A new panel chosen by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will review the vaccine schedule for children in the U.S. This group will focus on vaccine safety and aims to rebuild public trust in health authorities.
Key Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced the entire previous panel with new members to form a committee to advise on vaccine policies.
The panel's new chair is Martin Kulldorff, an epidemiologist who previously worked at Harvard Medical School.
The committee plans to examine the complete vaccine schedule given to children and how different vaccines interact with each other.
A separate group will review older vaccines to see if their recommendations need updating.
This review includes vaccines for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.
The changes have sparked concerns among some experts about reopening debates on vaccine safety that were previously considered settled.
Kennedy claims conflicts of interest influenced the previous committee, although sources have questioned the validity of these claims.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice for their weekend wedding, drawing protests from local and international activist groups. The protests highlight concerns about wealth inequality and the impact of tourism on Venice, with various demonstrations planned around the event.
Key Facts
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice for their wedding.
Activist groups are protesting the wedding, criticizing wealth inequality and tourism's impact.
Protests include banners, floats, and planned marches in Venice.
Greenpeace and "Everyone Hates Elon" joined by unfurling a banner in St. Mark's Square.
A mannequin of Bezos was displayed on a float in the Grand Canal.
Activists plan a march from the train station on Saturday.
The wedding venue was changed to the Arsenale after pressure from protestors.
Famous guests include Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump, and Katy Perry.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that security forces stopped a coup attempt led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan of Armenia’s national church. Authorities charged Galstanyan and others with planning to destabilize the government, arresting 14 people in connection with the case.
Key Facts
Armenian security officials stopped a coup plot involving Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan.
Bagrat Galstanyan leads an opposition movement called Holy Struggle.
Authorities arrested 14 people suspected of involvement in the coup plot.
The accused were allegedly preparing for actions like blocking roads and using explosives.
There is tension between Prime Minister Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church, especially since Armenia's military loss to Azerbaijan in 2020.
The Armenian Investigative Committee says the group had recruited around 1,000 former soldiers and police officers.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is a dual Armenian-Canadian citizen, making him ineligible to become Armenia's prime minister.
Russian officials view the situation as an internal matter but express a desire for stability in Armenia.
Morgan Wallen's album "I'm the Problem" is at the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart for the fifth week in a row. New albums by K-pop group ATEEZ, rapper Lil Tecca, and Christian singer Brandon Lake have recently joined the top 10. On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Alex Warren's "Ordinary" has returned to the No. 1 position.
Key Facts
Morgan Wallen’s album "I'm the Problem" is number one on the Billboard 200 for the fifth straight week.
The album has 37 songs and continues to perform well due to high streaming numbers.
Several new albums entered the top 10 last week but quickly fell off the list.
ATEEZ’s album "GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Rapper Lil Tecca’s album "DOPAMINE" debuted at No. 3.
Brandon Lake’s album "King of Hearts" reached No. 7 on the chart.
On the Hot 100 singles chart, Alex Warren's song "Ordinary" is back at number one.
Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" dropped to the second spot on the Hot 100.
Workers found a Revolutionary War-era boat buried at the World Trade Center site in Manhattan. The New York State Museum is now rebuilding this boat from over 600 pieces. The team is putting the pieces together so visitors can watch the process and learn about its history, although some details about its past remain unclear.
Key Facts
Workers found the boat buried 22 feet underground at the World Trade Center site in 2010.
The boat is about 50 feet long and was built during the Revolutionary War, around 1775.
Researchers believe the boat was a gunboat used to defend Philadelphia, but details about its journeys and abandonment are unknown.
The recovered pieces were sent to Texas A&M for preservation and three-dimensional scanning before being moved to the New York State Museum.
The museum is located 130 miles up the Hudson River from Manhattan and has enough space for the reconstruction.
The reconstruction takes place on the museum floor, allowing visitors to see the process.
The project is expected to finish by the end of the month.
The boat’s wood came from trees cut in the Philadelphia area in the early 1770s.
The article discusses the aid situation in Gaza as described by Dr. James Smith, an emergency doctor. He notes that people trying to get help at aid distribution sites, which are supported by the US, are being killed by the Israeli military.
Key Facts
Dr. James Smith is an emergency physician who provides information on the situation in Gaza.
People in Gaza are trying to get help from aid distribution sites.
These aid distribution sites receive support from the United States.
The Israeli military is reportedly involved in attacks on people at these distribution sites.
The situation is impacting the safety and accessibility of aid for people in Gaza.
An independent watchdog report highlights that the IRS lost about a quarter of its employees due to staffing cuts linked to budget changes championed by President Trump. This reduction could impact the 2026 tax filing season as the IRS deals with fewer workers and upcoming tax law changes. The report also notes ongoing challenges like delays in resolving identity theft cases.
Key Facts
The IRS workforce dropped from 102,113 to 75,702 employees over the past year.
Over 17,500 workers left the IRS through a program offering resignations instead of potential layoffs.
The biggest staff cuts affected taxpayer services, small business/self-employed offices, and IT.
Next year's federal budget proposes a further 20% funding reduction for the IRS.
Erin M. Collins, a taxpayer advocate, warns that the reduced IRS staff and changes in tax laws might make the 2026 tax season difficult.
New legislative changes may increase workload for the IRS due to retroactive tax law applications.
The IRS faces delays of up to 20 months in resolving identity theft cases, despite improvements noted in the report.
A girl in China's Guizhou province was rescued by firefighters after being trapped in a drain for seven hours due to intense flooding. Heavy rains in the area led to severe flooding, causing 80,000 people to evacuate.
Key Facts
A girl got stuck in a drain in Guizhou, China for seven hours.
The incident happened because of heavy rains and flooding.
Firefighters rescued the girl unharmed.
Intense flooding forced 80,000 people to leave their homes in the province.
Videos on social media showed streets and shopping centers flooded with water.
Some users of the mobile operator Three are unable to make phone calls due to a problem with voice services. Data services are still functioning, and Vodafone users are not affected. The issue was reported by over 9,000 users in the morning.
Key Facts
The mobile operator Three is experiencing issues with users making phone calls.
The problem affects voice services, not data services.
Three reported the issue on social media but did not specify how many users are affected.
Over 9,000 users reported the problem on an outage tracking website around 9:30 in the morning.
Three recently merged with Vodafone, creating a large phone network in the UK.
People in the UK are now spending more time on their mobile phones than watching TV, according to a survey. The research shows a trend led by younger people, who spend more hours on their phones, while older people still watch more TV. Separate findings also suggest a shift in how people get their news, with more turning to social media and alternative sources like YouTubers and podcasters.
Key Facts
UK people are using mobile phones more than watching TV for the first time.
Young people (ages 15-24) spend almost five hours a day on their phones.
Older adults (ages 65-74) spend nearly five hours watching TV daily.
On average, UK individuals spend three hours and 21 minutes per day on mobiles.
A study found mainstream media has declining trust and fewer digital subscriptions.
More people are getting news from social media platforms and influencers.
Populist politicians are bypassing traditional media for supportive interviewers.
Despite false stories, people still value news brands known for being accurate.
Households in the UK owe over £8 billion in unpaid council tax. This debt includes £6.6 billion owed to local authorities in England alone, with tax bills expected to keep rising in the future.
Key Facts
Households in England, Scotland, and Wales owe a total of more than £8 billion in council tax.
In England, £6.6 billion is currently owed to local authorities.
An additional £642 million was added to the arrears in the year leading up to April.
The UK government is considering changing how unpaid council tax bills are collected.
The Treasury expects that council tax may rise by 5% each year.
Local councils can increase council tax by up to 5% without a vote but need approval to go higher.
Campaigners are suggesting a kinder approach to collecting council tax debts, instead of using bailiffs.
A new panel advising the CDC on vaccines will meet for the first time on Wednesday after the Health Secretary replaced its former members with new appointees. The panel will talk about COVID-19 and RSV vaccines.
Key Facts
A panel will advise the CDC on vaccine policy and safety.
The first meeting of the new panel is on Wednesday at 10 a.m. EDT.
The panel will discuss COVID-19 and RSV vaccines.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. chose new members for the panel.
Kennedy dismissed the previous 17-member expert panel last month.
Eight new members have replaced the old panel, including some against vaccines.
Senator Bill Cassidy expressed concerns about the experience of the new panel members.
The availability of food in Gaza has significantly decreased since Israel blocked most aid on March 2, causing food prices to rise sharply. Families, including those from Shujaiyya, are struggling to find food and mainly rely on red lentils. A US-backed food aid initiative, GHF, has begun distributing supplies, but access to these sites has been dangerous, and there have been reports of violence.
Key Facts
Israel blocked nearly all aid to Gaza on March 2, leading to food shortages.
Food prices, like flour, have risen steeply, making it difficult for people to afford basic meals.
Many families that did not store food before the blockade now have very limited options and rely mostly on lentils.
The blockade forced many breadwinners to lose their income, affecting families' abilities to buy food.
The Gaza Humanitarian Food (GHF) initiative was introduced to provide food aid, including flour and canned goods.
Distribution points for this aid are mainly in the southern part of Gaza, which has raised safety concerns.
Reports of violence at these distribution sites claim several people were killed and injured when Israeli forces opened fire.
The Israeli army has denied claims of violence, attributing incidents to other factors.
A small group of white Zimbabwean farmers have accepted a compensation deal from the government for land seized during a land reform in 2000. The deal involves a partial cash payment and bonds, while the majority of farmers are not satisfied and continue to seek total cash compensation.
Key Facts
In 2000, Zimbabwe's land reform program led to the seizure of farms owned by about 2,500 white farmers.
The reform was intended to return land to the original black inhabitants but caused economic issues and tensions with Western countries.
The current deal offers compensation for improvements on the land, like buildings and infrastructure, not the land itself.
The total compensation is set at $3.5 billion, but only $3.1 million has been paid in cash so far for 378 farms.
Most of the payment will be through bonds that mature in 10 years, with 2% interest paid twice yearly.
Many farmers are unhappy with the bonds due to concerns about their future value.
Some farmers believe the UK should help negotiate a better deal.
President Mnangagwa is promoting the deal to improve relations and address previous conflicts.
Thousands of people in Kenya marched to remember the anniversary of protests from last year, where at least 60 people died due to police actions. The demonstrators, mostly young, called for peaceful protests against President William Ruto’s government, which they blame for high taxes and economic problems. International embassies and rights groups have urged for non-violence and criticized the presence of plainclothed officers at protests.
Key Facts
Protesters in Kenya marked a year since a deadly protest where security forces killed at least 60 people.
The demonstrations are against President William Ruto, who faced criticism for proposed tax increases.
Most of the demonstrators are young Kenyans concerned about the economic situation and lack of job opportunities.
Police blocked roads and used razor wire to secure government buildings during the protests.
International embassies and rights groups called for peaceful demonstrations and criticized police actions.
There is anger over police brutality, worsened by the recent death of a blogger in police custody.
Charges have been filed against six people, including police officers, accused of murder in the blogger's death.
Since last year's protests, over 80 government critics have reportedly disappeared, raising concerns about human rights in Kenya.
A United States judge ruled that using books to train artificial intelligence (AI) software does not break US copyright laws if the use is transformative, meaning it changes the work in a significant way. However, the judge stated that the AI firm Anthropic must face trial for keeping pirated copies of books, which could lead to fines. This case is one of the first of its kind and could influence future legal decisions about AI learning from existing content.
Key Facts
A judge decided that AI company Anthropic's use of books to train its software is allowed under US law as transformative use.
Three authors sued Anthropic, claiming their books were used to train Anthropic's AI without permission.
The judge rejected Anthropic's move to dismiss the lawsuit, meaning a trial will happen.
Anthropic is accused of storing over seven million pirated books, which could result in fines up to $150,000 per work.
The case focuses on whether AI can legally use existing material, a topic involved in many legal disputes.
The judge noted that the authors did not allege their works were copied directly in the AI's outputs.
Other companies, like Disney, have filed similar lawsuits against AI firms for using copyrighted content.
Anthropic's defense of "fair use" was accepted, but the company still faces a trial regarding how they obtained the books.
Jacky Jhaj, a British man, was charged in France for planning a fake wedding to a young girl at Disneyland Paris. He was previously found guilty of sexual activities with minors in 2016 and is on the sex offenders register in the UK.
Key Facts
Jacky Jhaj is charged with organizing a mock wedding involving a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris.
He was arrested after being reported by an actor he hired for the event.
Jhaj has a history of hiring children for staged events, including a fake film premiere in London.
In 2016, he was convicted of sexual activity with two 15-year-olds.
He has been on the UK sex offenders register and is under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Videos from his events were posted on YouTube, gaining millions of views before being removed.
The BBC reported Jhaj for his actions, which led to further investigations.
Jhaj's productions reportedly cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to organize.
NPR staff members shared their favorite nonfiction books of the year, covering diverse topics like the power of color, economic strategies, and modern technology. These books explore important themes such as history, culture, and current global issues.
Key Facts
NPR employees listed the nonfiction books they enjoyed most this year.
The list includes books on topics like gossip, history, and personal reflections.
"Abundance" by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson talks about changing our mindset from scarcity to abundance.
"Black in Blues" by Imani Perry examines how the color blue relates to Black history and culture.
"Careless People" by Sarah Wynn-Williams looks at the influence of Facebook on global politics.
"Chokepoints" by Edward Fishman details how the U.S. uses economic power and the dollar's dominance.
The books cover themes of power, culture, economics, and technology's role in society.
Losing a job can be stressful and emotional. Career coach Octavia Goredema suggests taking time to process these feelings and provides steps to manage the transition. Important actions include reviewing exit paperwork and securing benefits like unemployment insurance and health care.
Key Facts
Octavia Goredema is a career coach offering advice for those who have been laid off.
It is important to take time to process emotions after losing a job.
Reviewing all exit paperwork from your employer is essential, including details about vacation payouts and benefits.
Consider consulting an employment attorney if you have concerns about wrongful termination.
Apply for unemployment insurance as soon as possible to receive financial support.
Each state has its own rules for unemployment benefits, usually lasting up to 26 weeks.
Explore other government benefits, such as food assistance and job training programs.
If your health insurance was through your job, COBRA might allow you to keep it temporarily, but it can be costly.
The term "bruh" is now widely used by Gen Alpha (younger kids) for different expressions, from addressing parents to conveying emotions. This word has evolved from "brother" through words like "bro" and "brer," with its current popularity boosted by social media platforms like TikTok.
Key Facts
"Bruh" is commonly used by the younger generation, Gen Alpha, to express various emotions.
The word "bruh" comes from shortened forms of "brother" like "bro" and "bra."
The first use of "bruh" was recorded as "brer" in stories like "Br'er Rabbit" in the 1890s.
Social media, especially TikTok, has increased the use and popularity of "bruh."
Jamie Cohen and Amanda Brennan explain its social media-driven spread.
"Bro" was popular before "bruh" and became linked with "frat boy" culture.
