Odd News // 3 weeks ago
More than 1,050 people form human shamrock in Dublin, Ohio
March 18 (UPI) — The city of Dublin, Ohio, unofficially broke a Guinness World Record by arranging more than 1,050 people into the shape of a massive shamrock.
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‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ Finally Starts Production on Season 2 at Prime Video
After several months of a pause in production, and the naming of a new showrunner earlier this year, Mr. & Mrs. Smith has started filming its second season for Prime Video.
Season two is proceeding under showrunner and writer Anna Ouyang Moench (Beef, Severance), who came aboard the series in January. She takes over from co-creator and season one showrunner Francesca Sloane, who in September 2025 signed an overall deal with HBO. At the same time, Mr. & Mrs. Smith producers Amazon MGM Studios and New Regency hit pause on season two.
Prime Video has confirmed that Mark Eydelshteyn (Anora) will play one of the title roles in season two. Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) has long been attached to the show to play Mrs. Smith, though sources noted at the time of Moench’s hiring that availability could become an issue.
Maya Erskine, who starred with co-creator Donald Glover in season one, will be an executive producer on the second season, along with Moench, Glover, Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Stephen Glover, Anthony Katagas and Fam Udeorji.
Story details for the second season are being kept quiet, though it’s expected the show will follow the broad outlines of season one, where Glover and Erskine’s characters were hired by a mysterious spy agency to take on new identities and carry out missions around the world. Mr. & Mrs. Smith is loosely based on the 2005 movie of the same name that starred Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
Season two will be based in Los Angeles, relocating from New York. The show received a $22.4 million tax credit in March 2025 from the California Film Commission to film in the state.
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New York Times Shakes Up Senior Exec Ranks As It Leans Into Product, Data and AI (Exclusive)
The New York Times is making some significant changes to its executive ranks, The Hollywood Reporter has learned, promoting a pair of executives as its CTO is set to depart in the coming months, underscoring the news company’s business focus on subscriptions, data and technology under CEO Meredith Kopit Levien.
Levien revealed the changes in a memo to staff Monday morning.
The changes will see New York Times CTO Jason Sobel exiting the company, with Levien telling staff that he informed her of his decision to leave the role late last year. The Times is beginning the search for a successor, with Sobel sticking around until they find one.
Sobel joined the Times in 2021, and is based in California. Levien wrote that “he believes, and I agree, that The Times would be best served in this next chapter by a ranking tech executive who can be present very regularly in our NYC headquarters.”
Alex Hardiman and Hannah Yang will also be promoted to executive VP, with Hardiman adding oversight of engineering and overseeing product and Yang overseeing data at the company. Both executives have also been closely involved in growing the Times‘ subscription business, with Hardiman already overseeing cooking and games and Yang overseeing marketing and customer service.
“Alex and Hannah have proven themselves as leaders, collaborators, and executives at The Times,” Levien tells THR in a statement. “Alex is a gifted product and operational leader who helped shape the essential subscription strategy that has driven much of the Times‘ recent commercial success. She’s also been a key leader in our continued embrace of technology to make our journalism and products more engaging and accessible. Hannah embodies mission-driven leadership in a way that has inspired the whole company to keep our subscription business growing and thriving. I couldn’t be more optimistic about what they’ll accomplish with expanded responsibilities from here.”
Hardiman, notably, is also the executive tasked with “working with leaders across the enterprise to use AI ambitiously and responsibly to enhance our human-made journalism, make our products more accessible and useful, and better enable our colleagues in their day to day work,’ Levien wrote to staff.
“As part of that accountability, Alex is marshalling our efforts to develop a cross-company AI product vision, which she’s facilitating on behalf of AG [Times publisher AG Sulzberger], Joe [Times editor Joe Kahn] and me, and with leaders in news and within each of the products in our portfolio,” she added.
Whomever the Times hires as its next CTO will report jointly to Hardiman and Levien, with Levien and Yang jointly overseeing data. The thinking is that by promoting the pair to EVP and giving them key responsibilities alongside the CEO decision-making will be sped up in the company.
Levien also announced that Rebecca Grossman-Cohen and Anand Venkatesan will join the company’s executive committee, which sets the direction for the company. Grossman-Cohen had been Levien’s chief of staff and had been leading Times partnerships with tech platforms, including AI companies. She will become senior VP of strategic partnerships and executive operations. Venkatesan is senior VP of strategy and corporate development, including oversight of M&A activity. He will add oversight of the Audience Insights Group.
The changes underscore the priorities of the Times‘ business strategy, with a heavy emphasis on product improvements, subscription growth, and technology investment and innovation, including finding the right ways to use AI at the news organization.
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Starting 5: The 2026 NBA postseason bracket is set
The postseason field and SoFi Play-In matchups are set following Sunday’s 15-game regular-season finale.
How do you secure a top-3 seed in the wild West?
How about becoming just the third team in the last 75 years to enter the postseason on a 12+ game win streak?
No. 3 in the West belongs to Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets. Meanwhile, the rest of the 2025-26 postseason bracket is LOCKED.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament starts Tuesday. Start your Monday with how we got here – and what’s next ⬇️
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Bracket Set: This week’s postseason stakes, showdowns and everything ahead
Wild West Finish: Nuggets streak to No. 3, Lakers lock in No. 4, Blazers & Clips race for No. 8
East Playoff Chaos: Four teams, two guaranteed Playoff spots and one frantic finale
East Play-In Push: The East race closed with six squads separated by just three games
Roundup: Pistons hit 60 dubs, more postseason teams roll and a record day for rookies
BUT FIRST … ⏰
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament tips off Tuesday on Prime, as the East’s No. 9 Hornets host the No. 10 Heat (7:30 ET), before the West’s No. 8 Blazers visit the No. 7 Suns (10 ET).
What’s Next: The SoFi Play-In Tournament continues Wednesday and Friday, before the NBA Playoffs start Saturday. See the full schedule here, plus key dates here.
Got Postseason Questions? Head to the Playoffs Hub
Ten Years Ago, Today: Kobe Bryant closed his career with an iconic 60-point finale. On that same day (April 13, 2016), the Warriors capped a 73-9 season – the best regular-season record in NBA history.
1. 2025-26 POSTSEASON STARTS TUESDAY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
It took 1,230 games. It took a season’s worth of movement. It came down to the final day.
Now, the 2025-26 NBA postseason is set – and it all starts Tuesday.
- The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament opens tomorrow on Prime with the East’s No. 9 vs. 10 win-or-go-home showdown (Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 ET) and the West’s No. 7 vs. 8 matchup (Suns vs. Blazers, 10 ET)
- Wednesday’s Slate: The Play-In continues as the East’s No. 7 Sixers welcome the No. 8 Magic (7:30 ET, Prime), before the West’s No. 9 Clippers host the No. 10 Warriors (10 ET, Prime)
- The Stakes: The No. 7 vs. 8 winners advance to their respective conference Playoffs, while the No. 9 vs. 10 losers are eliminated
- Friday Fireworks: Friday features the final Play-In games, with the No. 9 vs. 10 winners facing the No. 7 vs. 8 losers. The winners take the final Playoff spots
- Playoffs This Weekend: Two of sports’ signature days await when the Playoffs tip on Saturday & Sunday – with hoops all day Saturday on ABC & Prime, then all day Sunday on ABC & NBC/Peacock
How We Got Here: Sunday started like this ⬆️, with 10 postseason seeds undecided: four in the West (Nos. 3, 4, 8, 9) and six in the East (No. 5-10).
It finished like this ⬇️, with 14 of Sunday’s 15 games featuring postseason teams and nine swing games that shaped the postseason bracket.
But before we break down an epic Sunday, let’s take a look at this week’s postseason matchups.
Each East Matchup, Real Quick:
No. 10 Heat at No. 9 Hornets (Play-In): Only Denver scored more points than Miami (120.9 ppg) this season, while Charlotte ranks 1st in OffRtg since Jan. 1 – setting the stage for an electric win-or-go-home showdown in Tuesday’s SoFi Play-In opener.
No. 8 Magic at No. 7 Sixers (Play-In): Orlando and Philly each finished 45-37, with Philly earning the tiebreaker with a 2-1 head-to-head record. Now, they meet for a fourth time, with the winner advancing to the Playoffs.
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors: The Cavs are 16-6 with both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in the lineup. They’ll face Scottie Barnes and Toronto’s top-5 rated defense in the First Round of the Playoffs.
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks: Led by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta finished the season on a 19-5 run for their first top-6 Playoff berth in five years. Their reward? Jalen Brunson and the Knicks, who are a top-3 seed for a third straight season.
No. 1 Pistons & No. 2 Celtics get their opponents from the Play-In.
Each West Matchup, Real Quick:
No. 10 Warriors at No. 9 Clippers (Play-In): In another can’t-miss duel, Kawhi Leonard leads the Clippers against Steph Curry’s Warriors – with both teams’ seasons on the line.
No. 8 Blazers at No. 7 Suns (Play-In): Deni Avdija’s breakout All-Star campaign has Portland in the postseason for the first time since 2021. Now, the Blazers face Devin Booker and the Suns with a Playoff berth up for grabs.
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets: In the first-ever postseason matchup between two players with over 75,000 combined points, LeBron James leads the Lakers against Kevin Durant’s Rockets.
No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Wolves: Led by Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets (W12) join the 2018 Sixers and the 1973 Bucks as the only teams in the last 75 years to enter the postseason on a 12+ game win streak.
Waiting on the other side is Anthony Edwards’ Wolves, who ended Denver’s season two years ago in Game 7 of the West Semifinals.
No. 1 Thunder & No. 2 Spurs get their opponents from the Play-In.
2. WILD WEST SET: NUGGETS EARN NO. 3, LAKERS LAND NO. 4, BLAZERS TAKE NO. 8
After weeks of win streaks, superstar surges and contenders shuffling spots night after night, the final piece in the West’s top six – the No. 3 seed – came down to two simultaneous tip-offs.
The Lakers needed a win and a Nuggets loss to secure it, while Denver – riding an 11-game heater – needed just a dub.
Los Angeles did its part.
Lakers 131, Jazz 107: LeBron James tallied 18 points, 6 boards and 3 steals in the 1st half, while Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura posted matching double-doubles (22 pts, 10 reb) as the Lakers raced past Oscar Tshiebwe (29 pts, 17 reb) and the Jazz. | Recap
That put the pressure on Nikola Jokić and the streaking Nuggets – with the No. 2 Spurs standing in their way.
Nuggets 128, Spurs 118: Jokić was clinical (23 pts, 8 reb, 7-12 FG in 18 mins) as Denver jumped out to a 70-56 halftime lead and never looked back, topping the Victor Wembanyama-less Spurs for a 12th straight win and the No. 3 seed, edging the Lakers by one game. | Recap
- 🔒 Denver At No. 3: Julian Strawther added 25 points for the Nuggets, who have earned a top-4 seed in the West for four straight years
- Offensive Surge: To get there, Denver paced the NBA in points this season (122.1 ppg), including 130.1 ppg amid its win streak
- Record Run: Only one other team in NBA history has scored that many points amid a 12-0 run – the Nuggets in 1982
Leading The Charge? Jokić (27.7 pts, 12.9 reb, 10.7 ast), who is now just the second player ever to average a triple-double in consecutive seasons, joining Russell Westbrook (3 straight, 2017-19).
- Special Season: Jokić is now the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists per game in the same season, since leaders were determined by per-game averages in 1969-70
- Spurs Shine: De’Aaron Fox (24 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) and Stephon Castle (10 pts, 11 reb, 9 ast) led San Antonio with Wemby out
In the West Play-In picture, the Blazers and Warriors entered Sunday battling for the No. 8 seed.
Clippers 115, Warriors 110: Bennedict Mathurin posted a near triple-double (20 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast) and LA held off a late push from Steph Curry (24 pts, 6 reb, 4 3s) and Golden State to complete its record turnaround, needing a Portland loss to secure the No. 8 seed. | Recap
- Historic Turnaround: After a 6-21 start, LA finished the season 42-40, becoming the first team ever to finish over .500 after being 15 games below .500
But the Blazers refused to give up position.
Blazers 122, Kings 110: Deni Avdija was operating (25 pts, 6 reb, 10 st), while Jrue Holiday poured in 23, as Portland outpaced Precious Achiuwa (27 pts, 11 reb) and Sacramento to lock in the No. 8 seed, setting up Tuesday’s Play-In matchup vs. No. 7 Phoenix. | Recap
3. EAST PLAYOFF CHAOS: 2 SEEDS OPEN, 4 TEAMS CHASING, 1 FINISH
In the East, Sunday opened with seed Nos. 5-10 all undecided.
For the Hawks, a win would secure them the No. 5 seed, while a loss would open the door for the Raptors, who were also racing the Magic and Sixers for No. 6.
And with scenarios aplenty, Miami sparked the chaos.
Heat 143, Hawks 117: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (26) and Norman Powell (25) combined for 51 points, while Bam Adebayo was everywhere (25 pts, 10 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk), leading Miami to a near wire-to-wire win over Buddy Hield (31 pts) and Atlanta. | Recap
- Heat Warning: It’s Miami’s 12th game with 140+ points this season, surpassing the 2023-24 Pacers (11) for the NBA’s single-season record
With Atlanta’s loss, Toronto needed a win and a Magic loss to climb to No. 5.
Raptors 136, Nets 117: RJ Barrett (26 pts), Brandon Ingram (25 pts, 9 reb) and Scottie Barnes (18 pts, 12 reb, 12 ast) were cooking, as the Raptors never trailed after 7:46 in the 1st quarter to secure at least a top-6 spot – with more still in play. | Recap
That brings us to Boston, where the Magic needed a win in hopes of earning the No. 6 seed – while Toronto needed an Orlando loss to jump to No. 5.
Celtics 113, Magic 108: Baylor Scheierman (30 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast) and Luka Garza (27 pts, 12 reb) led the way for the Celtics, with Garza drilling a go-ahead triple with 32 left to edge Orlando in crunch time, despite Paolo Banchero’s triple-double (23 pts, 10 reb, 11 ast). | Recap
- 🔒 Toronto To No. 5: With their win, plus losses by Atlanta and Orlando, the Raptors jumped the Hawks for the No. 5 seed
- 🔒 Atlanta To No. 6: That moved Atlanta to the East’s final guaranteed Playoff spot, solidifying the top-6 seeds
4. EAST PLAY-IN PUSH: SIXERS SECURE NO. 7, HORNETS TAKE NO. 9
That left the East’s No. 7-10 seeds up for grabs, with Orlando and Philly fighting for No. 7 and Miami and Charlotte racing for No. 9.
76ers 126, Bucks 106: While Toronto’s win ended Philly’s hopes of a top-6 finish, the Sixers earned the No. 7 seed with a win over Milwaukee, as Tyrese Maxey (21 pts) fueled a decisive 38-16 3rd-quarter run to take control for good. | Recap
- 🔒 7 vs. 8 Play-In: That moved Orlando to No. 8, with Philly earning homecourt in their Play-In matchup on Wednesday (7:30 ET, Prime)
Charlotte needed a win to secure the No. 9 seed over Miami.
Hornets 110, Knicks 96: LaMelo Ball (5 3s), Brandon Miller and Coby White scored 19 points apiece as the Hornets pulled past Miles McBride (21 pts) and the Knicks, securing homecourt in Tuesday’s No. 9 vs. 10 Play-In matchup against the Heat. | Recap
- Record Rook: Kon Knueppel (14 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) hit three triples, becoming the first rookie to lead the league in made 3s in a season, finishing with a rookie-record 273
- Frantic Finish: The East race closed with six teams (No. 5 Toronto through No. 10 Miami) separated by just three games
5. ROUNDUP: POSTSEASON SQUADS DUB, MORE ROOKIES SHINE
Sunday’s action continued as postseason squads geared up, while more rookie records fell.
Pistons 133, Pacers 121: Paul Reed didn’t miss a shot (26 pts, 11-11 FG, 4-4 FT), while Tobias Harris added 24 points as the Pistons beat the Pacers to finish the season with an East-best 60-22 record. | Recap
- Sweet 60: It’s just the third 60-win season in Detroit franchise history, along with 2005-06 (64-18) and 1988-89 (63-19) – the latter ending in an NBA title
Meanwhile, the Suns took down the West’s No. 1 seed.
Suns 135, Thunder 103: Jamaree Bouyea posted 27 points and 9 dimes as Phoenix denied OKC its 65th win of the season, with both teams resting their starters with their seeds already locked. | Recap
Rockets 132, Grizzlies 101: Clint Capela tallied a season-high 23 points and 13 boards as the No. 5 Rockets rolled to their 10th win in 11 games. | Recap
Cavaliers 130, Wizards 117: Nae’Qwan Tomlin (26 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast) and Tyrese Proctor (22 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) led the No. 3 Cavs to a wire-to-wire win over the Wizards, ending Cleveland’s regular season with five wins in its last six games. | Recap
Wolves 132, Pelicans 126: Already locked into the No. 6 seed, the Wolves capped their regular season with a win behind Terrence Shannon Jr. (26 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), overcoming big nights from rookies Jeremiah Fears (36 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) and Derik Queen (30 pts, 22 reb). | Recap
- Rare Rookie 1-2: Fears & Queen are the first rookie teammates to each post 30-point double-doubles in the same game since Boston’s Bill Russell & Tom Heinsohn in 1950-51
Speaking of rookie duos…
Mavericks 149, Bulls 128: Cooper Flagg closed his standout season with 10 points, while fellow first-year player Ryan Nembhard (17 pts, 9 reb, 23 ast) made history, passing his coach, Jason Kidd (17), for the most assists in a game by a Mavs rookie. | Recap
- Coop 🤝 MJ: Flagg is the first rookie since Michael Jordan (1984-85) to lead his team (or finish T-1st) in total points, rebounds, assists and steals in a season since steals were first tracked in 1973-74
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‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Trailer: Joseph Zada’s Haymitch Abernathy Fights for His Life in Panem’s Second Quarter Quell
Welcome back to Panem.
Lionsgate has released a new trailer for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” the latest installment in the “Hunger Games” franchise.
Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel of the same name, “Sunrise on the Reaping” is set 24 years before the events of “The Hunger Games.” The movie will follow the story of Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss Everdeen’s mentor and fellow District 12 victor, beginning the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games. Since the 50th Games mark Panem’s second Quarter Quell — which takes place every 25 years — each district of the dystopian country must send twice the amount of tributes to the Capitol. Instead of the standard 24 tributes, 48 children must fight to the death in the Hunger Games.
Joseph Zada stars as Haymitch, joined by Jesse Plemons as a young Plutarch Heavensbee; Ralph Fiennes as the villainous President Snow; Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, a District 12 official; Kieran Culkin as the eccentric broadcast host Caesar Flickerman; Elle Fanning as a young Effie Trinket; Mckenna Grace as District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner; Maya Hawke as a young Wiress; Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s love interest; and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as a young Beetee Latier.
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” is directed by Francis Lawrence and is based on the screenplay by Billy Ray. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are the producers, alongside Lawrence.
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” is in theaters Nov. 20.
Watch the trailer below.
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Nielsen Names Roberto Ruiz Head of Measurement Science
Roberto Ruiz, who spent nearly two decades at Univision and TelevisaUnivision in senior research roles, has been named head of measurement science at Nielsen, which has been grappling with the recent launch of new technology it believes will count a broader range of viewer activity across different media platforms.
Ruiz will spearhead the strategy and rollout of new products, technologies and capabilities under Nielsen’s measurement science arm, with a particular focus on driving innovation across Nielsen’s measurement solutions and enhancements for clients. He will report to Russ Soper, Nielsen’s chief information and data officer.
“Roberto has helped build and steer brands through exciting periods of transformation
and growth in his career. His ability to see the measurement landscape through the eyes
of our clients really impressed us,” Soper said, in a prepared statement. “We’re thrilled that Roberto has joined and look forward to partnering with him to drive transformation, momentum and new
opportunities for our clients.”Ruiz brings more than 25 years of experience with audience measurement, media strategy and data analytics. He most recently led his own advisory practice, where he helped media and marketing organizations navigate AI-driven transformation in measurement and audience intelligence. Prior to that, Ruiz spent nearly two decades at Univision and, later, TelevisaUnivision, where he served as executive vice president and chief research officer.
Nielsen in recent weeks has faced industry pushback after some clients became alarmed by a downturn in streaming audiences as displayed in a monthly tabulation of viewer activity following a decision by Nielsen to add new data to its mix.
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Intermittent Fasting May Promote Weight Loss, Improve Hormones in PCOS
Share on Pinterest Research suggests that intermittent fasting may aid in weight loss by improving hormones in people with PCOS. Image Credit: Evgeniia Siiankovskaia/Stocksy - A recent study has found that intermittent fasting may positively affect the hormones in people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- These effects on hormones may help lead to greater weight loss.
- Weight loss has also been associated with improved PCOS symptoms.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), PCOS affects
10–13% of females worldwide. This equals about1 in 10 females of reproductive age having PCOS.A recent study published in
Nature Medicine found that intermittent fasting (IF) may positively affect hormones in people with PCOS, which, in turn, could contribute to weight loss.A first-line treatment for PCOS is hormonal birth control. However, this medication can lead to negative side effects on mood, libido, and metabolism. It can also increase the risk of stroke in some people.
“We’re looking for other ways of lowering testosterone levels in these women,” Krista Varady, PhD, professor of kinesiology and nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago, and an author of the study, said in a press release.
“One way is through weight loss. If someone loses around 5% of their body weight, they can actually
help lower testosterone levels and sidestep any kind of drug intervention,” she continued.Intermittent fasting, or time-restricted eating (TRE), has become a popular weight loss strategy. This method utilizes cycles of voluntary fasting followed by eating periods. It focuses more on when to eat than on what to eat.
“Intermittent fasting may improve adherence for some individuals compared to calorie or macro tracking, which can support weight loss and metabolic improvements. However, dietary quality remains foundational,” said Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Wellness & Preventive Medicine and President of KAK Consulting, who was not involved in the study.
The study analyzed 76 participants who were randomly assigned to one of three groups for 6 months:
- 6-hour TRE regimen with all meals eaten between 1:00–7:00 pm, with no calorie tracking
- calorie restriction, with a 25% daily energy restriction
- control group with no dietary restrictions
The primary factor the researchers were checking was the percentage change in body weight over 6 months.
Both the TRE group and the calorie-restriction group achieved significant weight loss by the end of 6 months.
Participants in the TRE group also showed changes in their testosterone and A1C levels. A1C levels are a risk marker for diabetes.
“Daily intermittent fasting could be an alternative to calorie counting for individuals with PCOS who are looking to lose weight. Both diets can also help with insulin resistance, which many people with PCOS have and which can put individuals at risk for diabetes,” Varady told Healthline.
“Intermittent fasting may also help lower testosterone levels in PCOS, which is important because testosterone is the culprit behind many PCOS symptoms,” she continued.
Varady added that intermittent fasting may be easier for many people to follow than calorie restriction. Many participants in the TRE group stated they would continue the diet.
Kirkpatrick said it’s important to establish a solid dietary foundation before focusing on fasting hours.
“From there, choose an eating window that fits your lifestyle and feels sustainable,” she said.
Varady suggested trying a 6 to 8-hour eating window that ends at least 1 hour before you go to bed. She recommended keeping a consistent eating window each day, as this will help your body to adjust to the new eating times more easily.
Of course, as with many diet and weight loss protocols, consistency is key. Limiting food intake to your eating window each day will yield the best results.
“While you don’t necessarily need to worry about diet quality while doing intermittent fasting — weight loss can happen regardless — it may benefit those with PCOS to also make dietary changes, including increasing non-starchy vegetables, lowering starchy carbs, and getting adequate protein,” said Varady.
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Roblox introduces mandatory age-gated account tiers
Roblox is preparing to roll out its biggest change since starting age verification late last year. While that program was initially focused on chat access, today’s news is about age-segregating the games on the massive platform.
Starting in mid-May, users will be pushed into one of three worlds: Roblox Kids, Roblox Select or Roblox. The exact age ranges of these groups will vary by territory, but in the US they are 5-8 for Kids, 9-15 for Select and 16+ for the regular account. These three account types then align with the platform’s current content maturity labels, which divide games into Minimal, Mild, Moderate and Restricted.
Kids accounts will be the most restricted, with chat off by default and only Minimal and Mild experiences available.
Ages 9-15 get to chat with kids in their age group and “trusted friends” that have passed the parent test, and will be able to access Moderate content as well as games for babies.
At 16, teens will automatically be moved to a full-fat Roblox account with all of its features, but not all of the games. Content marked as Restricted will only unlock once they turn 18.
Roblox
Roblox says over half of its users are now age checked, whether through ID verification or face scans. With the new account types rolled out globally — which the company says should be done by June — it’ll start forcing users who haven’t completed an age check into a Kids-like experience, with no access to chat or games rated higher than Mild.
Once age verification is completed, Roblox still faces the task of ensuring that its vast collection of user-created content is actually age-appropriate. Its solution to this is, of course, ID verification, AI and upcharges.
Developers will have to verify their identity and pony up $5 a month for Roblox Plus to show “a long-term commitment to the platform.” The wisdom is that, with these hurdles cleared, a developer will surely apply the correct maturity label to their games. On the off-chance that an experience is mislabeled, Roblox’s AI moderation will keep tabs on game instances to make sure what’s happening on-screen and in-chat matches the maturity label. On the surface, this does leave a gap where a toddler could end up playing an incorrectly labeled mature game before the AI catches it. Don’t fret, though, as Roblox says users over 16 “play new games first,” which surely isn’t an overgeneralization and will ensure that no child ever plays a mature game.
Roblox also previewed a pair of new parental control features coming in June. First, parents will be able to block any game and manage direct chat access until a child turns 16. Previously, kids over 13 could unblock experiences by themselves. Second, parents will be able to approve games outside of their child’s age bracket on a case-by-case basis. Roblox gave an example of a younger child wanting to play a game with their older sibling for this feature’s utility.
Of course, the big blocky elephant in the room is the efficacy of automated age verification. Reporting from Wired in January suggested even enterprising toddlers might be able to get past the platform’s age checks, which somewhat undermines everything Roblox is trying to achieve. Speaking to press ahead of today’s announcement, Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman said, “If we get it wrong … we offer users multiple ways to correct that.” He added that the platform is “constantly measuring users’ behavior and comparing that against what their age-check data says. If we see those things divert, then we will just ask people to run through the age process again.”
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Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire Denies Claims USDC Will Be Used for Strait of Hormuz Passage! Here Are the Details
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire has denied claims that $USDC will be used for transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, Allaire stated that this scenario is “extremely unlikely.”
Allaire emphasized that Circle operates with strict regulatory compliance standards and works closely with global authorities. Therefore, he stated, a regulated stablecoin like $USDC is unlikely to be preferred in transactions carrying sanctions risks. According to the CEO, individuals and entities under sanctions generally prefer to use less regulated alternative stablecoins.
Allaire also pointed out that due to $USDC’s technical structure, assets at specific addresses can be frozen quickly. He said this makes $USDC unattractive for illegal or sanctioned transactions.
These statements followed a previous report by the Financial Times, which suggested that Iran might demand Bitcoin or Chinese yuan as transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. These claims sparked brief debate in the cryptocurrency market.
Experts note that while the use cases for stablecoins are expanding, regulatory frameworks play a decisive role in such geopolitical scenarios. Circle’s statements once again highlight that $USDC is positioned primarily for regulated financial transactions.
*This is not investment advice.
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WLFI mints $25 million in fresh USD1 and burns $3 million, days after repayment claim
World Liberty Financial minted 25 million $USD1 stablecoins on Monday morning and burned 3 million through its TokenGovernor contract, on-chain data shows, as the Trump-linked venture continues managing the fallout from a lending position that trapped depositors on DeFi protocol Dolomite.
The activity follows $WLFI‘s statement last week, posted in response to CoinDesk’s reporting on the Dolomite transactions, that it had repaid $25 million of the roughly $75 million it borrowed against its own governance token.
The venture deposited billions of $WLFI tokens as collateral and borrowed stablecoins that were partially routed to Coinbase Prime, pushing Dolomite’s $USD1 lending pool to near-100% utilization and leaving other depositors unable to fully withdraw.
Monday’s mint was funded through BitGo Custody and executed via $WLFI‘s $USD1 Mint Authority contract. The 3 million $USD1 burn moved from an address starting 0x2ce to the TokenGovernor contract before being sent to the null address, permanently removing the tokens from circulation.
Smaller test transactions of $10, $10,000, and $40,800 in $USD1 were sent to a previously inactive address in the hours before the mint, a pattern consistent with wallet verification ahead of larger transfers.
The net effect is a $22 million increase in $USD1 circulation. The simultaneous mint and burn indicates active supply management rather than a simple expansion.
However, the burn raises its own question of where those 3 million $USD1 came from and why they were retired rather than redeployed.
Stablecoin issuers routinely burn tokens when collateral is redeemed, but $WLFI has not disclosed the specific reason.
It is not yet clear whether the newly minted $USD1 is intended to replenish Dolomite’s lending pool, fund additional treasury operations, or serve another purpose.
$WLFI‘s governance token has fallen roughly 15% since CoinDesk first reported the Dolomite transactions on April 9. Dolomite co-founder Corey Caplan is an advisor to World Liberty Financial.
CoinDesk has reached out to World Liberty Financial for comment in European morning hours.