Halsey has announced the cancellation of her highly anticipated Istanbul concert, a show that had been in the works for months and was set to be her only performance in continental Europe. The Grammy-nominated singer shared the news in an emotional Instagram statement, saying she was heartbroken to call it off.
According to Halsey, unforeseen logistical limitations had made it impossible to move forward in a way that would deliver the event and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for fans. She explained that she and her team had explored every possible solution with the local promoter before making the final decision.
The concert, which had already been rescheduled once, was eagerly awaited by fans, many of whom had booked travel and accommodation. The announcement sparked frustration online, with some expressing disappointment over the timing and the financial loss incurred from their preparations. Others accused the singer of being unprofessional, suggesting she could have gone ahead with a scaled-down performance.
However, many supporters defended her choice, highlighting that safety and quality should take precedence. Some fans urged others to be understanding, pointing out that cancellations can happen and that Halsey’s regret was clear in her message.
In her post, the artist assured fans she remains committed to returning to Türkiye in the future, emphasising her love for performing there. She confirmed that refunds would be available at the point of purchase.
The cancellation comes a year after Halsey revealed she had been diagnosed with lupus and leukaemia, conditions she described as life-altering. At the time, she said she was determined to focus on her health and envisioned a future free from illness as she turned 30.
For now, fans will have to wait for a new date, but the singer’s promise to come back suggests the Istanbul crowd may yet get their long-awaited show.
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New research lays groundwork for future studies exploring the role of probiotics in antimicrobial stewardship and infection control among preterm babies.
Preterm babies with very low birth weight who received a probiotic alongside antibiotics had fewer multidrug resistant bacteria and a more typical gut microbiome, a new study shows.
The paper published in Nature Communications today (date date) is the result of a trial testing probiotics among a group of 34 pre-term babies born with a very low birth weight, under 1500g representing around 1-1.5% of babies born around the world. The study sequenced gut bacteria from the babies during the first three weeks after birth.
The collaborative study led by Professor Lindsay Hall and Dr Raymond Kiu from the University of Birmingham found that among babies who received a probiotic treatment of a certain strain including Bifidobacterium alongside antibiotics, levels of typical bacterial strains associated with early-life gut microbiota were at levels typical among full-term babies, reducing both the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and the number of multi-drug resistant bacteria in the gut.
In the context of the global AMR crisis, this is a major finding, especially for NICUs where preterm infants are especially vulnerable. Probiotics are now used in many neonatal ICUs around the UK, and the WHO have recommended probiotic supplementation in preterm babies. Our paper shows how beneficial this intervention can be for babies born prematurely to help them give their gut a kickstart, and reduce the impact of concerning pathogens taking hold.Professor Lindsay Hall – University of Birmingham
There were lower levels of drug-resistant pathogens including Enterococcus associated with risks of infections and longer hospital stays. Babies who received probiotics also saw higher levels of certain positive bacteria found naturally in the gut.
Among babies who didn’t receive probiotics, analysis of the gut bacteria found that while some differences occurred between those receiving antibiotics or not, both groups saw a dominant microbiome develop that included key bacteria (pathobionts) that can cause health problems including life-threatening infections during the crucial period after birth, as well as in later life.
Professor Lindsay Hall from the University of Birmingham and a group leader at Quadram Institute Bioscience, and senior corresponding author of the study said: “We have already shown that probiotics are highly effective in protecting vulnerable preterm babies from serious infections, and this study now reveals that these probiotics also significantly reduce the presence of antibiotic resistance genes and multidrug-resistant bacteria in the infant gut. Crucially, they seem to do so selectively – targeting resistant strains without disrupting non-resistant strains that might be beneficial.
“In the context of the global AMR crisis, this is a major finding, especially for NICUs where preterm infants are especially vulnerable. Probiotics are now used in many neonatal ICUs around the UK, and the WHO have recommended probiotic supplementation in preterm babies.
“Our paper shows how beneficial this intervention can be for babies born prematurely to help them give their gut a kickstart, and reduce the impact of concerning pathogens taking hold.”
Dr Raymond Kiu from the University of Birmingham, first and co-corresponding author of the paper said: “Sequencing technology has now confirmed that probiotic Bifidobacterium rapidly replicates in the preterm gut during the first three weeks of life. Importantly, this successful colonisation drives the maturation of the gut microbiota and is linked to a noticeable reduction in multi-drug-resistant pathogens—pointing to its pivotal role in improving neonatal health. Our findings also shed light on the complex interactions between antibiotics, probiotics, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in shaping the early-life microbiome.
“We believe this research lays the groundwork for future studies exploring the role of probiotics in antimicrobial stewardship and infection control among preterm populations.”
Reference: Kiu R, Darby EM, Alcon-Giner C, et al. Impact of early life antibiotic and probiotic treatment on gut microbiome and resistome of very-low-birth-weight preterm infants. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):7569. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-62584-2
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Cardi B delivered a second serving of her Am I the Drama? album with the Jay-Z-sampling “Imaginary Playerz” on Friday (Aug. 15). Accompanying the single, Cardi directed a luxurious visual alongside Patientce Foster.
The Bronx bombshell shows off her opulent taste and fashion sense, while letting the other women out there know they’re not messing with her when it comes to being a fashion icon.
Cardi turns the private airport’s tarmac into a fashion show runway. She cycles through a red ballroom gown before taking the private jet to Paris, where she enjoys a day on the yacht.
A seafood lover, Cardi enjoys a lobster dinner on the beach and then heads back to her five-star resort for a foot bath with a side of champagne. For the final scene, she models various couture looks before heading out for a Parisian night under the stars.
“Imaginary Playerz” heavily samples Jay-Z’s 1997 “Imaginary Players,” which landed on Hov’s In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.
Cardi B revealed in an X Spaces that she got the Brooklyn rap deity’s stamp of approval for her version. “If he didn’t approve it, I probably wouldn’t even feel a certain type of way neither, because it’s like, ‘OK, maybe I just had to come a little bit harder,’” she said. “But I’m glad that I came hard and he loved it.”
“Imaginary Playerz” follows “Outside” as the first two singles, setting the table for Cardi B’s anticipated sophomore album. Am I the Drama? is slated to be released on Sept. 19.
Ok, we’ve yet to confront the real elephant in the room: Powell’s tug-of-war with the White House over Fed independence. September’s meeting could be explosive.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wants a bold 50bp cut. But as James K asked in our webinar, could Trump’s temporary appointee Stephen Miran push for even more – and would Fed board members like Christopher Waller or Michelle Bowman, both seen as future Chair contenders, follow suit?
That may be unlikely, and Miran may not even be confirmed in time. And the latest data doesn’t scream a need to go bold just yet.
Still, his brief stint could preview how the board might respond to a dovish Chair. Would they fall in line or resist? And would Powell stay on?
At Jackson Hole, though, Powell faces a more immediate challenge. A September rate cut is fully priced by financial markets. Does he push back?
Ideally, the Fed wants flexibility, especially with one more jobs and inflation report due. But signalling that now means guessing the data – something Powell won’t want to do. And that’s before considering whether he can shake market conviction in a September cut, even if he wanted to.
Where investors are more divided, it seems, is on what happens beyond September. This week’s webinar audience was roughly equally split three ways in expecting either one, two or three cuts through the remainder of this year. We’re very much in the latter camp, looking for a slightly more rapid string of cuts than markets currently expect.
That’s it for this week, but if you missed our webinar on Tuesday, check out the highlights below or watch the full thing to your heart’s content here.
Jacob Bethell is set to become England’s youngest men’s captain in an international match after being selected to lead the side in three Twenty20s in Ireland next month.
The 21-year-old is on the Test fringes but he is already a white-ball mainstay and the esteem in which he is held is emphasised by his appointment to captain England from 17-21 September in Dublin.
When he does so, Bethell will eclipse the existing record held by Monty Bowden, who was 23 years and 144 days old when he oversaw England in a Test against South Africa in Cape Town in 1888-89.
“Jacob Bethell has impressed with his leadership qualities ever since he has been with the England squads,” said the national selector, Luke Wright. “The series against Ireland will provide him with the opportunity to further develop those skills on the international stage.”
Bethell has received his chance as Harry Brook takes a breather following the one-day and T20 series against South Africa from 2-14 September, the squads for which were also announced on Friday.
The assistant, Marcus Trescothick, will step up as head coach in Ireland, with Brendon McCullum not making the trip, reprising the role he had in England’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean last winter.
The all-format quartet of Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse have also been taken out of the firing line against Ireland, giving them a rest in preparation for the Ashes later in the year.
The fast bowlers Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson are not in any of the three squads as they start focusing on the Test series against Australia, which gets under way on 21 November in Perth.
Sonny Baker has been included in the ODI squad to face South Africa and for the Ireland T20s. Photograph: Harry Trump/ECB/Getty Images
Wood had knee surgery in March and missed all of the Test series against India. It was hoped he would play some part against South Africa or Ireland but his competitive comeback may now not be until England’s white-ball trip to New Zealand in October and November.
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Quick Guide
England squads
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England ODI squad v South Africa
H Brook (captain), R Ahmed, J Archer, S Baker, T Banton, J Bethell, J Buttler, B Carse, B Duckett, W Jacks, S Mahmood, J Overton, A Rashid, J Root, J Smith. England T20 squad v South Africa
H Brook (captain), R Ahmed, J Archer, T Banton, J Bethell, J Buttler, B Carse, L Dawson, B Duckett, W Jacks, S Mahmood, J Overton, A Rashid, P Salt, J Smith, L Wood. England T20 squad v Ireland
J Bethell (captain), R Ahmed, S Baker, T Banton, J Buttler, L Dawson, T Hartley, W Jacks, S Mahmood, J Overton, M Potts, A Rashid, P Salt, L Wood
The uncapped fast bowler Sonny Baker has been rewarded for a string of encouraging showings in the past 12 months and has been included in the ODI squad to play the Proteas and in the group to face Ireland.
“Sonny is a player we have identified for a while and he was impressive during the England Lions tours last winter,” added Wright. “He has carried that form into this season in white-ball cricket with Hampshire and Manchester Originals and deservedly gets his opportunity.”
The seamer Matthew Potts and slow left-armer Tom Hartley have been recalled for the brief visit to Ireland but, despite a number of absentees, there is no recall for the all-rounders Liam Livingstone or Sam Curran.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March 2025 caused widespread damage and over 3800 fatalities, and also resulted in strong shaking and a building collapse in Bangkok more than 1000 km away. Preliminary analysis soon after the earthquake had already pointed to the unusually fast rupture velocity, which is known as a supershear rupture. The recent study of Felipe Vera from GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and coauthors confirms this finding and combines multiple methods to shed further light on the rupture process of this earthquake. According to the results, the Myanmar earthquake showed the highest rupture velocity worldwide in more than 20 years. The study is published in the journal The Seismic Record.
The comparison of optical satellite images before and after the earthquake allows a reconstruction of how far the ground has moved laterally on both sides of the fault, and similarly, comparison of before and after satellite radar images allows to reconstruct the vertical shift. These images show that the rupture occurred along the Sagaing fault over a distance of 500 kilometres, with the western side moving to the north, and the eastern side moving south for a maxium offset of 5 metres near the epicentre, which was near the city of Mandalay.
Frederik Tilmann, one of the study’s authors and Head of GFZ’s Seismology section, says: “Whereas satellite image analysis can give us a static view of the earthquake effects on the ground, the team used seismic stations in Europe, Japan, Australia and Alaska as seismic antennas to analyse the dynamics of the rupture propagation. The signals allowed us to track where the tip of the rupture is located at any moment in time.”
In the vast majority of earthquakes, the rupture propagates at velocities less than about 3.5 km/s (roughly 12,500 kilometres per hour), which corresponds to velocities a little less than the velocity of seismic shear waves. And indeed, during the initial phase, the rupture propagated at the same time to the north and south away from the epicentre at usual speeds. But after about 30 seconds, the rupture to the north arrested, and the rupture to the south accelerated to velocities of at least 5.3 km/s (almost 20.000 km/h). Seismologists call this a supershear rupture, the seismic equivalent of supersonic motion. This makes it probably the fastest recorded earthquake since 2002, when an earthquake in Alaska reached similar speeds. The total duration of the rupture was about 80 seconds.
Supershear propagation gives rise to a phenomenon called the Mach cone; for stations placed within its triangular outline on the surface, seismic waves from the whole 40 to 50 seconds long supershear-phase of the rupture arrive all at once. The study could demonstrate the existence of a Mach cone which provides further evidence for the supershear propagation. This phenomenon might have enhanced long period ground motion in Bangkok.
The GFZ, in cooperation with Myanmar’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, operates a seismic station in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, only 2 km from the fault. This station was active during the Myanmar earthquake and provided a remarkable and extremely rare near-fault recording of a supershear rupture. The recordings have been introduced in a recent data publication by Ssung-Ting Lai and coauthors (Earth System Science Data; in press). The station jumped by 160 cm to the north when the rupture passed nearby; this ‘jump’ took less than 2 seconds.
It is noteworthy that the Sagaing fault was identified as prone to supershear rupture in earlier studies due to the fact that it is the longest straight strike-slip fault; strike-slip faults are faults where both sides move mostly laterally with respect to each other and the only ones able to sustain supershear rupture. It is also noteworthy that the early slower part of the rupture occurred along portions of the fault that had ruptured in large earthquakes in 1946 and 1956 whereas the acceleration to supershear occurred in the so-called Sagaing gap, which had not seen any very large earthquakes in more than a hundred years and was thus presumably highly stressed.
Given the large size of the earthquake, the number and magnitude of aftershocks was very small, which is another hallmark of supershear ruptures: Due to the smooth propagation, the elastic stress built up over decades is rather evenly relaxed, whereas in typical earthquakes irregularities in the fault slip often leave behind patches of high stress, which then break in aftershocks.
Original study: Vera, F. et al. (2025): Supershear Rupture Along the Sagaing Fault Seismic Gap: The 2025 Myanmar Earthquake, The Seismic Record. 5(3), 289–299, doi: 10.1785/ 0320250025
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
Daria Lewis, FNP, DNP, shares insights on medication switching for patients with bipolar disorder, and advice on working with patients in managing their psychiatric medications. In order to start working with patients on a medication plan, Lewis says she wants to connect with patients to help them understand that even if they are functioning, their medication will help them get through their day as best as possible. Ensuring providers are on the same page as the patient in terms of treatment goals and plans is an essential part of the collaborative care aspect that Lewis focuses on. If a patient has been living with the symptoms of their disorder for an extended period, this can become a normal functioning pattern for them, Lewis says, but clinicians should help the patient understand that medication can help improve daily function.
After starting a medication, if a change is needed, Lewis prefers to see patients after about 2 weeks to catch any potential side effects that could signal the new medication is a poor fit. With the growth of digital tools like video call and Google Voice, clinicians are able to quickly meet with patients to check in more often and more easily.1 Especially with bipolar disorder and the lack of insight patients deal with, having virtual meetings can allow individuals close to the patient to have input on medication efficacy and connect with the clinician. Patients may be adamant that they are functioning well, but need to have the outside perspective from others showing them that they could be doing better.
Letting patients know what adverse effects they may experience and titrating medications when switching are good ways to help prepare the patient for new medications, Lewis says. If patients struggle to take medications orally every day, Lewis recommends discussing long acting injectables (LAIs).2 “A lot of times there can be the misconception that an injection is a punishment, and that is not the case,” Lewis notes. If the patient can be relieved of the daily responsibility of taking a pill, Lewis will discuss the option of LAIs and emphasize the benefit of the patient not having to think about taking a pill every day. Lewis adds “for a vast majority of my patients, it is not a one time conversation” about LAIs, and that this type of medication requires trust and connection between patient and provider.
References
1. Molfenter T, Heitkamp T, Murphy AA, Tapscott S, Behlman S, Cody OJ. Use of telehealth in mental health (MH) services during and after COVID-19. Community Ment Health J. 2021;57(7):1244-1251.
2. Bartoli F, Cavaleri D, Nasti C, et al. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics for the treatment of bipolar disorder: evidence from mirror-image studies. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2023;13:20451253231163682.
The Magpies travel to Villa Park to face Unai Emery’s men, who finished one place below United last season via goal difference, and will be aiming to replicate a similar result to their opening weekend of the 2023/24 campaign – a 5-1 victory against the Villans at St. James’ Park.
Howe confirmed Malick Thiaw, who joined United from AC Milan earlier this week, will be part of United’s travelling squad to the West Midlands this weekend and will be hopeful of recording a fourth successive opening day victory following respective triumphs over Nottingham Forest, Villa and Southampton.
Here are some of the boss’ main talking points from Friday morning’s pre-match media briefing, held at the Newcastle United Media Centre…
On the return of the Premier League…
“It’s great to be back. When you look through the summer, you think it is going to be a long break and pre-season, but it kind of flashes by and here we are.
“Lots of work has been going on behind-the-scenes, the players are ready to play and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
On team news, including summer signing Thiaw…
“Everyone is available apart from Joe [Willock] and he’s not too far away himself. We have a relatively good looking squad in terms of injury news. We’ve worked the players hard, they’ve been challenged through pre-season but the majority have come through.
“Malick [Thiaw] will be part of the squad. He has trained two days, never easy coming in right at the end of pre-season because a lot of our work is already done and our structures are in place but but he’s doing well.”
On the start to the 2025/26 season…
“You look at the first few on the calendar and they are tough games for us. It also sharpens your focus and you know when you’re working through pre-season, it’s to get everything right for that first game because you know the quality of the opposition.
“We have had some really tough battles against them. They’ve had successes and we’ve had successes and it’s going to be a really tight game but one we hope we can do well in.”
On Alexander Isak…
“There’s no change to the situation. All of my focus has been on the training, Aston Villa and the transfer front in terms of trying to get players in. You can imagine what that is all consuming. Alex’s situation has been unchanged for a while and that continues to be the case.
“I’ve had a great relationship with Alex. We need to have that partnership with every player. I have to work closely with the players and try to improve, educate and sometimes console them. There’s so many different emotions that players go through and I always want to be there for them in every way.
“I don’t think he would have done as well as he has without that and without his teammates, the supporters and backing of the football club. He recognises that. He’s a highly intelligent person and knows he wouldn’t have that success here without everybody connected with Newcastle.”
On early season expectations…
“Progression, improvement, more control in our performances, more dominant displays. We want to score goals, and to attack.
“The league is so hard, the challenges are difficult. I feel we will be stronger when we have our full compliment of players. We need to find ways to win games when we are not playing our best.”
Summary: Researchers have discovered that neurons in the gut play a direct role in guiding immune healing after inflammation by producing a molecule called adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2). This molecule stimulates group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) to release amphiregulin, a tissue-repairing factor, offering protection in models of inflammatory bowel disease.
Loss of ADM2 signaling reduced these protective cells and worsened disease, while administering ADM2 expanded them and promoted recovery. The findings reveal a neuro-immune communication pathway present in both mice and humans, highlighting the enteric nervous system as a promising target for new IBD therapies.
Key Facts:
Neuro-Immune Link: Gut neurons release ADM2, which boosts protective immune cell function.
Healing Boost: ADM2 expands ILC2 populations, enhancing tissue repair after gut inflammation.
Therapeutic Potential: ADM2-based strategies could treat IBD by enhancing natural healing.
Source: Weill Cornell University
Neurons in the gut produce a molecule that plays a pivotal role in shaping the gut’s immune response during and after inflammation, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
The findings suggest that targeting these neurons and the molecules they produce could open the door to new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and other disorders driven by gut inflammation.
These findings indicate that the immune-nervous system communication identified in mice is also present in humans, highlighting the enteric nervous system as a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease. Credit: Neuroscience News
Hundreds of millions of neurons make up the enteric nervous system, the “second brain” of the body, where they orchestrate essential functions of the gut such as moving food through the intestines, nutrient absorption and blood flow.
While this system is known for regulating these fundamental processes, its role in controlling intestinal inflammatory responses has remained far less clear.
In their study, reported August 15 in Nature Immunology, the investigators focused on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), immune cells that reside within the linings of the gut.
Their previous work revealed that ILC2s are a major source of a tissue-healing growth factor called amphiregulin and have the capacity to receive neuronal signals that modulate their function and can impact disease progression and recovery.
In the new study, they demonstrated that the tissue-protective function of ILC2s depends on production of a molecule called adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2) from the enteric nervous system; administering the molecule expanded this group of ILC2s and provided therapeutic benefit in a preclinical model of inflammatory bowel disease, whereas loss of ADM2 signaling exacerbated disease due to the lack of these protective cells.
“The enteric nervous system has long been neglected when thinking of how we can resolve detrimental intestinal inflammation,” said lead author Dr. Jazib Uddin, an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein postdoctoral fellow at Weill Cornell Medicine.
“Our work suggests there may be a previously unknown neuro-immune mechanism driving intestinal healing responses.”
Additionally, the investigators performed translational patient-based studies by analyzing human tissue and blood samples from Weill Cornell Medicine’s Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Live Cell Bank.
This analysis revealed that patients with inflammatory bowel disease had elevated expression of ADM2 compared with control individuals and found that human ILC2s stimulated with ADM2 directly promoted production of tissue-protective amphiregulin.
These findings indicate that the immune-nervous system communication identified in mice is also present in humans, highlighting the enteric nervous system as a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
“The findings of this current study allow new insights into how the immune and nervous systems ‘speak’ to each other and coordinate complex processes, including tissue inflammation and repair, and offer the potential for new therapies targeting these neuro-immune interactions,” said senior author Dr. David Artis, director of the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Michael Kors Professor in Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-director of the Allen Discovery Center for Neuro-immune Interaction.
About this neuroscience and inflammation research news
Author: Barbara Prempeh Source: Weill Cornell University Contact: Barbara Prempeh – Weill Cornell University Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Closed access. “CGRP-related neuropeptide adrenomedullin 2 promotes tissue-protective ILC2 responses and limits intestinal inflammation” by Jazib Uddin et al. Nature Immunology
Neuro–immune circuits regulate innate and adaptive immunity at barrier surfaces. However, the differential impact of these circuits on proinflammatory versus tissue-protective responses remains poorly defined.
We demonstrate that enteric neurons produce calcitonin gene-related peptide-related adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2) and identify a previously unrecognized role for the ADM2 pathway in promoting intestinal tissue-protective functions of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s).
Genomic or ILC2-intrinsic deletion of ADM2 receptor subunits resulted in a significant reduction in tissue-protective ILC2 responses, defective amphiregulin (AREG) production and increased susceptibility to intestinal damage and inflammation.
Conversely, therapeutic delivery of recombinant ADM2 elicited tissue-protective AREG+ ILC2s and limited intestinal inflammation.
Expression of genes encoding human ADM2 receptor (CALCRL and RAMP3) was altered in participants with inflammatory bowel diseases and associated with reduced expression of AREG in ILC2s.
Collectively, these findings identify that the ADM2–ADM2 receptor pathway can promote tissue-protective functions of ILC2s in the context of intestinal damage and inflammation.
