Latest news with #January2025
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
A Great Update About ‘The Pitt' Season 2's Release Date
The Pitt HBO Max (formerly Max, formerly HBO Max, formerly HBO) saw enormous success with The Pitt, its ER/24 combination that quickly became a fan-favorite. It announced that its goal was to pump out seasons quickly, and while that seemed unlikely in the current state of the streaming industry, there's some good news on whether or not that can happen. The Pitt actress Shabana Azeez, who played Dr. Javadi, recently posted a picture confirming that filming had commenced as planned in June, just a short while after The Pitt season 1 ended. The Pitt season 1 premiered in January of 2025 and ran until April 10 with a highly unusual 15-episode season. More unusual is the goal that the next season would be out much sooner than the 1.5-3 year gap between most streaming seasons. The idea was to have it out every year. We have data that The Pitt season 1 filming began in July of 2024, so that was six months before it premiered in January of 2025. So if filming is beginning now, in June of 2025, that would put the release date of The Pitt season 2 around either December of 2025 or perhaps once again in January of 2026, if it's pushed a little bit. The Pitt It is almost unheard of for two seasons of a streaming show to debut a year apart these days. We only see this in rare instances like with The Bear or Slow Horses. The broadcast model of 24 episodes seasons once a year is dead. But The Pitt? 15 episode seasons a year apart? That is truly a time warp, and it's no wonder that HBO Max wants to steam ahead with this, so long as it doesn't affect quality. You can make some similar comparisons to Hulu's The Bear, in fact, where both shows take place almost entirely within a single environment. The Bear, its restaurant. The Pitt, its ER department, the waiting room and the ambulance bay. And maybe two scenes on the roof, that's it. That said, this is still 50% more episodes than the 10-episode Bear seasons, and longer ones, at that. This really is a unicorn in the industry if they can pull it off. We know that almost the entire core cast will be returning to the show, including some actors who could have been written off due to various circumstances. In terms of the plot, we know that the day in question will be the Fourth of July, the busiest day in ERs around the country, and it will be Dr. Langdon's first day back after what is presumably a suspension/rehab stint. And it will be here in six months, thereabouts. Wild. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Private school pupil numbers dip by 11,000 after VAT hike - but Labour STILL claims controversial tax isn't causing exodus
Private school pupil numbers have dipped by 11,000 this year – but Labour still claims its new tax raid on fees has not caused the exodus. Official government figures show numbers at independent schools have taken a disproportionately large hit since fee VAT came in. The data, published today, calls into question Labour's claim that only 3,000 pupils would leave this year as a result of the policy. However, the Government immediately said it was a 'myth' that VAT alone caused the dip and blamed other pressures on the sector. The figures, from the Department for Education, show pupil numbers in private schools in England fell to 582,477 in January 2025 compared with 593,486 the previous year. This represents a 1.9 per cent decrease – higher than the 0.7 per cent drop in all pupil numbers across the state and private sectors. The data, from the school census, was recorded after Labour's tax came into effect on January 1 – following a manifesto pledge last summer. The fall comes after three years of growth for pupils at private schools. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), said: 'These new statistics show that the drop in independent school numbers cannot be explained by the fall in overall pupil numbers. 'The Government's own figures now show that, in England alone, 8,000 more students have left independent education than politicians had estimated. 'This outsized exodus should concern anyone who is interested in this tax on education as a revenue raiser.' The Government previously estimated that only 3,000 pupils would leave the sector across the UK in the 2024-25 academic year due to the policy. Mike Stimpson, partner at Wealth Manager Saltus said: 'This 1.9 per cent fall may just be the beginning. 'Our research suggests we are likely to see further declines in private school enrolments as the financial impact of this policy becomes even more real for families. 'As more parents consider their options, we expect continued disruption in the private education landscape throughout the year ahead.' It comes after the ISC published its own census, also carried out in January, showing a reduction of 13,000 pupils across the UK schools it represents. A Government spokesman said: 'Today's figures shatter the myth that charging VAT on private education would trigger an exodus. 'The data reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over 20 years. 'The 1.9 per cent decline in private school pupil numbers reflects the broader demographic trends and changes in the state sector. 'This manufactured crisis has failed to materialize. 'Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8 billion a year by 2029/30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94 per cent of children in state schools, to help ensure excellence everywhere for every child.' The total number of pupils across England is decreasing because of a falling birth rate.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Covid NB.1.8.1 cases 'rapidly' rising - what is known about new variant so far
Health experts have warned that cases of a new COVID-19 variant are on the rise around the world. Covid NB.1.8.1 is a variation of the XDV.1.5.1 strain and was first detected back in January 2025. However, reports of the new variant are "growing rapidly", according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and it is showing some signs of "additional immune evasion" compared to others. The WHO has placed the Covid NB.1.8.1 "under monitoring" due to the rise in cases worldwide. It is one of six COVID-19 variants currently being monitored. The new 'Strategic and operational plan for coronavirus disease threat management: at a glance' sets out the global framework for supporting Member States in the sustained, integrated, evidence-based management of coronavirus disease threats, including #COVID19, MERS, and… — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 28, 2025 However, the WHO stated that the risk posed by the new variant was "low," and that approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against it. The world health experts, in a recent risk evaluation, said: "Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation. The WHO added: "The available evidence on NB.1.8.1 does not suggest additional public health risks relative to the other currently circulating Omicron descendent lineages." COVID NB.1.8.1 has already been detected in 22 countries. These include the likes of Australia, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the US, according to The Independent. The coming COVID-19 Winter Surge in Australia will show the world where we are actually headed is happening in South-Eats Asia and East Asia are just the 'preludes'...watch how NB.1.8.1 spawns are evolving including PQ.1, PQ.2 and even sub-lineages like PE.1. — Thailand Medical News (@ThailandMedicaX) June 4, 2025 Cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant have also been confirmed in Northern Ireland, Wales, and "popular British tourist hotspots", the news outlet added. Health organisations are yet to list any symptoms unique to Covid NB.1.8.1. However, common symptoms of other COVID-19 variants, according to the NHS, include: High temperature or shivering (chills) New, continuous cough (this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours) Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste Shortness of breath Feeling tired or exhausted Aching body Headache Sore throat Blocked or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhoea Feeling sick or being sick COVID-19 vaccines are available in the UK, and are usually offered on the NHS in spring and early winter. The vaccine is available for those: Aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 17 June, 2025) Aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment Live in a care home for older adults RECOMMENDED READING: The common disease medical experts believe will cause the next global pandemic Am I eligible for free prescriptions? Yes, if you have 1 of these 11 conditions The 6 beers that are good for your health (and the ones to avoid) The NHS said: "The COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time. It's important to top up your protection if you're eligible." The vaccine helps: Reduce your risk of getting severe symptoms Recover more quickly if you catch COVID-19 Reduce your risk of having to go to hospital or dying from COVID-19 Protect against different types of COVID-19 virus Eligible people can book in for a vaccination via the NHS website, the NHS App, or by attending a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man who served 36 years for wife's murder forgives confessed killer in rare reconciliation
Leo Schofield served 36 years in prison for his wife's murder – and he forgave the man who confessed to the killing. It was January 2025 when Schofield and his daughter Ashley were involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Schofield had been released on parole in April 2024 and had always maintained his innocence. Gilbert King, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who had been investigating Schofield's case for his podcast, "Bone Valley," visited Schofield after the crash. He received a call from Jeremy Scott, a convicted murderer who testified in 2017 that he had killed Michelle Schofield. He's serving prison time for an unrelated crime. Former Mob Boss Finds God In Prison, Walks Away From 'Evil Lifestyle': 'My Faith Is Rock Solid' Schofield agreed to speak with Scott. After some awkward small talk, King was stunned by what he heard. "I was shocked by the fact that here I was with Leo, and Jeremy called me at the same time," King recalled to Fox News Digital. "It was not planned, but I found it sincere. Jeremy Scott is … trying to come clean. Read On The Fox News App "When we spoke to him in 2021, he said it was torture for him, because as the years have gone by, he goes to bed seeing the faces of the people he's killed," said King. "He says, 'That's my punishment.' And he said it's gotten worse over the years living with this." Neither King nor Scott was prepared for what Schofield had to say. The conversation between the men can be heard in episode 6 of Season 2. "Jeremy, I want to tell you something," Schofield began. "And this is coming from a long time of prayer and a lot of thought. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to thank you for telling the truth. I want you to know that I forgive you with all my heart. You have a lot of people who care about you now because you did the right thing [in confessing]. It means a lot to me. And it means a lot to my family. I thank you for that. And I thank you with all my heart, bud." "… You gained a lot of respect from the people out here, because you were brave enough to tell the truth," he shared. "It was a big deal, Jeremy. That was a really big deal, because it changed my life. And I definitely appreciate you for it." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X There was silence. Then Scott replied, "I just hated that this happened, bro." "I'm sorry that it happened," Schofield replied. "… But now it's your turn to start doing right. You hear me? You just keep doing your part." "Keep praying for me," said Scott. King told Fox News Digital that over the years, Schofield turned to God to cope with the loss of his beloved spouse and the struggle he faced in getting a new trial to prove his innocence. "I think it began to just tear away at his soul," King explained. "He was just consumed by this anger, bitterness and confusion. Leo said, '… This was going to destroy me, and I had to rely on my faith in God to carry me through this. The only way I could stop this anger and bitterness was to let it go and find some way to forgive Jeremy.'" Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter During his time behind bars, Schofield became "a spiritual person." He found solace as a pastor in prison. "He just said, 'I hope that it's my prayer to God that Jeremy finally finds love because I am supported out here,'" said King. "'I have a loving family and friends who believe in me. Jeremy has nothing.'" "I think it's a testimony to who Leo is as a person," King added. WATCH: FATHER OF MURDERED TEXAS TEEN OFFERS A MESSAGE OF FAITH, FORGIVENESS IN TRAGEDY On February 24, 1987, Michelle had left her job at a restaurant in Lakeland, Florida. The 18-year-old called her husband of six months and said she would be home soon. They had been planning to go out together. Michelle was never seen alive again. "A search went on for three days. All friends and family members were just searching for Michelle," King explained. "On the second day of searching, they found her car, which was broken down on the side of the road just outside Lakeland, Florida." On February 27, Michelle's body was found with 26 stab wounds in a drainage canal, The New York Times reported. According to the outlet, Schofield was charged with her murder, but there was never any physical evidence linking him to the crime. It was later proven that a set of fingerprints found in Michelle's car didn't belong to him. "Leo had been out there searching," said King. "He'd been constantly calling the police, showing up at the police station and asking whether they had found her. He filed a missing persons report. They didn't really consider Leo a suspect right away. But … they started to build a case around him." "Some of the neighbors had said they'd seen Leo and Michelle fighting a few times," King continued. "There was a neighbor who said she had seen Leo emerge from the house carrying something heavy, putting it into the back of his car and driving off. But the problem is that Leo was accounted for at that time. I think even the police didn't really believe her. But … I think they had a really strong prosector and a very weak defense attorney." "That was Leo's downfall," King added. During Schofield's trial in 1989, the prosecution insisted that Schofield had been violent toward Michelle. Despite the lack of forensic evidence, Schofield was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub Scott lived less than two miles from where Michelle's body was found. "He was off the radar, but he shouldn't have been," said King. "… When they found those fingerprints in the car that didn't match anybody like Leo or Michelle, they should have gone to known suspects in the area, and they never did that. These fingerprints remained mysterious for 17 years until they finally came back to Jeremy." Due to a lack of forensic technology at the time, the fingerprints couldn't be matched until 2004. They belonged to Scott. King said that initially, Scott denied having anything to do with Michelle's murder, claiming he had only stolen the stereo speakers from her car. "Six years after he denied killing Michelle, he came out and wrote a letter to Leo's lawyer, saying, 'I'm the one that did this. You got the wrong guy in prison,'" said King. "That's when he started talking about it in 2016." "He said to me, 'That man never belonged in prison. I took his life away from him,'" said King. "He felt bad about that. … I think he's one of those people who is trying to do something right with what little time he has left on Earth. He's never going to be outside the prison walls." The New York Times reported that Scott had confessed to the murder "a number of times." "[Scott] spoke out before and nobody believed him," said King. "They just beat him up on the stand and said he was a liar and unreliable. . . . I think that stayed with him. He's thinking, 'I'm trying to do the right thing here. I'm confessing to a murder.' And the state instead just decided to attack his credibility." "But I reached out to him," said King. "I said, 'I'm willing to listen. I believe that you're telling the truth.' We spoke many times, and I've continued to stay in touch with him. He's never wavered from what he's told me. He's never wavered from his confession." During his time in prison, Schofield immersed himself in faith. He mentored fellow inmates. He also found love again. He married Crissie Carter, a social worker he met while serving time, in 1995. According to The New York Times, the state hasn't moved forward on additional murder charges against Scott. In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd wrote: "The jury found Leo Schofield guilty of murdering Michelle Schofield. Multiple courts have upheld that verdict." The outlet shared that Schofield is currently working to overturn his conviction. If denied, he could be on parole for another four to six years. "Being on the outside, you're reminded that you're not free – that's what Leo's life is like," said King. "… He was offered two deals that would've had him out of prison in the early '90s if he would've just taken them. He refused. He said, 'It's much easier for me to serve time than it is for me to admit something I didn't do.'" "Leo is trying to get that exoneration – that's his life today," said King. "Fortunately, there are some very powerful people in Florida who also believe him and are fighting for him, too. I have hope for him. I really think something is going to happen."Original article source: Man who served 36 years for wife's murder forgives confessed killer in rare reconciliation
Fox News
5 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Man who served 36 years for wife's murder forgives confessed killer in rare reconciliation
Leo Schofield served 36 years in prison for his wife's murder – and he forgave the man who confessed to the killing. It was January 2025 when Schofield and his daughter Ashley were involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Schofield had been released on parole in April 2024 and had always maintained his innocence. Gilbert King, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who had been investigating Schofield's case for his podcast, "Bone Valley," visited Schofield after the crash. He received a call from Jeremy Scott, a convicted murderer who testified in 2017 that he had killed Michelle Schofield. He's serving prison time for an unrelated crime. Schofield agreed to speak with Scott. After some awkward small talk, King was stunned by what he heard. "I was shocked by the fact that here I was with Leo, and Jeremy called me at the same time," King recalled to Fox News Digital. "It was not planned, but I found it sincere. Jeremy Scott is … trying to come clean. "When we spoke to him in 2021, he said it was torture for him, because as the years have gone by, he goes to bed seeing the faces of the people he's killed," said King. "He says, 'That's my punishment.' And he said it's gotten worse over the years living with this." Neither King nor Scott was prepared for what Schofield had to say. The conversation between the men can be heard in episode 6 of Season 2. "Jeremy, I want to tell you something," Schofield began. "And this is coming from a long time of prayer and a lot of thought. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to thank you for telling the truth. I want you to know that I forgive you with all my heart. You have a lot of people who care about you now because you did the right thing [in confessing]. It means a lot to me. And it means a lot to my family. I thank you for that. And I thank you with all my heart, bud." "… You gained a lot of respect from the people out here, because you were brave enough to tell the truth," he shared. "It was a big deal, Jeremy. That was a really big deal, because it changed my life. And I definitely appreciate you for it." There was silence. Then Scott replied, "I just hated that this happened, bro." "I'm sorry that it happened," Schofield replied. "… But now it's your turn to start doing right. You hear me? You just keep doing your part." "Keep praying for me," said Scott. King told Fox News Digital that over the years, Schofield turned to God to cope with the loss of his beloved spouse and the struggle he faced in getting a new trial to prove his innocence. "I think it began to just tear away at his soul," King explained. "He was just consumed by this anger, bitterness and confusion. Leo said, '… This was going to destroy me, and I had to rely on my faith in God to carry me through this. The only way I could stop this anger and bitterness was to let it go and find some way to forgive Jeremy.'" During his time behind bars, Schofield became "a spiritual person." He found solace as a pastor in prison. "He just said, 'I hope that it's my prayer to God that Jeremy finally finds love because I am supported out here,'" said King. "'I have a loving family and friends who believe in me. Jeremy has nothing.'" "I think it's a testimony to who Leo is as a person," King added. WATCH: FATHER OF MURDERED TEXAS TEEN OFFERS A MESSAGE OF FAITH, FORGIVENESS IN TRAGEDY On February 24, 1987, Michelle had left her job at a restaurant in Lakeland, Florida. The 18-year-old called her husband of six months and said she would be home soon. They had been planning to go out together. Michelle was never seen alive again. "A search went on for three days. All friends and family members were just searching for Michelle," King explained. "On the second day of searching, they found her car, which was broken down on the side of the road just outside Lakeland, Florida." On February 27, Michelle's body was found with 26 stab wounds in a drainage canal, The New York Times reported. According to the outlet, Schofield was charged with her murder, but there was never any physical evidence linking him to the crime. It was later proven that a set of fingerprints found in Michelle's car didn't belong to him. "Leo had been out there searching," said King. "He'd been constantly calling the police, showing up at the police station and asking whether they had found her. He filed a missing persons report. They didn't really consider Leo a suspect right away. But … they started to build a case around him." "Some of the neighbors had said they'd seen Leo and Michelle fighting a few times," King continued. "There was a neighbor who said she had seen Leo emerge from the house carrying something heavy, putting it into the back of his car and driving off. But the problem is that Leo was accounted for at that time. I think even the police didn't really believe her. But … I think they had a really strong prosector and a very weak defense attorney." "That was Leo's downfall," King added. During Schofield's trial in 1989, the prosecution insisted that Schofield had been violent toward Michelle. Despite the lack of forensic evidence, Schofield was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Scott lived less than two miles from where Michelle's body was found. "He was off the radar, but he shouldn't have been," said King. "… When they found those fingerprints in the car that didn't match anybody like Leo or Michelle, they should have gone to known suspects in the area, and they never did that. These fingerprints remained mysterious for 17 years until they finally came back to Jeremy." Due to a lack of forensic technology at the time, the fingerprints couldn't be matched until 2004. They belonged to Scott. King said that initially, Scott denied having anything to do with Michelle's murder, claiming he had only stolen the stereo speakers from her car. "Six years after he denied killing Michelle, he came out and wrote a letter to Leo's lawyer, saying, 'I'm the one that did this. You got the wrong guy in prison,'" said King. "That's when he started talking about it in 2016." "He said to me, 'That man never belonged in prison. I took his life away from him,'" said King. "He felt bad about that. … I think he's one of those people who is trying to do something right with what little time he has left on Earth. He's never going to be outside the prison walls." The New York Times reported that Scott had confessed to the murder "a number of times." "[Scott] spoke out before and nobody believed him," said King. "They just beat him up on the stand and said he was a liar and unreliable. . . . I think that stayed with him. He's thinking, 'I'm trying to do the right thing here. I'm confessing to a murder.' And the state instead just decided to attack his credibility." "But I reached out to him," said King. "I said, 'I'm willing to listen. I believe that you're telling the truth.' We spoke many times, and I've continued to stay in touch with him. He's never wavered from what he's told me. He's never wavered from his confession." During his time in prison, Schofield immersed himself in faith. He mentored fellow inmates. He also found love again. He married Crissie Carter, a social worker he met while serving time, in 1995. According to The New York Times, the state hasn't moved forward on additional murder charges against Scott. In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd wrote: "The jury found Leo Schofield guilty of murdering Michelle Schofield. Multiple courts have upheld that verdict." The outlet shared that Schofield is currently working to overturn his conviction. If denied, he could be on parole for another four to six years. "Being on the outside, you're reminded that you're not free – that's what Leo's life is like," said King. "… He was offered two deals that would've had him out of prison in the early '90s if he would've just taken them. He refused. He said, 'It's much easier for me to serve time than it is for me to admit something I didn't do.'" "Leo is trying to get that exoneration – that's his life today," said King. "Fortunately, there are some very powerful people in Florida who also believe him and are fighting for him, too. I have hope for him. I really think something is going to happen."
