U.S. Memorial Day Weekend Travel Expected to Shatter Records; Tips to Avoid Crowds and Reduce Costs Hot News

U.S. Memorial Day Weekend Travel Expected to Shatter Records; Tips to Avoid Crowds and Reduce Costs

May 11, 2026
Travelers pass through Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, during Memorial Day weekend on May 24, 2025. —Giorgio VIera—AFP/Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - A record number of Americans are expected to travel this Memorial Day long weekend. If you’re planning to be among them, travel experts are advising taking some important steps to prepare for the busy holiday.About 45 million people are likely going to travel 50 miles or more from their homes over the long weekend, according to AAA’s forecast. Of those, 39.1 million are expected to travel by car, and 3.66 million are projected to fly.The forecasted numbers mark a slight increase from last year, when 44.8 million people traveled during the Memorial Day long weekend.“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel, said in a statement. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”Here are some tips on how to dodge the crowds and keep travel costs down.Travel on off-peak daysAAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz told TIME in a statement that travelers should consider booking flights that depart and return on off-peak travel days, such as those in the middle of the week rather than on Fridays and Saturdays. Flights on off-peak days tend to be less expensive.Those who are planning to drive may similarly want to consider leaving and returning on off-peak days to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Roads will likely experience the most traffic congestion on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22 between 3-6 p.m., according to INRIX, a transportation analytics company. The afternoon of Monday, May 25 will also likely see some of the heaviest congestion, INRIX predicted. But Sunday, May 24 is expected to be the lightest day in terms of traffic.Think about which mode of transportation makes the most sense for youDiaz advised travelers to determine which mode of transportation is the best option for them, given their destination and how many people they’re traveling with. Depending on their situation, one may be more cost effective than the other. And if you want to beat the crowd at the airport, you could consider driving—but be aware that you may have to trade airport lines for the traffic.You could also consider traveling another way. Approximately 2.2 million people are expected to travel by bus, train, or cruise over the long weekend, according to AAA.Plan aheadDiaz recommended that travelers who want to save money not check a suitcase and only fly with a carry-on bag. But it’s important to be aware of airlines’ policies, because sometimes the cheapest flight options—such as some basic economy tickets—don’t permit free carry-on bags.For those who are driving, Diaz advised them to plan their route beforehand. AAA recommended that drivers check their car’s battery, tire pressure, and fluids before embarking on their trips. During last year’s holiday weekend, the organization said, it responded to more than 350,000 emergency roadside assistance calls regarding people who were stranded on the road because of dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks, among other car troubles.Pack snacksWhether traveling by plane or car, Diaz suggested that people pack snacks for their trips in case they get hungry, and to avoid spending extra money while en route to their destinations. But, if the person is flying, they should make sure that any snacks they bring follow TSA policy.If the person is driving, they should also pack some water for the road, Diaz said.Consider less popular travel destinations—or a ‘staycation’The top 10 destinations within the U.S. for the Memorial Day long weekend, according to AAA booking data, are Orlando, Seattle, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, Anchorage, Chicago, Denver, and Boston. Some of the most popular international destinations for the holiday weekend include Rome, Vancouver, Paris, London, and Athens.Diaz suggested that people who wish to travel over the long weekend but are still deciding where to go consider places that aren’t as popular, but that still have what they’re looking for. For instance, if someone wanted to go to the beach, rather than going to the busy tourist beach spot, they could consider a smaller beach town nearby.And people may also want to consider doing a “staycation” if they want to avoid the travel chaos altogether. Diaz said that people could try exploring the tourist attractions in their area that they’ve never experienced, or try new restaurants. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Millions of Americans May Qualify for Tax Refunds on COVID-Era Penalties: Key Details Hot News

Millions of Americans May Qualify for Tax Refunds on COVID-Era Penalties: Key Details

May 11, 2026
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Building in Washington, D.C., on February 20, 2025. —Tasos Katopodis—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - Tens of millions of Americans may be eligible for refunds on tax penalty and interest charges issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.Whether taxpayers ultimately receive that relief will hinge on the outcome of ongoing legal battles. Judges have determined in recent rulings, most notably in the case of Kwong v. United States, that tax filing and payment deadlines should have been automatically postponed from Jan. 20, 2020, through July 10, 2023—the duration of the COVID-19 disaster declaration—plus an additional 60 days.“By the court’s logic, the IRS should not have assessed penalties for late filing or payment during that 3.5-year period, nor charged interest on those amounts,” National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins explained in recent blog posts.The decision is anticipated to face pushback from the Department of Justice, Collins noted, and it may be years before the court process is resolved. But if the ruling stands, taxpayers could be owed refunds for certain charges they were assessed during that more than three-year period—if they act to preserve their eligibility within the next few weeks.Because the IRS typically requires taxpayers to make a claim for a refund within three years of filing their return, Americans will have until July 10 of this year to submit claims for the potential COVID-era relief.Here’s what to know about your eligibility, and how to file a claim for a potential refund. How do you know if you’re eligible?Taxpayers who could be eligible for the potential refunds include individual Americans, small businesses, large corporations, estates, and trusts, according to Collins.If the court’s decision holds, anyone who was charged penalties for failing to pay their taxes or filing their returns late during the period when the disaster declaration was in effect and in the 60 days that followed may be entitled to a refund. Taxpayers who were assessed interest that began accruing during that period may also be eligible for refunds on those deductions, along with those who overpaid interest for that time. People or entities who were penalized for being late to file foreign information tax forms—which are required to report on international assets, gifts, or trusts—may also receive refunds. Taxpayers can review their federal income tax transcripts, which summarize tax payments along with penalty or interest charges, by making an account on the IRS website. The agency’s ID.me service can be used to register individual or business accounts.Transcripts can also be requested by mail, which typically takes five to 10 days for delivery.Once taxpayers have access to their transcripts, Collins advised looking for any penalty or interest charges and checking whether the dates associated with them fall in the relevant period between Jan. 20, 2020, and July 11, 2023.If so, she said, “taxpayers may want to explore a refund claim.”When do claims for refunds need to be filed by? Taxpayers generally need to file a claim within three years of when they filed their tax return, or two years after the date their taxes were paid. In most cases, the deadline for making a claim for the potential COVID-era refunds is July 10, 2026, three years after what would be the postponed filing and payment due date following the end of the pandemic disaster declaration based on the court’s ruling. But Collins noted that some taxpayers may have additional time, if they paid penalties or interest assessed during the relevant period later on. For a taxpayer who didn’t make such a payment until July 1, 2025, for instance, she said that they “would have until July 1, 2027, (i.e., two years from the date of payment) to file a refund claim, as it is later than July 10, 2026.”How to file a claimEligible taxpayers should use Form 843, “Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement,” to protect their right to a refund or abatement if the court’s decision holds. Since the ruling isn’t yet final, taxpayers can specify that they are filing a “protective claim,” which Collins noted are generally used when a pending legal battle makes the amount of a potential refund uncertain. She advised taxpayers to label their Form 843 with language identifying the relevant legal issue, along the lines of “Protective Refund Claim Pursuant to Kwong Case.”Separate forms must be submitted for “each tax period and each type of tax” in most cases, she said, unless the Form 843 instructions explicitly allow them to be combined.“The claim should clearly state that your claim is based on the COVID-19 disaster relief period and the legal reasoning reflected in Kwong,” Collins wrote. “It should also identify the specific penalties and interest, tax period, and dates at issue.”Protective claims can also be filed for abatements on interest and penalties that have not yet been paid. Unlike annual tax returns, Form 843 must be submitted on paper, which Collins noted is a slower process, harder to track, and less accessible. Because the IRS does not confirm it has received these claims, she advised taxpayers to send Form 843 by certified mail, which provides legal proof of mailing and delivery should there be disputes from the government on the location of the form. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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A Long-Standing Measles Complication That Many Are Unaware Of

May 11, 2026
—Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Images: efired/Getty Images, Ayvec.Tive via Canva)(SeaPRwire) - Measles, largely eradicated in the developed world for decades, is making a comeback. In January, the U.K. lost its measles elimination status when vaccination rates fell below 95%, the threshold needed to suppress the highly contagious virus. The U.S., where outbreaks continue this year, may follow suit.Vaccine hesitancy is driving the resurgence—but contrary to claims by anti-vaccine activists, measles is not merely a short-lived respiratory illness that resolves within days. Scientists now recognize that the virus primarily targets the immune system. Beyond triggering rare but fatal neurological complications that can emerge years after infection, measles can also dismantle the body's immune memory by destroying infection-fighting cells.While most people recover from measles, their immunity against everyday infections—often encountered daily—can remain impaired, according to Rik de Swart, a virologist at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, who has researched this phenomenon known as immune amnesia. In some cases, full recovery of immune function may take years.What makes measles so dangerousTransmitted through airborne droplets, measles is extremely contagious: up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus will contract it. Historically, millions of children died annually from the disease. The introduction of the first measles vaccine in 1963 led to dramatic declines in U.S. cases, and measles was declared eliminated in the country in 2000.That same year, Japanese biologists identified a receptor—called CD150—that the measles virus uses to enter cells. Although the virus spreads through the air, this receptor wasn’t primarily located in nose or lung lining cells. Instead, it was found on immune cells. “This receptor is especially expressed on memory cells of the immune system,” explains de Swart. “That means the virus predominantly infects and destroys memory cells—the very cells that remember past pathogens and help protect against future encounters.”Measles is deadlier than most people thinkFor many years, doctors and researchers observed that measles infections often triggered prolonged periods of vulnerability to other illnesses in children, though the underlying cause remained unclear. In 1995, studies revealed that vaccinating children in developing countries against measles significantly reduced overall child mortality—not just from measles itself, but from other infections as well. The vaccine appeared to be conferring broader protection.Epidemiologists later discovered that the effects of measles infection could persist for years. In 2015, Dr. Michael Mina, de Swart, and colleagues found that children infected with measles faced a significantly elevated risk of dying from other infectious diseases for two to three years following recovery. “We were effectively saying measles was associated with as much as 50% of all childhood infectious disease deaths not officially attributed to measles,” Mina noted.Analyzing blood samples from unvaccinated children taken before and after measles infection, the team discovered that the virus severely impaired the body’s ability to recognize common pathogens due to the loss of memory immune cells. “Ultimately, we proved that initial hypothesis immunologically, showing that measles actually erased anywhere between 20 and 75% of somebody's immunological memory pool,” Mina said. He hypothesizes that after a measles infection, children must rebuild their immune defenses by re-exposing themselves to various infections—a process that can take several years.Will we see a return to the pattern of serious childhood illness?Measles frequently appeared in children’s stories and nursery rhymes, often depicting lengthy periods of sickness and recovery.This literary portrayal likely reflects multiple historical factors. Many tales predate antibiotics—which, while ineffective against measles, were crucial in treating many other childhood infections—as well as numerous vaccines. Additionally, up until World War I, societal attitudes favored extended convalescence, which Krienke observes permeates the literature of the era. “This kind of slow, delayed recovery is across all of the literature of the time period,” she says.Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, warns that this historical reality should serve as a warning to parents today. “If we continue along our current path, where more and more parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children, this phenomenon will become even more evident,” he wrote in an email. “Tough times ahead.” This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Starmer’s Promise to Prove Doubters Wrong Falls Short of Halting Calls for His Resignation

May 11, 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Coin Street Community Centre in London, England, on May 11, 2026. —Carl Court—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - The British prime minister’s pledge to silence his critics after Labour suffered major setbacks in local elections has done little to quell demands that he resign.“I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I’ve got some doubters, including in my own [Labour] Party,” Starmer said in a recorded address Monday morning, accepting responsibility for last week's electoral outcomes.“I've spent too much time talking about what I am doing for working people and not enough time talking about why or who I stand for,” he added, vowing to deliver “change that we promised for a stronger and fairer Britain that we must build.” Yet several lawmakers remain insistent that another figure should lead Labour as it attempts to recover from its losses. In total, more than 40 MPs have urged Starmer to resign or establish a timetable for his departure.“It was a passionate speech, but the content did not suggest anything close to the scale of change needed to rebuild communities like mine,” said Labour MP Lorraine Beavers.“We need a democratic contest involving the most talented leaders from across our movement,” she continued, warning that appointing a cabinet member would “risk repeating the same mistakes already made.”Although Starmer pointed on Monday to what he sees as signs of progress—including reduced waiting times at the National Health Service (NHS) and his decision not to intervene directly in the Iran conflict—concerns over his leadership persist.Starmer was already under pressure to step down over his handling of Peter Mandelson’s appointment, who was dismissed months into his role as UK ambassador to the United States. Now, with Labour focused on recovery following significant defeats last week, numerous members of Starmer’s own party are calling for someone else to take charge.Starmer threatened with leadership challenge After the prime minister’s address, Labour MP Catherine West announced she was “collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the Prime Minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September.” “The results last Thursday show that the PM has failed to inspire hope. What is best for the party and country now is for an orderly transition,” West remarked, describing Starmer’s Monday morning remarks as “too little too late.”West’s statement, while firm, marked a retreat from her earlier threat to launch a leadership challenge.Over the weekend, West—a former minister—had issued an ultimatum to Starmer’s cabinet: if they did not initiate a bid to challenge his leadership, she would do so herself.West and Beavers are far from alone among those within Starmer’s party who were unimpressed by his speech.MP Nadia Whittome said the prime minister “should do the responsible thing for the country and our party, and outline a timetable for his departure with a democratic leadership contest.”Paulette Hamilton, another Labour MP, echoed these sentiments later Monday afternoon.“The public has made clear they no longer wish to hear further talk of a ‘reset’ from Sir Keir Starmer. Confidence is lost. Voters have stopped listening,” she stated. “Now, an orderly transition must follow, and change must come from the top.”In response to calls for Starmer to leave, some are turning their attention to other potential candidates.Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is gaining increasing support—though he would need permission to stand in a by-election so he can return to the House of Commons and become a viable contender.London Mayor Sadiq Khan has endorsed the idea of Burnham returning to Parliament.“If Andy still wants to return, and an opportunity arises, he should be allowed to stand… I firmly believe in supporting the team that wins; you want your best players on the pitch,” Khan said.Angela Rayner, former deputy leader of the Labour Party, has also expressed backing for Burnham, acknowledging that what the party is currently doing “isn’t working.”“It’s time to admit that blocking Andy Burnham was a mistake. We must demonstrate that we understand the magnitude of change required—that means bringing our strongest voices back into Parliament,” she argued.Burnham previously attempted to become an MP earlier this year but was barred from running in a by-election by the National Executive Committee (NEC), Labour’s governing body.Labour MPs Connor Naismith and Clive Lewis have also voiced support for the Manchester mayor.TIME has contacted Downing Street and Burnham’s office for comment.The process for challenging a Labour leader, explainedIf a leadership challenge were initiated, a candidate (who must be a sitting Member of Parliament) would need endorsement from at least 20% of current Labour MPs—currently equivalent to 81 lawmakers—according to the Institute for Government.“Once the contenders are selected, the contest proceeds to the vote of Labour’s membership, affiliated societies, and trade union members,” Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, tells TIME.While many view Burnham as the likely frontrunner, Bale notes that Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting—reportedly interested in succeeding Starmer—could also run.MP Al Carns is another possible candidate, says Bale, highlighting the Minister for the Armed Forces as a “first-time MP with an impressive military record.”According to Bale, “Burnham is probably the favourite,” with left-wing members of the party likely to favour Rayner, and right-wing members preferring Streeting.Carns, Rayner, and Streeting are all sitting MPs, giving them established pathways to leadership. However, Bale emphasizes that Burnham could only participate in a contest if a current Labour MP stepped down, “triggering a by-election in which Burnham could stand and potentially win as Labour’s nominee.”Beyond a formal leadership contest, the only alternative route to ousting a prime minister would be through mass resignations from top ministers.“Cabinet ministers could resign en masse, making it difficult—if not impossible—to replace them,” Bale explains, referencing the scenario that forced then-Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step down in 2022 after more than 50 members of his government resigned amid ethics scandals. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Running Clubs: A Horrible Setting for Dating Hot News

Running Clubs: A Horrible Setting for Dating

May 11, 2026
—Elena Popova—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - Two years ago, I joined a running club to grow my social circle. I’ve tried clubs in cities like London, Barcelona, and Lisbon. What started as a fitness trend has evolved into a new kind of dating scene—running clubs often serve as low-pressure alternatives to apps, where connections form through repeated, real-life interactions.While I’ve made wonderful friends through running clubs—sharing pizza and wine at house parties—the romantic side of things has become problematic. It’s evident that most people are there for just one reason: women quietly discuss their ideal type, while men immediately hit on the newest member to join the group.Beneath the surface of organic connection, these communities frequently mirror the same patterns found in online dating: ghosting, disposable encounters, and constant romantic turnover.My friend went on a date months ago with someone from the Lisbon running club. The guy had asked her out after a post-run coffee gathering. After ghosting her, he then asked out another woman from the same club—and they’re now together. This leaves my friend in an awkward position.Similarly, several of my friends have had to switch clubs to avoid running into exes involved in messy situationships. Even when engaging in flirtatious exchanges with other runners, I’ve never seen a serious relationship develop; I’ve only experienced being ghosted.Dating within a running club can damage group dynamics; I’ve witnessed close-knit friend groups fracture due to breakups. The amount of romantic drama often feels more intense than a reality TV show.Running clubs are emerging as modern social ecosystems—essentially singles mixers disguised as cardio. Unlike algorithm-driven dating, attraction is built during post-run coffees in sweaty clothes, relying on repeated face-to-face meetings that echo how our ancestors historically formed relationships.But while many singles are drawn to hobby-based communities, I question whether these spaces genuinely lead to deeper relationships or simply repackage the same frustrations.To better understand why singles are turning to activity-based communities and what emotional ambiguity they’re trying to escape from in online dating, I spoke with Sana Khwaja, a therapist at BetterHelp, the world’s largest online therapy platform.“Dating within a community like a running club can be enjoyable, but it does blur boundaries in ways that become emotionally complicated if not handled carefully,” Khwaja said. It’s important to be intentional from the beginning. “That means checking in with yourself before pursuing anything, asking: Am I truly interested, or am I swept up by the group’s closeness?”Now, my friends and I are cautious whenever someone from our running club asks us out. One friend shared that she’ll never date anyone from a running club again after discovering her partner was sleeping with multiple members while pretending to be exclusive with her.Khwaja advises runners to establish clear boundaries around dating so “the progression of the relationship stays separate from the group’s progression. If things get awkward, you won’t let that stop you from attending events,” she explained. “It’s about protecting the community’s stability instead of letting it become collateral damage.”I also consulted Shoshanna Raven, life coach and founder of Living Brave, a global personal development platform focused on self-trust and modern leadership. “Many believe, ‘Dating apps are the problem. I’ll join a run club and find a community.’ But if your subconscious patterns, attachment styles, and emotional habits remain unchanged, you may end up recreating the same relational experiences in a different setting,” she said.Personally, I don’t mind that running clubs have become the new dating app. My issue lies in the fact that all the frustrations I associate with dating apps now play out live and in person before me.I dislike that the same guy who took my friend out is the one who previously asked my friend for my number. I hate feeling jealous when I see my crush talking to someone new and questioning my own self-worth.It’s human nature to be drawn to people we repeatedly encounter in communal spaces. But what’s different now is the low-investment attitude people bring to these environments. That mindset should be enough to make everyone run the opposite way. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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American and French Nationals Test Positive for Hantavirus After Disembarking from Cruise Ship

May 11, 2026
U.S. passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius disembark at the industrial port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 10, 2026. —Jorge Guerrero—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - An American and a French national, who have returned to their respective home countries after being evacuated from the cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, have both tested positive.A French woman who was evacuated from the MV Hondius and repatriated to Paris on Sunday tested positive for the virus and her health is deteriorating, French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said Monday.The woman was one of five French passengers who left the ship over the weekend and is now in a specialist infectious disease hospital. Per Rist, 22 contact cases have been traced.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said Sunday night that one of the 17 passengers being repatriated to the United States had tested “mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus” and another had developed “mild symptoms.”According to the BBC, a British national who resides in the U.S. was evacuated along with the 17 American passengers.The passengers arrived in Omaha early morning, the University of Nebraska Medical Center confirmed.The one passenger who "tested positive for the virus, but does not have symptoms," has been admitted to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit at the med center for testing and monitoring. The others arrived at the National Quarantine Unit, for assessment and monitoring. Passengers aboard the MV Hondius began disembarking Sunday after the ship arrived in Spain's Canary Islands, with personnel in full protective suits and breathing masks pictured escorting passengers.According to Spain’s Health Ministry, the final repatriation flights are expected to depart Tenerife later Monday for Australia and the Netherlands.The Dutch-flagged cruise ship is expected to sail to the Netherlands carrying part of the passengers’ luggage for disinfection, as well as the body of one of the three deceased passengers.Spain’s civil protection agency confirmed Monday that the ship has been refueled and is set to sail at 7 p.m. local time.A Dutch flight carrying 26 passengers from the MV Hondius landed Sunday evening at Eindhoven Airport. Dutch nationals are expected to be isolated at home for six weeks, while foreign passengers remaining in the Netherlands will be quarantined by municipal health authorities.20 British nationals arrived back in the U.K. on Monday morning after being evacuated. The U.K. Health Security Agency confirmed Monday that these passengers had arrived at Arrowe Park Hospital and will receive clinical assessments in a period of 72 hours.The U.K. government also repatriated a Japanese passenger at the request of the Japanese government, and a German national who is a U.K. resident. Meanwhile, four contact passengers from the cruise ship with German citizenship and residency were taken to a special isolation unit at Frankfurt University ⁠Hospital after arriving overnight, according to German health authorities on Monday. None of those passengers have been reported as presenting symptoms thus far.What is hantavirus—and how is the CDC dealing with the outbreak?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rare virus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their excretions.The Andes virus is the only type of hantavirus that is known to spread person-to-person. It can be passed through “close and prolonged contact, particularly among household members, intimate partners and people providing medical care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a May 7 briefing.The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius began after the vessel departed Argentina, with two Dutch people and a German national dying onboard.The WHO has stressed that “this is not coronavirus,” and has advised against travel restrictions while encouraging countries to monitor potential cases and isolate infected individuals.CDC acting director Jay Bhattacharya has also emphasized that this is “not going to lead to the kind of outbreak” people saw during the COVID pandemic.“This is not COVID and we don’t want to treat it like COVID. We don’t want to cause a public panic over this. We want to treat it with the hantavirus protocols that were successful in containing outbreaks in the past,” he said Sunday during CNN’s State of the Union.Bhattacharya confirmed that the CDC will interview the returning U.S. passengers and “assess them for risk.” Further action will be decided upon once assessments are complete. He also added that the seven U.S. passengers who previously returned home from the cruise ship are being monitored in their home states. Meanwhile, Ghebreyesus has insisted that the hantavirus outbreak underscores the importance of the WHO in managing international health threats “because viruses don’t care about our policies, viruses don’t care about our borders.”The United States, under President Donald Trump, and Argentina have both withdrawn from the WHO.Asked Saturday whether the outbreak would make him reconsider the U.S. withdrawal from the organization, Trump responded: “No, we seem to have things under very good control.”“They know that virus very well. It's been around a long time, not easily transferable, unlike covid, but we'll see,” the President added. “We're studying it very close. We have very good people studying it very closely.” This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte Impeached for the Second Time Hot News

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte Impeached for the Second Time

May 11, 2026
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at a press conference in Manila, Philippines, on Feb. 18, 2026. —Jam Sta. Rosa—AFP/Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - The Philippine House of Representatives voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday—for the second time—over allegations of unexplained wealth, misuse of public funds, and plotting to assassinate her former ally, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.The latest impeachment occurred more than nine months after the Supreme Court nullified the first attempt due to a constitutional procedural issue; however, the ruling did not block future impeachment efforts.Following deliberations, 257 lawmakers supported the impeachment, initially reported by the House as 255 votes—surpassing the required one-third majority needed. With this vote, Duterte, a member of the nation’s most influential political dynasty, became the first person in the country’s history to be impeached twice.Duterte will now face trial before the Philippine Senate, which analysts say represents the true test ahead: “The way the impeachment trial unfolds publicly will influence how voters perceive her presidential bid,” says Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, speaking with TIME.A powerful faction supporting Duterte holds sway in the Senate. After the House first impeached her last year, the Senate halted proceedings, citing the Supreme Court’s decision. This year, as the House moved forward with the new impeachment, a majority of senators elected a known ally of the Duterte family as Senate president—who has denied that the impeachment influenced the leadership change.In February, Duterte announced her intention to run for president in the 2028 national elections. She continues to lead in public opinion polls as the leading contender to succeed Marcos, who is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election due to term limits. Duterte ran alongside Marcos in the 2022 election, securing a decisive victory, but the two have since become political adversaries, fueling a bitter rivalry that has plunged the country into political and economic instability.A guilty verdict at the Senate could end Duterte’s political career, the daughter of former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained by the International Criminal Court facing charges related to a deadly drug war during his administration.If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and barred from holding public office in the future. Nevertheless, Manila-based political scientist Cleve Arguelles told TIME that the impeachment may actually strengthen support among her base: “It could deepen loyalty among supporters and preserve her chances for the 2028 race.”The Vice President has claimed that the impeachment is politically motivated and maintains her innocence.Duterte is the highest-ranking official ever impeached in the Philippines since former President Joseph Estrada in 2000, though that trial collapsed when prosecutors withdrew their case. Estrada later resigned from office.Of the five public officials impeached in Philippine history—including Duterte—only one, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has been convicted. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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The Worst Spring Drought in U.S. History Threatens Crop Production Hot News

The Worst Spring Drought in U.S. History Threatens Crop Production

May 10, 2026
A newborn calf stands away from other cattle feeding on dry ground at the Schroder family ranch in Campo, Colorado, on May 9, 2026. The Schroder ranch, established in 1926, has been forced to dramatically reduce its planted acreage due to drought conditions — Mark Makela / Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - The United States endured its most severe spring drought ever last month, with more than 60% of land across the lower 48 states experiencing moderate or worse drought conditions. The drought has raised alarm among farmers and environmentalists nationwide, who warn that food supplies may be affected and wildfires could spread into areas where they are not typically seen. The dry conditions have been particularly intense in the Southeast, where 99.81% of the region was gripped by moderate to exceptional drought at its peak in April, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. More than 80% of the area faced severe to exceptional drought—the highest level recorded for April since the monitor began tracking data in 2000. This drought has been developing over an extended period. Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina experienced record-breaking dry conditions between September 2025 and March 2026, surpassing records dating back to 1895. Although heavy rainfall in the South last week alleviated conditions in parts of the Deep South and Texas, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported that “drought conditions remained largely unchanged across southeastern Alabama, Georgia, and northwestern Florida, where soil moisture and streamflows remain critically low.”The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that January through March was the driest three-month period on record for the continental U.S., with precipitation totaling less than 70% of average, and these dry conditions have now expanded to nearly their greatest extent since November 2022.Major crops at risk The drought poses a serious threat to key agricultural crops, from wheat growers in Kansas to vegetable producers in Georgia.Poor growing conditions and reduced yields coincide with ongoing challenges for farmers already burdened by tariffs and rising fertilizer costs linked to the conflict in Iran. Virginia farmer Billy Bain, 81, told a local CBS News affiliate that this year, marking his 58th season of planting crops, is the worst drought he has ever encountered.“We had to stop planting because it's so dry,” Bain said, noting that farming expenses have increased amid the fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war. “It’s very costly per day, especially when diesel fuel prices are $4 for off-road use and over $5 for on-road use—another major expense when you're dealing with dry weather.”For wheat farmers throughout the Great Plains, late April to early May is a crucial period as winter wheat reaches maturity ahead of the summer harvest. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that this year’s wheat acreage will be the smallest since 1919.Rachel Cleetus, senior policy director of the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, wrote last week that climate change is “fundamentally transforming conditions for U.S. agriculture, introducing unprecedented risks and uncertainties for farmers' and ranchers’ livelihoods.”She warned these conditions could lead to higher food prices for consumers. Wildfires in the wetlands The dry conditions have also intensified wildfires, even in wetland ecosystems such as Florida’s Everglades. So far this year, wildfires have consumed approximately 120,000 acres in Florida, and NASA identifies the current drought as the most widespread and severe to impact the state since 2012.“Florida is experiencing one of the worst fire seasons in perhaps the past 30 to 40 years—or it’s shaping up to be,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson told CBS in late April.In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in 91 counties in late April as wildfires spread across the eastern part of the state, enabling the state National Guard to deploy resources to impacted regions. The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) responded to zero new wildfires on May 7—the first day without any new fires reported in the state since December 2025. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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First Evacuated Passengers from Hantavirus Cruise Ship Arrive in Their Home Countries Hot News

First Evacuated Passengers from Hantavirus Cruise Ship Arrive in Their Home Countries

May 10, 2026
Passengers are being evacuated via small boat from the MV Hondius at Granadilla Port on May 10, 2026, in Tenerife, a component of Spain’s Canary Islands. —Chris McGrath—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - The initial group of passengers from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak reached their home nations on Sunday, having left the vessel earlier that day. The first batch was observed wearing personal protective gear—including face masks, hazmat suits, and respirators—as a small boat ferried them to land at approximately 9:30 a.m. They were then transported to Tenerife Airport. Spain’s Health Ministry noted that none of the first disembarking group showed signs of the virus.Flights carrying Spanish and French citizens landed in Madrid and Paris, respectively, on Sunday. A subsequent flight bound for the Netherlands—carrying German, Belgian, and Greek nationals—was set to depart next, with additional flights to the U.K., Canada, Turkey, Ireland, and the U.S. to follow. Thirty crew members will stay on the ship as it travels back to the Netherlands to undergo disinfection.Since the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius left Argentina, six confirmed hantavirus cases, two suspected cases, and three passenger deaths have been associated with the ship’s outbreak.The ship is anchored off the coast of the Canary Islands. There, passengers from various countries were transported to Tenerife Airport via military vehicles and sent to their home nations, with measures in place to avoid public contact. Upon returning home, they will probably be taken to isolation centers for health monitoring by medical personnel.The virus is usually linked to rodents, but it might have spread between humans on the ship, per the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO officials stated on Sunday that the public risk remains “low,” despite the Canary Islands’ president opposing the ship’s docking due to concerns about infection risk and possible damage to the tourism sector.“So the public shouldn’t be afraid or panic,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Sunday. Officials also noted that quarantine must continue in each passenger’s home country to prevent the disease from spreading.“The Andes virus has a lengthy incubation period, and we can’t be certain they won’t develop symptoms unless they complete the 42-day observation period,” Diana Rojas, head of high-impact diseases, told the press. U.S. States Gear Up for Returning PassengersSeven U.S. states are currently getting ready for the arrival of 17 Americans who were on the ship. These individuals will first land at the National Quarantine Unit—located on the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus in Omaha—which is the only federally funded quarantine facility in the U.S. and is built to monitor people exposed to “high-consequence infectious diseases.”“We are fully prepared for scenarios just like this,” Michael Ash, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, stated in a Friday release. “The public should know these facilities were purpose-built to prevent exposure to the community. There is no risk to local residents from those being cared for in these units.”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in a Friday statement that it dispatched a team of epidemiologists and medical experts to meet returning Americans and evaluate them prior to their flight to Nebraska.National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director and acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya told CNN’s “State of the Union” that travelers will be evaluated at the facility based on their risk level and offered the option to stay in Nebraska if they wish. If conditions permit, the state could safely transport them home without exposing others en route, after which they would be placed under the supervision of their state and local public health agencies.Bhattacharya stressed that this situation is not as serious as the COVID-19 pandemic.“I don’t want to trigger public panic,” he said. “We intend to handle this using our hantavirus protocols, which have effectively contained past outbreaks.” This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Trump Brands Comey a ‘Dirty Cop’ Ahead of Trial Date for Ex‑FBI Director Hot News

Trump Brands Comey a ‘Dirty Cop’ Ahead of Trial Date for Ex‑FBI Director

May 10, 2026
Former FBI Director James Comey speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 17, 2018. —J. Scott Applewhite, File—Associated Press(SeaPRwire) - President Donald Trump described James Comey as a “dirty cop” as a trial date was scheduled for the former FBI director facing criminal charges.Trump made the remarks while sharing an old video on social media showing Comey defending himself against claims that he threatened harm to the president when he posted a photograph of seashells arranged in the shape of “86 47” on a beach.The Justice Department filed charges against Comey last month, stating that “a reasonable recipient familiar with the circumstances would interpret the communication as a serious expression of intent to harm the President of the United States.”“Does anybody believe this guy??? A Dirty Cop!!!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Saturday evening.The comments come as a judge set a July 15 trial date for Comey to face two criminal charges stemming from his May 2024 Instagram post. The longtime political opponent of Trump, whom the president fired as FBI Director in 2017 amid an investigation into possible Russia ties to the Trump presidential campaign, has denied wrongdoing and characterized the charges as politically motivated retaliation.U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan will preside over the trial in North Carolina, and Comey is scheduled to appear in court on June 30 for arraignment, where he is expected to plead not guilty.Trump’s DOJ increasingly targets political opponentsComey’s indictment follows a series of criminal charges and investigations launched by the Justice Department against Trump’s political adversaries during his second term, including Letitia James, the New York Attorney General who successfully brought a civil fraud case against the Trump Organization, and Adam Schiff, the Democratic senator and former Congressman who served as lead manager during Trump's first impeachment.The Washington Post reported Saturday that at least six prosecutors have been "demoted or pushed out" from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia due to fallout from the DOJ's efforts to prosecute Comey.This indictment marks the second time Comey has faced criminal charges from the Trump administration. The first, involving accusations of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding related to his 2020 Senate testimony about FBI media leaks, was dismissed by a judge.In a video posted on his Substack account following the indictment, Comey defended himself against the charges.“I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go,” Comey said. “But it’s really important that all of us remember this is not who we are as a country, this is not how the Justice Department is supposed to be.”Trump had long criticized Comey for his role in investigating the Trump 2016 presidential campaign. He fired Comey during his first term and became vocal about prosecuting him in his second term.Why was Comey indicted?The indictment against Comey centers on an Instagram post from May 2024 featuring seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” accompanied by the caption, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”According to Merriam-Webster, “86” in slang means “to throw out” or “refuse service to,” and sometimes refers to “to kill.” Forty-seven appears to refer to Trump, the 47th President of the U.S. The arrangement has been used by some on social media as a symbol calling for removing Trump from office.Trump officials and many Republicans interpreted the image as incitement of violence against the president. Then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initiated a Secret Service investigation into Comey, leading him to voluntarily sit for an interview.In the video posted by Trump on Saturday, a clip from a May 2025 MSNBC interview shows Comey explaining he discovered the shells while walking with his wife and did not initially understand their meaning.“To me as a kid, it always meant to leave a place, to ditch a place,” Comey said.After people pointed out its potential alternative meaning, Comey removed the post, adding: “I don't want to be associated with violence of any kind.”The indictment alleges that Comey “consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communication would be viewed as threatening violence.”“James Comey disgracefully encouraged a threat on President Trump’s life and posted it on Instagram for the world to see,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated in a press release announcing the charges. “As the former Director of the FBI, he knew full well the attention and consequences of making such a post.” This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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The Origins of Mother’s Day Should Prompt You to Ask New Questions Hot News

The Origins of Mother’s Day Should Prompt You to Ask New Questions

May 10, 2026
Anna Jarvis (1864-1948), the founder of Mother's Day. —Corbis—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - Will you serve breakfast in bed or enjoy brunch out with your mother? Will it be French toast or waffles? And what will you drink: coffee, a mimosa, or both?These are common and thoughtful questions many people ask their mothers on Mother’s Day—or that mothers themselves pose to their children. While these gestures are kind and meaningful, you might want to consider asking different questions this year—ones that reflect the true origins of Mother’s Day and strengthen your connection to your own mother.Today’s Mother’s Day traces its roots to Anna Jarvis, born in West Virginia in 1864. She established the holiday following the death of her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis. Never married and without children of her own, Anna dedicated herself to honoring her mother’s legacy, which extended far beyond her immediate family.Ann Maria was believed to have had around a dozen children, but most died from diseases such as measles, which were widespread in Appalachia during her lifetime. Seeking to reduce future losses, she founded “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” with other local women. These groups raised funds to aid families in need, inspected bottled milk and food for safety, and educated neighbors about hygiene practices.When the Civil War began, Ann shifted her focus to caring for wounded soldiers, insisting that her groups treat both Union and Confederate troops. In 1868, amid ongoing division, she organized a “Mothers’ Friendship Day” aimed at healing community rifts. According to historian Katherine Lane Anatolini, Anna once recalled hearing her mother say, “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day commemorating [mothers] for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.”Anna made fulfilling this wish her lifelong mission. She held the first official celebration in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia, in 1908, then worked tirelessly to persuade governors across the country to adopt the holiday. By the time President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation making it a national holiday, most states had already begun observing it. Anna envisioned sons and daughters visiting their mothers or sending handwritten letters thanking them not just for their contributions within the home, but also for their broader role in society. “This is not a celebration of maudlin sentiment,” she wrote. “It is one of practical benefit and patriotism, emphasizing the home as the highest inspiration of our individual and national lives.”Both Ann and Anna recognized how deeply personal family life is shaped by larger forces—epidemics, public health efforts, and war—that extend beyond the household. They witnessed firsthand how women often came together to support others inside and outside their families. And they understood the vital importance of this collective effort to the nation’s survival and progress.Over time, however, Anna grew increasingly disillusioned. She felt Mother’s Day had become overly commercialized, benefiting florists and greeting card companies more than genuinely honoring mothers’ sacrifices and contributions.This Mother’s Day, consider offering your mother the gift of reflection by asking new questions. How does she view her role as a mother? How does that perspective compare with how her own mother or grandmother saw things? What social, cultural, or scientific changes has she experienced that may have influenced her approach to parenting?Such questions lie at the heart of historical understanding. By taking time to explore them with your mother, you can give her one of life’s greatest gifts—and pay tribute to the lasting impact of Ann and Anna Jarvis on history. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Putin Oversees Streamlined Victory Day Parade in Moscow After Zelensky Grants ‘Permission’ Hot News

Putin Oversees Streamlined Victory Day Parade in Moscow After Zelensky Grants ‘Permission’

May 9, 2026
Members of a military band stand next to a screen broadcasting Russia's President Vladimir Putin's address during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2026. Russia celebrates the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two (WWII) —Igor IVANKO—AFP(SeaPRwire) - Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow on Saturday, omitting the customary display of tanks and missile carriers traversing Red Square to commemorate the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany.The Russian Defense Ministry attributed the subdued ceremony to the “current operational situation,” referring to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. However, Russian officials were reportedly also concerned about the threat posed by Kyiv’s advanced fleet of long-range drones, which have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years.Traditionally, the parade has served as a demonstration of Russia’s military might, honoring the 27 million Soviet citizens who perished in World War II while showcasing the nation’s formidable arsenal, including nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.Yet this year’s event marked Moscow’s most modest Victory Day celebration in recent memory, coinciding with the Kremlin’s struggle to achieve significant battlefield advances in Ukraine, now entering its fifth year.Fewer international leaders and journalists attended compared to last year’s grandiose parade, prompting most media representatives to rely on Russian state media coverage. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained Friday that the reduced attendance was due to the “limited” nature of the entire ceremony. CNN had initially been accredited to cover the event but had those privileges revoked on Thursday.Among those present were Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, and Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim. Russian soldiers and sailors—alongside North Korean troops believed to have fought alongside them in Ukraine—marched through Moscow’s capital as fighter jets soared overhead. The parade concluded after just 45 minutes.“The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," Putin declared in his speech, referencing the war in Ukraine. "They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the whole bloc of NATO. And despite this, our heroes move forward."Large screens showcased fighter jets, intercontinental missiles, drones, and a nuclear submarine, still an attempt to demonstrate military strength.He appeared under heavy security, following reports that the Kremlin has intensified surveillance of Putin amid fears of assassination attempts and potential coup plots.Zelensky gives 'permission' for parade to take place Last week, Russia unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a ceasefire on the day of the parade. However, on Friday, President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had reached a sudden three-day ceasefire from May 9 to 11, which includes “a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country.”“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War.”Zelensky responded in an official presidential decree laced with sarcasm, saying he would “permit the holding of a parade,” adding on X that “the Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be brought home.”Peskov, meanwhile, told reporters that Russia did not “need anyone’s permission to be proud of our Victory Day.” The Russian Defense Ministry had previously threatened to “launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv” if it disrupted the parade.Nevertheless, Ukraine’s long-range missiles and drones have grown increasingly dangerous to Russia, with one drone crashing into a high-rise building located miles away from the Kremlin in western Moscow just days before the event.Russia making slow progress on battlefield More than four years after launching what it initially described as a “three-day special military operation,” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has devolved into a protracted stalemate. New figures released by the Latvia-based Russian-language outlet Meduza and independent Russian outlet Mediazona indicate that approximately 352,000 Russian soldiers have died in the conflict with Ukraine from February 2022 through December 2025.The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank, reported similar casualty numbers in January. CSIS also noted that Russia is “advancing remarkably slowly on the battlefield,” as its economic position continues to deteriorate due to the war’s financial burden.For example, a Russian offensive targeting the city of Pokrovsk progressed at a rate of only 70 meters per day between February 2024 and January 2026, a pace that CSIS described as “slower than the most brutal offensive campaigns over the last century, including the notoriously bloody Battle of the Somme during World War I.”Despite these losses, Moscow maintains that it can outlast Kyiv, continuing to make incremental advances along the 600-mile front line. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Sweet but Lightweight, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” Delivers a Melodrama with an Eight-Armed Star Hot News

Sweet but Lightweight, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” Delivers a Melodrama with an Eight-Armed Star

May 8, 2026
(SeaPRwire) - A friend of mine, typically not picky about food, refuses to eat octopus. “I just can’t bring myself to eat any creature smarter than I am,” he says—and he has a fair point. Octopuses excel at solving problems and concealing themselves from predators. They use tools, recognize individual human faces, and may even possess a sense of humor. These traits alone might give anyone pause before ordering that grilled, tentacled dish.Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures, directed by Olivia Newman and based on Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 novel, could have a similar effect. Sally Field stars as Tova Sullivan, an elderly widow who works night shifts as a cleaner at a Puget Sound aquarium. Though scrubbing away the day’s accumulation of schoolchildren’s smudges isn’t most people’s idea of enjoyment, Tova doesn’t mind: the quiet of the nighttime suits her, and she forms a quiet bond with one of the aquarium’s main attractions—a clever, sardonic octopus named Marcellus.We know Marcellus is intelligent because we hear his thoughts, voiced by Alfred Molina, and he harbors plenty of opinions about humans. He resents life in captivity. “There’s no silence like the depths of the ocean,” he remarks, watching a group of loud children with his sharp, penetrating gaze. Adults don’t fare much better in his view. “I’m subjected to a species inferior to me in every measurable way,” he complains.Yet Marcellus remains attuned to beauty: he observes that the fingerprints left by schoolkids on his tank’s glass are “as intricate as a moonshell.” And despite his efforts to deny it, he’s emotionally sensitive to the humans who hold him captive—especially Tova. He senses her deep sorrow, and rightly so. Her only son died years earlier, and she still wrestles with guilt, wondering if she played a role in his death. She’s also confronting a difficult decision: before passing away, her husband enrolled them both in a retirement community. For decades, she’s lived in a charming log cabin built by her father. Now, facing the uncertainties of aging, she questions whether it’s time to leave—though it’s clear she’s reluctant to do so.Sally Field as Tova with her octopus companion —Courtesy of NetflixOne day, a stranger rolls into town in a battered chartreuse-and-cream minivan. Lewis Pullman plays Cameron, who claims he’s come to collect a debt from the gruff-but-friendly owner of the local general store, Ethan (played by Colm Meaney). But his van has broken down, and he lacks the money for repairs. Meanwhile, Tova has just fractured her ankle after slipping on the wet aquarium floor. Perhaps Cameron could fill in for her until she recovers? He reluctantly agrees—but since Tova can’t stay away from the aquarium, she insists on stopping by to teach him the right way to mop, polish, and clean away daily grime. As Marcellus watches—and occasionally escapes his tank for brief adventures—Tova and Cameron grow closer. Marcellus becomes convinced that these two troubled humans might help heal each other, but only with his intervention.For a creature without a backbone, Marcellus is remarkably meddlesome. And perhaps not surprisingly, his intuition proves correct: the story unfolds through a series of coincidences set in a small tidal pool—highly improbable, yet soothing in its resolution. Remarkably Bright Creatures does lose some momentum when Marcellus isn’t on screen: watching him glide through his tank is captivating, his supple skin patterned like the weathered red of an old barn, his tentacles moving with balletic elegance. Molina’s voice-over is so persuasive that you begin to believe you’re truly hearing Marcellus’ thoughts. By comparison, the human characters can feel underwhelming.Still, W.C. Fields warned against performing with children or animals—only because he never worked with Sally Field. Her decades-long career, spanning roles from Gidget to Mary Lincoln, stretches behind her like a radiant ribbon. She knows how to be fully present, even when acting opposite an octopus, and she renders Tova’s grief—and her longing for solitude—with authenticity and depth. Pullman makes a perceptive, empathetic counterpart: he seems to invest more in listening than speaking. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a film, much like its cephalopod co-star, with a gentle heart and an ethereal quality. It may not linger in memory for long, but it leaves behind a subtle, lasting impression. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Trump Celebrates ‘Huge Win’ After Virginia Court Strikes Down Redistricting Plan Hot News

Trump Celebrates ‘Huge Win’ After Virginia Court Strikes Down Redistricting Plan

May 8, 2026
Voters cast their ballots at a polling location inside Abingdon Elementary School during a special election in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. —Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Democrats’ redistricting referendum was invalid, delivering a significant setback to the party as the national battle over gerrymandering intensifies ahead of the fall midterm elections.President Donald Trump described the court’s decision as a “huge win for the Republican Party” in a statement posted on Truth Social on Friday.The Democratic effort aimed to flip four additional seats in the U.S. House, shifting Virginia's congressional delegation from six Democratic seats and five Republican seats to ten Democratic and one Republican seat. The court’s ruling upholds the current voting map used in the 2024 elections, which includes several competitive districts, and effectively secures Republicans an advantage of six to eight more seats in the upcoming midterms.This decision follows another recent blow to Democrats, when the U.S. Supreme Court last week weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, reducing electoral influence for minority voters, particularly in Southern states.Several Southern states have already acted on the Supreme Court’s ruling, including Tennessee, which approved a new congressional map just before the Virginia decision—likely eliminating the state’s only traditionally Democratic district.Trump initiated the push for mid-decade redistricting last summer by urging Republican-led states to redraw their district boundaries outside the usual decennial cycle, which typically aligns with census data updates to reflect population shifts and migration patterns.Below is what you need to know about the Virginia ruling and the current state of the redistricting conflict between Democrats and Republicans. —Graphic by Lon Tweeten; Artvea—Getty ImagesMillions of votes rendered voidMore than three million Virginians voted in the April 21 referendum to redraw the state’s congressional map, with the measure passing by a narrow margin—about 1.6 million voters supported it, compared to 1.5 million who opposed it. The outcome was seen as a major victory for Democrats.“Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is ‘entitled’ to more Republican seats in Congress,” said Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger in a statement following the vote. “Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input—and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.”However, the court’s Friday decision invalidated those votes.Tram Nguyen, co-executive director of the voting rights organization New Virginia Majority, called the ruling “deeply troubling.”“Millions of Virginians voted and decided that it was appropriate to redraw Virginia's map, and approved that, and the Supreme Court of Virginia just tossed out the will of the people,” she told TIME.House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York issued a statement saying that “the decision to overturn an entire election is an unprecedented and undemocratic action that cannot stand,” and added that lawmakers were considering legal options to challenge the ruling.Revised definitions of election periods in state lawIn a 4-3 ruling, Justice D. Arthur Kelsey wrote that the Democrat-controlled state legislature placed the mid-decade redistricting referendum on the ballot “in an unprecedented manner” and violated established procedures.“This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void,” Kelsey wrote.The court determined that the April ballot measure breached the state constitution by redefining the timing of elections.Under Virginia’s constitution, referendums must be passed by the legislature twice, with an intervening election between the two legislative votes. However, when the legislature first approved the amendment, early voting had already commenced—a period the court deemed part of the election process and therefore unconstitutional under state rules.“This constitutional violation incurably taints the resulting referendum vote,” the majority opinion stated, “and nullifies its legal effect.”In his dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Cleo Powell argued that the majority’s interpretation “broadened the meaning of the word ‘election,’ as used in the Virginia Constitution, to include the early voting period. This directly contradicts how both Virginia and federal law define an election.”Nguyen emphasized that the implications of the decision extend far beyond redistricting. “The consequences of the decision actually extend well beyond the map,” she explained, “based on this reinterpretation of what constitutes an election period. Their ruling now essentially says that an election in Virginia lasts 45 days, rather than being limited to Election Day—which goes against longstanding precedents across the country.”A setback for Democrats in TennesseeOn Thursday, Tennessee’s Republican-led legislature passed a revised congressional map that splits Memphis, the state’s sole majority-Black district and Democratic-held seat.The new map was signed into law by Republican Governor Bill Lee and divides Memphis, currently represented by Rep. Steve Cohen, into three separate districts. This change disperses Democratic voting strength by spreading it across rural, predominantly Republican areas.“The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind,” Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton wrote on social media on Wednesday. “The decision indicated states can redistrict based on partisan considerations. Today, Tennessee joins other states—both red and blue—in updating its congressional maps.” This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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GE Vernova Transforms Energy Uncertainty into a Business Boon Hot News

GE Vernova Transforms Energy Uncertainty into a Business Boon

May 8, 2026
The GE Vernova logo is displayed at the 8th China International Import Expo in 2025. —Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - To understand the future of the energy economy, look no further than GE Vernova. The company’s equipment currently generates a quarter of the world’s electricity, and its stock has surged alongside rising global power demand. On the surface, it appears to be a traditional industrial firm, yet in the stock market, it performs like a high-growth tech company.At first glance, this success seems driven largely by increasing demand for its gas turbine division. However, much like the broader transformation unfolding across the energy sector, GE Vernova’s growth trajectory is far more nuanced. The company has chosen not to invest in new gas turbine manufacturing plants; instead, its research and development spending has increasingly shifted toward its electrification segment. Meanwhile, expanding sales to technology clients have spurred innovative, unconventional strategies.“We’re not just selling gas turbines—we’re also providing electrical equipment, substation hardware, and software that helps manage the load of data centers connected to our turbines,” CEO Scott Strazik said during an interview on the sidelines of the Milken Global Conference in Beverly Hills this week. “While gas gets a lot of attention, in practice, our fastest-growing segment is electrification.”When asked to summarize the company’s current focus, Strazik describes it as delivering the “resilient electron,” regardless of its source. GE Vernova’s competitive advantage lies in its refusal to lock into any single vision of the energy future. In a landscape rife with conflicting narratives and no clear consensus, the smartest strategy may be to position itself at the intersection of all of them.Those who only loosely follow GE Vernova’s story are likely to hear mostly about gas. Industry observers closely track developments in the company’s gas turbine order book—which is largely booked through 2030. On earnings calls, analysts frequently question whether the company will expand production capacity to boost profits. Climate advocates, meanwhile, warn that the new gas-fired power generation enabled by GE Vernova’s products could further jeopardize climate goals.The company can sometimes appear to be solely a gas turbine manufacturer. Yet unlike some of its eager customers, Strazik adopts a more cautious stance. He has invested in optimizing existing manufacturing facilities to extract additional capacity but has stopped short of committing to new plant construction, citing multiple market uncertainties. According to him, challenges such as construction logistics, gas pipeline availability, permitting delays, and grid interconnection issues pose greater constraints than turbine production itself. “Even if we could magically produce more gas turbines, the truth is, there aren’t ready-made sites around the world just waiting for them,” he explained.Gas still represents a growth area. In a significant shift, some of the largest purchasers of these turbines—accounting for roughly 20% of globally contracted capacity—are now data center developers. These companies are securing gas capacity to accelerate data center deployment, even if it means compromising on climate objectives.Serving this emerging customer base has compelled GE Vernova to evolve, Strazik noted. In effect, its expertise in gas has created opportunities to offer complementary technologies. Demand from major tech firms is pulling the company deeper into the power value chain—from turbines and grid infrastructure outside the data center toward electrical systems and software closer to the server racks.The company recorded $2.4 billion in data center equipment orders in the first quarter alone—surpassing total sales in this category for all of last year. It has also increased R&D investment in electrification. Analysts expect this segment to soon become the company’s second-largest business. “We don’t currently supply electrical equipment inside data centers, but we’re actively developing solutions,” he said.Clean energy technologies offer another layer of strategic flexibility. For instance, tech companies are increasingly ordering generators from GE Vernova designed to accommodate future carbon capture systems—even though significant hurdles remain to retrofitting them. The company has also placed a long-term bet on small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), collaborating with partners to build its first unit in Canada and potentially many more in the U.S. The aim is to revive the dormant U.S. nuclear supply chain and secure a sustainable future for SMRs. Additionally, despite wind energy facing political headwinds in Washington, D.C., Strazik remains committed to the sector. The current wind business primarily involves servicing and maintaining existing installations, but he sees potential for broader applications ahead. “This is certainly not the time, in my view, to walk away from wind,” he said, noting that “it’s clearly at its lowest volume point, at least in the U.S.”While gas is fueling GE Vernova’s current momentum, its long-term growth hinges on a far more diversified technological portfolio—all converging through electrification. This shift is a trend that both corporate leaders and policymakers should heed.To receive this story directly in your inbox, subscribe to TIME's Future Proof newsletter here. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Why I Stopped Using Food Delivery Apps Hot News

Why I Stopped Using Food Delivery Apps

May 8, 2026
—Malte Mueller—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - Several years ago, while living alone in New York City, I struggled to figure out how to feed myself without relying on DoorDash, Seamless, or UberEats.Most days, sometimes twice daily, I placed food delivery orders. Even though what I ordered—whether greasy, lukewarm fast food or a favorite $18 kale Caesar salad—rarely felt worthwhile, it almost always filled me with varying levels of guilt.I earned a decent salary at the time, but my habit of ordering food delivery—alongside my online shopping addiction—was not financially sustainable. I’d simply charge everything to my credit card and hope things worked out. Cooking (and even worse, grocery shopping, let alone doing dishes) was, for much of my 20s, one of the most dreaded responsibilities of adult life.At least when I had a partner, we could share those burdens, dividing up grocery runs, recipe brainstorming, preparing meals together, and tackling cleanup afterward (even if arguments often ensued).But when I lived alone? Everything changed. With no one else to judge me, it became shockingly easy to succumb to the convenience these apps offered—no effort, no movement, no thought required. Just a few taps, payment of $20 that didn’t feel real since it existed only as digital currency, and food would appear at my door.Food delivery apps aren’t just changing how we eat; they’re transforming our relationship with labor, money, and self-care.Growing up in the 1990s, food delivery was a simple transaction between restaurant and customer. We’d call our favorite spot, and the restaurant would pay an employee to drive or bike deliver it to us. We’d leave a cash tip.Delivery didn’t need Silicon Valley-style disruption. Like ride-share apps and taxis, delivery apps used venture capital to offer a slightly more convenient version of an already existing service. In doing so, they shifted consumer behavior and weakened a once-sustainable business model.Moreover, delivery apps don’t always provide a better experience. Social media is flooded with horror stories about food delivery mishaps. A common scenario: the wrong order arrives two hours late, and the app refuses any refund. I’m sure you, dear reader, have your own tales.How many times have you used a delivery app only to wait longer than it would take you to walk, drive, or use public transport to get to the restaurant and back? How often has your order arrived cold, incomplete, crushed, spilled, or otherwise ruined? And how frequently—even when you receive the correct meal, properly heated and intact—have you glanced at the ever-increasing “service” fees added to your bill (most of which go to corporate profits rather than the workers who cooked or delivered your food) and thought, Yeah, this really was worth it?Even during my addiction to delivery apps, I believed they were overpriced. Now, I’m far more aware that they often undercut restaurants operating on razor-thin margins. I’m horrified by reports that some apps exploit delivery drivers who are frequently paid less than a living wage. At some point, no generous tip feels like enough to justify these harms.Yet many people continue using these apps, despite good intentions, because they’ve become so normalized. Because they’re easy. Worse than easy: mindless.I can’t claim moral superiority here. Over the past couple of years, I’ve largely quit using food delivery—but it wasn’t easy, nor did it happen quickly.If I were still in the same situation—same job, same salary—I might never have stopped relying on delivery, not to mention my other addictions. It took losing my job, moving to the U.K., and starting over in a new industry for me to realize that paying more than £20 after ever-rising fees for a fast-food burger and fries is, frankly, ridiculous.It’s not just the cost. I was also concerned about what the culture of instant convenience was doing to my mind and spirit. I didn’t want to become a passive person confined to my home, outsourcing every aspect of life, interacting less and less with real people in the real world, and spending more and more time staring at screens.I believe we all need—as The Cut noted earlier this year—to embrace friction by rejecting the escapism of predictive algorithms and single-tap commands. Nothing less than our shared humanity is at stake.In his upcoming book, Against Convenience: Embracing Friction in an Age of Endless Ease, journalist Gabe Bullard argues that delivery apps may promise easier lives, yet threaten long-term physical and mental well-being.“We’re surrounded by tools, gadgets, apps, and schemes claiming to spare us unnecessary effort and stress,” he writes in the book’s introduction. “If our so-called conveniences do save time, money, or energy, the savings are fleeting, while the costs persist. These costs come in dollars and in the erosion of everyday life.”I understand all too well that when you’ve just returned home from a long day at work, the temptation to disengage is overwhelming: open your phone, scroll through endless short-form videos, order something cheap and full of empty calories, maybe have a drink or two, then collapse on the couch before finally heading to bed.Financial necessity forced me to get creative in those moments—and surprisingly, even when exhausted, irritable, and unwilling to cook anything elaborate, not every meal needs to be a grand culinary event. It just needs to be nourishing and satisfying.Rice, frozen vegetables, and a fried egg on top takes ten minutes at most (my rice cooker is a lifesaver). I’ve learned that batch cooking works best when it’s not about preparing whole meals I’ll grow tired of by the third serving; instead, it’s about spending five or ten minutes here and there making small upgrades—like packing a jar of quick-pickled onions to jazz up bland meals, baking trays of chicken thighs on Sundays for versatile packed lunches, or simmering chia seeds with frozen berries, honey, and lemon for fiber-rich breakfasts.I wouldn’t say I’ve fully converted into someone who loves cooking; there are still plenty of days when I open the fridge and sigh. But I’ve come to appreciate it far more: the meditative rhythm of putting on music and getting lost in chopping garlic and onions, the deep satisfaction of creating something with my own hands. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Trump Faces Fresh Setback on Tariffs as He Warns EU of ‘Much Higher’ Levies Hot News

Trump Faces Fresh Setback on Tariffs as He Warns EU of ‘Much Higher’ Levies

May 8, 2026
President Donald Trump speaks with workers who have been painting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2026. —Kent Nishimura––AFP/Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - A U.S. trade court has issued another setback to President Donald Trump’s proposal for global tariffs set at 10%, coinciding with his threat of imposing significantly higher duties on the European Union.In a 2–1 ruling, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade found on Thursday that Trump overstepped his legal authority when he implemented sweeping global tariffs in February.“Well, we were surprised,” Trump said when questioned about the court’s decision. “We had one very favorable vote, but two radical left judges who voted against it. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the courts.”The tariffs were enacted by Trump following the Supreme Court’s rejection in February of his use of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which had been central to his strategy for imposing reciprocal tariffs on various countries.“The Supreme Court’s judgment regarding tariffs is deeply disappointing! I am disheartened by certain members of the court for lacking the courage to do what is right for our nation,” Trump stated at the time.The small businesses involved in the lawsuit argued that the administration was attempting to circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision through an alternative legal approach.In February, immediately after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Trump announced he would issue “an order to impose a 10% global tariff, under Section 122, in addition to our standard tariffs already in place.”The trade court determined that the type of trade deficits cited by Trump did not justify such extensive tariff authority and emphasized that Section 122 of the Trade Act was designed to grant tariff-setting power to Congress, not the Executive branch.“Section 122 is a limited, temporary mechanism intended to address specific balance-of-payments emergencies—not a blank check allowing the executive branch to impose worldwide trade restrictions due to ordinary trade deficits or to evade prior judicial rulings,” said the Liberty Justice Center, the law firm representing the plaintiffs.The ruling applies exclusively to the state of Washington and the two companies involved in the lawsuit, with the judges declining to issue a nationwide injunction. Nevertheless, the plaintiffs will be entitled to refunds for tariffs paid under Section 122, along with interest.“Nothing surprises me. So, we always find another way; we get one ruling, but then proceed differently,” Trump remarked in response to the court’s decision.Thursday’s decision marks another obstacle for Trump’s economic agenda and may pave the way for further legal challenges.“This ruling represents a crucial victory for American enterprises that depend on international manufacturing to deliver secure and affordable products. Unauthorized tariffs hinder businesses like ours from competing effectively and expanding,” said Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!“We are encouraged by the court’s acknowledgment that these tariffs went beyond the President’s authorized powers. This decision provides essential clarity and stability for firms operating within global supply chains,” Foreman added.The Administration has also commenced processing refunds related to Trump’s initial IEEPA tariffs, with corporations expected to receive billions of dollars in repayments.Meanwhile, Trump announced on Thursday night a new deadline for finalizing a trade agreement with the European Union.“I have been patiently waiting for the EU to honor their part of the historic trade deal we agreed upon in Turnberry, Scotland—the largest trade deal ever negotiated!” he said.Trump further stated that despite having a “productive conversation” with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tariffs “will immediately increase to much higher levels” if the agreement is not concluded by July 4.President Donald Trump and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen shake hands as they announce a U.S.-E.U. trade deal after a meeting at Trump Turnberry golf club on July 27, 2025 in Turnberry, Scotland. —Andrew Harnik––Getty ImagesThe agreement, reached in July of last year, established a maximum tariff rate of 15% on most European goods. In exchange, the EU committed to eliminating duties on U.S. industrial products, including automobiles.However, EU negotiators have yet to pass the necessary legislation to enact the agreement, a delay that has provoked Trump. Last week, he warned the bloc of introducing a new 25% tariff on automobiles, accusing it of failing to comply with the terms of the deal.EU officials failed once again this week to present a finalized agreement, although von der Leyen maintained an optimistic tone following her discussion with Trump.“We remain fully dedicated, on both sides, to implementing the agreement. Substantial progress is being made toward reducing tariffs by early July,” she said.Trump noted that he and von der Leyen also discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran, emphasizing that both parties are “completely aligned” in their belief that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon.Tensions between Trump and several European leaders have intensified amid the conflict with Iran, as the President has repeatedly criticized allies for refusing to support U.S. military operations alongside Israel.Trump has also considered withdrawing from NATO and threatened to remove troops stationed in Germany, Italy, and Spain. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Multiple U.S. States Tracking Cruise Ship Passengers Amid Hantavirus Outbreak Hot News

Multiple U.S. States Tracking Cruise Ship Passengers Amid Hantavirus Outbreak

May 8, 2026
Hantavirus samples are seen in Ankara, Turkiye on May 06, 2026. —Arman Onal/Anadolu via Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - At least five U.S. states are currently monitoring residents who have returned home from the MV Hondius cruise ship in late April, following the outbreak of the rodent-borne hantavirus that continues to put health authorities worldwide on alert. The Texas Department for State Health Services (DSHS) said Thursday it was notified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that two state residents had disembarked from the ship and returned to the U.S. before reports of the outbreak. DSHS said that the residents “are not experiencing any symptoms and did not have any contact with a sick person while aboard the ship,” in a statement. “They have agreed to monitor themselves for symptoms with daily temperature checks and contact public health officials at any sign of a possible illness.”Georgia’s Department of Public Health has confirmed that it is monitoring two passengers who disembarked the vessel. “The individuals are currently in good health and show no signs of infection. They are following current recommendations from CDC,” a spokesperson told TIME. In Virginia, one person who was on the ship and has since returned "is currently in good health and is under public health monitoring," director of communications at Virginia's Department of Health Maria Reppas told TIME on Friday. "Our understanding is that fewer than 30 U.S. Citizens were on board the ship. A small number [under five] of other potentially exposed Virginians might be identified in the days ahead," said Reppas. Arizona is also reportedly monitoring a resident who left the ship on the island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean on April 24. California’s Department of Public Health is also said to be monitoring an unspecified number of residents, bringing the total of passengers back in the U.S. to at least seven. These public health departments have said that none of the residents are showing symptoms of the illness, according to multiple reports. On Friday, the latest suspected case of hantavirus was reported by the U.K. Health Security Agency, in a British national on Tristan da Cunha, one of the stops on the MV Hondius itinerary. The UKHSA also confirmed that two other British nationals have hantavirus and are currently being treated. Director General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that five cases had been confirmed as hantavirus, including three deaths. Ghebreyesus emphasized that the WHO continues to assess the public health risk as low. Hantavirus is predominantly spread by contact with the urine, droppings, and saliva of rats or mice, according to the CDC. It can also, on rare occasions, spread through scratches or bites from rodents.The virus generally does not spread through human contact, but the Andes strain, one of the hantavirus family, can spread through droplets among close contacts, Kartik Chandran, professor of microbiology and immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine told TIME. In response to the development, the CDC has reportedly classified the outbreak as a “Level 3” emergency response—the lowest classification—according to multiple reports cited by ABC News.President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that he has been briefed on the virus, without providing further detail as to what the briefings entailed. “It’s very much, we hope, under control,” he told reporters. “I think we’re going to make a full report about it tomorrow.”Authorities prepare for arrival of MV Hondius in Canary IslandsAfter three passengers suspected to have hantavirus were evacuated from the vessel in Cape Verde on Tuesday, the cruise ship has continued on its scheduled journey to the Canary Islands. The Spanish archipelago, which sits 60 miles off the coast of Morocco, is set to receive all remaining passengers and crew onboard the MV Hondius on Sunday. “They will arrive at a completely isolated, cordoned-off area,” said Spain’s head of emergency services Virginia Barcones on Thursday. “They will board vehicles that are isolated and under guard, and will proceed to a section of the airport that will be completely cordoned off.”Barcones clarified the procedure so that residents of the Canary Islands “can rest assured that there will be absolutely no possibility of contact” with passengers from the cruise ship. The scheduled arrival of the MV Hondius in Tenerife this Sunday comes despite pushback from the islands’ president, Fernando Clavijo. On Tuesday, Clavijo said that he “cannot allow” passengers to disembark on the islands, which he claimed would “blindly endanger the safety of the Canary Islands population.”The Spanish government had previously announced that it would welcome the vessel to its territory, something which Clavijo said went against what he had already agreed upon with health officials on the islands.A number of national health authorities are preparing to assist passengers once they arrive in Tenerife. According to Barcones, the U.S. is sending a plane to the Canary Islands to repatriate the 17 American citizens still onboard the ship. The UKHSA said that it will have personnel on the ground, and that “British passengers and ship crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by U.K. Government staff to an airport and given free passage back to the U.K.”Barcones said on Friday that Spain will "guarantee total safety” in the repatriation efforts for all 23 nationalities represented by the passengers and crew of the ship. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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A Robot (Sort of) Made My Lunch Hot News

A Robot (Sort of) Made My Lunch

May 8, 2026
—Getty Images(SeaPRwire) - Earlier this week, I dropped by a lunch eatery in London where several people in their 20s were hard at work behind the counter. Just to their left sat something far from ordinary: a food-assembly robot that could one day put these workers out of a job.I visited the location to check out a pilot program run by London-based startup Kaikaku AI. With roughly $1.8 million in funding, it is one of a growing group of startups that see recent breakthroughs in AI and robotics as a chance to cut out repetitive kitchen tasks, lower labor costs for food businesses, and—at least according to Kaikaku CEO Josef Chen—reduce prices for consumers while also improving the taste of food.As someone who never shies away from first-hand reporting for the public good, I arrived with a healthy appetite.I entered my order into an iPad and walked over to the robot. From above, it looked just like any standard food-assembly counter, with trays holding shredded carrots, onions, salad leaves, and sweet corn. I then crouched down and peered through a clear plastic window, where I saw funnels leading down from each tray to a conveyor belt below.My empty paper bowl moved in short jerks along the belt, pausing under each funnel in turn. A cascade of spring onions came first, followed by a heap of mango chunks and edamame beans. Next, the bowl stopped under a device that looked like a downward-pointing revolver, with each chamber holding a different sauce. My requested chili-garlic sauce was dispensed as ordered. Finally, a handful of raw salmon chunks tumbled out of the last chute. The conveyor belt carried my bowl to a small lift, which raised it up through an opening at waist height, ready to be picked up by a human worker.What came next was not automated at all. A human worker brought over a separate bowl of rice and sliced cucumber. (The machine can dispense rice, Chen explained, but it cannot yet do so as neatly as this restaurant prefers.) The worker mixed the ingredients portioned by the robot by hand, tipped them into the bowl of rice, then seasoned the mix by hand with sesame seeds and crispy onions. I dug in, and it tasted just like any other salmon poke bowl I’ve ever had.Kaikaku is not the first company to try automating salad assembly. Back in 2021, chain Sweetgreen acquired a startup called Spyce Kitchen to pursue a nearly identical project. The idea never gained traction, and Sweetgreen sold off the venture last year. But according to Chen, a mix of current factors gives Kaikaku a real shot at success: robotics parts have gotten cheaper, new innovations in food-safe 3D printing have emerged, and human labor has grown more expensive. Kaikaku uses proprietary machine learning systems that leverage recent AI advances to accurately weigh and dispense food, Chen says. The company’s machine, called Fusion, can theoretically process 360 bowls per hour—far more than even a team of human workers working at full speed. What I witnessed during my visit, which took place during an admittedly low-footfall lunch hour in London, was far slower than that maximum rate; roughly one bowl per minute.After my experience eating a lunch that was (sort of) prepared by a robot, I could have left the restaurant feeling skeptical. It’s true that assembling a salad is far simpler than cooking a complex meal. And most of the work required to get the food to my plate was still done by humans: farmers, fishermen, drivers, suppliers, and of course the worker who mixed everything together. Many of these workers already use machines, such as automatic crop planters that have automated the tedious work of sowing edamame beans by hand. What difference does one more machine make, simply because it is added at the final step of the process?Instead, I left thinking about what the future holds for the worker who handed me my bowl. When I asked her how she felt about the robot, she had nothing but good things to say. “It’s definitely a good idea,” she replied. “Right now, we struggle a lot to find good team members. So extra help like this really makes our work go faster.” But speaking with Chen made it clear that Kaikaku’s end goal is the full automation of the type of work she does. “Instead of having 20 people in the kitchen slicing vegetables, or three chefs whose only job is timing how long pasta cooks, all of that will be automated,” he told me. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Narges Mohammadi Critically Ill in Iranian Detention, Family Reports Hot News

Narges Mohammadi Critically Ill in Iranian Detention, Family Reports

May 8, 2026
A portrait of Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi is seen as people visit the exhibition at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, on December 8, 2023. —(Photo by Sergei Gapon/Anadolu via Getty Images)(SeaPRwire) - The family of Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi states she is in critical health in Iran, alleging officials are refusing the jailed activist urgent heart care.Speaking to TIME, her brother Hamidreza says his sister has Prinzmetal angina, a condition that leads to coronary artery spasms and can cause heart attacks and other severe issues. "We are deeply concerned that Narges's heart could stop," he stated in a phone call from Oslo.Mohammadi, detained in Zanjan Prison in the northwest since December, was moved to a local hospital last Friday after a rapid decline in her health. Her family asserts the condition emerged during her imprisonment.Her brother reports that relatives visited her at the hospital this week under strict monitoring by Iranian officials.The family is calling for her transfer to a Tehran hospital to obtain specialized care, a request Iranian authorities have denied, according to Hamidreza."The crucial point is that she needs to be seen by multiple specialists—and she has previous doctors who know her case,” he said. “It's an emergency—every moment is critical.” Worsening health in custody Mohammadi, a leading Iranian human rights defender, has spent decades advocating for women's rights, free speech, and an end to capital punishment, despite frequent arrests and jail time. The 54-year-old received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her work combating the oppression of women in Iran and promoting universal human rights and freedom.“I will never cease working toward achieving democracy, freedom, and equality,” she declared upon accepting the award. According to her foundation, Mohammadi has been arrested 13 times, receiving cumulative sentences of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. She was granted temporary release from Tehran’s Evin Prison on health grounds in December 2024, but was detained again a year later after addressing a memorial for a human rights lawyer.Her brother alleges she was badly beaten during and after her arrest, resulting in severe headaches and major vision impairment in one eye. He adds she has had serious chest pain, nausea, fainting episodes, blood pressure instability, and a suspected heart attack in March.Hamidreza recounts that a Tehran prosecutor's deputy went to Zanjan and, with six local doctors, concluded Mohammadi was critically ill and needed specialist care for “a minimum of one month outside prison.” He states this advice has been ignored by authorities.“The authorities are attempting to cover this up and leave her in that state, wishing for her death,” Hamidreza said.He adds that contact with his sister and family in Iran is still “extremely restricted" because of ongoing nationwide internet disruptions after lethal mass protests. Growing calls for Mohammadi’s release The Norwegian Nobel Committee has urged Iranian authorities to “promptly move” Mohammadi to a suitable medical facility in Tehran.“Lacking this care, her life continues to be endangered,” the committee said in a release. “Narges Mohammadi is jailed only for her non-violent human rights activism. Her survival now depends on the Iranian authorities.” The committee had earlier demanded Iran “free Mohammadi at once and without conditions” from her “arbitrary and unfair” detention, listing numerous abuses she has faced in prison, such as frequent assaults, isolation, and questioning.Her children, Ali and Kiana, who head the Narges Mohammadi Human Rights Foundation, have also consistently called for their mother to get proper medical attention. In a comment to TIME, Ali called the denial of necessary heart treatment “an intentional act of torture.” “We carry on our mother's fight by amplifying her voice and the voices of all human rights defenders within Iran who are working for a brighter future.” The siblings have not met their mother in a decade. “Growing up in a political family in Iran means responsibility arrives very young,” Kiana remarked. “You understand that staying silent is not a choice.” Family appeals to President TrumpHamidreza contends Iran is exploiting the conflict with the U.S. and Israel as a pretext to crack down on dissenters like his sister. “They have employed the war as a justification to execute and arrest numerous individuals without fair trials,” he stated, observing that “history is repeating itself” regarding the thousands of political prisoners executed during the Iran-Iraq War.Mohammadi’s family is appealing to President Donald Trump to include political prisoners and dissidents in any upcoming talks with Iran.“Do not allow the Iranian government to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage, and insist that any discussions be contingent on freeing prisoners, halting executions, and ending the killing of individuals like Narges,” Hamidreza said. 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