Did countries with stricter COVID-19 lockdowns stop the spread after all?
As the COVID-19 pandemic raged around the world, world leaders pursued different strategies for containing the virus, often with differing results.
In the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections, the political parties in many states are working to redefine their congressional district maps to gain every possible edge. From California and Texas to Tennessee and Virginia, redistricting efforts have taken center stage. The Supreme Court has sanctioned partisan gerrymandering, and the system has evolved to one in which state legislature majorities get to determine who is most likely to fill those seats in Congress.
In short, gerrymandering has become a central feature of the system, not a bug. But what if we rethink the structure entirely?
Fake Hermès Birkin bags and other counterfeit luxury goods are popular not only with people on a budget, but also with those with deeper pockets, a new study suggests.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore analyzed millions of counterfeit purchases by American consumers from more than 24,000 U.S. zip codes on a major cross-border, e-commerce platform. They found that both lower- and higher-income individuals are “significantly more likely” to buy fake luxury items than middle-income consumers, according to a press release by INFORMS on Monday.
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As the COVID-19 pandemic raged around the world, world leaders pursued different strategies for containing the virus, often with differing results.
The expected prolonged supply chain disruptions in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus will likely add more pressure in the coming months – and maybe years – to Canada’s internal transport infrastructure.
As the COVID-19 pandemic rolls into its third year, many of us have more questions than ever about how or when the pandemic will end. One of the subjects we’ve seen discussed a lot is whether COVID is becoming “endemic” – but, to be honest, we didn’t even know what that word meant.
The soaring energy prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have plunged the energy sector into a state of crisis. Europe, which ordinarily sources almost 40% of its gas from Russia, is particularly vulnerable. The price of natural gas in Europe has seen a tenfold increase since the start of 2021.
In the last four weeks, more than 3.5 million Ukrainians have fled their country to escape Russian forces, facing an uncertain future and placing new economic demands on host countries such as Poland. Besides this recent crisis, more than 80 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, notably in Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar.

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