday on his social media platform, X. By most measures, it isn't going all that smoothly.
The most immediate pressure is competitive. This week, xAI co-founders Zihang Dai and Guodong Zhang left the outfit after Musk complained that the company's AI coding tools were not effectively competing with Claude Code or Codex, rival programming assistants made by Anthropic and OpenAI, respectively. Musk said the company held an all-hands meeting on Wednesday that focused on how to catch up, which he predicted would be possible by the middle of this year.
Coding tools matter so much because they're where the money is. While an early-year surge of users was powered by xAI's lax regulation of Grok's ability to produce sexual and even abusive imagery, coding tools are seen as the key revenue-generating tech for AI labs. That makes xAI's current lag in this area more than a perception issue; it's a business problem.
The personnel overhaul extends well beyond this week. A month ago, 11 senior engineers at xAI, including two co-founders, left the company following changes Musk described as a reorganization to suit a larger business. That effort was apparently insufficient: The Financial Times reported that SpaceX and Tesla executives have parachuted into the company to evaluate employees and fire those who don't make the grade.
The two remaining co-founders, Manuel Kroiss and Ross Nordeen, along with Musk, have their work cut out for them.
Musk is now casting a wider net for talent. On Thursday, he said on X that he and another colleage, Baris Akis, are currently reviewing rejected employment applications in the company, with an eye toward reaching out to promising candidates who should have had a chance to interview. “My apologies,” Musk added, addressing the pile of strangers he'd ghosted.
For the sake of comparison, LinkedIn reports that xAI has just over 5,000 employees, compared to more than 7,500 at OpenAI and more than 4,700 at Anthropic.
On the hiring front, there's at least one encouraging sign. Andrew Milich and Jason Ginsberg are joining xAI from the AI coding tool company Cursor, where the two held joint responsibility for product engineering. Unlike xAI, Cursor depends on frontier labs for access to the AI models it runs on. Their decision to join xAI may signal the importance of direct access to LLM and computing resources to run them — and suggest that xAI's core asset, its own frontier model, is still an attractive draw.
Either way, the pressure to show results is as much external as it is internal. Now that xAI is part of SpaceX, and with a public offering of SpaceX shares anticipated, the cash-burning unit is under pressure to demonstrate real uptake on Grok, its LLM. (A stumbling AI division is not the story Musk needs investors to be reading.)
Longer term, Musk is betting on something bigger than coding tools. xAI's Macrohard project — Musk is convinced the name is “a funny reference to Microsoft” — aims to create an AI agent capable of doing anything a white-collar worker can do on a computer. Toby Pohlen, chosen to lead the project in February, left within weeks, and this week, Business Insider reported that Macrohard was on pause.
Musk's response has been to draft another of his companies into the project. He revealed for the first time that Macrohard is a joint effort with Tesla, which is also developing a complementary agent dubbed “Digital Optimus” — a reference to Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot. In Musk's description, the xAI language model would direct the Tesla agent as it performs tasks.
It's ambitious; it's also not unique. Instead, the vision is not far off from what Perplexity — an AI-powered search engine — is doing with its new “Everything is Computer” offering, which aims to offer enterprise users a dedicated “digital proxy” that can orchestrate their digital tasks. It also echoes what entrepreneur Peter Steinberger is now working on at OpenAI, after creating OpenClaw's popular personal agents.
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A smartphone app designed to tackle the underlying psychological causes of premature ejaculation can significantly improve sex life and delay ejaculation, while offering a way to reduce stigma around the condition, say researchers.
Data from the CLIMACS study are presented today [Saturday 14 March 2026] at the European Association of Urology Annual Congress (EAU26) in London. It is the first study to test a digital-first approach for treating premature ejaculation at home.
The app teaches men several therapeutic techniques, tips and exercises designed by urologists and psychologists, as well as offering evidence-based information to men about the condition.
This guided training is designed to help men manage arousal and better control when they ejaculate. It includes mindfulness, arousal awareness exercises and cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as hands-on physical exercises to improve ejaculation control, like the start-stop technique.
Premature ejaculation is a distressing issue between the sheets, and everyone's experience is different. Men with the condition typically ejaculate sooner than desired during sex and within 60 seconds of penetration. Affecting up to 30% of men, it is highly stigmatised, and only 9% of men seek medical help.
Causes of premature ejaculation are complex and include relationship issues and psychological factors like anxiety, stress and depression. For many men, this leads to worry and performance anxiety and can affect relationships, but the most commonly available treatments, like pills or creams, only limit the symptoms.
The German-based CLIMACS study tested whether the information and therapeutic techniques taught to men through the Melonga App® could help to delay ejaculation. The researchers recruited 80 men without other underlying health conditions into the 12-week programme. They were each given a series of health questionnaires about their physical and psychological experiences during sex and asked to use a stopwatch to measure the time from penetration to ejaculation. After 12 weeks, men in the control group – who had been given no other support from the study to manage their condition – were offered access to the app and followed up for 12 weeks. 66 patients submitted complete questionnaires.
For app users in the study, the total time from penetration to ejaculation doubled after 12 weeks, increasing by an average of 64 seconds (from 61 seconds to 125 seconds). Men in the control group saw an increase of just 0.5 seconds on average.
Men using the app reported significantly improved control of their ejaculation during sex, reduced worry linked to ejaculation, and a reduced impact on their relationship. There was also a significant improvement in sexuality-related quality of life measures, like enjoyment and confidence, in men who used the app, compared with no change in the control group.
After 12 weeks, 22% of men who used the app were no longer experiencing premature ejaculation, based on self-reported measures.
The study's lead researcher, Dr Christer Groeben from Marburg University and Medical Faculty Heidelberg at Heidelberg University, Germany, is presenting the study findings at EAU26. He said, "Many men who live with premature ejaculation don't seek help because of the shame associated with the condition. Our study shows that, as an at-home self-help tool, this can support men to improve control of their ejaculation and achieve a satisfying sex life without losing spontaneity.
"The most commonly available pharmacy therapies are designed only to treat the symptoms, not the cause, meaning many men discontinue them after a while. These men can remain under-treated and live with a considerable psychological burden that really starts to affect the quality of their relationships. Going to a doctor for help can feel like a big first step, and so an app like this can help to bridge that gap by normalising the condition as treatable."
Dr Giorgio Russo, Associate Professor of Urology at University of Catania, Italy, and Chair of the EAU Office of Young Academic Urologists, said: "There's much information and misinformation out there for men who find they have premature ejaculation, and so this app is devised by urologists and psychologists as a new way to bring together the most effective advice into a single, easily accessible and trusted, evidence-based resource. The research shows it can completely treat almost a quarter of patients, which is a huge development because these men were treated without pills. I think it would now be interesting to build on this research with a larger study and look at the impact of a digital approach on the satisfaction of partners, rather than just users."
Final results of the CLIMACS study, which are not yet peer reviewed, are expected to be published later this year. The app is available in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Belgium.
European Association of Urology
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A new University of Utah-led study has discovered the mechanism behind a decades-old evolutionary mystery-how "selfish chromosomes" cheat the rules of genetic inheritance. The researchers found that rogue chromosomes hijack the Overdrive (Ovd) gene to destroy rival sperm.
The study is the first to identify that the Ovd gene acts as a quality control checkpoint during sperm development. Normally, Ovd detects and eliminates abnormal sperm cells. But selfish chromosomes exploit the system to kill competitors, boosting their chances of passing into the next generation.
The findings reveal the biology behind segregation distortion, a phenomenon in which genes sway inheritance in their favor to beat the standard 50/50 odds predicted by Mendelian genetics. The team observed the scheme in two Drosophila species, each carrying completely different selfish chromosomes, which suggests that multiple genetic systems may evolve independently to exploit the same Ovd pathway.
This is the first time that the same gene has been shown to be crucial for eliminating gametes by multiple independent selfish chromosomes. It indicates that evolutionarily distant selfish chromosomes may often converge on shared cellular processes."
Jackson Ridges, U biologist and lead author of the study
Scientists first discovered segregation distortion in the 1920s while studying the fruit fly Drosophila obscura. Since then, the phenomenon has been found across the animal kingdom, from nematodes to mammals, yet its underlying mechanisms have remained unknown.
While humans lack an exact genetic equivalent, a similar quality-control process may exist that uses different machinery. The findings could offer new insights into male infertility and the evolution of reproductive barriers between species.
"How selfish genes can cause sterility has been a long-standing mystery in field of speciation," said Nitin Phadnis, associate professor at the U and senior author of the study. "By going for a deep understanding of how Overdriveworks, we inadvertently opened up entirely new directions of research into understanding the mechanisms of cellular quality control systems, and how sterility emerges between young species."
The version of record of the study was published on Feb. 10, 2026, in the journal Nature Communications.
Nearly 20 years ago, then grad student Phadnis and mentor H. Allen Orr first identified Ovd as an element in male sterility and segregation distortion in hybrids between two Drosophila species. Their 2009 paper revealed that the gene could block competing sperm from forming. The findings led to widespread acceptance that segregation distorters can drive reproductive isolation between species. He explored other topics as a post doc, but Ovd never left his mind.
"A big question in evolutionary genetics is, 'What is the engine that drives genes to evolve such that organisms diverge into new species-internal genetic conflict or organismal adaptation? Our Overdrive discovery was the first clear, direct link between the two phenomena," Phadnis said. "When I started my own lab, it was time to pick it back up, but this time we wanted to get at how it actually works."
First, the researchers tackled whether Ovd was essential to sperm production. Jackson Ridges, doctoral student in the Phadnis lab, led the experiments.
"I wanted to look for a way that we can show this isn't just some weird selfish chromosome stuff going on. This is a genuine physiological phenomenon that we're investigating," Ridges said.
The group knocked out the Ovd gene in D. pseudoobscura and D. melanogaster to test two different, completely independent selfish chromosomes. Surprisingly, they observed no difference in male fertility, establishing that the gene isn't necessary for sperm production in either species.
"This got us thinking, 'What other genes work like this?'" Ridges said. The P53 gene's role in cancer came to mind. P53 works as a safeguard to stop runaway cell reproduction. Flies without P53 are fine unless there's a problem to genome integrity.
"Maybe Ovd's only role is to recognize damage and remove those cells. But if there's no damage, everything's fine without it," Ridges said. "It was the primary way we could connect all these findings that didn't make intuitive sense, at first."
To test their theory, they used a well-known temperature threshold beyond which fruit flies can't reproduce. At temperatures greater than 31º C, all male Drosophila go sterile, but no one knew why.
After exposing normal flies and flies without Ovd to a high-temperature bacterial incubator for one week, the normal fly stock was sterile while the males without Ovd produced progeny. Ovd was blocking sperm formation at the high temperature to prevent potential unhealthy sperm.
"That was the final nail in the coffin-Overdrive's normal function is acting as a blocker of bad gametes. When you remove the blocker, then the selfish behavior goes away," Phadnis said. "That doesn't mean Overdrive is the selfish gene-it's just being hijacked."
The team's next steps are to knock out Overdrive in different Drosophila species to assess how many other selfish chromosomes in different species operate through this system of hijacking the Overdrive checkpoint. They're also investigating if segregation distortion occurs in human lineages.
University of Utah
Ridges, J. T., et al. (2026). Selfish chromosomes exploit a germline checkpoint to eliminate competing gametes. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-68254-7. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-68254-7
Posted in: Cell Biology | Genomics
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Specialist resource centers (a form of 'Inclusion Base') within mainstream secondary schools may be linked to stronger academic progress, improved attendance, and a greater sense of belonging for autistic pupils, according to a new three-year study from the University of Surrey.
However, the research suggests that placement alone does not determine wellbeing. Instead, pupils' perceptions of teacher and peer support were the strongest and most consistent predictors of positive adjustment.
Researchers followed 119 autistic pupils, aged 11–14 years old, across seven mainstream secondary schools, comparing three types of provision: placement in a specialist resource center(SRC), mainstream placement in a school that hosted an SRC, and mainstream schools without an SRC. Outcomes were compared across psychological wellbeing, social inclusion, belonging, academic progress, attendance and exclusion.
For some autistic pupils, mainstream school environments can be overwhelming due to noise, sensory demands and social pressure. Specialist resource centers offer a quieter, more supportive space, with higher staff to student ratios helping pupils stay engaged in their education."
Dr. Anna Cook, Developmental Psychologist, University of Surrey
Researchers found that while autistic pupils in SRCs had similar levels of wellbeing to those in other types of schools, specialist resource centres did show potential advantages in key areas including higher academic attainment, stronger sense of school belonging, higher perceived teacher support and smaller attendance gaps (relative to whole-school averages) compared to national benchmarks for autistic pupils.
Interestingly supportive relationships were the strongest predictors of positive outcomes. Perceived peer support was most strongly associated with reduced internalising symptoms, fewer peer problems, greater happiness, stronger friendships and increased flourishing.
It was also found that teacher support was the strongest predictor of school belonging and was also associated with increased flourishing and fewer peer difficulties.
Dr Cook concluded:
"Debates around inclusive education often focus on whether autistic pupils should be educated in specialist or mainstream settings. The findings suggest that this may be the wrong question. Policy decisions focused solely on placement will always be incomplete. Specialist resource centres may offer advantages – particularly for belonging and academic equity – but what matters most is whether schools cultivate supportive relationships and autism-affirming environments.
"Improving outcomes for autistic pupils may depend less on where they are educated, and more on how well they are supported within that setting."
This study was published in the journal Autism.
University of Surrey
Cook, A., & Boddy, A. (2026). The impact of specialist resource centres on autistic pupils' experience of mainstream school. Autism. DOI: 10.1177/13623613261426099. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613261426099
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Cells behave like cities and organelles carry out infrastructural roles: Mitochondria are powerhouses, the endoplasmic reticulum serves as a transport hub and lysosomes help with waste disposal.
Communication between different parts of a cell is important for metabolism.
This inter-organelle communication can occur at sites where these parts are in contact with each other, known as membrane contact sites.
One of the most abundant interactions occurs at the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria contact sites, or ERMCS, and dysregulation leads to various diseases, including neurodegeneration, obesity, cancer and diabetes.
However, little is known about what drives ERMCS organization.
In a new study, University of Michigan researchers found that the FDA-approved drug fedratinib can lead to ERMCS formation, providing a potential therapeutic avenue.
Using human and mouse cell lines, the researchers screened a library of FDA-approved drugs to see which ones can influence ERMCS formation.
They found that the anti-cancer drug fedratinib could do so, and this increase was reversible when fedratinib was washed away from the cells.
The team found that fedratinib inhibits BRD4, a protein that controls how DNA is read by the cells in a process called transcription.
This inhibition activates a transcriptional pathway that induces ERMCS formation.
Over the past few decades, researchers have seen that cell organelles work in conjunction and they need to talk to each other to do that.
By identifying this signaling pathway, we can better understand how these contact sites are sustained."
Yatrik Shah, Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and member of the Rogel Cancer Center
Using electron microscopy, the researchers showed that fedratinib also caused novel structural changes in the ERMCS sites.
These changes were similar to what is seen when cells are infected with SARS-CoV-2 and in metastatic melanoma cells.
"We found 3D envelopment of the endoplasmic reticulum that formed around the mitochondria in our cell lines," said Drew Stark, a graduate student in the Shah and Lyssiotis labs and the first author of the paper.
"There were also different populations of mitochondria that differed in their degree of contact with the endoplasmic reticulum."
Approximately 30% of the mitochondria exhibited structural alterations, and the researchers believe that those with abundant contact sites are being used to support specific metabolic pathways.
The researchers are investigating whether the same effects are seen in mouse models.
They also aim to understand how these mitochondria are affecting metabolic processes and whether they have similar roles in other diseases.
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan
Chen, B., et al. (2026). BRD4-mediated ER membrane contact creates functionally distinct mitochondrial subtypes. Molecular Cell. DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2026.01.012. https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765(26)00032-8
Posted in: Medical Science News | Medical Research News | Histology & Microscopy
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First published in 2010, the EULAR recommendations for the management of RA, the most frequent inflammatory rheumatic disease, have been relied upon by healthcare professionals and organizations worldwide to offer an up-to-date and robust analysis of the effectiveness and practical use of available DMARDs – from conventional agents such as methotrexate to biologics and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. The recommendations were last reviewed in 2022 to include key safety factors. The current fifth update was again based on reviews of the most recent evidence regarding these therapies and provides the most up-to-date guidance. Although there have been no new drugs approved since the last version, deepened insights as well as important strategic developments have accumulated.
Researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients from around the world worked together to develop this new advice. Of note, there are now fewer recommendations – a total of 9, down from 11 in the 2022 version – with one previous recommendation being removed, and two merged. This is the smallest number of recommendations in the 15-year history of this guidance document, helping to further simplify the clinical approach – and, as previously, the insights have been condensed into a graphic algorithm.
The new work, published online on March 2026 on the website of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, includes five overarching principles and nine individual recommendations. The overarching principles state – as in earlier iterations – that rheumatologists are the specialists who should primarily care for people with RA. They also restate the aim for best care, which includes shared decision-making between the patient and the rheumatologist based on disease activity and safety as well as patient factors such as comorbidities or progression of structural damage. There are multiple drugs with different modes of action, and people may require multiple successive therapies throughout their life to control their disease. Finally, RA has a high individual, medical, and societal cost, all of which should be considered in its management.
The recommendations reiterate that DMARDs should be started as soon as the diagnosis of RA is made. They go on to consider treatment targets and monitoring frequency, as well as the specific role for methotrexate, glucocorticoids, biologics, and JAK inhibitors – the only group of targeted synthetic DMARDs approved for RA – including what to do if treatment targets are not achieved, or if a patient is in sustained remission. An important change in the current update is the omission of stratification according to risk factors for bad outcome once the initial treatment strategy has failed, since that failure is already such a risk factor. While the authors acknowledge the developing field around pre-RA, this has not yet matured to allow for a respective new recommendation.
In the last 15 years EULAR has provided the support to assemble one of the largest task forces in the field with experts from across the globe, allowing the development of recommendations for the management of RA that include important and highly valuably international input. Informed by thorough assessment of the most recent research activities, the new recommendations continue to be at the forefront of guidance for clinical practice and approaches to future scientific developments."
Josef Smolen – convenor of the task force, Editor-in-Chief of ARD and Professor emeritus at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Also of note, the previous recommendations advised that, after glucocorticoids had been discontinued and a patient was in sustained remission, DMARD dose reduction could be considered; the new formulation adds in a preference for DMARD continuation in this situation, although dose reduction may still be considered.
"A cure for RA is still rare, and for most patients stopping treatment altogether leads to the disease flaring, especially for patients on biologic or JAK inhibitor therapies" said Christopher Edwards – co-convenor of the task force, EULAR board member and Professor at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom. "While carefully reducing medication can be successful for some people, completely stopping treatment is generally not advised. The updated recommendations continue to highlight that treatment decisions should be made jointly by patients and clinicians, ensuring that care is tailored to each individual's needs and preferences."
EULAR hopes the updated and streamlined recommendations will support therapeutic decisions for people living with RA.
European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)
Smolen, J. S., et al. (2026). EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: 2025 update. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. DOI: 10.1016/j.ard.2026.01.023. https://ard.eular.org/article/S0003-4967(26)00075-0/fulltext
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The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) have published a joint statement on the use and interpretation of spirometry for the diagnosis of COPD.
480 million people live with COPD, and 3.7 million die each year. COPD is the third commonest cause of death globally. It also creates massive economic costs and a recent study estimated that the global economic burden from COPD will amount to $US40 trillion by 2050.
Many patients remain undiagnosed and spirometry is essential to confirm the diagnosis. However, for more than 30 years there has been an unproductive debate about how the results of spirometry should be interpreted to confirm the diagnosis in symptomatic patients.
The divergent recommendations about spirometry interpretation have confused primary and secondary care clinicians, as well as lung specialists, leading to the perception that spirometry is a difficult test to perform and interpret, and underuse of the test.
GOLD and GLI have now agreed how spirometry should be interpreted to confirm the diagnosis resolving the confusion. They also agree that performing spirometry is not difficult and more tests need to be done.
Working with GLI to agree how spirometry should be interpreted to confirm the diagnosis is an important step forward in addressing the huge levels of underdiagnosis of COPD globally. Both organisations are clear that more spirometry tests need to be performed and we hope that making its interpretation simple will help with this."
Professor David Halpin, member of the GOLD Board & Science Committee
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
Halpin, D. M. G., et al. (2026). Joint statement from GOLD/GLI regarding the use of spirometry to define airflow obstruction and diagnose COPD. European Respiratory Journal. DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02574-2025. https://publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/early/2026/02/26/1399300302574-2025
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New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London has found that excessive smartphone use is closely associated with disordered eating, including uncontrolled eating and emotional overeating, as well greater symptoms of food addiction in young people with no diagnosis of an eating disorder.
The research, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, established a significant and consistent association between Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) - whereby an individual becomes behaviorally or psychologically reliant on their smartphone - and eating disorder symptom severity. Researchers argue this highlights the need for early intervention strategies specific to excessive phone use for young people displaying eating disorder symptoms.
While there has been research conducted into the negative impact that problematic internet usage, exposure to social media, and harmful online content can have on body image and body dysphoria in both clinical and non-clinical populations, none have specifically examined PSU.
Researchers identified 35 studies in which to include in this systematic review. The studies were from across the globe and provided researchers with a sample size of 52,584 participants with an average age of 17.
Their analysis of the data found that higher daily smartphone use was also related to greater food addiction symptoms, broader disordered eating behaviours like uncontrolled eating or emotional overeating, and body dissatisfaction in people with no diagnosis of an eating disorder. The association was particularly strong in those who use their phones for more than seven hours a day.
Ben Carter, Professor of Medical Statistics at King's IoPPN and the study's senior author said, "Smartphones have become ubiquitous in our everyday lives. It is apparent from our study that, even for people without a diagnosis of an eating disorder, the overuse of a smartphone is associated with poor body satisfaction and altered eating behaviours, and is a potential source of distress"
Adolescence is a key stage of development as individuals evolve their sense of self by observing others. While smartphones might present an easy way for this to happen, being consistently exposed to idealised images can lead them to compare their own appearance with these "standards", leading to poor self-esteem and appearance dissatisfaction - both risk factors for the development of an eating disorder."
Dr. Johanna Keeler, a Visiting Lecturer at King's IoPPN and study's first author
King's College London
Keeler, J., et al. (2025). Problematic smartphone use and smartphone screen time are associated with eating disorder psychopathology in non-clinical samples: a systematic review. JMIR Mental Health. DOI: 10.2196/88572. https://mental.jmir.org/2026/1/e88572
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Despite injuries, Pulisic remains a key figure for Milan and Team USA, with season-end discussions set to determine his future.
Milan has paused contract extension talks with Christian Pulisic. According to reports from Daniele Longo, the club plans to meet with the U.S. international and his representatives at the end of the season to discuss what comes next and what works best for both sides.
Since joining the club in mid-2023, Pulisic has scored 42 goals and provided 25 assists, quickly establishing himself as a key starter.
This season has presented challenges for Pulisic, who has dealt with injuries that have interrupted his rhythm. In Milan's recent match against Inter, he played 84 minutes, showing he is gradually returning to form.
For Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. Men's National Team, having Pulisic at full strength is vital. His skill in breaking down defenses, creating scoring opportunities, and setting up teammates makes him the centerpiece of the Stars and Stripes attack.
With the 2026 World Cup coming to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, his influence will be crucial.
🚨🆕 #ACMilan AC Milan will resume contract talks with Christian Pulisic. ⏳ Talks paused until after season & World Cup.💰 Milan → believe he deserves a pay rise.📊 New contract could run until 2031. pic.twitter.com/8sI5CLQGV0
Even with setbacks, Pulisic's impact is clear. He is currently in a stretch of 10 Serie A games without a goal or assist, missing two matches due to injury. But before this run, despite a leg injury that sidelined him for five games, he contributed eight goals and two assists, proving his quality remains unquestioned.
Pulisic is under contract through June 2027, with Milan holding the option to add an extra year. The discussions at season's end will determine the best path forward for both the club and the player.
According to transfer expert Ekrem Konur, Milan are keen on offering Pulisic an extension until 2031, which would include a pay rise.
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Sandro Tonali remains a man in high demand across the European elite, and his representative, Giuseppe Riso, has suggested that the Newcastle star is exactly where he needs to be to facilitate a future move to the very top of the English game. Riso addressed reports linking the former AC Milan midfielder with heavyweights such as Arsenal and Manchester City, noting that the plan upon leaving Italy was always to elevate Tonali into the bracket of "stellar" global talents.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023, for an estimated fee of €70 million on a five-year contract, becoming the most expensive Italian player in history. Reflecting on this record-breaking transfer in an interview with Calcio e Finanza, Riso explained that Newcastle's immense financial backing and the allure of a higher-level league were the primary drivers. The deal was designed to transform Tonali into a global star. "The deal came about because a club like Newcastle... with unlimited financial resources had decided to invest in Sandro. We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league," Riso stated.
He believes this path has worked, as Tonali is now being linked with title contenders like Arsenal and Manchester City. A. "Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he went to England: to try to make him a star player. I think he's the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world," he said of the transfer rumours.
The conversation turned to the midfielder's 10-month ban in October 2023 for breaching Italian betting regulations, including wagers on AC Milan matches. Riso denied any prior knowledge of the issue, asserting: "No, absolutely not, also because otherwise we would have intervened." Despite the setback, Riso argued that the move to England was a "winning choice" because of how the club and fans supported him during the disqualification, helping him emerge as a changed person.
Riso highlighted the stark difference between the reception Tonali received in England versus Italy. He praised Newcastle fans for their unwavering support, noting that Tonali often received standing ovations despite being unable to play. "In England, the mentality is different... We're talking about a guy who made a mistake, the fans noticed, and he was forgiven. Now, Sandro has completely changed," he noted. For Riso, Tonali is a "champion, especially on a human level," who has shown his true potential by reacting correctly to immense difficulties.
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Looking ahead, the prospect of Tonali joining the Premier League's absolute elite remains a high possibility, especially with the World Cup on the horizon. Riso believes Tonali's value is among the highest for any Italian player globally. When asked if a stellar World Cup performance would lead to a move to Manchester City or Arsenal, Riso teased: "I don't know (laughs), but it's very likely. Everyone's waiting for the World Cup... everything starts after the World Cup."
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has praised Michael Carrick's performance as interim boss, boosting his hopes for the permanent role. Since replacing Ruben Amorim in January, Carrick has transformed United into the Premier League's most in-form side, securing 19 points from 24 to ignite Champions League hopes and climb into third place.
Speaking publicly for the first time about Carrick since his appointment, Ratcliffe told Sky Sports News: "He is doing an excellent job, yes, absolutely."
Under his guidance, United have accrued more points over the last eight matches than any other side in the division. The 44-year-old appears to have found the winning formula that eluded his predecessors, though the club remain cautious about making long-term commitments.
United's resurgence has led to calls for Carrick to be appointed full-time, but Ratcliffe was quick to shut down immediate confirmation. When asked if the interim boss would stay permanently, he simply said: "No, not going there."
Ratcliffe did, however, acknowledge the importance of European qualification, stating: "Clearly we are thinking about that [Champions League qualification], but there are still seven or eight games to go, so still a while yet."
The hesitation stems from a desire to get the next appointment right after previous failures. Ratcliffe gave Erik ten Hag a new contract in 2024 following United's FA Cup final victory over Manchester City- only to sack him months later. Similarly, Ruben Amorim was backed despite finishing 15th and losing a Europa League final. Ratcliffe had hoped to give the Portuguese coach three years, but he was sacked in January after just 14 months. INEOS is now keen to avoid another costly U-turn during this crucial transitional period.
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Should Carrick steer United into the Champions League, his case for staying will be undeniable. Supporters believe a manager who understands the club's inner workings is the key to ending the cycle of instability. While the board stays tight-lipped, the "excellent" rating suggests Carrick is leading the race. The coming weeks will determine if this temporary spark can evolve into a long-term solution at Old Trafford.
The key moments from the Inter v Atalanta match
Inter v Atalanta is a fixture for Matchday 29 of the Serie A season. Below are all the key moments analysed by Calciomercato.com.
INTER – ATALANTA Saturday 14 March, 3.00 pm
REFEREE: MANGANIELLO
ASSISTANTS: PASSERI – ROSSI L.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: COLLU
VAR: GARIGLIO
AVAR: CHIFFI
87' – More protests from Inter: Frattesi beats Scalvini to the ball, and Scalvini makes contact with him after he has already played the ball away; Manganiello waves play on.
83' - Inter protest over Krstovic's equaliser: Sulemana presses Dumfries, who goes down in the penalty area; Manganiello waves play on, and the Atalanta striker shoots, with Sommer unable to prevent the Montenegrin centre-forward's tap-in. Furious protests from Inter over the contact between Sulemana and Dumfries, with Chivu also sent off. VAR review confirms the on-field decision.
27' - Pio Esposito's goal stands: Atalanta appeal for a possible handball by Dumfries as the ball comes to a halt, but the Dutch winger touches the ball with his chest.
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FIFA rankings for all 48 World Cup teams: How are they calculated and when are they updated? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
FIFA rankings are a unique way to measure how national teams compare to each other and can prove important when it comes to tournaments like a World Cup.
Draws for such events are influenced by rankings, with the best teams separated from facing each other in the group stages.
This means nations with lower rankings are often drawn in tougher groups and have an even tougher task to win the overall tournament.
FIFA rankings aren't perfect and have come in for criticism in recent years, but they do provide a solid and reliable overview of a side's general consistency and how they'll likely fair come World Cup time.
MORE:2026 FIFA World Cup schedule, fixtures, bracket, and draw breakdown
As the 2026 World Cup nears, Spain are hoping to maintain their status as the world No.1. They have been in the top spot since September 2025 when they jumped up from No. 2 to take over from Argentina.
As it currently stands, the lowest-ranked team in the 2026 World Cup field is New Zealand, who stand at 85th in the world. That could change if the likes of Suriname or New Caledonia manage to shock at the Intercontinental Playoff and qualify for the tournament.
Italy (13th) are the highest ranked side not to have yet qualified, although they still may get through via the UEFA playoff.
Rank
Nation
Points
1
Spain
1877.18
2
Argentina
1873.33
3
France
1870
4
England
1834.12
5
Brazil
1760.46
6
Portugal
1760.38
7
Netherlands
1756.27
8
Morocco
1736.57
9
Belgium
1730.71
10
Germany
1724.15
11
Croatia
1716.88
12
Senegal
1706.83
14
Colombia
1701.3
15
United States
1681.88
16
Mexico
1675.75
17
Uruguay
1672.62
18
Switzerland
1654.69
19
Japan
1650.12
20
Iran
1617.02
22
South Korea
1599.45
23
Ecuador
1591.73
24
Austria
1585.51
27
Australia
1574.01
28
Algeria
1560.91
29
Canada
1559.15
31
Egypt
1556.71
32
Norway
1553.14
33
Panama
1539.47
37
Ivory Coast
1522.48
38
Scotland
1506.77
40
Paraguay
1501.5
47
Tunisia
1479.04
52
Uzbekistan
1462.03
56
Qatar
1454.96
60
South Africa
1432.76
61
Saudi Arabia
1429.48
64
Jordan
1388.93
67
Cape Verde
1370.49
72
Ghana
1351.09
81
Curacao
1302.7
83
Haiti
1294.49
85
New Zealand
1279.25
Only eight nations to date have been crowned world number one.
Germany were top when rankings were first introduced with Brazil eventually replacing them.
From there, Italy, France, Argentina, Spain, Netherlands, and Belgium have all also enjoyed stints as world number one.
France and Belgium became the first nations to share top spot when they did so briefly in late 2018.
Surprisingly, the team ranked number one going into the World Cup has never won the tournament.
Rankings have only been active since the 1994 World Cup, where Germany went in as leaders only to be replaced by eventual winners Brazil.
In 1998, Brazil were still number one but were beaten 3-0 by France in that year's World Cup final.
France were then top during the 2002 World Cup only for Brazil to bounce back and lift the title.
Brazil were world number one going into the 2006 and 2010 tournaments but Italy and Spain both triumphed on those occasions.
Spain were then top going into 2014 when Germany triumphed, who themselves were number one in 2018 when France took out the title.
This trend has continued in 2022 with top-ranked Brazil knocked out in the quarterfinals, with third-ranked Argentina triumphing at the end of the competition.
FIFA rankings have existed since 1992 and uses a points-scoring system to work out standings.
The method for calculating FIFA rankings was officially changed in August 2018.
This new system works by adding or subtracting points from a team's previous total based on results rather than using an average number of points earned over a certain period.
The number of points added or subtracted is influenced by the calibre of opponent a team faces. For example, beating a team ranked inside the top 10 will result in more points being gained than defeating a side ranked outside the top 20. The expected result of the game will also impact the number of points gained.
Specific games are given more weight too, so winning a World Cup match will result in more points than claiming victory in an international friendly.
Matches decided by penalty shootouts are a factor as well with losing teams given the same points as for a draw, while winners only get points equivalent to half a win.
Losing knockout round matches of final competitions also won't result in teams losing any points.
Here's a calculation example provided by FIFA:
Team A has 1300 points before the match and wins a continental qualifier against team B that has 1500 points
For team A the formula is: P=1300+25*(1–(1/(10 exp (-(1300–1500)/600) +1)))
For team B the formula is: P = 1500 + 25 * (0- (1 / (10 exp (-(1500-1300)/600) + 1)))
Thus, team A wins 17 points and has P = 1317 points after the match
Team B loses the same amount of points and thus ends up with 1483 points after the match
Getty Images
If the above example has you scratching your head, you're not alone. But understanding the points system a bit better should help with that.
The 'importance co-efficient' plays a big part in determining just how many ranking points a team can earn from each fixture and is as follows:
5 – friendlies played outside the International Match Calendar windows
10 – friendlies played within the International Match Calendar windows
15 – UEFA Nations League matches (group stage)
25 – UEFA Nations League matches (playoffs and finals), Confederations' final competitions qualifiers, FIFA World Cup qualifiers
35 – Confederations' final competitions matches (before quarter-finals)
40 – Confederations' final competitions matches (quarter-finals and later)
50 – FIFA World Cup matches (before quarter-finals)
60 – FIFA World Cup matches (quarter-finals, semi-finals, third place play-off and final)
The result of said match then combines with the expected result to determine what percentage of the above points are awarded.
FIFA rankings are updated after each recognised international window.
As such, they are generally revised several times a year depending on the FIFA calendar.
This year, rankings will only be updated a total of six times with the final revision of 2022 to be made on December 22 after the World Cup in Qatar has concluded.
Harry Kane has been forced to settle for a place on the bench for the second consecutive match. Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has opted to stick with Nicolas Jackson for the high-stakes Bundesliga showdown against Bayer Leverkusen.
The England captain finds himself in unfamiliar territory at the BayArena, starting among the substitutes for Saturday's pivotal clash. After battling a calf injury, the striker has been unable to displace the red-hot Jackson, who continues to lead the line for the Bavarian giants.
This marks the second game in a row that Kane has missed out on the starting XI, following a similar bench appearance in the Champions League midweek. Kompany's decision signals a cautious approach to his talisman's fitness, prioritising long-term availability over immediate involvement in the starting line-up.
Bayern's preparations for the trip to the BayArena have been hampered by a significant injury list, particularly in the goalkeeping department. With Manuel Neuer still sidelined due to a torn muscle fiber, and Jonas Urbig suffering from a concussion, veteran Sven Ulreich starts between the sticks.
The defensive line is also missing key components, as Alphonso Davies remains out with a hamstring strain and Hiroki Ito continues his recovery from a torn muscle. This has forced Kompany into a defensive reshuffle, starting Josip Stanisic and Konrad Laimer as full-backs alongside the central pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah.
The midfield engine room will be anchored by Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic, with Leon Goretzka once again among the substitutes. The inclusion of Lennart Karl in the attacking midfield role shows Kompany's continued faith in the club's youth prospects during this congested period of the domestic and European season.
Kane, meanwhile, is likely to be introduced to provide a second-half spark having been an unused substitute in Italy last time out.
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Bayern Munich currently top the Bundesliga table, 11 points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund. They are still in contention for a treble, with Die Roten also competing in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal. After this match, they will shift their focus to European competition, where they will face Atalanta in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie.
U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey is among dozens of lawmakers calling on FIFA to lower ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, citing a "financially exclusionary," dynamic pricing model that has placed matches out of reach for many fans.
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Reece James has penned a heartfelt open letter to Chelsea supporters, promising to bring more trophies to the club after signing a new long-term contract.
The Blues' skipper's new deal will see his stay at Stamford Bridge through 2032. It also brings his pay structure in line with the club's bonus-focused strategy, similar to that of his team-mates.
James has worn Chelsea blue since he was six years old, making his first-team debut in 2019. He has since gone on to lift the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, the Conference League and Club World Cup, the latter two while wearing the captain's armband.
But he is not stopping at that. In an open letter to Chelsea supporters, he wrote: “I remember watching us win the Champions League in 2012. What a night.
“Didier Drogba, my childhood idol, helping us become European champions. Then, nine years later, I got to live that experience in Porto. Another dream fulfilled.
“I felt the same pride last summer. Winning the Conference League, my first trophy as captain…what a feeling.
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“But we weren't done; it's that Chelsea mentality I was talking about. We go again. We push for more. And we became world champions.”
He continued: “Lifting that trophy in New York is something I'll never forget. It showed the world the best of Chelsea. It demonstrated what's in our DNA.
“Personally, I will be forever grateful for the support you've shown me, from that debut against Grimsby Town to the present day.
“You know it's not always been easy, and there have been challenges, but you stuck by me throughout. Hopefully, in the seasons to come, I can repay that further.”
Chelsea are still in the running for two titles this season. They will host Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals in April, and will look to overturn a three-goal deficit to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 second-leg next week.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, James said he had ensured his vision for Chelsea's future was aligned with the club's sporting directors before agreeing to extend his deal.
He reiterated that point in writing, adding: “My journey with Chelsea has lasted almost twenty years, but there is still so much more to come.
“I'm convinced of what we're building here under this ownership, the Sporting Directors, Coach, squad, and all the staff.
“We all want more success. We all want to lift more trophies. We all want to create more lasting memories.”
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The Swede has not played a single match this season: how is he doing and what does the future hold for him?
Amid Tottenham's disastrous season, with theclub facing the threat of relegation, there is one notable absentee: a player who has not been seen in action – Dejan Kulusevski. The former Juventus man has not taken to the pitch at all in the 2025/2026 season due to a serious knee injury and the subsequent operation. At 25, the Swede is going through the worst spell of his career; he hasn't played for 10 months and cannot help the Spurs avoid relegation to the Championship. But he is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Kulusevski recently posted a cryptic message on social media, hinting at his desire to return soon. To do so, he turned to the Bible and a verse from the prophet Isaiah: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint”, a sort of reminder in which he shows that he is still frustrated by the injury and the long spell on the sidelines, but also his certainty that he will soon be back to showcase his talent. Accompanying the post is also the song by his late fellow countryman, Avicii, “For a Better Day”. On his own social media channels, the Swede continues to post photos and videos showing him training, improving and trying to return as soon as possible to be available for his team.
As mentioned, the former Atalanta, Parma and Juventus player has not played for almost a year, since 11 May 2025, when he sustained an injury to his right kneecap against Crystal Palace. This was followed by surgery and a difficult rehabilitation process that has prevented him from returning to the pitch and has left it unclear when he will be able to do so. Spurs manager Igor Tudor himself was unable to give a definitive answer: “He's going through a difficult time; he's had major problems, but he's in good spirits. And so are the medical staff. So we'll see next week how things go. We hope he can play in the final stages of the season, but at the moment, we don't know,” said the Croatian.
The Swede's future is therefore uncertain. First of all, we need to see how he is doing, and then in which division the Londoners will be playing. Despite his long spell on the sidelines, Kulusevski still has many admirers across Europe and in Italy too, where several clubs are keeping tabs on his progress. In the likely shake-up of Tudor's current squad, his departure could well materialise in a few months' time. Signed from Tottenham for €30 million in 2020, Kulusevski has made 146 appearances for the Spurs, scoring 25 goals and providing 30 assists. He also won the Europa League, albeit having to watch the final and receive his medal on crutches.
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The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, in partnership with Pierce County and the City of Tacoma, is hosting fan events for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June and July, per a recent press release.
Festivities begin June 12 with a parade down Portland Avenue. The parade ends at the Puyallup Tribe of Indians' administration building (3001 Puyalupabsh St., Tacoma), where the tribal community will host traditional opening ceremonies “and share a Lushootseed traditional narrative to mark this historic moment,” the Tribe said in a news release Tuesday.
The event concludes with a fireworks display, visible from the front lawn of the administration building.
The Puyallup Tribe is hosting a fan zone on the administration campus during the six Seattle-based matches on June 15, June 19, June 24, June 26, July 1 and July 6, per the news release. Each day attendees can watch the World Cup live on large outdoor screens, shop from local artists and vendors, enjoy food trucks, cultural events and a kid's zone. There will be free guest parking at the Tacoma Dome and Link Light Rail Station, with complimentary shuttle service to and from the tribal campus, according to the release.
The Tribe also will host a World Cup Protocol event on June 18, in addition to a free World Cup Pow-Wow from June 19-21 and World Cup Stick Games tournament from June 26-28.
Residents can participate in World Cup viewing parties at tribal venues across the region, including the Emerald Queen Casino, Woven Seafood and Chophouse, Commencement Bay Cannabis on 72nd Street and Firecracker Alley.
During an interview Friday, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello told The News Tribune that Visit Tacoma-Pierce County will hide special scarves and glass art similar to Monkeyshines around Tacoma a couple days before the events (and throughout the events) to build excitement for the World Cup. Many of the glass pieces will have QR codes on the back, which residents can redeem for prizes during the June and July festivities, he said.
(Colin E. Braley | AP) Utah Royals forward Mini Tanaka (11) during an NWSL soccer match in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, March 29, 2025.
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The 2026 World Cup is around the corner, and Goldman Sachs shared some of the stock picks they see as poised to gain from the tournament.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 with a historic number of games across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Fans globally will be buying beer and gear, and people catching games in person will be spending on travel.
Goldman Sachs analysts' 2026 World Cup stock winners include beverage giants, athletic wear and retail players, and travel names.
Here are the firm's top stock picks that could see a boost from the soccer tournament.
Goldman's consumer staples analysts say beer companies will be among the largest beneficiaries of the World Cup.
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Historically, brewers based in the host countries see a pop in sales volumes.
They named Anheuser-Busch InBev, Constellation Brands, Molson Coors, Heineken, and Carlsberg as stocks the firm has a buy-rating on that could gain from the event.
The pop in alcohol sales isn't expected to be felt across all types. Beer volumes are expected to gain, while spirits sales aren't expected to change.
Consumer discretionary stocks, such as top athletic wear brands Adidas, Puma, and Nike, are also expected to benefit.
Adidas, which Goldman rates as neutral, is the best positioned, the analysts said, highlighting that the brand is an official tournament partner offering several marketing opportunities, including the official match ball.
Puma, a buy-rated stock from Goldman analysts, is also an anticipated winner, given the anticipated brand visibility from the company's recent efforts to amplify its soccer presence.
Nike is a buy for Goldman ahead of the World Cup. Analysts said it's well positioned to "capture disproportionate attention and share within global football."
Goldman has flagged two buy-rated retail stocks as top World Cup 2026 picks: Academy Sports and Outdoors and Dick's Sporting Goods.
Both sports retailers are expected to see a sales lift from the World Cup. Goldman projected a 1% to 2.3% and 0.7% to 1.8% bump to comparable sales, respectively.
The analysts noted that these estimates are focused on the tournament period itself, even though both retailers are already selling World Cup merch online and in store.
Hyatt Hotels, Marriott, and Hilton are the hotel stocks Goldman names as top picks ahead of the World Cup. The firm has buy ratings for all three stocks.
Beyond hotels, Goldman flagged Airbnb since the company has the largest share of alternative accommodation rentals in North American markets, though the firm has a neutral rating on the stock. The analysts also have a neutral rating on Booking.com and a buy rating on Expedia.
US airlines are also well positioned to gain from fans traveling, though ongoing oil-price spikes cloud the outlook.
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34s ago
Chelsea lost 5-2 in their Champions League last-16 first leg Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Chelsea have two of their most important games of the season over the next four days.
First, they face Newcastle United on Saturday night in a game that could have an immense impact on their push to finish in the Premier League's top five — which should, realistically, earn them a place in next season's Champions League based on the coefficients.
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They then take on Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Chelsea are 5-2 down after the first leg and would need to win by at least three goals — and then win a penalty shootout — to have any chance of progressing.
So, with the club fifth in the Premier League but battling other teams to keep that spot, should Chelsea focus on Newcastle? Or do they go for glory and try and overcome PSG?
Liam Rosenior has something of a selection dilemma on his hands — and not one that will be easy to resolve.
The Athletic consulted its Chelsea writers Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey and Cerys Jones for their thoughts on what the club should prioritise, what they would do, and their starting line-ups for both games. Their answers are below.
Liam Twomey: This was a closer call before a ball was kicked against PSG. Even in what many consider to be the loaded half of the Champions League knockout bracket, Chelsea's success in last summer's Club World Cup offered cause to hope that they could be a serious threat in this competition. But given the scoreline at Parc des Princes, the top five is the far more achievable target.
Simon Johnson: Top five. The damage has been done against PSG. Chelsea may be able to score three/four times against the holders, but you just can't see them being able to keep a clean sheet. There has been only one in the last 12 matches. Chelsea need the financial revenue and prestige of playing in the Champions League again next season.
Cerys Jones: Champions League qualification was always a key target this season, and there are only two ways to do so: as holders, or through the domestic league. After the late collapse in Paris, only the latter really feels viable.
Twomey: I don't think this is something that BlueCo would shout from the rooftops, but it is very clear that qualifying for next season's Champions League would do more to move the needle financially than a deep (but ultimately unsuccessful) run in this season's competition. Missing out would have a profound impact on Chelsea's bottom line, which has direct consequences for the decisions they make in this summer's transfer market.
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Johnson: I am sure they would have said both before the late collapse on Wednesday night. But Chelsea went into the season with a minimum target of qualifying for the Champions League again for good reason. Anything less would have to be considered a backward step in terms of how their plan is going on the pitch as well as their income.
Jones: Unless that extended run were to extend all the way to lifting the trophy, it would not match the commercial and financial impact — or the appeal to incoming signings — of qualifying for next season's edition through the league.
Johnson: Newcastle. I am going to sound like I am doing a good Rosenior impression by saying the next match is the most important, but in this case, it is true. Firstly, yes, they need the three points to maintain their place in the top five, and it will surely end Newcastle's hopes of catching them too. But the club have to lift the gloom from what happened in Paris as soon as possible to ensure it does not negatively impact the rest of the campaign.
Twomey: This may sound like a classic hedge, but I think Rosenior needs to pick his strongest available team for both matches. This is the serious time of the season when every game is too important to relegate, and players need to be prepared to play every three days. Chelsea also do not have the squad depth to rotate heavily between Newcastle and PSG without almost guaranteeing defeat in one or the other, and it is hard to imagine match-going supporters being too forgiving of a starting XI against PSG that has Liam Delap up front instead of Joao Pedro, for example.
Jones: Prioritising one does not mean writing off the other, but Newcastle should be the main focus. Lose that, and not only does it have major implications for Chelsea's league position, but it would also send them into an already near-impossible task against PSG low on confidence.
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Twomey: You can make an argument that Robert Sanchez should return in place of Filip Jorgensen, but that is a matter of selection rather than rotation. Rosenior maybe has scope to start Romeo Lavia or Andrey Santos over Reece James, and it would be nice to see Estevao involved if he is available. But this game is too important for Chelsea's top-five hopes to make any major trade-offs with PSG in mind.
Johnson: The best possible, although I would still make three changes to the line-up (see below). I would still start captain Reece James and Cole Palmer, even if that would make them a doubt for PSG three days later, given how their condition is closely monitored these days due to past injury issues. Robert Sanchez is not perfect, but he is better than Filip Jorgensen in goal. He needs a game to get his mojo back to be in a good frame of mind for the second leg. If Chelsea are to go into the latter with any belief they can turn it around, they will need to beat Newcastle first.
Jones: If there are lingering concerns about any players' ability to manage a three-game week, a few changes to avoid issues later down the line might be prudent — but Rosenior cannot afford to make trade-offs for any other reason. Part of the rationale for Chelsea rotating so heavily throughout the season was that it should leave the squad in the best condition possible for the run-in. Weeks like this are where that theory needs to stand up to scrutiny, which means the strongest fit line-up possible.
Twomey: Pick every regular starter still standing after Newcastle and go for the game from the outset. You can always take off any tired legs if PSG score first at Stamford Bridge or once it becomes clear that the tie is out of reach. But you need to put your best foot forward and exhaust every possibility.
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Johnson: Rosenior has to go for it. A tough Premier League game awaits at Everton the following weekend, but that still gives Chelsea four days to rest weary limbs and prepare tactically. An early goal will get the fans behind them and make PSG nervous. Chelsea did beat them 3-0 in the Club World Cup Final, and that would be enough to take it into extra time.
Jones: In the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal, Rosenior's approach was a defensive start to prevent an early goal that killed any hope before taking the handbrake off later. It did not pay off, and that was with a one-goal deficit to overturn, let alone three. It was also unpopular with the fans. The only option is to go full-throttle. I would argue that at 5-2 down, they have nothing to lose by doing so.
Twomey: Chelsea fans have been noticeably warmer towards Rosenior than they were towards Maresca, but I do think naming an obviously weakened team for either game would eliminate a lot of that goodwill. Even aside from the damaging optics of lowered standards in the post-Roman Abramovich era, supporters pay a lot of money for Stamford Bridge tickets, and the least they expect is to see a full and honest effort.
Johnson: No. After what transpired at the Parc des Princes, Rosenior can't afford to get picky over which match he wants to win. There are large sections of the fanbase that doubted whether he was the right man for the job after succeeding Enzo Maresca in January, and some of the good work to turn public opinion around since then has been undone. This generation of players may not be close to the standards set by the serial winners of the past, but the crowd still expect Chelsea to win every fixture they play.
Jones: If Rosenior makes too many changes against Newcastle and Chelsea drop points that end up being decisive in the race for Champions League qualification, he will be called naive. If he rests players for the second leg against PSG, he will be accused of giving up on the tie. Neither are acceptable to fans, and barring genuine fitness concerns, this is a stage of the season where players should be prepared for a three-game week.
Twomey: In light of the fact that Neto is banned for the next two games, Garnacho has to start here. As much as I believe Sanchez is a better goalkeeper than Jorgensen, I do think Rosenior needs to own that decision now, and switching again would further muddy the waters and erode his authority. Beyond that, James and Fofana are the two biggest injury risks from too many minutes, so I would rest them for Andrey Santos and Mamadou Sarr, respectively.
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Liam Twomey's team vs Newcastle: Jorgensen; Gusto; Chalobah, Sarr, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
Johnson: Aside than the goalkeeper position, I would swap the disappointing Wesley Fofana for Mamadou Sarr and bring in Alejandro Garnacho for Malo Gusto. That is more to do with having better balance in attack and defence on both flanks, where Newcastle are strong.
Simon Johnson's team vs Newcastle: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Sarr, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
Jones: From Rosenior's words about Jorgensen and the way he wants to play out from the back, I suspect he will stick rather than twist — that is probably for the best for now. Changing again would only shatter Jorgensen's confidence.
Ongoing caution around Reece James and Wesley Fofana, given their past issues, might be prudent, so I would replace them with Andrey Santos and Mamadou Sarr. In an ideal world, I would rest Cucurella, who has only recently returned from injury, but given Newcastle's pace on the wings, that feels risky. Rosenior can always ring the changes at half-time if the situation allows.
Cerys Jones's team vs Newcastle: Jorgensen; Gusto, Sarr, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
Twomey: The same core, with James and Fofana returning. Ideally, it would be Estevao starting in place of Neto, but assuming he is still not fit, this is Garnacho's moment to shine — even if I don't feel great about asking him to track Achraf Hakimi's surges forward.
Liam Twomey's team vs PSG: Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
Johnson: A very similar XI, with Fofana getting a chance to make amends.
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Simon Johnson's team vs PSG: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
Jones: I'm in agreement with Liam, though I would still start Garnacho if Estevao was fit — I trust Estevao's ability to make an impact in a short period off the bench more than I trust Garnacho to do the same.
Cerys Jones's team vs PSG: Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
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The pair of superstars are each a win away from their first 2026 encounter.ByTENNIS.comPublished Mar 13, 2026 copy_link
Published Mar 13, 2026
At the BNP Paribas Open, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz shined in different sessions during quarterfinal action in Indian Wells.The two are now one win away from dueling for the first time in 2026. Alcaraz notably beat the Italian in the semifinal stage of his 2023 and 2024 title runs here.On Thursday, Sinner stepped out first in cruising past Learner Tien on a hot afternoon. The world No. 1 later soaked up the sun for his match prep, before rolling over 2021 champion Cameron Norrie.PHOTOS:
The two are now one win away from dueling for the first time in 2026. Alcaraz notably beat the Italian in the semifinal stage of his 2023 and 2024 title runs here.On Thursday, Sinner stepped out first in cruising past Learner Tien on a hot afternoon. The world No. 1 later soaked up the sun for his match prep, before rolling over 2021 champion Cameron Norrie.PHOTOS:
On Thursday, Sinner stepped out first in cruising past Learner Tien on a hot afternoon. The world No. 1 later soaked up the sun for his match prep, before rolling over 2021 champion Cameron Norrie.PHOTOS:
Jannik heads back inside after signing autographs following his midday practice.© Matt Fitzgerald
© Matt Fitzgerald
After closing out Tien, Sinner looked at his box and broke into a massive smile.© Matt Fitzgerald
© Matt Fitzgerald
It was arguably brighter than the sun hitting the court.© Matt Fitzgerald
© Matt Fitzgerald
Sinner maintained that happy energy when visiting the Tennis Channel set for a chat with Prakash Amritraj.© Matt Fitzgerald
© Matt Fitzgerald
Alcaraz got his golden hour glow working during his solo practice session.© Matt Fitzgerald
© Matt Fitzgerald
After wrapping with some serves, the 22-year-old instructed brother/coach Alvaro to help hand out signed souvenirs.© Matt Fitzgerald
© Matt Fitzgerald
Alcaraz had his reasons to grin, too, after upping his perfect 2026 start to 16-0.© Matt Fitzgerald
© Matt Fitzgerald
Can Medvedev pick up his first win against Alcaraz since the 2023 US Open?BySteve TignorPublished Mar 13, 2026 copy_link
Published Mar 13, 2026
© AFP or licensors
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Alcaraz and Indian Wells aren't a good mix for Medvedev. They played two finals here, in 2022 and 2024, and the Russian went 0-4 in sets. The slow hard courts gave Alcaraz the time to tee off, and he happily took advantage of it.But hope springs eternal in Medvedev, for a couple of reasons.
But hope springs eternal in Medvedev, for a couple of reasons.
I feel like it's a good chance to try to show my best tennis against him. Daniil Medvedev
First, the conditions are more to his liking this year.“I feel like the court is a bit faster since the two times I have played him,” Medvedev says. “The balls are different. So I feel like it's a good chance to try to show my best tennis against him.”
“I feel like the court is a bit faster since the two times I have played him,” Medvedev says. “The balls are different. So I feel like it's a good chance to try to show my best tennis against him.”
Stream every match live and on demand on the Tennis Channel app.
Second, he's hungry again after a down season in 2025, and you can see it in his results. He already has two titles this season, and he's won his last eight matches. This week, he has defused a couple of big hitters in Jack Draper and Alex Michelsen.“I feel like I'm playing great, very good tennis,” Medvedev says. “I never want to jump into conclusions like best tennis of my life or whatever. I'm playing very good.”
“I feel like I'm playing great, very good tennis,” Medvedev says. “I never want to jump into conclusions like best tennis of my life or whatever. I'm playing very good.”
Alcaraz, it can probably go without saying by now, is also playing "very good." He has won all 16 matches he has played in 2026, and he has been up to a few challenges this week, from Arthur Rinderknech, Casper Ruud, and Cam Norrie.Medvedev will be highly motivated to make this a better match than their other two at Indian Wells. At that I think he'll succeed. Winner: Alcaraz
Medvedev will be highly motivated to make this a better match than their other two at Indian Wells. At that I think he'll succeed. Winner: Alcaraz
After losing four straight matches to Zverev, Sinner has won the last five.BySteve TignorPublished Mar 13, 2026 copy_link
Published Mar 13, 2026
© 2025 Shi Tang
Streaming Link: Coming soonStart Time: Coming soon
Start Time: Coming soon
If you're like me, when you think of Sinner vs. Zverev, the first match that comes to mind is their Australian Open final from last year. That day, the Italian straight-setted the German, and left him wondering if he even knew how to play tennis.The loss certainly stayed in Zverev's mind for a long time. Afterward, his confidence thoroughly punctured, he took a swan dive that lasted for most of 2025. Fourteen months later, though, he finally seems to be over it. Asked about the prospect of facing Sinner in this semifinal, Zverev focused on his better showings against him.“I think we had quite tight matches,” he said. “Even the last few were very tight. Of course it's a challenge, but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to.”
The loss certainly stayed in Zverev's mind for a long time. Afterward, his confidence thoroughly punctured, he took a swan dive that lasted for most of 2025. Fourteen months later, though, he finally seems to be over it. Asked about the prospect of facing Sinner in this semifinal, Zverev focused on his better showings against him.“I think we had quite tight matches,” he said. “Even the last few were very tight. Of course it's a challenge, but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to.”
“I think we had quite tight matches,” he said. “Even the last few were very tight. Of course it's a challenge, but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to.”
Stream every match live and on demand on the Tennis Channel app.
Zverev was likely thinking of the final they played in Vienna on an indoor hard court last fall. That one was indeed very close, and should give him confidence that he can at least compete against Sinner. Zverev won the first set 6-3, and stayed even with him all the way to 5-5 in the third set. It took an especially brilliant down-the line backhand from Sinner, which skidded off the sideline, to lift him to victory.
I think we had quite tight matches Even the last few were very tight. Of course it's a challenge, but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to. Alexander Zverev
This year, Zverev has continued his bounce-back. In Australia, he was just a few points from beating Carlos Alcaraz to make the final, and he has been his old solid self in his last two wins, over Francis Tiafoe and Arthur Fils, in Indian Wells. Zverev has been happy with his aggression level, an area where he never been able to match Sinner.“I think I played quicker today than the last couple of matches,” Zverev said after beating Fils. “I think I took the time away and the ability for him to be extremely aggressive. I took that away from him, and when I'm able to do that, I think it's quite helpful for me.”
“I think I played quicker today than the last couple of matches,” Zverev said after beating Fils. “I think I took the time away and the ability for him to be extremely aggressive. I took that away from him, and when I'm able to do that, I think it's quite helpful for me.”
Sinner has noticed.“I have to very careful,” he said of this semifinal. “I watch couple of matches. He's playing great tennis. So trying to, yeah, to bring the best possible tennis I can.”Sinner has won his last five meetings with Zverev, dating back to 2023. The difference usually comes down to the pace of his ground strokes. He and Zverev are both consistent baseliners, and both have excellent serves. But Sinner has an extra gear on both wings. The only guy to challenge him in Indian Wells so far has been Joao Fonseca, who also has that extra gear on his forehand. Without it, Zverev may have to hope for an off day from the No. 2 seed. Those don't come around all that often. Winner: Sinner
“I have to very careful,” he said of this semifinal. “I watch couple of matches. He's playing great tennis. So trying to, yeah, to bring the best possible tennis I can.”Sinner has won his last five meetings with Zverev, dating back to 2023. The difference usually comes down to the pace of his ground strokes. He and Zverev are both consistent baseliners, and both have excellent serves. But Sinner has an extra gear on both wings. The only guy to challenge him in Indian Wells so far has been Joao Fonseca, who also has that extra gear on his forehand. Without it, Zverev may have to hope for an off day from the No. 2 seed. Those don't come around all that often. Winner: Sinner
Sinner has won his last five meetings with Zverev, dating back to 2023. The difference usually comes down to the pace of his ground strokes. He and Zverev are both consistent baseliners, and both have excellent serves. But Sinner has an extra gear on both wings. The only guy to challenge him in Indian Wells so far has been Joao Fonseca, who also has that extra gear on his forehand. Without it, Zverev may have to hope for an off day from the No. 2 seed. Those don't come around all that often. Winner: Sinner
The world No. 1 looks to avenge January's Australian Open final defeat, her only loss in 2026 so far.ByTENNIS.comPublished Mar 14, 2026 copy_link
Published Mar 14, 2026
© Matt Fitzgerald
For the third time in four years, Aryna Sabalenka will play for the BNP Paribas Open crown.The world No. 1, this time, hopes to walk away with the “bigger” trophy after finishing runner-up in 2023 to Elena Rybakina and 12 months ago to Mirra Andreeva.When Prakash Amritraj asked her how she always works “to peak at these kind of stages” following her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Linda Noskova Friday, Sabalenka responded. “Maybe because I lost so many finals…”“Aryna you have won so many finals also!” interrupted Amritraj, who later informed the that her record in title matches was 22-19, better than the “50/50” summation Sabalenka noted.
The world No. 1, this time, hopes to walk away with the “bigger” trophy after finishing runner-up in 2023 to Elena Rybakina and 12 months ago to Mirra Andreeva.When Prakash Amritraj asked her how she always works “to peak at these kind of stages” following her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Linda Noskova Friday, Sabalenka responded. “Maybe because I lost so many finals…”“Aryna you have won so many finals also!” interrupted Amritraj, who later informed the that her record in title matches was 22-19, better than the “50/50” summation Sabalenka noted.
When Prakash Amritraj asked her how she always works “to peak at these kind of stages” following her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Linda Noskova Friday, Sabalenka responded. “Maybe because I lost so many finals…”“Aryna you have won so many finals also!” interrupted Amritraj, who later informed the that her record in title matches was 22-19, better than the “50/50” summation Sabalenka noted.
“Aryna you have won so many finals also!” interrupted Amritraj, who later informed the that her record in title matches was 22-19, better than the “50/50” summation Sabalenka noted.
Later in the pair's interview, the 27-year-old was tasked with selecting the winner of the second semifinal between Rybakina and Elina Svitolina. For Sabalenka, an opportunity for revenge was hard not to factor into her pick beyond the contrasting matchup of styles itself.Q. I'm sure TV, movies, it's all in your future. Give me your best analyst thoughts on this match?ARYNA SABALENKA: You mean my bet?Q. Maybe who you're leaning towards?ARYNA SABALENKA: This match, I give it 60 to 40 to Rybakina,” she stated. “The power that comes from the other side is not easy to handle. I'm leaning towards Rybakina. And I want that match!”
Q. I'm sure TV, movies, it's all in your future. Give me your best analyst thoughts on this match?ARYNA SABALENKA: You mean my bet?Q. Maybe who you're leaning towards?ARYNA SABALENKA: This match, I give it 60 to 40 to Rybakina,” she stated. “The power that comes from the other side is not easy to handle. I'm leaning towards Rybakina. And I want that match!”
ARYNA SABALENKA: You mean my bet?Q. Maybe who you're leaning towards?ARYNA SABALENKA: This match, I give it 60 to 40 to Rybakina,” she stated. “The power that comes from the other side is not easy to handle. I'm leaning towards Rybakina. And I want that match!”
Q. Maybe who you're leaning towards?ARYNA SABALENKA: This match, I give it 60 to 40 to Rybakina,” she stated. “The power that comes from the other side is not easy to handle. I'm leaning towards Rybakina. And I want that match!”
ARYNA SABALENKA: This match, I give it 60 to 40 to Rybakina,” she stated. “The power that comes from the other side is not easy to handle. I'm leaning towards Rybakina. And I want that match!”
The Kazakh prevailed over the four-time major winner to clinch her second Grand Slam trophy at January's Australian Open.Putting her analyst hat back on during her press conference, Sabalenka noted that the challenge of facing Rybakina is “all about the first few balls in every point. You know, if you dominate in those two points, I feel like most likely you're gonna win the point.“It's very aggressive, very fast tennis. Yeah, if it's her, I'm excited, actually.”Not too long after Sabalenka finished her media commitments, Rybakina closed out Svitolina with a 7-5, 6-4 scoreline. Sabalenka is yet to drop a set through five matches and her only defeat in 17 contests so far in 2026 was that 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat to one of her chief rivals at Melbourne Park.
Putting her analyst hat back on during her press conference, Sabalenka noted that the challenge of facing Rybakina is “all about the first few balls in every point. You know, if you dominate in those two points, I feel like most likely you're gonna win the point.“It's very aggressive, very fast tennis. Yeah, if it's her, I'm excited, actually.”Not too long after Sabalenka finished her media commitments, Rybakina closed out Svitolina with a 7-5, 6-4 scoreline. Sabalenka is yet to drop a set through five matches and her only defeat in 17 contests so far in 2026 was that 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat to one of her chief rivals at Melbourne Park.
“It's very aggressive, very fast tennis. Yeah, if it's her, I'm excited, actually.”Not too long after Sabalenka finished her media commitments, Rybakina closed out Svitolina with a 7-5, 6-4 scoreline. Sabalenka is yet to drop a set through five matches and her only defeat in 17 contests so far in 2026 was that 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat to one of her chief rivals at Melbourne Park.
Not too long after Sabalenka finished her media commitments, Rybakina closed out Svitolina with a 7-5, 6-4 scoreline. Sabalenka is yet to drop a set through five matches and her only defeat in 17 contests so far in 2026 was that 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat to one of her chief rivals at Melbourne Park.
Elena Rybakina will renew her rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells after defeating Elina Svitolina 7‑5, 6‑4 in 1 hour, 46 minutes Friday night. The win sends her into another final against the World No. 1, whom she beat in both the Australian Open final earlier this year and the 2023 Indian Wells championship match.
There are few words left to describe Elena Rybakina's run dating back to last fall's Asian swing. Since October, she has collected titles at the WTA Finals and the Australian Open, and on Friday night added another milestone by reaching her second Indian Wells final with a 7-5, 6-4 win over World No. 9 Elina Svitolina in 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Indian Wells: Scores | Draws | Order of play
It marked her 12th straight victory over Top 10 opponents, a streak that began last October in Ningbo -- where she also lifted the trophy. She'll now have a chance to push that number to 13 when she faces World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday's final. Rybakina trails Sabalenka 7-8 at the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz level but has won their last two meetings -- both in finals -- in Riyadh and Melbourne.
“We know each other's games very well,” Rybakina said in her post-match press conference. “It's going to be a difficult match where we both are going to try to serve well, that's for sure, put pressure, and…we will see what's going to happen.”
If her form against Svitolina, and throughout the week for that matter, is any indication, the 2023 BNP Paribas Open champion will have a strong chance to claim her second title in the desert later this weekend.
It wasn't the quickest of starts for Rybakina, who watched Svitolina hold with an ace and then break for 2-0 with a perfectly placed forehand into the corner. But in what quickly became a theme, the soon-to-be new World No. 2 didn't let adversity linger.
She responded with a backhand winner at the net, followed by a forehand winner -- one of many on the night -- to set up double break point. But she needed only one to get back on serve at 2-1. The two then traded holds to 5-all, capped by a Rybakina service game shaped by her crosscourt prowess and a finishing ace.
Then came the marathon game that set the tone for the rest of the match.
Rybakina let a pair of break points slip away in a five-deuce game but stayed composed and kept attacking. She continued to unload forehand winner after forehand winner to extend the game and create repeated chances to break Svitolina's serve.
Eventually, the persistence paid off. Rybakina broke for 6-5 and then struck two more forehand winners in the final game to serve out the set after 52 minutes. The forehand was firing, but so was the first serve. She won 90% (19 of 21) of her first-serve points in the opener.
The second set initially looked straightforward as Rybakina raced out to a 5-1 lead and held her first match point. But Svitolina showed her trademark resilience, saving it, holding for 5-2, and then fighting off another match point as Rybakina served for the match.
In a 10-minute game, Svitolina converted her fourth break point to close the gap to 5-3. After holding for 5-4, she forced Rybakina to serve for it again. The nerves showed -- notably on a backhand she pushed into the net with an open court -- but Rybakina steadied herself with a forehand winner down the line, another on the approach, and a backhand down the line to earn a third match point, 20 minutes after the first.
This time, she closed, putting away one last ball at the net to seal a hard-fought victory and improve her record against Svitolina to 4-3.
The Women's Single Final is SET 🔥🔥🔥See you on Sunday!!!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/z24CE1Y4vt
Since 2000, Rybakina is the fifth player to record 12 or more consecutive wins over WTA Top 10 opponents, joining Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Iga Swiatek.
Elena Rybakina will renew her rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells after defeating Elina Svitolina 7‑5, 6‑4 in 1 hour, 46 minutes Friday night. The win sends her into another final against the World No. 1, whom she beat in both the Australian Open final earlier this year and the 2023 Indian Wells championship match.
Under a punishing Caribbean sun in sweltering humidity, Alexander Blockx dug deep Friday to reach the semi-finals at the ATP Challenger 175 event in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic.
The reigning Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up rallied past Coleman Wong 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in a bruising two-hour, 30-minute battle that tested both players to their physical limits. Blockx, who played a three-hour marathon less than 24 hours before, celebrated his quarter-final victory by falling to the ground in relief.
“This morning when I woke up I was like, ‘It cannot possibly be any more difficult than yesterday', but I think this was one of my toughest matches I've ever played physically,” said the 20-year-old. “The first set I wasn't feeling well with the heat after playing three hours yesterday. The second set was so long, every point was so long. I just kept fighting.”
Blockx will NEVER back down 😱The Belgian prevails in a 2.5 hour epic 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 for a Cap Cana semi-final spot!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/tl8z7xYFZg
Blockx improved to 12-2 this season at ATP Challenger level. He won the Canberra Challenger in his first event of 2026 and reached the final in Lille, France last month. At No. 89 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, the Belgian is in good position to surpass his career-high No. 94.
Up next for the four-time Challenger champion is Argentine Mariano Navone, who beat second Valentin Royer 6-2, 7-6(5).
In other action at the Republica Dominicana Open - Copa Cap Cana, Australian Adam Walton upset Miomir Kecmanovic 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the last four. Mattia Bellucci downed fifth seed Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-2.
Briton Harris wins longest match in Phoenix Challenger history
Marathon matches were a theme at ATP Challenger level Friday. In addition to Blockx's hard-fought win, Briton Billy Harris survived a three-hour, 20-minute clash against Adrian Mannarino at the Arizona Tennis Classic.
3️⃣ hours and 2️⃣0️⃣ minutes 🤯Billy Harris takes an epic battle against No.3 seed Mannarino 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 to reach the @aztennisclassic semifinals!#ATPChallenger | @the_LTA pic.twitter.com/bnE1gwzn9r
In the longest match in tournament history, Harris escaped the third-seeded Frenchman 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 to reach the semi-finals in Phoenix, where he will next play Ethan Quinn. The American, who celebrated his 22nd birthday Thursday, beat Benjamin Bonzi 7-6(4), 7-6(7). Quinn trailed 0/5 in the second-set tie-break before winning seven of the next nine points to advance.
Top seed Corentin Moutet, No. 33 in the PIF ATP Rankings, overcame Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6(5), 6-4. The lefty awaits two-time champion Nuno Borges or American Marcos Giron in the semi-finals.
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The 22-year-old Spaniard surpasses his fellow legend after his quarterfinal win at Indian Wells on Thursday night.ByJohn BerkokPublished Mar 13, 2026 copy_link
Published Mar 13, 2026
© 2026 Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz continued his perfect start to the year at Indian Wells on Thursday night, beating Cam Norrie in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 event, 6-3, 6-4, to improve to 16-0 in 2026.He's now into the semifinals at Indian Wells for the fifth year in a row, just the third man in tournament history to achieve that incredible feat, after Rafael Nadal (2006-2013) and Novak Djokovic (2011-2016).But there's something even more incredible he did with his latest win—he now has a better career winning percentage than Roger Federer.
He's now into the semifinals at Indian Wells for the fifth year in a row, just the third man in tournament history to achieve that incredible feat, after Rafael Nadal (2006-2013) and Novak Djokovic (2011-2016).But there's something even more incredible he did with his latest win—he now has a better career winning percentage than Roger Federer.
But there's something even more incredible he did with his latest win—he now has a better career winning percentage than Roger Federer.
Clinical from @carlosalcaraz 🌵#tennisparadise pic.twitter.com/zTkeosWG0r
Alcaraz went into his quarterfinal match with a .8194 career winning percentage in tour-level matches (295-65) and improves to .8199 with the win (296-65), surpassing Federer's .8198 (1,251-275).With a minimum of 200 matches played, Alcaraz now has the fourth-best career winning percentage for a man in the Open Era.BEST MEN'S CAREER WINNING PERCENTAGES IN OPEN ERA (tour-level, minimum 200 matches played):.8327: Novak Djokovic [1,170-235].8259: Rafael Nadal [1,080-228].8238: Bjorn Borg [654-140].8199: Carlos Alcaraz [296-65].8198: Roger Federer [1,251-275].8182: Jimmy Connors [1,274-283].8168: John McEnroe [883-198].8153: Ivan Lendl [1,068-242].7978: Rod Laver [576-146].7905: Jannik Sinner [332-88]The 22-year-old Spaniard actually started 2026 at No. 8 on the above list, passing Lendl for No. 7 after the Australian Open, then McEnroe for No. 6 after Doha, Connors for No. 5 after his opening win at Indian Wells last week, and now Federer for No. 4 after his latest win.He can't move up the list any further during Indian Wells.
With a minimum of 200 matches played, Alcaraz now has the fourth-best career winning percentage for a man in the Open Era.BEST MEN'S CAREER WINNING PERCENTAGES IN OPEN ERA (tour-level, minimum 200 matches played):.8327: Novak Djokovic [1,170-235].8259: Rafael Nadal [1,080-228].8238: Bjorn Borg [654-140].8199: Carlos Alcaraz [296-65].8198: Roger Federer [1,251-275].8182: Jimmy Connors [1,274-283].8168: John McEnroe [883-198].8153: Ivan Lendl [1,068-242].7978: Rod Laver [576-146].7905: Jannik Sinner [332-88]The 22-year-old Spaniard actually started 2026 at No. 8 on the above list, passing Lendl for No. 7 after the Australian Open, then McEnroe for No. 6 after Doha, Connors for No. 5 after his opening win at Indian Wells last week, and now Federer for No. 4 after his latest win.He can't move up the list any further during Indian Wells.
BEST MEN'S CAREER WINNING PERCENTAGES IN OPEN ERA (tour-level, minimum 200 matches played):.8327: Novak Djokovic [1,170-235].8259: Rafael Nadal [1,080-228].8238: Bjorn Borg [654-140].8199: Carlos Alcaraz [296-65].8198: Roger Federer [1,251-275].8182: Jimmy Connors [1,274-283].8168: John McEnroe [883-198].8153: Ivan Lendl [1,068-242].7978: Rod Laver [576-146].7905: Jannik Sinner [332-88]The 22-year-old Spaniard actually started 2026 at No. 8 on the above list, passing Lendl for No. 7 after the Australian Open, then McEnroe for No. 6 after Doha, Connors for No. 5 after his opening win at Indian Wells last week, and now Federer for No. 4 after his latest win.He can't move up the list any further during Indian Wells.
The 22-year-old Spaniard actually started 2026 at No. 8 on the above list, passing Lendl for No. 7 after the Australian Open, then McEnroe for No. 6 after Doha, Connors for No. 5 after his opening win at Indian Wells last week, and now Federer for No. 4 after his latest win.He can't move up the list any further during Indian Wells.
He can't move up the list any further during Indian Wells.
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Alcaraz led Norrie in their head-to-head going into the match, 5-3, but had lost three of their last five encounters—including their most recent one at the last Masters 1000 event in Paris, last fall.But Alcaraz got his revenge against the 2021 Indian Wells champion this time, rolling through the first set in exactly half an hour and then bouncing back from an early 2-0 deficit to close it out in straight sets.Norrie provided some resistance at the end, fighting off two match points in his 3-5 service game and then another one when Alcaraz served for it at 5-4, but the Spaniard closed it out on his fourth.“It was really difficult to be honest,” he said in his on-court interview.“I mean, I struggle a lot with his style. Every time I play against him it's really tough for me. I'm trying to play my best, and it's always a little bit of a confusing style—that forehand's super top spin, making it super high, and then with the backhand really flat and really low.“But tonight I played well, I played solid, I played aggressive when I could do it. I'm happy to play this level, but Cam should be proud.”Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
But Alcaraz got his revenge against the 2021 Indian Wells champion this time, rolling through the first set in exactly half an hour and then bouncing back from an early 2-0 deficit to close it out in straight sets.Norrie provided some resistance at the end, fighting off two match points in his 3-5 service game and then another one when Alcaraz served for it at 5-4, but the Spaniard closed it out on his fourth.“It was really difficult to be honest,” he said in his on-court interview.“I mean, I struggle a lot with his style. Every time I play against him it's really tough for me. I'm trying to play my best, and it's always a little bit of a confusing style—that forehand's super top spin, making it super high, and then with the backhand really flat and really low.“But tonight I played well, I played solid, I played aggressive when I could do it. I'm happy to play this level, but Cam should be proud.”Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
Norrie provided some resistance at the end, fighting off two match points in his 3-5 service game and then another one when Alcaraz served for it at 5-4, but the Spaniard closed it out on his fourth.“It was really difficult to be honest,” he said in his on-court interview.“I mean, I struggle a lot with his style. Every time I play against him it's really tough for me. I'm trying to play my best, and it's always a little bit of a confusing style—that forehand's super top spin, making it super high, and then with the backhand really flat and really low.“But tonight I played well, I played solid, I played aggressive when I could do it. I'm happy to play this level, but Cam should be proud.”Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
“It was really difficult to be honest,” he said in his on-court interview.“I mean, I struggle a lot with his style. Every time I play against him it's really tough for me. I'm trying to play my best, and it's always a little bit of a confusing style—that forehand's super top spin, making it super high, and then with the backhand really flat and really low.“But tonight I played well, I played solid, I played aggressive when I could do it. I'm happy to play this level, but Cam should be proud.”Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
“I mean, I struggle a lot with his style. Every time I play against him it's really tough for me. I'm trying to play my best, and it's always a little bit of a confusing style—that forehand's super top spin, making it super high, and then with the backhand really flat and really low.“But tonight I played well, I played solid, I played aggressive when I could do it. I'm happy to play this level, but Cam should be proud.”Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
“But tonight I played well, I played solid, I played aggressive when I could do it. I'm happy to play this level, but Cam should be proud.”Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
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F1 Academy Highlights: 2026 Chinese GP Race One
Top 5 youngest pole sitters in Formula 1
Lando Norris placed fourth in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race, with team mate Oscar Piastri coming home sixth.
Lando Norris described fourth place as “the maximum” McLaren could achieve in Saturday's Sprint at the Shanghai International Circuit, even if the deficit to Mercedes and Ferrari “sucks”.
Norris qualified third for the 100-kilometre dash but lost out to the fast-starting Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at lights out, with the reigning World Champion gradually dropping away from the lead fight.
While Norris gained a position from Hamilton during the pit stop sequence under the late Safety Car, he was soon re-passed by his fellow Briton and ultimately had to settle for P4, ahead of penalised Mercedes man Kimi Antonelli.
Asked about Mercedes and Ferrari's pace post-race, and for his general feelings, Norris said with a wry smile: “Well, I don't feel great about that! It sucks to not be as quick as them. But I think we did the maximum today, we gave it a good try.
“It's just difficult to… especially when it's so cold as well, difficult to get the tyres working quickly, and the Ferrari could do that in a better way than we could, simply because they just have a little bit more grip at the minute.
“We know where we're decent, we know where we're lacking. It's difficult to improve that much on our weak areas at the minute, but we made some progress, and we'll keep trying to improve on it.
"But today was the best we could achieve, so I'm happy with that.”
Norris' team mate, Oscar Piastri, crossed the line a couple of spots back in sixth, having been told to return a position to the recovering Antonelli after an opportunistic pass out of the final corner at the Safety Car restart.
“He made a mistake at the last corner, and probably did a good job to keep it on the track to be honest,” explained Piastri. “It's a shame that… I just was opportunistic and you can't do anything with that.
“We just didn't have the pace. I think it was pretty clear that we didn't have the pace of Ferrari and Mercedes then, so I don't think it mattered too much – I think he would have come back past anyway. Clearly some work for us to do, so we'll try and make the car a bit quicker.”
Norris, Piastri and the rest of the field will be back in action for the main Qualifying hour later on Saturday – that session due to get under way at 1500 local time.
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F1 Academy Highlights: 2026 Chinese GP Race One
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George Russell was delighted to win the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver facing a close battle from Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton during the opening stages.
George Russell was delighted to win a “pretty fun” Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver admitting being “caught off guard” by his early battle against Lewis Hamilton for the lead.
Despite a good start from pole position, Russell lost out on P1 later in the lap when Hamilton made a lightning launch off the line to surge to the front from P4 on the grid. A close scrap followed in the next laps, before Russell eventually sealed the position.
The Briton went on to take victory, ahead of the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc in second and Hamilton in third. When asked afterwards about the dicey opening laps – which were much like his early duel with Leclerc last time out in Australia – Russell responded: “Again, yeah!
“I just spoke with Charles, we were like, ‘Actually, this is pretty fun in the end'! A lot of strategy at play and how you do the overtakes. It's not easy.
“I hope it was a fun race to watch – usually the Sprint races are pretty boring – and then I got everything under control, [then there was the] Safety Car, but really happy to win.”
Describing the difficulties that he faced from behind the wheel, Russell continued: “It's really windy at the moment. It's not easy because this first corner's so long and it only takes one lap of pushing too much and you can destroy your front left tyre, so it was just sort of managing, and especially when we were battling.
“And Lewis did an amazing job in the early laps – he caught me off guard – but [that's] 20 years' experience, so I've still got a little bit to learn there!”
Given the close fight that Ferrari again put up, Russell suggested that the Silver Arrows may have to up their game further for the remainder of the weekend.
“I hope we can bring more, but yesterday was a really great day,” the Briton said. “Ferrari again seem to be offset in Qualifying but really close to us in race pace, so ultimately we probably need to find a bit of improvement for the race.”
On the other side of the garage it was an eventful Sprint for Kimi Antonelli. After dropping backwards at the start from P2 on the grid, the Italian made contact with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar during the opening lap, later earning him a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision.
While he was able to climb back up the order, Antonelli served his penalty in the pits when the Safety Car was called following a stoppage on track for Audi's Nico Hulkenberg, resulting in a final position of P5.
“It was a crazy race on my side,” the 19-year-old said. “Obviously with the start we need to check what happened, what went wrong – probably I think it was something on my side.
"Then when I released the clutch, I had no power, no momentum, but I think it was something on my side with the procedure, so I need to check on that.
“And then the pace was decent to be fair. Obviously I came back into P2, but then the Safety Car came out and I had to serve the 10 seconds and then fell back again. Now we look forward to Qualifying.”
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They say every time Samara Weaving belts out her one-of-a-kind scream in a horror film, an angel gets its wings. Or, as would be more accurate for the genre, a devil gets its horns. This was true in “Ready or Not,” the darkly, devilishly fun 2019 horror romp where Weaving played Grace, a working-class woman who marries into a wealthy family desperately maintaining their iron grip on money and power via a deal with the mysterious Mr. Le Bail, who, as it turns out, is the literal embodiment of Satan.
However, putting aside the prince of darkness, the standout of the film was Weaving as she cemented her status as a memorable modern scream queen and joyously compelling action star. Her aforementioned scream, in particular, remains an all-timer, feeling like it is exorcising a deep, primal fear just as it rattles you in your seat. Much as Grace had to battle her way through a nightmarish game of hide and seek where she must survive being hunted by her murderous new “family” until sunrise, Weaving was able to fight against most of that film's prevailing limitations and come out on the other side in one piece. Even when everything then went to bloody pieces all around her, resulting in a wonderfully gruesome and explosive gag of an ending, she held it all together.
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One would think that another film that provided more of Weaving, her boundless charisma, sly humor, and shattering scream would be tough to fumble. Yet somehow “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” a surprisingly safe sequel that picks up right where its predecessor left off yet goes in disappointingly few new interesting directions of its own, manages to do plenty of fumbling. It's bigger and boasts a larger ensemble, including those played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, and, briefly, a delightful David Cronenberg, whom Weaving must again do battle with. Though just as the scope expands, the creativity shrinks, leaving Weaving having to do even more heavy lifting as the film merely feels like it's going through the motions we've all already seen done better the first time. It's got more moments of properly gruesome silliness, but little in the way of meaningful thematic bite, engaging action, or well-shot horror. While Weaving is sensational once more, managing to make the most of what little she has to work with through almost a sheer force of will, it's a film you'd rather just say “not” to, while sticking with the original.
Directed by the returning duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett from a screenplay by the also-returning Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, the film opens where “Ready or Not” closed with the great in-laws' kicker. This line, which could have easily felt like a hacky, womp womp comedy moment, was given life via the wearied and deadpan manner with which the blood-covered Weaving delivered it, ensuring that it wrapped back around to being genuinely inspired. Such inspiration is profoundly lacking here as “Ready or Not 2” immediately finds itself awkwardly building off of this by showing Grace then passing out following this joke and being taken to a hospital. With each shock of a defibrillator, we catch brief glimpses of memorable, more genuinely menacing highlights from the first film. This second one doesn't do itself any favors by reminding us of the strengths that made its predecessor such a hit, but there is at least something effectively streamlined about how it drops these reminders into the opening. Alas, we then arrive at a hospital where everything grinds to a halt, and we get an exposition dump on everything that happened before this anyway. The film keeps explaining itself to you over and over, though rarely do you actually feel anything like the jolt of energy the first had.
It's at the hospital where Grace is soon interrogated by a detective, who at first, looks almost like he's being played by Jemaine Clement (unfortunately, he isn't), reconnects with her estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), who she still had as her emergency contact, explains what it was that happened to her, and then gets roped back into the same cat-and-mouse game she just only barely survived. Only this time, it's not marriage that's on the table, but the High Seat of the Council (which basically provides control of the world) that four families are now trying to take for themselves. Whoever kills Grace and Faith will be the one sitting in the chair, though, again, if they survive til sunrise, all of the rival family members will explode into bloody pulp. We see plenty more of these explosions, but where the first film used them as an incredibly satisfying payoff, the sequel keeps going back again and again to the bloody well to diminishing results.
Much of this, save for a smattering of more darkly playful jokes, like one where we see how Cronenberg's bedridden patriarch can wield immediate power with a single phone call, or everything surrounding Elijah Wood's wacky little evil lawyer overseeing it all, proves oddly tiresome. Where “Ready or Not” pretty much got right down to the fun, “Ready or Not 2” does more stumbling about, punctuated with bloody explosions that don't quite hit as hard as they did the first time. That it treats the original film with a strange reference, including in one baffling scene where Grace dons her bloody wedding gown and yellow high-top shoes like she's a superhero suiting up for battle, just further strains credulity when it doesn't put in the same work to making a case for its own existence. Where “Ready or Not” felt genuinely fresh and fun in how it smashed together familiar genre elements, “Ready or Not 2” just rinses and repeats so much of it. It's not ever really scary or tense with the greatest fear you feel coming not from the film, but from its creators who seem to be averse to taking any real risks.
It's still often fun to see Weaving cook, especially in how she'll underplay key scenes for comedic effect, but most of the film gets lost in the woods of the massive resort Grace and Faith must navigate. It cycles through the increasingly tiresome patterns of the duo running, getting caught, engaging in stiffly staged and shot fight sequences, and then running again while some expositional details about their estrangement get awkwardly teased out. It's not boring per se, as there is always plenty that is happening, but it is fairly basic, often falling back on predictable contrivances to keep things moving. There are some betrayals, twists, and revelations, though the actual construction of the film leaves you largely uninvested in them when they arise. The cinematography feels flat and drab, with few interesting compositions that stick out in the mind.
This is a shame, as a resort, especially one with a golf course, is ripe for great cinema to be made using it as a backdrop. Such places are pristine and beautiful, though also frighteningly artificial, often masking a simmering violence. Unfortunately, there is so little in the way of visual panache to be found in “Ready or Not 2” in how it uncovers this. All it ends up betraying is the film's painful lack of anything resembling audaciousness in either its technical or thematic elements. There just isn't much of anything here to hold onto save for Weaving's performance. The addition of Newton doesn't add any noteworthy bits other than superficial sibling bickering and a forced sentimentality the film doesn't earn. Where the original thrived in its simplicity, most of the expansions this sequel makes feel like clutter and take away from the strong core character.
Weaving does get one moment towards the end where she's able to offer something a bit more layered with a choice nobody expected Grace to make, complicating what the entire film was all about. Alas, this comes far too late to leave much of an impression. Instead, it does another retread of the ending we already saw the first time. Blood goes everywhere, but there is no real heart behind it. For a horror film ostensibly about finding a way to play the game of life on your own terms and not by the cruel rules of the wealthy, it's disappointing how much “Ready or Not 2” delivers more of the same but worse. Even when it does bite down, there's no teeth to it. All you're left with is the echo of what was better before. You watch only able to wish Weaving was given more to work with than this, or, at the very least, greater room for her iconic scream to rattle you once more.
“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival. Searchlight Pictures releases the film on March 19.
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The actress talks Jessica's spoiler-filled arc and audience reactions: “I hope that people can enjoy my performance, even if they're frustrated or confused by the motive or the reveal.”
By
Lexi Carson
Associate Editor
[This story contains spoilers from Scream 7.]
The biggest question in every installment of the Scream franchise is always the same: Who is Ghostface?
In Scream 7, the answer is three killers — including Sidney Prescott's neighbor, Jessica Bowden, played by Anna Camp. The film also marks the return of franchise final girl Neve Campbell and sees original Scream writer Kevin Williamson step into the director's chair.
Before Jessica's late-film reveal, her screen time is fairly limited. But Camp tells The Hollywood Reporter the character almost had even less. “It was everything that you saw in the initial script, minus the scene with Gale on the front porch,” she says, adding that the creative team debated how much of Jessica to show so they wouldn't “shine too bright of a light” on Ghostface.
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Following the film's opening weekend success, Camp also addressed online backlash after posting that the “boycott didn't work,” referring to people protesting after Melissa Barrera was fired from the film over her social media posts about the Israel–Hamas war. Below, Camp clarifies what she meant — and why she felt it was important to apologize.
Read on as Camp discusses the film's biggest spoilers, Jessica's motive, her intense fight scene with Sidney — and what's she's heard about Scream 8.
***
I heard you say that Kevin Williamson told you upfront that he wanted you to play Ghostface. At that point, did you think you were going to be the only one or did you know that there would be two others in the film?
He told me during the Zoom meeting that there were a couple of Ghostfaces. I didn't know exactly how many, until I got to read the script. But I was aware that it wasn't just me and that I was working in cahoots with some others Ghostfaces.
Who else in the cast knew you were Ghostface?
Oh my gosh. I know obviously Neve did, because she's Neve Campbell, she's Sidney Prescott. (Laughs.) I'm not sure who else got to read the entire script. It could have been everybody, or it could have just been a limited amount, I don't know.
I've never been sent to an office in Beverly Hills and gone up in an elevator and then put into a room by myself with a watermark script, with the door closed, and then have them come in and take it away from me, immediately. I felt like I was in a espionage movie or something, classified information.
You mentioned creating some of Jesscia's backstory yourself — what details did you imagine about her life before the events of the film?
I definitely thought about who she was married to and what that relationship was like. She references that she was in an abusive relationship with her husband. Just having to put myself in someone's shoes and what it's like to be married to a narcissistic abuser, and what that can do to somebody who might already be vulnerable to feelings of depression or obsession, to get her to be in the psychiatric hospital. Those were the things that I really worked on. What it felt like to be in that relationship — and then what it means to transfer all of those feelings of love that she couldn't have in her own marriage onto this person that she had never met, Sidney Prescott, and how it became her outlet in a way, for her to have something to focus on. Certain people do that. They become incredibly obsessed. That's what happened to Jessica. Sidney became all of the things that she wished she could have from a healthy relationship. So that's where she put all of her energy and focus on getting Sidney to come back. And that's why she says, “I'm creating Sidney 2.0, I'm creating this new version,” because it's now become the thing that I'm addicted to, so I don't have to focus on my actual life.
In regards to her motive, what do you think Jessica truly wanted from Sidney?
I think what she really wanted for her was to be the best that she could be. I think Jessica and her own really messed up distorted view of the world, knew Sidney was this final girl, this ultimate, real, true badass and hero. And it was really getting under Jessica's skin that she wasn't accomplishing that. Jessica was like, I love this person so much, but I only really love them if they are at their peak selves, operating in this high functioning Ghostface, attacking final girl realm that she really was like, I'm going to do everything I can to get her back there, even if it means sacrificing my own life for my obsession. That's that's how I played it, and that's how I pictured it, and I hope that it came across.
Did Kevin give you specific guidance on how Jessica's motivation should come across?
She's completely unhinged in this moment, fierce and wild, animalistic. I remember him saying, “Do not hold back at all. I'll pull you back if I think you're going too far.” He truly gave me the freedom to leave it all out there that night when we were shooting that scene, and when a director gives you freedom like that, it just opens so many doors emotionally for an actor, because they feel like they have the freedom to try and fail and just be wacky and weird. That's kind of the director that I love working with. Shooting that scene is one of the highlights of my entire career that I've ever gotten to have.
Were there subtle clues you intentionally placed in your performance that viewers might notice on a rewatch?
There were some things. When I'm smacking Lucas [Asa Germann] in the beginning, and I'm just telling him to shut up. The smack was probably a little harder than a normal mom who didn't worry about what their son living or dying would do. Also, the scene in the coffee shop when I'm talking to her, I was as Jessica, I'm so happy to get private alone time with Sidney. That scene, I was just trying to really make it very easy and comfortable for her to talk to me because Jessica wanted all the time in the world that she could have with her. Even though that scene was very short in the film, as an actor, I'm trying to create a very safe, soothing, warm environment for the object of my obsession to share and be open with me, and to stay longer and perhaps get another coffee, like that's what I'm I'm planning on doing. So maybe you can see a little twinkle in my eye (Laughs.) if you go back and watch that scene.
Your fight scene with Neve was pretty intense. Obviously we know which parts aren't real, but how much of that did you actually perform Vs. a stunt double?
I had the best stunt double in the world. She absolutely killed it. When I'm getting choked on the ground by Neve, I'm getting choked. Obviously safely with a stunt coordinator there. When my face is getting red and my vein is popping out of my head. That's obviously me. There's the scene where she slams me up against the garage door and we're stabbing each other [with fake knives], and all of that is very real. Also, the final shots to my face, I did two takes of that, and I remember it was the second take, my neck really flipping back, and everybody rushing over to me and being like, “Oh my God, Anna, are you OK?” And I remember just saying, “Well, did it look OK?” They were like, “Yeah, it looks like you really got shot in the face.” And I thought, “Well, then you have to use that take, right?” And they're like, “Yeah, we got it. We're done. No more of that.”
Was there ever talk about having a fight scene with Courteney Cox's Gale and Ghostface? I believe this is the only film in the franchise where we don't see them interact.
Oh, I have no idea. But that would have been cool. I always love seeing Courteney Cox kick some butt with Ghostface. (Laughs.)
Yeah, at the same time, it was sad seeing how fragile she was based off of the brutal sequence from Scream VI.
Especially when they're talking in the newsroom, and then she has to go over and take the pills. They made it very real, and it tracked really beautifully. Your heart really goes out to Gale Weathers in those moments. Courteney gave a beautiful performance. Also, she's so funny in this movie, and her entrance is just one of the most iconic entrances of any character in any franchise I have ever seen. I remember when I read that in the script, my jaw was on the floor, and I went, “Yeah!” I cheered alone in a room while reading the script. (Laughs.)
Would you come back for a flashback scene? It's hard to imagine Scream 8 won't happen.
I know there's going to be a Scream 8. I've already heard people talking about it. I don't think Jessica is alive obviously. (Laughs.) She could have a twin out there, right? I love playing twins. But yeah, 100 percent. I'm just so honored that I got to be a part of the franchise at all. So of course.
So you've heard that Scream 8 is happening?
Just rumors, just rumors. I haven't heard from anyone specifically that I worked with, like Kevin or Neve but I've heard the rumors going around that there's a Scream 8.
Who all did your character kill? Was she the Ghostface who killed your son?
I think that I killed Mckenna Grace's character. If you're watching the movie and you see the Ghostfaces in action, a lot of the kills are strong. Like Ethan Embry and then the other actor playing the other Ghostface, they can lift people, they can do things. I'm not necessarily lifting people or doing these, but I do think that using the knife and slicing, is something my character could have accomplished. And I'm not sure if I killed my son or not, and so I don't know. I'm gonna leave that up to the audience to decide which Ghostface did the son killing.
You issued an apology for a statement that mentioned how the boycott didn't work. At the time of the tweet, what were you trying to express, and what would you like to clarify now, if anything?
I'm glad you asked this. I've always been such a supporter for people standing up and fighting for what they believe in, and it was really never my intention to discredit that. At the time, I was just very thankful for the fans that were going out and making Scream 7 such a success and buying tickets because the cast and crew worked so so, so hard on this film, and it was only my intention to thank the fans that were going to see the movie.
What made you decide it was important to apologize publicly?
My heart is very big. I am a very sensitive person. A very sensitive actor. And I just wanted to clarify that in no way was it my intention to minimize or belittle anyone. That's why I removed the post because when I posted it. That was never my intention to do anything like that, and I wanted to make sure that people knew that. I really meant no harm.
Some fans have said they were confused by the final reveal and wished they had seen more of Jessica before the unmasking. What have you taken away from the audience's reactions to that moment?
I've tried not to look at too much stuff because I worked so hard on that scene, and it was so important to me. I wanted the fans to be happy. What I felt when I read the script was, I just need a little more definition of my character in the beginning or the middle part of the film to help make that reveal pay off even more. And I did speak up for myself. So I did all I could do. Then, the producers can do with the movie what they will. So, I definitely fought for a little more, and I'm happy that I fought for it. At the end of the day, I'm very happy with what ended up on the screen. I hope that people can enjoy my performance, despite being possibly frustrated by their confusion on the motive or the reveal.
***
Scream 7 is now playing in movie theaters. Check out all of The Hollywood Reporter‘s coverage here, including interviews with Kevin Williamson, Michelle Randolph and Mckenna Grace.
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Razor blades and pointe shoes prove pretty lethal in Vicky Jewson's bloody and blistered ballet thriller, which finds a dysfunctional ballerina troupe fighting for survival after a run-in with a deadly Hungarian mob. Streaming on Prime Video later this month, “Pretty Lethal” couldn't have come at a better time, given all the drama and discourse surrounding Timothée Chalamet's controversial remarks on the cultural value of ballet and opera relative to mainstream art forms, which earned pointed responses from both worlds.
While the film, written by former ballerina Kate Freund, is far from a critique on the material decline of the live arts, it clearly gestures towards a shrewd observation Chalamet and his particular brand of sleaze might easily dismiss: the body, and therefore ballet, as a vessel of cinematic storytelling — a visceral physical language turning into an audiovisual one. For hardcore fans of the genre and ballet alike, it's basically a treasure trove, regardless of whether it cannot reference other ballets past “The Nutcracker,” regardless of whether all the hijinks miss a beat or stop short of depth.
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The five Los Angeles-based prima ballerinas — played by Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Avantika, Millicent Simmonds, and Iris Apatow — have been preparing all their lives to debut at the National Theatre in Budapest, which could change the course of their careers. Especially for those who aren't as lucky to have a head start in life, like the left-out Bones (Ziegler), who wouldn't be able to compete without the sponsorship of the mother of spoiled brat and bully Princess (Condor). “Ballet is a rich bitch sport,” as Bones puts it, perhaps the same point the “Marty Supreme” star is trying to make, albeit conceitedly.
After landing in Hungary, a day before the grand showcase, the group's bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Fretting over the dance of their lives, they have to steel themselves for something far worse. Opting to keep out of the forest, they take shelter in a dingy roadside inn run by Uma Thurman's Devora Kasimer, a fallen ballet prodigy, and her henchmen. It doesn't take long for the danger to make itself known, with the young women's mentor (Lydia Leonard) as the first casualty. As the ballerinas hatch a plan to come out of their predicament alive, bodies begin to drop dead.
“Pretty Lethal” is fundamentally a movement movie, featuring a C+C Music Factory needle drop early on — one that is deeply attuned to swapping men for women in the realm of action cinema. At times, the film is tolerably grotesque body horror or an acid trip movie filled with Bible verse reciting, as Avantika plays the moral, religious North Star; at others, it's an outright revenge tale, particularly as the sparse plot pivots to Devora, who is out to settle an old score with Michael Culkin's Lothar Marcovic, a cruel crime lord. A vindictive pursuit that ends rather predictably, as we scan the routine, but are never allowed to behold the dance in its full glory.
The “Kill Bill” star is exciting to watch, but not compelling enough to make up for the shortcomings of the uninspired script, which displays an annoying knack for stating the obvious via clichéd dialogue, that indeed the ballerinas have to band together to survive, paired with pretty lethargic pacing. Ziegler, meanwhile, is already fantastic as the only character with survival instinct, at least initially, at which point I thought it would tip “Pretty Lethal” into a final girl movie. It's hard to ask more of Ziegler, given she really doesn't have much to work with.
The camerawork is adequate, but never lifts the movie to a greater aesthetic delight. Close-ups on framed photographs depicting Devora's younger, more graceful self offer less a sense of history than ambient suspense. If anything, backstories here are neatly left to the imagination. Likewise, the dreary inn, through Zsuzsa Kismarty-Lechner and Charlotte Pearson's production design, is emblematic of Devora's faded dream — a space where “The Nutcracker” somehow never ends. The centerpiece is, of course, the melee/dance-off between the ensemble in white tutus and the violent thugs, toe blade and all. Choreographed to stunning and outrageous effect, this might just be the most death-dealing dress rehearsal you'll ever come across. That the goons didn't just instantly shoot at the ballerinas also makes it all the more silly.
Despite the contrivance, Jewson makes fascinating theater out of this, flipping the archetypal image of the ballerina, and therefore femininity, on its head and rendering it as a kind of weapon, forged by years of putting up with enormous pain, against a world beset by patriarchal violence. The quintet spins, stretches, and slits throats, combining grace and discipline in what one might call “ballet-fu,” perhaps a new genre to invest in. They cram their bodies into kitchen cabinets, as does a doll in a window box. They move as a single, cohesive unit. Yet, while most of that seems top-tier entertainment, where the actors are clearly having all the fun working together, testing out new stunts, all the bone-breaking can only keep you on the edge of your seat for so long.
Framing ballet as a source of high-octane action is incredibly inventive, but “Pretty Lethal” remains a standard suspense thriller, a work that is ultimately kneecapped by a writing that renders the deeper textures of the characters largely gestural, only meant to drive the proceedings onward with sheer force. The more it generates spectacle, the more you notice how the screenplay fails to keep in step. Glimpses into past lives, including that of Bones, are hardly given any attention past suggestive pathos or plainly stating them up top that before the final dance graces us to hammer home the film's feminist message, “Pretty Lethal” has already, totally, worn us down. No plié to absorb all the shock. In this way, Jewson's vision is quite fatal.
“Pretty Lethal” premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film and TV Festival. It streams on Prime Video globally on March 25.
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The documentary from Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen, premiering at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, features clandestinely shot mobile phone footage and shows "the power of art to keep hope and humanism alive."
By
Georg Szalai
Global Business Editor
In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where women are denied the right to study, work, or speak freely, a group of young women risk their lives to form a secret reading circle And inspired by Anne Frank's experiences in 1940s Amsterdam, they start to write their own diaries. For these women, a dystopia is reality. Now, they are sharing it with the world in The Secret Reading Club of Kabul, a documentary directed by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen and partially filmed by the women themselves.
The film, described as “an intimate … testimony to the power of art to keep hope and humanism alive,” world premieres on Monday, March 16, in the Nordic:DOX competition program of the 23rd edition of the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, CPH:DOX.
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“We experience with shocking clarity what is at stake when the Taliban storms a hidden school or arrests young girls for practicing martial arts,” the festival website highlights about the doc. The story is interwoven with insight into director Adil's own journey. As a girl, she grew up under the first Taliban regime, and after the fall of the Taliban, she became the first woman to appear on Afghan television. Notes the festival: “After being forced to flee her homeland twice, she has now dedicated her film to the new generation facing the same oppression she herself has endured.”
The Secret Reading Club of Kabul was produced by Marko Talli, Johanna Raita and Pauliina Piipponen. Cinematography was handled by Jarkko Virtanen, while the editor is Annukka Lilja. Yellow Film & TV is handling sales.
Adil and Hirvonen talked to THR about the journey to get the film made, the protections they put in place for the young women, and their hopes that The Secret Reading Club of Kabul will give Afghan women a chance to be heard and seen around the world.
How did you two first meet?Adil We met here in Finland when I was working on another project in Afghanistan with young people, which was funded by the Foreign Ministry of Finland. And Elina was working on the same project. I was producing this workshop, and she helped with content for it.
Hirvonen I'm also an author, so I was creating some writing exercises and things like that.
Adil I was in Kabul before the workshop, which was scheduled to take place in August. And there were these rumors of the Taliban taking over cities. I never thought that the Taliban taking over Kabul would ever become a reality again. Their time has passed, so much has been invested, and there is now a proper government, I thought.
Suddenly, I saw my phone was flooded with text messages and WhatsApp messages. It was all my colleagues and people I knew, especially women with whom I had worked, female journalists in Afghanistan. They were all in panic. The minute it was [clear] that the Taliban were all over the place, everybody was trying to get home as soon as possible. Of course, I was in shock. I didn't want to believe it.
When my niece came back from school, I saw she had been crying, so I asked her why. She said: “We had to say goodbye to our classmates because the headmaster said we cannot come back to school.” I was numb. I felt anxious because I had experienced the first period of Taliban, and [had that same experience]. I remember what they had done, and how I had felt.
Hirvonen I remember texting Shakiba asking, “Do you know how to get out?” And she had no idea. We knew that the Taliban was going door to door and killing people, especially if you'd been collaborating with foreigners. And we knew that Shakiba would be a target because of her work and her history as a journalist, the first woman on TV and a women's rights activist.
So we started calling all politicians, all ministries on our end. We finally managed to get her on a list, and she was evacuated.
How did you find the young women we get to follow in The Secret Reading Club of Kabul?
Adil I knew the main girl, who established the book club, and she wanted to be part of the film. And in the book club, there were many girls who were ready to take part, but we chose the ones who were more outspoken and had something to say.
What security measures did you use for filming to protect the young women and their identities beyond using names in the film that are not their real names?Hirvonen Security-wise, we had a security professional helping us, because it was our main priority to make sure that the film would not become [too much of a] risk for the girls. Of course, you can never be 100 percent sure, but we wanted to take every measure possible to not put them at risk.
Adil No matter how careful you are, risk still exists. But these girls wanted to be involved and knew the risk from the beginning.
How early did The Diary of a Young Girl, aka The Diary of Anne Frank, come into play during the filming?
Hirvonen It was there from the beginning. It was something that I remember Shakiba recommended to them as something that might resonate with them.
Adil Long ago, when I came to Finland, the book was given to me by a Finnish friend. As a young girl in Afghanistan, I had always wondered: “Does the world know what we are going through?” I thought that we were alone. I thought we were the only ones who experienced this and that nobody would understand. But when I read the book, I was surprised. I just felt Anne Frank, I really felt her. I just got the feeling someone else had experienced the same thing as me and knew how it feels to be inside your home, not able to do things that you want to do as a young girl.
So when I came back from Afghanistan, that book came to mind. I sent it to so many women in Afghanistan. I asked them to please read it. I tried to Google it and find a PDF or something. I said: “Please read this and write down whatever you feel.” And [one girl who] read it then decided to create the book club.
What I found so harrowing to see in your film, beyond the Taliban beatings and other violence, was how the terror they create affects the young women's identity. We hear one mentioning how she doesn't even want to be a woman anymore, doesn't want to live in Afghanistan anymore and how she is starting to doubt her religion, all because of the Taliban. Did this surprise you as well?
Hirvonen I was extremely moved by how open and how brave they were. I was incredibly moved by how they opened their world completely, on the outside, but also in terms of what happened to them on the inside. For me, it was more surprising how elegant their language was. All these talented women wanted to be in the film. They want to be heard, and they want to be seen. They want to be seen as the human beings they are, not as something that the Taliban tries to make them.
Sometimes, people's attitude about women in Afghanistan is that they are somehow different, that in their culture, it is somehow okay for them to be treated like that. But when these women show the whole world their inside and outside, you can relate because they're human beings, and they are not that different.
Adil I was also amazed by their braveness. There is a shot in the film where [one of the women] is walking between all these men. That was one of the first pieces of footage we received, and when I watched that, I was shaking. I was like: “How could you do that?” There is also a shot with a member of the Taliban with a gun standing next to her.
That's when I realized that they are not my generation. They are different. They have been educated. They know what their right is, and they are not scared to fight for it. They are not scared to face the Taliban. And their attitude is that they never give up. In the film, you see many times how their courses or classes are closed down by the Taliban, but they find another way to continue.
Hirvonen Also, they are supporting each other. They have this sisterhood attitude. And they are using art as a form of resistance. At least for these women, this is actually a concrete thing, filming and writing as a form of resistance. And after seeing this film, even the most pro-Taliban-minded people cannot agree with the Taliban.
What is your hope for The Secret Reading Club of Kabul?
Hirvonen Our hope is that the film can actually bring the international community together to pressure the Taliban, similar to how it happened with Apartheid in South Africa. We want the international community to come together and say that you cannot treat people like this. Basically, our hope is that the voices of Afghan women can not be ignored anymore. Our dream is that the film will bring the international community together to say that this needs to stop.
Adil There are grassroots women's movements in Afghanistan, even under the extreme restrictions of the Taliban. So, yes, our hope is to bring the international community together to pressure the Taliban and also to recognize [what they are doing] as a crime against humanity. We are looking to amplify the wise voices of these women to the world and bring Afghan women to the world's agenda. After all, human rights are universal.
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Nicole Kidman is paying an emotional tribute to her late mother.
The Oscar winner took to social media to celebrate what would have been her mother's 86th birthday. Kidman's mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, sadly passed away in September 2024 at the age of 84. On Sept. 7, Kidman announced in a statement read aloud by “Babygirl” director Halina Reijn at the Venice Film Festival that the actress had left the festival early due to her mother's passing.
Reijn read the statement aloud on Kidman's behalf during what would have been the star's acceptance speech for best actress for her role in “Babygirl.” Kidman wrote that she found out shortly after flying into Venice that her “beautiful, brave mother” had just passed.
“I'm in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her. She shaped me, she guided me and she made me. I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina,” Reijn continued, reading Kidman's statement. “The collision of life and art is heartbreaking, and my heart is broken.”
A couple of years later, as Kidman reflected on her mother's birthday in a March 2026 post, fellow celebrities and friends flooded the comments with messages of love and support.
“Remembering my Mumma on her birthday. Always in my heart Mumma 💕” wrote Kidman in the caption of her Instagram post that included an old photo of the actress smiling with her mother.
Fellow actress Reese Witherspoon commented, “Your angel mama🩷”
Witherspoon and Kidman were executive producers and lead actresses in the HBO series “Big Little Lies,” playing Madeline Mackenzie and Celeste Wright, respectively.
Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role as Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” wrote, “❤️❤️❤️”
“Special Ops: Lioness” actress Laysla De Oliveira commented, “🥹❤️”
“Holding you ❤️❤️” commented author Jen Pastiloff.
Tony-winning Broadway actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, best known for originating the role of Glinda in the musical “Wicked,” added, “Beautiful.”
Cheryl Strayed, writer and podcast host, wrote, “Thinking of you and sending love. 💕”
Following the passing of their mother, Kidman and her sister, Antonia Kidman, thanked fans in a joint Instagram post on Sept. 12, 2024, which featured old photos of their mother and family.
“My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,” the sisters wrote. “Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express. Thank you from our whole family for respecting our privacy as we take care of each other ❤️”
Janelle Ann Kidman worked as a nursing instructor for most of her life, according to Women's Weekly. She also edited her husband's books, and she was a member of the Women's Electoral Lobby.
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Ian Purnell looked to imbue his CPH:DOX-premiering debut feature about a remote corner of Alaska getting connected with a "sensual" quality: "We were often talking about what kind of animal something could be."
By
Georg Szalai
Global Business Editor
Imagine a remote corner of Alaska finally getting connected to the internet, and you can witness it! Interested? If so, are you wondering what this change will mean for the islanders? Filmmaker Ian Purnell has you covered on both fronts with his debut feature Arctic Link, a documentary of epic proportions in more ways than one.
The film world premieres on Monday, March 16 in the main competition program of CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, whose 23rd edition runs through March 22. Remember how we mentioned that the doc was epic? “In the Arctic Ocean, a colossal ship drifts along, while thousands of kilometers of fiber optic cable slide from the deck into the dark depths of the sea,” reads a synopsis.
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If you need more evidence of the project's scale, let's just mention that the filmmaker worked on it for about 10 years. The CPH:DOX website even highlights this about Arctic Link: “Everything is enormous – from the massive cables to the images and phenomenal sound design – but the human scale never disappears from view.”
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The looming digital change is juxtaposed by the ship's Filipino crew members drifting in isolation, with their cell phones the only connection to home, if they work.
“When I first discovered a map of the world's submarine cables, the internet suddenly took on a physical shape,” Purnell shares in a director's statement. “I felt a strong urge to trace these hidden routes – to see how the network disappears beneath the sea and to meet the people who build these connections. I wanted to understand this infrastructure that usually remains unseen, and I knew I could only approach it emotionally rather than purely technologically.”Produced by Franziska Sonder, Arctic Link features cinematography by Marie Zahir. The editor is Chris Wright, while sound and music come courtesy of Tobias Koch. Filmotor is handling sales.
Check out a trailer for Arctic Link here, which touches on the question of whether the internet will turn out to be a savior or a beast. It actually kicks off with a stat that may surprise you: 99 percent of internet traffic is going through submarine cables.
In a conversation about Arctic Link, Purnell shared with THR how he approached bringing the internet to life in visual and audio ways, the challenge and joy of the doc's scale, and what he wants to do next.
Was Arctic Link really a decade in the making? “I had the original idea more than 10 years ago, and quite early on, I researched where I could get on one of these ships,” Purnell recalls. “It turned out to be a very difficult exercise to build relationships with these companies and for them to have a reason to take me on.” Several slots for him to board ships were under discussion, but things kept coming up, such as a storm, a canceled cable project, and COVID. “So, gaining access required a huge amount of patience,” the director concludes, requiring him and cinematographer Zahir to stay “extremely flexible.”
Shooting in a remote area without internet also presented the challenge of building a rapport with locals. “It was very important just to be present there and make connections in the village,” Purnell tells THR. “It went quite quickly once we were there, but the preparation beforehand was very difficult.”
Purnell was impressed by the awareness of the Alaskan people he met about what changes the internet may bring. “It was a very wise perspective,” he says. “They weren't innocent. They knew what it was and would bring [with it], but they also could see it from an outside perspective a bit, which is hard when you are ridiculously immersed in it, like us.”
Purnell didn't even need to force the subject. “Once we got off the ship and came to the island, all these conversations just started to flow,” the director recalls. “Everyone had this awareness that this ship was bringing the internet. It is a different kind of awareness that a lot of us don't have, because you don't see this ship that brings you the internet in front of you. So, these conversations just happened organically. I didn't want to force my concept on them: ‘Now, talk about the internet!' So, I was glad that this was just a natural topic of discussion, because they saw it right in front of them, coming towards them.”
How did the creative team approach portraying the internet from an aesthetic point of view? “For me, it was really important to find a new visual connection to the internet,” Purnell shares. That means he wasn't happy to simply use images of servers and keyboards over and over. “I was really interested in creating this new imagery that even for me was surprising. In contrast, the ship was built in the '80s, before the World Wide Web existed, so we got this smell of oil and this steampunk aesthetic instead of high-tech imagery.”
His conversations with cinematographer Zahir took on elements of zoological discussions. “We really tried to make inanimate infrastructure feel alive by portraying the cable like a snake, for example,” Purnell explains. “We were often talking about what kind of animal something could be, such as a whale. How can we make this physical stuff feel more alive? These discussions helped us make technical things become or function as protagonists, creating a more emotional connection, or sensual connection, rather than just a rational, technical connection.”
All this was a key focus of the filmmaking process that appealed to him and fascinated him. “The challenge was to make a film about something that is invisible and create an imagery for it,” Purnell tells THR. “And the fact that it is invisible also creates different stories around it. Different people who have a connection to it have to use their own imagination, so that creates a multitude of stories.”
Given the epic scale of Arctic Link, you would think Purnell may want to go small next. Wrong! “I have already done some research around topics of astronomy, especially around black holes,” he shares. “What fascinates me is the image of a black hole, because it's something that is not possible to capture in an image. It's all at a very early stage. But whether it is the internet or astronomy, I'm really interested in all these signals and waves. So, with a film about outer space, I would be following a similar approach.”
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Elijah Wood, Shawn Hatosy and Kathryn Newton are also among the cast in an action-horror-comedy follow-up that picks up just minutes after the 2019 feature.
By
Angie Han
Television Critic
Pity the poor horror movie hero. Should they be fortunate enough to survive their unimaginably horrific ordeal with enough ingenuity and panache, odds are good the movie gods will only force them to endure it all over again, at higher intensity and to lower acclaim.
And so it is that Grace (Samara Weaving), who ended 2019's Ready or Not the sole survivor of the wedding night from hell, barely gets a puff of her cigarette before she finds herself the unwilling participant of another most dangerous game. But though Ready or Not 2: Here I Come doubles down on everything that made the original work, the returns are diminishing. It's a good enough time, but a downgrade from the last time.
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Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
The Bottom Line
Less fun, but not no fun.
Venue: SXSW Film Festival (Headliner)Release date: Friday, March 20Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, Néstor Carbonell, David CronenbergDirectors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettScreenwriters: Guy Busick, R. Christopher Murphy
Rated R,
1 hour 48 minutes
Much of the pleasure of Ready or Not lay in its simplicity: It was no more and no less than an ultra-violent rendition of hide and seek, backed up by some pretty straightforward “deal with the devil” lore. What kicked it up to the next level was Weaving's singular performance as a final girl, punctuated by shrieks so blood-curdling they sounded downright operatic, and some nice bits of character comedy in the margins, as most of the new in-laws hunting her proved to be not only evil but hilariously stupid.
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Here I Come, which reunites directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, offers more of everything. Where Grace was the sole target in Ready or Not, she's joined this time by her similarly scrappy, similarly blond, similarly thematically named sister Faith (Kathryn Newton). Where the Le Domases had seemed a singularly devilish family, this film reveals they were just one of six ultra-wealthy Satan-worshipping clans scattered across the globe, and not even the most influential one.
That honor goes to the casino-owning Danforths, whose patriarch (David Cronenberg, in a brief but amusing cameo) wields enough power to call off entire wars with a single phone call. (At a time when it's become horrifyingly clear how easy it is for one asshole billionaire to start a war, the idea that another could end it just as offhandedly is maybe the most plausible part of the whole movie.) But with the Le Domas lineage annihilated, the high seat of the council of Mr. Le Bail (a.k.a. Satan) is now up for grabs. The remaining families gather at the Danforths' sprawling Connecticut estate to determine which one will be the first to kill Grace, and therefore to secure the throne.
The element of surprise has mostly worn off, even if Grace tells Faith that one never really gets used to people spontaneously combusting right in front of you. But the appeal is only somewhat worse for wear. Here I Come still may not have much to say about class struggle beyond “the 0.00000001% sure do suck,” but it's still fun to watch them flail ineptly with their retrograde weapons, whine about their unrelatable problems (“At least sanitize it first,” one complains when he's handed a sharp pen to sign his name in blood), or get killed off in inventively gruesome ways.
Weaving remains a ferociously magnetic lead, even if she gets less screaming to do this time. And if the character's Chucks-and-bloodstained-gown look felt like a revelation in the first film, here it might as well be Peter Parker putting on his Spider-Man suit for the way the crowd at my SXSW premiere screening cheered.
Then there are the new additions to enjoy. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt) share a believable toxic sibling energy as the Danforth twins, Ursula and Titus, who've been training their whole lives for just this occasion. Francesca (Maia Jae), the daughter of a Spanish TV host (Néstor Carbonell), introduces personal vengeance into the mix as the jilted fiancée of Grace's own late husband. And a viewing room where heirs are allowed to watch the game becomes the film's comic highlight, with lesser siblings and children going from boisterously trash-talking one another to quaking in their boots as the possibility of losing the game, and thus dying out completely as a bloodline, becomes horrifyingly real.
But with new pleasures come new perils. One is the expansion of the lore, which grows so convoluted it necessitates the introduction of a whole new character to explain and re-explain the rules. While Elijah Wood, who as just recently seen in Yellowjackets and I Love LA excels at playing weird little guys, is ideally cast as Mr. Le Bail's unflappable lawyer, he's not a character so much as an exposition machine.
The other is the pressure to raise the stakes on a story that had seemed intense enough already. Through no fault of Newton's, Faith functions less as a second protagonist than a prop to give Grace more emotional investment in the proceedings by saddling her with guilt over their estrangement or opportunities to nobly sacrifice herself. Meanwhile, in attempting to give Grace an even bigger, badder, darker villain to face this time, the film overshoots its mark, raising the specter of domestic violence in ways that feel just slightly too plausible to fit with the film's otherwise cartoonish gore.
Here I Come still comes out ahead, in the end, delivering enough of the good stuff to keep a fan yelping and laughing and cheering throughout. But should its creators be eyeing a third gamble on this universe, it may be time for them to do what so many of the Danforths' casinogoers surely wish they had: ponder the wisdom of quitting while they're ahead.
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Queen Camilla privately told a friend that Meghan Markle had “brainwashed” Prince Harry amid the royal family's feud, according to a bombshell new book.
Author Tom Bower claimed the remark came as relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal clan hit boiling point shortly after their lavish nuptials at St George's Chapel in 2018.
The glamorous wedding in Windsor was followed by a Mediterranean honeymoon, but behind palace walls, the honeymoon period was already over.
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According to Bower, whose new book is serialized in The Times, things turned ugly soon after the newlyweds returned to Britain.
A tense showdown between Harry and his older brother Prince William reportedly spiraled out of control, with Markle snapping at her brother-in-law during the confrontation.
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“If you don't mind, get your finger out of my face,” the “Suits” actress allegedly shot back at William during the explosive exchange, according to Bower.
Queen Camilla then allegedly vented to a friend with a blunt verdict: Markle had “brainwashed” Harry.
William reportedly already warned his younger brother that the whirlwind romance was moving too fast, Bower reported, citing sources.
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“It's gone too quickly,” he reportedly told Harry about his relationship with Markle.
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, allegedly shared the same concerns, believing Harry might be vulnerable to Markle's influence.
Bower also claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex felt lingering resentment about their place in the royal pecking order — forever destined to be “spares” rather than heirs.
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A spokesperson for Harry has since fired back at Bower's book as a ‘deranged conspiracy.”
“Mr. Bower's commentary has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation,” a spokesperson said.
“Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”
The simmering tensions ultimately led to the Sussexes' dramatic royal exit.
In 2020, Harry and Markle stepped down as senior working royals and left the UK, launching what critics called an all-out media offensive against the monarchy.
From their explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey to Harry's tell-all memoir “Spare” in 2023, the couple repeatedly aired grievances about palace life.
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The duke also stunned viewers with a headline-grabbing interview with the BBC that included more thinly veiled swipes at the royal family.
But there may finally be light at the end of the palace tunnel.
Harry could extend an olive branch by inviting his father, King Charles, to open the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, according to The Sun.
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The father and son have had only two brief meetings in recent years, but the invite could see them standing side-by-side on stage as Harry fulfills a longtime dream of having the King launch the event.
Meanwhile, Markle is dealing with fresh headaches of her own.
Last week, Page Six exclusively revealed that Netflix ended its partnership with her lifestyle brand As Ever.
An industry insider told Page Six the collaboration no longer made sense after her planned series “With Love, Markle” failed to move forward.
By Glenn Garner
Associate Editor
While many action films before have featured strong leading women, director Vicky Jewson takes on the genre through a darkly comedic, emotionally wrought female lens in Pretty Lethal, which premiered tonight at SXSW.
In the Kate Freund-penned film, five young ballerinas and their coach head to a showcase in Budapest, only to get stranded in a remote area hundreds of miles from the city when their bus breaks down.
Taking refuge at a nearby inn, the group is welcomed by the establishment's owner Devora (Uma Thurman), a former ballerina herself who had to give up on her dreams when a leg injury abruptly halted her career at a young age.
When one of their own is killed by Pasha (Tamás Szabó Sipos), the dancers must overcome their differences and work together to get out alive.
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With Thurman leaving no crumbs in her performance as the revenge-seeking matriarch of criminals, she is complimented by a talented ensemble of young actresses.
As Bones, Maddie Ziegler plays a talented dancer whose tough attitude conflicts with the “rich bitch sport” of ballet. Lana Condor is an entertaining nemesis as Princess, an entitled “rich bitch” who wants Bones' solo. While their insulting jabs at each other make for good laughs, their arc as teammates learning to work together is what gives the film its heart.
Likewise, Iris Apatow and Millicent Simmonds display a complex bond as sisters Zoe and Chloe, respectively. Being that Chloe is deaf, she often has to depend on Zoe to give her dance cues and interpret for her. While that dependence puts them at odds early on, they eventually find their groove while taking on a mansion full of criminal henchmen.
Meanwhile, Avantika is the comedic standout as Bible-thumper Grace, who has no trouble taking down full grown men while tripping on drugs throughout much of the film, providing endless levity to the most dire of scenarios.
In Pretty Lethal, Jewson manages to walk that line of gritty dark action, a la John Wick and Tarantino's entire toxically masculine oeuvre, balanced with unapologetic laughs and an emotionally satisfying story of sisterhood. It's proof positive that the boys club of Hollywood's go-to action directors is long overdue for a shakeup.
Title: Pretty LethalFestival: SXSW (Headliner)Distributor: Amazon MGM StudiosRelease date: March 25, 2026Director: Vicky JewsonScreenwriter: Kate FreundCast: Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, Maddie Ziegler, Uma ThurmanRunning time: 1 hr 28 mins
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Sounds cool, but.. I thought nobody cared about ballet?
😉
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By Armando Tinoco
Staff Writer
Boy George has a little bit of advice for Chappell Roan after the “Pink Pony Club” singer went viral for confronting a group of photographers.
A video of the singer was widely circulated on social media this week, in which she asked photographers to leave her alone and to “stop following me” and “harassing me.”
Taking to social media, Boy George wrote, “It's probably not helpful but I have been doing this fame thing for a while and you learn slowly and painfully that you don't get a free pass once you turn yourself into a bird of paradise.”
“I watched @ChappellRoan filming the paps in Paris and I laughed because I have kicked off at them many times,” Boy George added. “The trick is to own your fame. yes, it's annoying at times but so is being ignored and told [you're] a ‘has-been. Life is always now and I think Chappell looks great but cheer up girl. The world is at your feet stop kicking it! It takes so much more time to say no to a picture or a signature. Boundaries are boring. Break them with the magic of kindness!”
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It's probably not helpful but I have been doing this fame thing for a while and you learn slowly and painfully that you don't get a free pass once you turn yourself into a bird of paradise. I watched @ChappellRoan filming the paps in Paris and I laughed because I have kicked off…
This is not the first time Chappell Roan sets her boundaries with photographers. While on the red carpet for Netflix‘s Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour concert documentary, the singer walked up to a photographer and demanded an apology.
“You were so disrespectful to me at the Grammys. You yelled at me at the Grammy party. I remember, you were so rude to me. And I deserve an apology for that,” said Roan in the clip. “You need to apologize to me.”
At the MTV Video Music Awards, Roan scolded a photographer on the red carpet who could be heard shouting “shut the f— up.”
Chappell Roan has previously opened up on social media about her need to “draw lines and set boundaries” after encountering “predatory behavior disguised as ‘superfan' behavior” from some of her “creepy” followers.
“I've been in too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions, and I just need to lay it out and remind you, women don't owe you s—,” she explained on Instagram. “I chose this career path because I love music and art and honoring my inner child. I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.”
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I don't know why it always feels like she has an axe to grind — considering she's had a pretty charmed career thus far.
For someone who doesn't want attention she sure chose a weird profession.
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Kate Hudson has been named the recipient of this year's Razzie Redeemer Award for her performance in 'Song Sung Blue.'
By
Kimberly Nordyke
Managing Editor, Digital
The Ice Cube starrer War of the Worlds has been named the worst picture of 2025 by voters of the 46th Razzie Awards.
The movie “won” five of the six categories in which it was nominated, including worst actor (Ice Cube); worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel; worst director (Rich Lee); and worst screenplay (Kenny Golde, Marc Hyman).
The movie became “a cult hate-watch classic almost immediately,” the Razzies said. “War of the Worlds (the 2025 version) has been cemented in Razzie history as a near sweeper of our $4.97 trophy winner.”
Organizers went on to say: “Utterly destroying H.G. Wells' classic novel, director Rich Lee (maybe inspired by Ed Wood) chose a goofy gimmick, hack dialogue and a particularly hilarious performance by its lead, Ice Cube, to seize 2025's biggest number of statues.”
Other winners for this year's Razzie Awards — aka the Golden Raspberry Awards, which honor the “worst” of the year — include “all seven artificial dwarfs” in Snow White, with two Razzies. Of the film, organizers said: “It cost a fortune and lost a fortune, perhaps cursed by Walt [Disney] himself for having ignored his dying wish for it never to be remade.”
Rebel Wilson won for “her not-quite-believable performance as an action hero in Bride Hard with weaponized curling irons,” while Scarlet Rose Stallone won “for her modernized performance in the odd western Gunslingers.”
Meanwhile, Kate Hudson has been named the recipient of this year's Razzie Redeemer Award for her “pitch-perfect performance” in Song Sung Blue. Hudson, who is nominated for an Oscar this year for her role in the film, has previously been singled out by the Razzies for her roles in Music, Mother's Day and My Best Friend's Girl after having earned an Oscar nom for Almost Famous in 2001.
Awards are voted on online by 1,223 Razzie members from all 50 states and more than two dozen countries.
A full list of the 46th Razzie Award winners follows.
The Electric State Hurry Up TomorrowDisney's Snow White (2025) Star Trek: Section 31War of the Worlds (2025) (WINNER)
Dave Bautista / In the Lost LandsIce Cube / War of the Worlds (WINNER)Scott Eastwood / AlarumJared Leto / Tron: AresAbel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye / Hurry Up Tomorrow
Ariana DeBose / Love HurtsMilla Jovovich / In the Lost LandsNatalie Portman / Fountain of Youth Rebel Wilson / Bride Hard (WINNER)Michelle Yeoh / Star Trek: Section 31
Anna Chlumsky / Bride Hard Ema Horvath / The Strangers: Chapter 2Scarlet Rose Stallone / Gunslingers (WINNER)Kacey Rohl / Star Trek: Section 31Isis Valverde / Alarum
All Seven Artificial Dwarfs / Snow White (2025) (WINNER)Nicolas Cage / GunslingersStephen Dorff / Bride HardGreg Kinnear / Off the GridSylvester Stallone / Alarum
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)Five Nights at Freddy's 2Smurfs (2025)Snow White (2025)War of the Worlds (2025) (WINNER)
All Seven Dwarfs / Snow White (2025) (WINNER)James Corden & Rihanna / Smurfs (2025)Ice Cube & His Zoom Camera / War of the Worlds (2025)Robert De Niro & Robert De Niro (as Frank & Vito) / The Alto KnightsThe Weeknd & His Colossal Ego / Hurry Up Tomorrow
Rich Lee / War of the Worlds (2025) (WINNER)Olatunde Osunsanmi / Star Trek: Section 31The Russo Brothers / The Electric StateTrey Edward Shults / Hurry Up TomorrowMarc Webb / Snow White (2025)
The Electric State / Screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Adapted from the illustrated novel by Simon Stalenhag.Hurry Up Tomorrow / Screenplay by Trey Edward Shults, Abel Tesfaye, Reza FahimSnow White (2025) / Screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson and a bunch of others too numerous to mention. Drawing from the original fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.Star Trek: Section 31 / Screenplay by Craig Sweeny with original story concept developed by Bo Yeon Kim & Erika LippoldtWar of the Worlds (2025) / Screen story and screenplay by Kenny Golde and screenplay by Marc Hyman, adapting (or destroying) the classic novel by H.G. Wells (WINNER)
Kate Hudson / Song Sung Blue (WINNER)
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On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark honors fringe cinema in the streaming age with midnight movies from any moment in film history.
First, the BAIT: a weird genre pick, and why we're exploring its specific niche right now. Then, the BITE: a spoiler-filled answer to the all-important question, “Is this old cult film actually worth recommending?”
The way some people speak about it online, you'd think Black horror cinema was invented in 2017 when Jordan Peele made “Get Out.” In reality, that's not the first film to use horror as a medium for social issues, and while the genre has long been predominantly (read: tragically) white, there have been movies that uses terror as a vehicle for exploring questions of otherness and identity for decades.
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On the heels of “Sinners” incredible cultural success, and unprecedented awards recognition for director Ryan Coogler, Oscars weekend is the perfect time to revisit one of cinema's most misunderstood classics: “Ganja & Hess.” This 1973 cult favorite also uses vampire tropes to tell a story about Black identity. But where “Sinners” is a thrilling blockbuster, this hazy romance offers something far weirder. It's dreamlike art piece that filters fear, Blaxploitation, and list into one beguiling, slippery vision.
The story behind the making of and reception of “Ganja & Hess” is almost as interesting as the film itself. In 1972, independent filmmaker and theater director Bill Gunn was approached by the production company Kelly-Jordan Enterprises with an offer to make a Black vampire movie for $350,000. The producers were new and inexperienced, and as a consequence, Gunn was able to film the movie with an extraordinary level of artistic freedom. He aimed to use genre conventions as a metaphor for very human addictions with the blood thirst that drives his hero (Duane Jones) threatening allegorical ruin.
That interpretation is obvious and effective as “Ganja & Hess” portrays the vampiric turn of anthropologist Dr. Hess Green (Jones, already horror icon for his 1968 performance in George Romero's “Night of the Living Dead”). After a first murderous high, Green spends the rest of the film chasing that euphoria through a recognizable 20th century America braced for inevitable collapse. What's intrigued critics in the years since the film's release isn't Gunn's interpretation of craving and compulsion so much as what the stance he takes on those intimate forces say about Black identity in the United States.
Hess is turned not by another vampire (you'll notice the word “vampire” is never actually said in the film), but by his crazed assistant George Meda (Gunn in a sharp and layered cameo). Meda stabs Green with an ancient dagger from the “Myrthians,” an ancient African nation of blood drinkers, three times. That's each for the father, the son, and the Holy Ghost, as the intro explains. The attack grants him immortality and an unquenchable taste for blood. But when Meda's wife Ganja (Marlene Clark) arrives at Green's mansion looking for her husband, Hess turns her in a way that's tender, ceremonial, and violent.
From that simple premise, “Ganja & Hess” unspools several ideas about identity, lived experience, and religious or ancestral guilt. There's a lot to digest emotionally and intellectually thanks to Gunn's arthouse style, but the director isn't preachy about the themes he's wrestling with. On the contrary, “Ganja & Hess” is an entrancing watch with odd and unconventional pacing that eschews narrative coherency for arresting imagery and emotionally piercing set pieces that are sexy and crowd pleasing.
“Ganja & Hess” played at the Cannes Film Festival Critics Week in 1973 to mostly positive reviews from French publications, but it faced a tepid reception and weak box office in America. Kelly-Jordan sold the rights to the film to the grindhouse company Heritage Pictures, which put later out a new version of “Ganja & Hess” that shortened the by almost 30 minutes. (Editor's note: “Blood Couple,” as it's known, is not currently streaming.) Gunn disavowed the new version and wrote a letter published in the New York Times titled “To Be a Black Artist” decrying the disrespect and mistreatment he believed his art received.
Gunn would make only one other movie, 1980's “Personal Problems,” before dying just shy of a decade later at the age 54 from encephalitis. In recent years, his work has been heavily reappraised and reappreciated, in part thanks to a 2018 restoration of the original version of “Ganja & Hess” created from a print held by the Museum of Modern Art. Spike Lee has praised the film extensively, loosely remaking the work with 2014's “Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.” The rising critical esteem for “Ganja & Hess,” which Gunn and his star Jones didn't live to see, is bittersweet and a reminder that even the most intoxicating nightmares can arrive ahead of their time. —WC
“Ganja & Hess” (1973) is streaming through VOD and the Criterion Channel.
Can you hear it? The chanting? Yes, that's audio from “Ganja & Hess.” More specifically, it's a sped-up sample used by the hip-hop group Clipping in their much later track “Blood of the Fang” (h/t to the vampire expert who pointed that out via the site Perfectly Imperfect). Coogler could make history this weekend as the first-ever Black filmmaker to win the Best Director category at the Oscars. But with “Sinners” up for 16 nominations, Coogler's victory — or lack thereof — tells a much bigger story.
When “Black Panther” made history at the Academy Awards in 2019, Coogler wasn't nominated for Best Director. Now he's up against Paul Thomas Anderson's masterpiece “One Battle After Another” in several races that are too close to call. A win or loss for “Sinners” will no doubt be seen as symbolic for many modern audiences. But as far as comparisons go, weighing Coogler's latest work against anything other than the luminous shagginess of something like “Ganja & Hess” feels misplaced.
A fiendishly horny ode to toe rings and double-breasted suits (not to mention “grape jelly, hominy grits, and extension cords”), Gunn's timeless tone experiment from 1973 is as potent a monster movie as ever. It's also groovy enough to drill glitter straight into your bones, with “Ganja & Hess” already cemented as essential genre viewing on most cinephilic starting guides.
And yet, reframed through Coogler's dark Southern Gothic triumph, Gunn's vision takes on new life as a critical foundation for a corner of the film world that remains broadly unmatched in its soulful specificity. I'll never turn down a chance to see Duane Jones in anything, but his performance here is so far removed from his Romero days that the actor almost feels like the lucky passenger to the larger-than-life cynicism of Hess.
The chemistry he shares with Clark — a kind of yearning protest, steeling the couple against the indifference of a universe they could theoretically navigate more responsibly — feels relatable and wonderfully inaccessible. Its glossy sheen and period aesthetics make for a mesmeric cinematic trip, leaving behind hazy emotional portraits that remain just far enough out of reach to be haunting.
From William Crain's “Blacula” (1972) to Anne Rice's contemporary “Interview with the Vampire” universe, Black vampires represent one of the most haunting subgenres in horror. Bookending that final vision of a man emerging from the water with the philosophical musings of Meda earlier in the second act, “Ganja & Hess” offers a stylish immersion that entertains through serious existential fear. Scares don't have to manufacture dread when the world we're crawling through is already hellish. And that's a lesson Coogler's known for years, following wisdom as ancient as art itself. —AF
“Ganja & Hess” is available on streaming platforms including Kino Film Collection.
Read more installments of After Dark, IndieWire's midnight movie rewatch club:
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Olivia Munn said the best advice she got from Shannen Doherty during her cancer battle was to be as assertive as possible.
Munn and Doherty developed a close relationship just months before the “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress passed away from her own long battle with breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones and brain.
“She said to me having gone through this … she said just be so aggressive,” Munn told the audience during Los Angeles Magazine's The L.A. Woman Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Friday.
The “Your Friends and Neighbors” actress added that she knows she's lucky because she had the “opportunity to fight” when so many women don't.
“I don't look at cancer like, ‘I can't believe I went through this, it's really unfair.' There's no place in my mind and my energy to think about how things are unfair,” she said in conversation with the magazine's editor Jasmin Rosemberg. “I just think thank God I'm one of the lucky ones.”
During the luncheon, where Munn, 45, was honored as Woman of The Year, she detailed her breast cancer journey and urged women to take the Tyrer-Cuzick breast cancer risk assessment test, a tool that helps calculate a woman's 5-year and lifetime risk of developing the disease.
She recalled having a clear mammogram and ultrasound, which is commonly given to women with dense breasts, in January 2023, as well as a zero percent on her genetic mutation test. However, her risk assessment test came back at 37.3 percent (anything above 20 percent is considered high risk).
She went to get an MRI just months later in April and learned she had Luminal B breast cancer, a fast-moving form of cancer, in both breasts.
Munn underwent five surgeries during her treatment, including a lymph node dissection, nipple delay, a double mastectomy and reconstruction, a oophorectomy (to have her ovaries removed) and a partial hysterectomy. She finished her surgeries in April 2025.
“I used to be really tough and I felt like any fight that came my way I would take it. I would not shy away from confrontation,” she told the crowd, which included Jennie Garth, Corinne Foxx, Jane Seymour and her close friend, Jessica St. Clair.
“What I realized since having cancer is that, I have this armor on,” she continued. “I think a lot of women, we need to protect ourselves with this big heavy armor and I looked at this mountain that I had to climb and I was like, I cannot climb a mountain this high holding all this extra weight, so I had to drop it.”
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She said when she got to the other side, she realized, “I'm so much stronger the more vulnerable I am and I'm able to carry that with me every day.”
The “Newsroom” star concluded, “We really don't know our courage and bravery until it's put to test and now I know that I have it in me. I know I can take on anything.”
Munn — who shares two children, Malcolm, 4, and Méi, 1, with husband John Mulaney — is currently working with Sen. Mark Kelly to try and get something passed to include the lifetime risk assessment test as standard care for every woman.
“I don't feel that it's fair for women to always have to know about the things they need to ask their doctors to do,” she said.
Munn previously thanked Doherty for helping her through her battle during Hollywood Creative Alliance's Astra TV Awards in June 2025.
When Doherty died in July 2024, Munn mourned the loss of her friend, writing on social media, “Just a couple of months ago, she asked how I was doing and if she could do anything for me. True to form, Shannen was offering me her support even though she was in the final stage of fighting this horrific disease.”
By Anthony D'Alessandro, Dessi Gomez
“Let's go!” yelled Ready or Not 2: Here I Come star Kathryn Newton before the lights went down at tonight's world SXSW premiere.
“Yeah, I'm loud,” she exclaimed to the filled Paramount Theatre audience, who of course, were full of plenty of noise on night two of the Lone Star State capital's film and TV fiesta. In what was a completely appropriate booking for Friday the 13th at the Austin-based film festival, a horror film was the main 5PM attraction. And Newton kept the crowd going with screams and laughs through tonight's screening, sitting right behind her co-star Shawn Hatosy.
Franchise star Samara Weaving was a no-show as she's expecting her first baby back in LA, however, sequel's additional star, Sarah Michelle Gellar represented her with a handheld face mask cutout (check out our junket interview above where we spoke with Weaving who told us “I couldn't prep for any stunts because my back was out”). Weaving, clad in a magenta pink gown, recorded a video message to fans, which ran at the start of the film. Also, she posed for a photo with Newton in front of the Sunset Blvd billboard on Wednesday.
The key to survival during a Ready or Not production is to stay fit the entire time as an Olympics of blood-filled chase and fight scenes unfold.
RELATED: Samara Weaving On Her Gory SXSW '26 Double-Feature, Unexpected ‘Scream Queen' Status & “Quiet Dreams” Of Doing Improv: “I Was A Scaredy-Cat Growing Up”
Speaking to the crowd at the end of the film, Radio filmmakers Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin said that a sequel was never planned. Weaving, for one, was told that her backstory was that of a lone wolf who grew up in foster care. It wasn't until she got the second script from the horror series scribes Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy that she learned she had an estranged sister in Newton's character, Faith. In fact, Murphy and Busick wrote a post-credits scene, which the filmmakers were unable to shoot due to budget restrictions. The tag tipped off to a sequel in which the greater 1% are in on the rich person's blood hunt sport.
What makes a Ready or Not 2 movie special? “Practical effects” said Gillett on stage tonight.
“Everyone gathers around the monitor when Sam and Kathryn are about to get shot with a blood cannon,” he said.
“There's nothing more clever than the truth, and we're getting splattered with goo, no matter what. Those reactions were real and honest, it's just better. You can feel it. You guys felt it. I could hear you,” exclaimed Newton.
“I didn't get blood-splattered,” responded Elijah Wood. “I didn't either,” said Michelle Gellar.
There was one moment during the movie when Newton was splattered with blood in a pattern that yielded such a great take, Radio Silence had to recreate it on her face the next production day for consistency.
RELATED: ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come' Review: Samara Weaving Provides Bloody Good Time In Radio Silence's Sequel — SXSW
During our interview with Weaving and Newton back in LA, we asked about their thoughts for a threequel.
“I thought it would be funny if we do a completely different genre like a rom-com and it's about two sisters who meet two brothers — miscommunication drama and there's no blood at all, and we piss off everyone.”
Mic-dropped Newton, “No suspense — just kissing.”
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come from Searchlight Pictures comes out next Friday, March 20.
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A new drama about love, resilience and transformation is set to hit Paramount+ tomorrow, March 14.
“The Madison” comes from “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, who also helms shows like “Landman” and “Tulsa King.” While “The Madison” was initially announced as a spin-off furthering the “Yellowstone” universe, it is now an original drama that is not connected to the Dutton family.
Paramount+ notes that the series is Sheridan's most intimate work to date.
Per the logline, “The Madison” is set “across two distinct worlds: the beautiful landscape of Montana and the vibrant energy of Manhattan as it examines the ties that bind families together.”
The new series “is a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana.” Pfeiffer leads the cast as Stacy Clyburn, the matriarch of the central Clyburn family, while Kurt Russell stars as her husband Preston.
After the six-episode run wraps up in a few weeks, it likely won't be long before “The Madison” is back on our screens; a second season has already been filmed.
“The Madison” premieres March 14 on Paramount+.
New episodes of “The Madison” will likely drop on Paramount+ at 3:01 a.m. ET on Saturdays (12:01 a.m. PT).
“The Madison” is exclusive to Paramount+ and will not air on CBS or any other cable network.
Paramount+ offers two subscription plans, Essential and Premium. The ad-supported Essential plan costs $8.99/month, while the ad-free Premium plan (which comes with Showtime titles and live CBS) costs $13.99/month. Both plans include “The Madison.”
“The Madison” will have six episodes, released in two batches of three episodes.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for the New York Post, Page Six, and Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with information on how to watch all of your favorite reality TV shows and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she's also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, celebrities and pop culture. Prior to joining The Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews
In the grand scheme of things that Donald Trump has meddled with since being re-elected to the American presidency back in 2024, his efforts to fidget listlessly with The Kennedy Center have been less impactful than many. Which is to say: Sure, he's vandalized the building's front, gutted its board and replaced it with cronies, and provoked numerous boycotts from a variety of big-name performers who will no longer have anything to do with what was once the most prestigious venue in the American performing arts. But at least nobody's actually died, and that is turning out to be a depressingly high bar, in 2026, for many of Trump's policy initiatives to clear.
Now—as the Center prepares to shut down for two years of the classiest renovations humanly imaginable after Trump's big “America's 250th Birthday” celebration (and its attendant White House UFC bouts) slam their way through the nation's capitol on July 4—Trump has announced his intent to swap out the puppets he uses to control this particular playhouse. Specifically, the president went on his Truth Social screeching platform on Friday to announce that he was setting aside current president Ric Grenell, who took the job after Trump seized control of the Center's board in the earliest weeks of his second presidency, and replacing him with current vice president of operations Matt Floca.
Somewhat amazingly, given what a (relatively, for a Trump-appointed official) long tenure he's had in the job, Grenell is not getting the “scapegoat who betrayed me” treatment in Trump's public statement about the swap, with his work at what Trump insists on calling the “Trump Kennedy Center” instead labeled as “an excellent job in helping to coordinate various elements of the Center during the transition period” ahead of the renovations. (CNN does note that Trump hasn't been happy about publicity surrounding the reno, though, so it's possible we're seeing that rarest of things: Trump filtering his attitude toward someone for public consumption.) It is, honestly, about as measured a posting as you're likely to see while scanning the 8 million ads and memes that pop up on the site we occasionally use to check in how the guy with control over all our nukes is feeling on any given day; at the very least, Trump's post about Grenell doesn't involve professional wrestling language being employed while talking about the bombing of a foreign nation, or shots of Wii Sports attached to drone strike footage, and thus can be read as something of a new standard for presidential decorum.
Grenell will formally depart the job on Monday, with the Trump-set board then voting the relatively unknown Floca in. Grenell has been a stalwart of the Trump school of Kennedy Center management, which is to say that he's spent his tenure in the job loudly denying that anything's wrong, calling artists criticizing the Center liars, and using the term “fake news” on something approaching a daily basis. Tragically, there's only so far that this level of imitation-as-flattery can take you, though, and Grenell will now be departing the gig.
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© 2026 Paste Media Group. All Rights Reserved
By Armando Tinoco
Staff Writer
Sarah Michelle Gellar was not always keen on reprising her role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer after the series ended in 2003, following seven seasons.
However, as Gellar has signed up to return to the Buffy-verse in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, she has reflected on never closing the door on the possibilities that may arise.
“I actually like when people bring up that I said ‘never,' because I really felt that way,” Gellar told ComicBook. “So, lesson learned, first of all, young children… Never say never. Say, ‘I don't see it happening,' but don't say ‘never,' because then you have egg on your face.”
She continued, “But I truly thought that's where I was at. I never heard a take or a reason to do it. Then Chloé Zhao came to me, and she had the reasons, and she had the take. Also, I was in a different place. The world was in a different place. With that being said, it's still taken us four years to get to this place because I would say, ‘Yes,' and then I would call a month later and say, ‘No. No, no, no. I can't.' I'm Cameron Frye from Ferris Bueller. ‘Again, again, again…'”
Watch on Deadline
With Chloé Zhao attached to direct the pilot of the Buffy reboot, many would want to work alongside the Oscar-winning director, but Gellar reveals she also shot the filmmaker down initially.
RELATED: Samara Weaving On Her Gory SXSW '26 Double-Feature, Unexpected ‘Scream Queen' Status & “Quiet Dreams” Of Doing Improv: “I Was A Scaredy-Cat Growing Up”
“I just asked people to give me the time and understand that it took us six years to get a sequel to Ready or Not. When you want to do things right, it takes time. Mind you, I also said no to Chloe many times in the beginning, as well. Her passion, and her reasoning for wanting to do it, and why now, and why it is necessary.”
During an appearance on the Shut Up, Evan podcast, Gellar opened up about what led her to accept returning as Buffy and work with Zhao.
“Chloé Zhao came to me and not just her passion, because I've seen people with passion before, but she knew how to go into the world. She knew what the world was, and she knew the way,” Gellar said. “And that was the first time I said, ‘Maybe, could I possibly do this? And this went on for three years now … me and Chloé going back and forth, saying I could do it, saying I can't, and really spending the time to develop what it is and why it is.”
RELATED: ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come' Leaves SXSW Cheering & Gasping At World Premiere
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I am soooo dang excited!!! Can't wait to see it. Charmed reboot was a big let down with all new characters and core changes. I am super psyched that Sarah is going to be involved in this. 🤩🥰😁
Word on the street is Buffy is not in this “Buffy” pilot.
That alone tells you all you need to know about where this is headed.
Not sure street you are walking down but you are dead wrong.
Yup.
She shows up in the last 20 seconds, so she's in it, for 20 seconds.
Have you seen it? Do tell.
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Danica McKellar is showing up for her former “Dancing with the Stars” partner Val Chmerkovskiy. The “Great American Family” and former “Hallmark” actress, who was partnered with Chmerkovskiy during Season 18, recently went to see him during this year's “Dancing With The Stars Tour.”
Following a record breaking 34th season, the 2026 tour kicked off on Jan. 22 in Akron, Ohio. Along with Chmerkovskiy, the other pros on the tour include Witney Carson, Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Ezra Sosa, Britt Stewart, Hailey Bills, and Emma Slater, who McKellar also gave a shoutout to.
The actress posted about the tour in an Instagram Story from March 12. Over a photo of the stage where Chmerkovskiy and Slater were dancing together, McKellar wrote, “The @dwtstourofficial is such a fun show – highly recommend if it's coming to a city near you! And it was great to see my friends @theemmaslater & my old DWTS partner @valentin (both dancing here!)”
This isn't the first time McKellar has supported her former “DWTS” family. Back in February 2025, McKellar posted a carousel of photos from backstage at the Grande Ole Opry during that year's tour, including photos with Slater and pro Gleb Savchenko. She also included a video where Savchenko surprised the actress by bringing her on stage.
“So… you know how on some shows, they'll pull audience members on stage for a few fun moments? Imagine my surprise when Gleb took my hand and escorted me ON STAGE at the GRANDE OLE OPRY in the middle of the show! Turns out there were a few of us DWTS alums, so they thought it would be fun if *we* were the audience members that got pulled on stage. Of course I was *totally* unprepared and the kinds of moves they had us dance do *not* come naturally to me – but it was a blast!” wrote McKellar in the caption of her post.
She concluded by praising the tour. “It's a show you don't want to miss! And hey, you might even end up on stage.”
McKellar shared a carousel of photos from her time on “DWTS” while celebrating the show's 20th anniversary, including a group shot of her and fellow “Great American Family” actress Candace Cameron Bure, who also competed in Season 18 with her partner Mark Ballas.
“Can't believe it was 11 years ago that I danced on that very stage with the incredible @valentin – I remember it like it was yesterday. And having @tombergeron there (as a guest judge) felt like the old times – it was emotional seeing him announced!!” McKellar wrote in a November 2025 Instagram post.
She continued, “So glad I could bring my mom as well! She never missed being in the audience when I was on the show all those years ago.”
McKellar and Chmerkovskiy were eliminated during Week 8 in Season 18, finishing in 6th place. Immediately after being eliminated, McKellar was asked how she would sum up her experience. “It's been absolutely amazing,” she said at the time. “I've had the best time ever.”
“It's been amazing,” Chmerkovskiy agreed when asked what it was like working with McKellar. “She's a great, great person. Works really hard. And you know, really embraces the process. I met a great individual. We had some fascinating conversations, and you know, it's been a blast.”
McKellar went on to thank Chmerkovskiy for everything he taught her.
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Absolutely fantastic news for the GOP. The CEO of Palantir said that artificial intelligence—the technology billionaires keep shoving down our throats even though no one's asked for it—is more powerful than anyone even understands and has the ability to take away economic and political power from “highly educated, often female voters, who vote mostly Democrat” while giving more power to working-class men. Sick!
On Thursday, Palantir CEO Alex Karp spoke with CNBC and, between saying “disrupt” and “disruption” no less than 2,359 times, declared that AI will—drum roll—disrupt society by ripping it to shreds and potentially allowing anyone (or any political party) interested in sidelining smart women who vote Democrat to do exactly that. Every single day, I wake up more and more grateful that all these awesome rich men are in charge of everything.
“This technology disrupts humanities-trained—largely Democratic—voters, and makes their economic power less. And increases the economic power of vocationally trained, working-class, often male, working-class voters,” Karp said. “And so these disruptions are gonna disrupt every aspect of our society. And to make this work, we have to come to an agreement of what it is we're going to do with the technology; how are we gonna explain to people who are likely gonna have less good, and less interesting jobs.”
I understand that, as a brilliant woman who votes Democrat because I believe in women's bodily autonomy and reject the idea that drag queens are child-hunting demons (among other things), I'm probably not the person these titans of industry are trying to come to an agreement with, but still, I'd love to add my two cents: What I think we should do with this technology is…destroy it.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp: “This technology disrupts humanity's train, largely Democratic voters, and makes their economic power less, and increases the economic power of vocationally trained, working class, often male voters. These disruptions are going to disrupt every aspect of… pic.twitter.com/xo63swASiG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 12, 2026
In past interviews, Karp has said that smart people who go to college and major in the liberal arts are going to get fucked by the AI revolution. But mostly, this interview sounded like a direct plea to Trump to pretty please give Palantir even more billion-dollar government contracts—on top of the billion-dollar contracts they already have that are helping the administration wage war and (probably) surveil Americans—and Palantir will help ensure the defeat of the GOP's biggest fear: women with a brain.
Recommended for You1Bradley Cooper might just go ahead and DIY that Margot Robbie Ocean's Eleven prequel2The Pitt and its doctors turn sour in a clunkier hour3SXSW has moved on, but mumblecore preserves its legacy4Spider-Man 2's hospital horror show swung from test shoot to final cut5Will Forte and D'Arcy Carden team up in the funny, bloody Sunny Nights
© 2026 Paste Media Group. All Rights Reserved
By Glenn Garner
Associate Editor
The honeymoon is far from over for Samara Weaving‘s final girl Grace in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which world premiered at SXSW.
The sequel picks up where Radio Silence's (Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin) 2019 comedy horror sleeper hit left off, with the recently widowed bride covered in blood on the front steps of her burning groom's family mansion, after they just tried to sacrifice her during a satanic game of hide-and-seek.
Waking up in the hospital, Grace is reunited with her younger sister Faith (Kathryn Newton), who is still her emergency contact despite years of estrangement. But the reunion is quickly crashed by more rich cultists who must carry out the sacrifice the Le Domas family failed to complete, with the winner of this new round of hide-and-seek gaining control of the world.
The stakes have never been higher than in the sequel, nor has the amount of gore. Following the shock ending of the first film, which saw the remaining members of the Le Domas clan exploding into a splash of blood, one by one, the gag hilariously runs rampant throughout the film, as the competing families learn the consequences of breaking their satanic benefactor Mr. Le Bail's rules.
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That's where Elijah Wood's nameless Lawyer comes into play, keeping the families in check as they compete for the High Council seat and the one ring to rule them all (yes, seriously). His character helps broaden the lore created in the first movie, while leaving room for a return in a potential trilogy conclusion. Meanwhile, Wood commands the screen in the creepy villainous role.
But Weaving and Newton provide the emotional center with their complicated chemistry as two sisters who must rely on each other to survive until dawn, matching comedic wits just as seamlessly as they unpack years of familial pain on screen.
RELATED: ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come' Leaves SXSW Cheering & Gasping At World Premiere
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy offset the sibling bond between Grace and Faith, representing a much more privileged, albeit dark, upbringing. While the pair shows genuine care for each other, their differing approaches to defending their father's seat intensifies throughout the film to a chilling peak.
Meanwhile, another talented ensemble plays this film's flock of privileged elites including Gellar, Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Kevin Durand, Néstor Carbonell, Maia Jae and Olivia Cheng. Each representing an entire dynasty, none of the cast is wasted in this battle royale.
This action-packed, blood-soaked sequel is just what fans have been waiting for the past seven years, hopefully paving the way for a trilogy in this sinister world Radio Silence has created.
Title: Ready or Not 2: Here I ComeFestival: SXSW (Headliner)Distributor: Searchlight PicturesRelease date: March 20, 2026Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettScreenwriters: Guy Busick, R. Christopher MurphyCast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, David Cronenberg, Elijah WoodRunning time: 1 hr 48 mins
RELATED: Samara Weaving On Her Gory SXSW '26 Double-Feature, Unexpected ‘Scream Queen' Status & “Quiet Dreams” Of Doing Improv: “I Was A Scaredy-Cat Growing Up”
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To see the parting shot of directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's 2019 comedy-horror romp Ready Or Not revisited at the start of its sequel, Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come, is to know disappointment, however mild. You wouldn't expand on the Mona Lisa; you shouldn't expand on Samara Weaving numbly smoking a cigarette butt in a gory wedding dress against the backdrop of a burning palatial mansion, either. It's an indelible image in Weaving's career as a horror star. Even if there's a logical real-life conclusion to the moment—even if EMTs chauffeuring Grace, bloodsoaked and spent, to the closest hospital in Ready Or Not 2‘s opening scene makes sense—its effect is retroactive buzzkill.
Grace's triumph over the Le Domas family in Ready Or Not is short-lived but well-deserved; Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett pull the rug out from under her in the sequel, like Lucy yanking away the football in time to make schlemiel out of Charlie Brown. Because this is America—and fine, because the evidence does point to her culpability—she's the prime suspect in the case of her in-laws' massacre. Telling Detective Bassett (Grant Nickalls), or frankly anyone, the truth seems like wasted effort. Nonetheless, when Grace's younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), shows up, she helpfully recaps the first movie despite years of estrangement from one another.
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, working from a script by returning writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, rob Faith of any opportunity to digest Grace's story: Another visitor, Bill Wilkinson (Kevin Durand), storms into the facility in a coked-up frenzy, hellbent on killing Grace. The Le Domases weren't the only devil-worshipping social elites in the world, a plot twist that'll surprise nobody who keeps up with current events. The Le Domases belonged to a cabal of likeminded sickos, and by beating them at their own game, Grace has unknowingly set off a domino chain that's culminated in said sickos, represented by Ursula (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Titus Danforth (Shawn Hatosy), Ignacio El Caido (Néstor Carbonell), Wan Chen Xing (Olivia Cheng), and Madhu Rajan (Varun Saranga), deploying her as prey in another hunt at another palatial mansion, with Faith thrown into proceedings as a bonus.
Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come hews closely to the original's formula, adding a succession feud subplot for no appreciable reason other than to have David Cronenberg echo his part from the fourth season of the Chiller TV series Slasher. As horror premises go, “outrun the ultra-wealthy and armed Satanic cultists before they kill you” packs the average filmgoer's recommended daily intake of storytelling drama; no supplements are needed to enhance the film's effects, though it is nice that Grace and Faith have foils in Ursula and Titus, the sibling duo likeliest to kill them and secure the “high seat”–the position of utmost power in their organization's hierarchy.
Like any game, Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come comes with a rulebook. As head counsel to Mr. Le Bail, the families' infernal benefactor and ruthless gamemaker, Elijah Wood so crisply delineates the competition's structure and guidelines as to make underworld legalese compelling. His minor performance is a phlegmatic pleasure; if the narrative knots are unnecessary, at least Wood, and the rest of the ensemble, have fun tying them together. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett have done terrific work over the years building up an acting stable in the post-anthology stretch of their careers: note the overlap between Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and Abigail, which featured both Newton and Durand in supporting roles. That, plus the directors' collective obsession with making their characters pop like tomatoes in a microwave, adds welcome cohesion across their work. They've got their visual scheme nailed down, and they know what they want for their actors—a big party where everybody's splattered with goop.
Maybe that's why the film's setup is such a deflating bummer. Weaving is great at expressing helpless surrender and whiteknuckle petrification, but her movies tend to pay off her raw terror with unhinged ferocity and brute-force indignance at having been imperiled in the first place. The effect of her performances is cathartic, frequently hysterical, and key to Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come‘s success. The forced reconsideration of Weaving's enduring work in the first movie is perhaps unavoidable, but certainly not ideal. Happily, the narrative moves ahead quickly, the better to demonstrate new, inventive methods of reducing murder-happy billionaires to sloppy carcasses in between beats where Weaving and Newton get to play off of one another.
Their sororal friction undergirds the drama in Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and provides a quiet rebuke of trauma horror, in which supernatural goings-on coincidentally dovetail with protagonists' lifelong emotional baggage, spurring confrontations with both. If they reunited under normal circumstances rather than under pain of death, Grace and Faith would have the exact same beef with each other and get into the exact same arguments; the families' game only inconveniences their reconciliation instead of lubricating it. Whether the critique is intended or not, it lands, and gives grounding to the thoroughly ungrounded plot without polluting Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett's macabre comic atmosphere. They're not interested in traumatizing anyone. They're happier dousing their cast with red dye and corn syrup; if they had to pick a game to play for Le Bail, it'd probably be something out of Double Dare.
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Writer: Guy Busick, R. Christopher Murphy
Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, Nestor Carbonell, Olivia Cheng, Varun Saranga, David Cronenberg, Kevin Durand
Release Date: March 20, 2026
Recommended for You1Bradley Cooper might just go ahead and DIY that Margot Robbie Ocean's Eleven prequel2The Pitt and its doctors turn sour in a clunkier hour3SXSW has moved on, but mumblecore preserves its legacy4Spider-Man 2's hospital horror show swung from test shoot to final cut5Will Forte and D'Arcy Carden team up in the funny, bloody Sunny Nights
© 2026 Paste Media Group. All Rights Reserved
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The sci-fi novel was written by Andy Weir, whose 2011 novel 'The Martian,' was adapted into a movie starring Matt Damon
By
Tim Chan
Ryan Gosling‘s star power is helping to propel a 2021 novel back to the top of the bestsellers chart.
Project Hail Mary has returned to number one on Amazon's book charts, on the heels of Gosling's film adaptation hitting theaters March 20. Written by Andy Weir, whose 2011 novel The Martian, was also adapted into a movie starring Matt Damon, Project Hail Mary follows the sole survivor of a suicide space mission, who must find a way to save the earth from a mysterious threat.
The book was an instant hit with readers and critics alike when it was first released and it was even named as a New York Times Readers Pick on its list of the “100 Best Books of the 21st Century.” Now, new fans are discovering the science fiction novel as Gosling's press tour continues to promote his new film.
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Amazon has both the hardcover and paperback versions of the book on sale right now, ahead of the film premiere.
From publisher Ballantine Books, Project Hail Mary clocks in a 496 pages. Per a book description, the story follows Ryland Grace, who is the sole survivor on a “desperate, last-chance mission – and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish.”“His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him,” the synopsis continues. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it's up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he's got to do it all alone.”
You can also stream and listen to the audiobook version of Project Hail Mary, narrated by Ray Porter, through Audible. The audiobook site has a free trial right now that you can use to listen to the novel online for free. See more details here.
Gosling signed on for the film in 2020, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller hired to write the screenplay. The film also stars Oscar-nominated actress Sandra Hüller. THR's David Rooney praised the film in his review, saying it's full of “infectious joy and wonder” and teasing that the “ending tugs the heartstrings in enormously satisfying ways.”
He also praises Gosling's performance, saying the actor's “easygoing charm makes him the ideal actor to mask anxiety and sorrow with throwaway humor, serving as a conduit for the story's affecting contemplation of altruism and sacrifice.”
Project Hail Mary hits theaters nationwide March 20. Find tickets online at Fandango.com.
Want more reading? You can also pick up this three-book collection from Weir, which includes Project Hail Mary, The Martian and 2017's Artemis in one set.
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Supernatural has a top-tier episode that is impossible to match, even if the show were to return to the small screen. With Supernatural's 15 seasons, the CW fantasy series is one of the longest-running TV shows in the genre and has earned the adoration of its fanbase. Like with many great fantasy shows from the early 2000s, the question of whether a reboot might happen has been asked many times.
Supernatural's use of a procedural style as part of its formula has cemented its place as a unique fantasy show that has an enduring appeal, though with a total of 327 episodes, not all of them are memorable. However, for many, one installment in the show's sixth season reigns supreme.
It can be agreed that the CW fantasy series' premise of two brothers fighting against demons has produced some unforgettable scenes. However, no Supernatural episodehas been as inventive as season 6, episode 15, “The French Mistake.” The episode in question sees the Winchesters in an alternate reality where they are part of a TV show called Supernatural after Balthazar banishes them there.
To Dean and Sam's utter surprise, their life as they know it isn't real in that alternate universe. Instead, they are just two actors playing a part and sticking to a script. Breaking the fourth wall was indeed a risky move, but “The French Mistake” doesn't forget that it's a Supernatural episode, however meta, and it retains the identity that viewers have come to love about the show.
Supernatural, though dark, is a funny series. Dean and Sam's bickering adds to the show's lightheartedness, which “The French Mistake” doesn't forget. The inclusion of the show's director, Robert Singer, and showrunner, Eric Kripke, is a form of humor that Supernatural had not yet explored during its run.
The greatest part about “The French Mistake” is how Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, and the rest of the Supernatural crew took the bit seriously enough to pull it off and make "The French Mistake" not only entertaining but believable. Seeing Ackles and Padalecki fumbling through their lines and showcasing some truly bad acting was the cherry on top of the episode.
It's worth noting that “The French Mistake” isn't just a great Supernatural episode — it is, in many ways, a love letter to fans of the show. So it's no surprise that most members of the Supernatural cast view it as their favorite episode (via Entertainment Weekly).
The Supernatural trio, Padalecki, Collins, and Ackles, will be reuniting in The Boys season 5, and it has understandably caused the show's fanbase to feel nostalgic. Although Supernatural concluded six years ago, the series remains popular, and fans would be delighted to see it return to the small screen.
While watching Dean and Sam battle demons and angels again will be great, the challenge of being better than “The French Mistake” is one that is difficult to overcome. For one, expectations would undoubtedly be high for a Supernatural reunion, and this sometimes leads to fans being disappointed if they don't get what they thought would be a perfect series.
“The French Mistake” might not be the most action-packed or emotional episode of Supernatural, but it wasn't meant to be. The way it elevated the quirky and sometimes absurd show by having a somewhat inward look at its production is its best feature.
Ackles and Padalecki have repeatedly expressed interest in a Supernatural reboot, whatever that may look like. So it could be argued that whatever form the series may return in, it doesn't necessarily have to try to outdo “The French Mistake.” If a reunion maintains Supernatural's impeccable storytelling, action, and brotherly love, then the show's legacy will remain untarnished.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
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By Frank Landymore
Published
Mar 14, 2026 11:15 AM EDT
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If intelligent aliens are out there, why aren't we hearing from them? Are they silently observing us like zoo animals, or staying quiet out of fear that they'd catch the attention of a bloodthirsty civilization?
Those are spooky Fermi paradox solutions to contemplate indeed. But if they're a little too sci-fi for your taste, new research funded by NASA from the SETI Institute provides a physics-based solution to this famous conundrum: bad “space weather.”
The study, published in the The Astrophysical Journal, focuses on how potential extraterrestrial signals being beamed into the cosmos could be scrambled by common astronomical phenomena, like solar storms and plasma turbulence near an alien home world. These volatile events could broaden the narrow frequency of the potential alien signals, spreading them thin across multiple frequencies and making them nearly undetectable to most SETI searches, which focus on narrow bands.
“If a signal gets broadened by its own star's environment, it can slip below our detection thresholds, even if it's there, potentially helping explain some of the radio silence we've seen in technosignature searches,” study lead author and SETI astronomer Vishal Gajjar said in a statement about the work.
SETI efforts typically focus on narrowbands, which appear as spikes, because these signals aren't produced by natural phenomena. If a hypothetical alien civilization wanted to be noticed, the thinking went, they'd broadcast a message this way.
But once a signal is sent, it's at the mercy of the cosmos. It may have to travel thousands if not millions of light years before falling on intelligent ears, during which it could run into countless obstacles. This research, however, focused on the likelihood of aliens encountering uncooperative “space weather” near their planet.
As such, the astronomers studied how radio transmissions between our own spacecraft and Earth are jumbled by solar activity, including the solar wind and the star's violent outbursts like coronal mass ejections. After quantifying its effects, they extrapolated how it might affect signals coming from systems containing either a Sun-like star or a red dwarf star, the most common type of star in the Milky Way. In simulations, the team found that 70 percent of stars can cause broadening of more than 1 Hz, and 30 percent of stars can broaden signals more than 10 Hz. If in the unlikely possibility that the Sun decides to have a coronal mass ejection during a techosignature observation, the researchers also found, it could broaden signals by more than 1,000 Hz.
The upshot, the researchers say, is that SETI researchers should consider broadening their horizons a little bit, and observe at higher radio frequencies where the broadening is less powerful.
“By quantifying how stellar activity can reshape narrowband signals, we can design searches that are better matched to what actually arrives at Earth, not just what might be transmitted,” said coauthor Grayce C. Brown, a research assistant at the SETI institute, in the statement.
More on aliens: Anonymous Kalshi User Makes Huge Bet That the White House Is About to Confirm Alien Life or Technology
I'm a tech and science correspondent for Futurism, where I'm particularly interested in astrophysics, the business and ethics of artificial intelligence and automation, and the environment.
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The federal government holds shocking evidence of UFOs which proves we are not alone — including satellite imagery of out-of-this world craft that look like nothing “we have built,” an expert with knowledge of the documents told The Post.
The government's trove of UFO docs is massive and includes stunning photos and videos, according to Christopher Mellon, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense intelligence during the Clinton and Bush administrations.
Publicly disclosing the information would take UFO discourse “to another level,” he added.
Under President Trump's order two weeks ago, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will direct the release of “files related to” aliens, UFOs, and “all other information connected to” the “highly complex” subject matter, the president wrote on Truth Social.
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While the announcement spurred federal agencies, including the White House and the Pentagon, to scramble, there has been no official word on what will be released and when.
The most compelling piece of data, Mellon claimed, are clear satellite photos of craft in space above the Earth that are obviously not manmade.
“We have satellite imagery of craft that sure don't look like anything that we have built or constructed,” Mellon said.
Those same convincing images of craft engaging in “actions that are difficult to explain” were referenced by ex-director of national intelligence and current CIA director John Ratcliffe in a 2021 Fox News interview.
In 2017, Mellon played a key role in the release of three now famous US military radar images of Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon, or UAPs, referred to as the “Tic Tac,” “GOFAST,” and “Gimbal” — and he said there are more just like those on government hard drives.
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The government now prefers the term “UAP,” or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, to “UFO.”
“There's a significant number of videos from the same sources that were judged unclassified in 2018 — gun cameras on F18s, [Forward Looking Infrared Radar] videos — that have been withheld from the public,” he said.
“I know there are because I've seen some of them,” said Mellon, adding, “And there's no rational reason that I can think of why those videos are being withheld.”
Though some provocative images should be included in the release, Mellon said he has no expectation for files that confirm the existence of, or contact with, alien civilizations.
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The Department of War, the Department of National Intelligence, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Energy, and the National Nuclear Security Administration all have UFO files that would be relevant to the Trump-ordered release, Mellon said.
Releasing classified and sensitive materials is an “unnatural act” for intelligence agencies, he said.
“I have a feeling bureaucracy is going to react slowly and I don't think they're gonna put the best stuff out quickly, if they do at all,” he said. “Congressional vigilance is needed to ensure a thorough and effective process.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), senior member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, who introduced the UAP Disclosure Act with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2023, is hoping for a broad release that ensures US military secrets are preserved.
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Rounds hopes for “as much disclosure as we can get with regard to just being honest to the American people about what we see that we either don't know about or that we're learning about.
“And I just want to make sure that whatever we put out, we do not impact our own national security capabilities.”
Additional reporting by Geoff Earle
Switch between CA and NY editions here.
The federal government holds shocking evidence of UFOs which proves we are not alone — including satellite imagery of out-of-this world craft that look like nothing “we have built,” an expert with knowledge of the documents told The Post.
The government's trove of UFO docs is massive and includes stunning photos and videos, according to Christopher Mellon, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense intelligence during the Clinton and Bush administrations.
Publicly disclosing the information would take UFO discourse “to another level,” he added.
Under President Trump's order two weeks ago, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will direct the release of “files related to” aliens, UFOs, and “all other information connected to” the “highly complex” subject matter, the president wrote on Truth Social.
Advertisement
While the announcement spurred federal agencies, including the White House and the Pentagon, to scramble, there has been no official word on what will be released and when.
The most compelling piece of data, Mellon claimed, are clear satellite photos of craft in space above the Earth that are obviously not manmade.
“We have satellite imagery of craft that sure don't look like anything that we have built or constructed,” Mellon said.
Those same convincing images of craft engaging in “actions that are difficult to explain” were referenced by ex-director of national intelligence and current CIA director John Ratcliffe in a 2021 Fox News interview.
In 2017, Mellon played a key role in the release of three now famous US military radar images of Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon, or UAPs, referred to as the “Tic Tac,” “GOFAST,” and “Gimbal” — and he said there are more just like those on government hard drives.
Advertisement
The government now prefers the term “UAP,” or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, to “UFO.”
“There's a significant number of videos from the same sources that were judged unclassified in 2018 — gun cameras on F18s, [Forward Looking Infrared Radar] videos — that have been withheld from the public,” he said.
“I know there are because I've seen some of them,” said Mellon, adding, “And there's no rational reason that I can think of why those videos are being withheld.”
Though some provocative images should be included in the release, Mellon said he has no expectation for files that confirm the existence of, or contact with, alien civilizations.
Advertisement
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Please provide a valid email.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Never miss a story.
The Department of War, the Department of National Intelligence, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Energy, and the National Nuclear Security Administration all have UFO files that would be relevant to the Trump-ordered release, Mellon said.
Releasing classified and sensitive materials is an “unnatural act” for intelligence agencies, he said.
“I have a feeling bureaucracy is going to react slowly and I don't think they're gonna put the best stuff out quickly, if they do at all,” he said. “Congressional vigilance is needed to ensure a thorough and effective process.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), senior member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, who introduced the UAP Disclosure Act with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2023, is hoping for a broad release that ensures US military secrets are preserved.
Advertisement
Rounds hopes for “as much disclosure as we can get with regard to just being honest to the American people about what we see that we either don't know about or that we're learning about.
“And I just want to make sure that whatever we put out, we do not impact our own national security capabilities.”
Additional reporting by Geoff Earle
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With US politics becoming more erratic and Trump's decisions swaying huge worldwide events, it's hard to know what's on the horizon – so one psychic has forecast it for us, and her predictions aren't all positive.
In fact, her visions for what the rest of 2026 might bring for the United States see a lot of change and "civil unrest."
The psychic and medium has harnessed her skills for over 10 years and, using her special skills to see into the future, has given a forecast on political and special affairs. One of which could directly affect every household in the U.S.
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Known as Psychic Kelli online, she had a fair few predictions for the state of the country, one of which included electricity and energy in homes.
@psychickelli on TikTok told her followers: "I think there's going to be either a nationwide or even a statewide power outage. And I think they'll have a really lame excuse for it too."
She added: "So, if you've been thinking about getting a generator, it might be a good time."
Joining her in this theory is Athos Salomé, a mystic whose accurate predictions have dubbed him as the modern 'Nostradamus.' He told the Express that in 2026 we can expect to see a huge solar storm, which could result in a large-scale power outage.
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Woolly mammoths will be back in 2028, how you could live to 200, alien signals lost in the weather, could we fight Godzilla, and a creature with 20 arms has been found near the Antarctic - all this and more in our latest weird science newsletter
The out-of-the-blue explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields and other material being blasted into the solar system comes from the sun and has major repercussions. He thinks this could impact a global power outage while also damaging electrical systems across the world.
The psychic told Salomé, "My direct and objective perspective is as follows: solar storms now seem like the most plausible scenario to have such an immediate impact on daily life, and backed by robust science.
"This deserves full focus. Not out of fear, but rather due to measurable signals in synchrony with potential power cuts, communication failures and technological disruptions in affected regions."
Kelli's predictions were also nothing short of extreme, with most suggesting monumental outcomes, including those relating to the president's health. She claims that she sees Trump falling in, quite literally by falling and bumping his head.
She further explained that the health issue will result in hospitalization, and we will see JD Vance step up as president in his short absence.
Taking her prediction further, the psychic goes as far as to forecast when she thinks this will happen - claiming August 12 as the date to remember this year. According to her, this time aligns with when a solar eclipse is within Leo, which can bring sudden revelations about people in charge.
She further explains that this can be interpreted as shedding light on "those who deserve authority and those who can no longer be trusted." The psychic said: "This is because pride, ego, and image are absolutely going to be tested."
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In honor of Kurt Russell's milestone 75th birthday on Tuesday, March 17, Us Weekly is breaking down some interesting facts about the legendary actor.
For starters, Russell was the pilot who reported the Phoenix Lights, a famous 1997 mass UFO sighting.
“I was flying [his son Oliver Hudson] to go see his girlfriend, and we were on approach,” the actor revealed in a 2017 BBC interview. “I saw six lights over the airport in absolute uniform in a V shape. Oliver said to me — I was just looking at him, I was coming in, we're maybe a half a mile out — and Oliver said, ‘Pa, what are those lights?'
He continued, “Then I kind of came out of my reverie and I said, ‘I don't know what they are.' He said, ‘Are we okay here?' And I said, ‘Yeah, I'm gonna call in,' and I reported it.”
It wasn't until two years later when his partner, Goldie Hawn, was watching a TV show on UFOs, that he connected the dots between his own experience and the Phoenix Lights sightings.
“I'm feeling like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” he joked of the realization.
For more fun facts about Russell — including his connection to Princess Diana — keep scrolling for his 25 Things feature from the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now:
1. Russell was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 17, 1951, though his family relocated to California when he was a child.
2. His dad, Bing Russell, was also an actor (with over 170 credits in his nearly 40-year career) and his mom, Louise Julia Russell, was a dancer.
3. Kurt made his film debut at just 12 years old with an uncredited part in It Happened at the World's Fair, in which he kicks Elvis Presley's pilot character in the leg.
4. Like his father before him, Kurt played two seasons of minor league baseball before a career-ending shoulder injury in 1973.
5. The actor has three sisters: Jill, Jamie and Jody.
6. He served with the 146th Tactical Airlift Wing in the California Air National Guard from 1969 to 1975.
7. Walt Disney predicted a “great acting future” for Kurt when he was just 15 years old.
8. In fact, the last words Disney is said to have ever written down before his death were “Kirt Russell,” slightly misspelling the actor's first name in a note about future projects.
9. Kurt turned down Star Wars to do the television western The Quest.
10. Kurt first met Hawn on the set of a Disney musical in 1966, though they didn't start dating until they collaborated on 1983's Swing Shift.
11. Before they got together, Kurt was married to Season Hubley, with whom he shares son Boston Russell, and Hawn was married to Gus Trinkonis and then to Bill Hudson, with whom she shares children Oliver and Kate Hudson.
12. Kurt raised Hawn's eldest kids, Oliver and Kate, for most of their lives. They call him “Pa.”
13. Kate named her son Ryder Russell Robinson after her stepdad's surname.
14. Kurt and Hawn welcomed their first child together, Wyatt Russell, in 1986.
15. Despite a decades-long romantic partnership, Hawn and Kurt have no desire to tie the knot. “A lasting relationship isn't about marriage,” Hawn said of their love in 2015.
16. After his debut role opposite Presley, Kurt played The King in the 1979 TV movie Elvis, which marked the start of his working relationship with filmmaker John Carpenter.
17. Their collaborations include Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and Escape from L.A. (1996).
18. In 2001's 3000 Miles to Graceland, Kurt played an Elvis impersonator. He also dubbed over an actor playing Presley in 1994's Forrest Gump.
19. Russell earned an Emmy nod for 1979's Elvis. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe in 1983 for the drama Silkwood.
20. Kevin Costner's role in Bull Durham, a 1988 baseball rom-com, was originally written for Kurt.
21. Kurt has been a licensed pilot since 1988, and he received the Aviation Mentor Award from fellow actor-pilot John Travolta in 2010.
22. In a 2017 interview, Kurt revealed he was the pilot who first reported the 1997 Phoenix Lights, one of the best-known UFO mass sightings, which he spotted while flying with son Oliver.
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23. Kurt sat between the late Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles at the London premiere of his film Backdraft in 1991.
24. He later opened his Colorado ranch to Princess Diana and her sons, Harry and William, for a 10-day vacation away from paparazzi.
25. Kurt received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.
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In a packed movie theatre in Toronto, filmmaker Ian Tuason, writer and director of the newly released horror film Undertone (now in theatres), expressed his excitement to the audience that it's a "coming home" screening for the movie. Filmed in Toronto, specifically in Tuason's actual house, starring Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco and Michèle Duquet, this is easily one of the most unique horror films you'll see.
Set around a paranormal podcast, Tuason's approach in this film doesn't rely on cheap shocks and unearned scares. Everything feels detailed, intentional and crafted for a particularly immersive viewing experience.
In Undertone we meet Evy (Kiri), who's the co-host of a podcast with her friend Justin (DiMarco). Justin, who's living in London, is a believer in paranormal activity, while Evy, who moved into her mom's home to care for her dying mother, is a paranormal skeptic.
As they begin recording a new episode, Justin shares an anonymous email containing 10 voice recordings, which they decide to include in the podcast. Someone named Mike (Jeff Yung) recorded his girlfriend, Jessa (Keana Lyn Bastidas), who's been talking in her sleep.
But as Justin and Evy click through the clips, each recording gets progressively more haunting and sinister, and ends up having an unexpected impact on Evy.
Paranormal activity, religious iconography, and a confined space are just a few of the classic horror elements used in Undertone. But what makes the film stand out isn't necessarily the broad story, but rather how Tuason presents it.
A core piece of the puzzle is the film's sound, which is absolutely spectacular. It makes each moment feel incredibly unsettling and unnerving, while also making you feel like you can't escape the terror, because closing your eyes certainly won't help you in this movie.
Another highlight is Kiri's performance, who's often the only person on-screen throughout this film. While the movie could have given us more details about Evy, or dive deeper into what her life is like outside of the podcast, Kiri's execution of the character is so bold, layered and dynamic that the audience can feel deeply connected to the character.
For a movie that's just over 90 minutes, you do get a feeling of suffocation in this environment, struggling to get a breath, but it's satisfying for an insular horror story.
Due to Tuason's skill, from someone who just wants to be spooked, to those who enjoy dissecting as much as they can in a film, from items in the background to possible influences for different shots and sequences, this movie delivers for everyone.
There's also so much strength in what Tuason decides not to show in the movie that really makes the film work. It's not necessarily being scared by what we see, but being scared by what's sparked in our own minds at different points in the movie, which may be the most terrifying of all.
Fear is a spectrum, but I suspect Undertone may be a film that will make some people sleep with a light on at night.
Heads up horror fans! We officially have the first great ghost story of the year thanks to the super spooky and deviously clever Never After Dark. And good luck to any other ghost story scheduled to come out in 2026 because they are going up against some stiff competition. This chilling supernatural horror bends time, fuses reality, and features a gnarly violent spirit hellbent on strangling the life out of a medium in the quiet countryside of rural Japan.
Celebrating its World Premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival, Never After Dark walks between the living world and the afterlife to explore the life cycle of a restless spirit haunting an isolated country home. Written and directed by House of Ninja‘s creator Dave Boyle, Never After Dark stars Moeka Hoshi (Shogun) as Airi, a gifted psychic that specializes in helping lost spirits break their cycle of torment and move on to the next plain of existence. Naturally, Airi and her secret ghost assistant get more than they bargained for when they encounter a disturbing spirit slamming doors, pacing the halls, and bumming people out with its gruesome appearance.
Mutsuo Yoshioka, who recently haunted every damn frame of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Chime (2024), stars as Never After Dark‘s grizzly ghost. His presence is the engine that drives the poltergeist activity of the home, but his story isn't as cut and dry as Airi is used to, and the mystery surrounding his existence draws her in immediately. As she unearths the gory details surrounding his death, she unknowingly puts herself in harm's way, and Yoshioka wields his character's persona like a black hole of danger and despair.
Never After Dark adopts the time loop theory of ghosts where the spirits are trapped in the repetition of moments so powerful (or traumatic) that they carry them out over and over for eternity. Exactly how is plays with that familiar trope is its secret weapon, and Boyle builds a clever story around a handful of fully fleshed characters whose backstories attack that time loop template from all angles. It also features a pretty rad hypnosis sequence when Airi enters the ghost realm, which is just pure ghost cat nip for this here reviewer.
If Never After Dark (releasing to Japanese theatres later this summer) is setting the bar for supernatural horror in 2026, we are in for one hell of a year. Boyle takes a classic haunted house setup and warps it into something fresh in the paranormal space with this time-bending nightmare and its haunting atmosphere. It is exactly the kind of creepy, late-night discovery you hope to stumble into with a festival's Midnight program and one you should absolutely put on your Letterboxd watchlist right now. So long as you like spooky stories, commanding performances, and nightmare ghost logic. And if you made it all the way down here, I already know you do.
Dave Boyle's Never After Dark celebrated its World Premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film Fest. Click HERE to follow our continued coverage of the festival, and let us know if you've ever seen a ghost (seriously! we want to know) over in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord. Social Media is A Cesspool. Come Hang With The Cool Creeps.