Man spent 8 years living with Parkinson's diagnosis — then doctors said it was wrong
Mike Bell was 53 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a verdict that reshaped his entire life. At 61, after stopping his medication on his own and finding his symptoms had not worsened, new brain scans led doctors to "de-diagnose" him. Though relieved, Bell felt adrift — he had lost his sense of community, his identity as a patient advocate, and what he called his "roadmap".
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Mike Bell was 53 when he got the diagnosis that changed his life – and 61 when he learned it was wrong. He felt relieved, but also totally adrift
When he was 61, Mike Bell, who had spent eight years living with a Parkinson’s diagnosis, saw a new consultant. Though he still had pains, tingling, tremors and skin problems, Bell had stopped taking his prescribed medication and his symptoms had not worsened. Further brain scans were arranged – “everything, in every possible position” – after which Bell was “de-diagnosed”.
He still felt unwell, with unexplained pains, but he didn’t have Parkinson’s. In that moment, he says, he “lost his roadmap”, his sense of community with other people he had met with the same illness and his work campaigning for better understanding of the condition.
Neuroscientist Lisa Genova dispels the widespread fear that ordinary forgetting is an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. She uses the example of a retired Japanese engineer who memorised over 111,000 digits of pi using storytelling and visualisation, yet forgot his wife's birthday. In a 58-minute lecture, she explains how to protect the brain and distinguish normal memory lapses from disease.
Volkswagen's restructuring plans could involve up to 100,000 job cuts. The carmaker raised around $10 billion from the sale of its marine engine division Everllence, but Financial Times experts warn the sum may not be enough to save the company. The situation is described as serious.
Paparazzi caught pregnant model Karolina Pisarek and her partner, businessman Roger Salla, in central Warsaw. Salla was driving Pisarek in a striking green Audi worth one million złoty. The couple cut an eye-catching figure in the luxury vehicle.
Mitsubishi is bringing back the Pajero, equipping the revived SUV with a dedicated off-road screen — a feature reminiscent of older generations of the model. The new Pajero revives the nameplate's rugged heritage with a modern in-cabin technology nod to its past. Full technical specifications and a launch date have not yet been fully disclosed.
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The Strawberry Moon — the year's lowest, smallest and palest full moon — will appear on the night of Monday to Tuesday, 29–30 June. Science populariser Karol Wójcicki of the "Z głową w gwiazdach" astronomy page called it "one of the most beautiful sights of the year" despite its modest size. The phenomenon occurs because the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit.
Andy Burnham is set to become UK Prime Minister in three weeks. In his first major speech in Manchester, he will outline economic plans, welfare reform and the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times, pledging "good growth in every postcode." A battle for future cabinet jobs is already under way, with one senior role reportedly eyed for David Miliband.
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Barring any last-minute surprises, Andy Burnham will become prime minister three weeks today.
But what is his 10-year mission for the country and how will he achieve it?
In his first major speech in Manchester, Burnham will set out his plans for the economy, welfare and devolution with a pledge to deliver “good growth in every postcode”.
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine whether his promise of the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times amounts to a genuine political reset.
Back in London, the battle for future cabinet jobs is already under way and Anne reveals why one senior role could have David Miliband’s name on it.
Plus, with Sir Keir Starmer’s authority in office draining can he get the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan through without any hiccups from his military chiefs?
To stop blueberry pierogi filling from turning into runny jam during cooking, simply mix fresh blueberries with potato starch and a little sugar before filling the dough. The potato starch binds the fruit juice and keeps the filling firm. This is a simple trick used by experienced deli cooks to keep the pastry from breaking open.
Armand Duplantis returned from his defeat in Stockholm to win the pole vault at the Diamond League meeting in Paris. The Swedish world record holder attempted to beat his own world record at 6.32 metres but failed to clear the bar. Despite falling short of the record, the win marks his return to top form.
Developer JohnnyCollado has released Play Field Portal on GitHub — an Android frontend that replicates Sony's PSP XrossMediaBar (XMB) interface, complete with the original icons and default wallpaper. The app joins a growing number of gaming-themed Android frontends, such as the existing 3DS-style IISU app. The developer confirmed using AI in development, though not as a solely AI-generated project.
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Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
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A new Android frontend called Play Field Portal brings a PSP-like experience to Android devices.
The app copies Sony’s classic XMB interface, down to the icons and default wallpaper.
The developer confirmed that they used AI to develop the app, but it might not be a solely vibecoded effort.
There’s no shortage of great gaming-focused frontends on Android today. We’ve already seen the 3DS-style IISU app , but what if you want a throwback to the PlayStation Portable? That’s where this new Android app comes in.
Developer JohnnyCollado has released Play Field Portal on GitHub (via r/EmulationOnAndroid ). This new frontend is effectively a copy of the PSP’s XrossMediaBar (XMB) interface. That means we’ve got several main menu categories that can be scrolled through horizontally, such as Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, and App Store. Sub-menu items appear below each main menu category. Even the menu icons and default background are in line with Sony’s old UI.
Bitcoin is experiencing one of its worst months since mid-2022, dropping roughly 18.5% in June and struggling to hold the key $60,000 psychological support level. Analysts point to a significant price magnet visible on the chart that may determine the next directional move. The situation is seen as a serious test for bullish momentum.
The World Health Organization has reported that Europe's current heatwave has been linked to more than 1,300 deaths. Some 85% of victims were aged 65 or older, with the sharpest mortality increases recorded in areas under red extreme heat warnings. The WHO is calling for stronger protection measures for elderly people during heatwave events.
Jack Watling's new book "Statecraft: The New Rules of Power in a Divided World" (Macmillan, 2026) analyses the failures of US foreign policy during the conflict with Iran. Watling argues that sound statecraft requires the integrated use of all instruments of state power to achieve international goals. He concludes that the current US administration is unlikely to conduct an honest assessment of its many shortcomings in the Iran campaign.
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Jack Watling, Statecraft: The New Rules of Power in a Divided World (Macmillan, 2026)The war against Iran exposed a multitude of forced errors and own goals in the conduct of statecraft. The purpose of sound statecraft is the integrated application of a state’s tools and its repertoire of governmental instruments of power to gain its desired outcomes in international relations. The yet-to-be-resolved contest against the Islamic Republic of Iran reveals a litany of shortfalls in the conduct of U.S. statecraft.It is unlikely that the present U.S. government will conduct a candid assessment of its shortcomings. Acknowledging the failure to achieve
The post The Art of Statecraft in an Age of Strategic Failure appeared first on War on the Rocks .
Starting next week, California will require streaming platforms to air commercials at the same volume as the shows and movies they accompany. The new law extends existing TV and cable loudness rules to streaming services. Ads are not being banned — they simply cannot be noticeably louder than the content they interrupt.
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California will soon require streaming ads to match the volume of the shows and movies they accompany, ending one of streaming’s most common annoyances.
The new law takes effect next week, extending existing TV and cable ad loudness rules to streaming platforms.
To clarify, ads aren’t going away. They’ll simply have to play at a more consistent volume.
Ever settled in for a late-night movie, found the perfect volume, and then nearly jumped out of your seat when the ad break started? It’s a common streaming frustration that never seems to get fixed.
Thankfully, that frustrating routine could soon become a thing of the past. Per The Hollywood Reporter , streaming platforms serving viewers in California will no longer be allowed to air commercials that sound noticeably louder than the movies or TV shows they’re paired with. The requirement takes effect next week under a law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last year that extends loudness rules that have long applied to traditional TV and cable.
Every spring in Poland's Barycz Valley, herds of female deer and their newborn calves swim between isolated islands and the mainland twice a day in a remarkable natural spectacle. The young spend daylight hours on islands protected from predators, then cross the water at dusk and dawn. Unlike Kenya's Masai Mara, this migration unfolds in near-total solitude, accompanied only by birdsong and frog calls, with herds exceeding 100 animals.
Col. Paweł Szota, head of Poland's Foreign Intelligence Agency (AW), told "Rzeczpospolita" that Russia views Poland and other eastern NATO flank states as obstacles to its goals. Szota assessed that Putin is unlikely to attack another country before resolving the war in Ukraine, but is a "hostage to the situation" — determined to have the Ukraine conflict recorded in history books as his success. He also highlighted ongoing threats posed by the Russian dictator to the region.
UFC president Dana White teased that he has information about the location of the planned Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight, but did not disclose it. He also did not dismiss the possibility that Zuffa could promote Oleksandr Usyk's farewell bout against Deontay Wilder. The specific venue and date for Joshua–Fury remain undisclosed.
The latest Ukrainian history textbook covers the "Volhynia tragedy" in just three pages. Outside western Ukraine, awareness of the massacre is minimal, and most Ukrainians view the UPA solely as a symbol of resistance against the Soviets, not against Poles. This fundamental difference in historical memory remains a major obstacle in Polish-Ukrainian relations.
Ethereum-based zkRollup project Loopring has announced it is shutting down its decentralised exchange (DEX), citing a lack of meaningful adoption. All remaining user funds will be returned through a smart contract upgrade, and users will not need to cover any transaction costs. The closure marks a significant setback for the project.
Around 1,000 new churches were built in Germany's Ruhr region after World War II, but many now stand empty. The Manifesta 16 art biennale is exploring new ways to repurpose these buildings and give them renewed meaning. The initiative is part of broader questions about cultural heritage and the post-industrial transformation of the region.
Despite the risk of a trade war between Europe and China, the transport industry is betting on continued growth in Chinese imports and investing in expanding European container terminals. Logistics companies are prioritising long-term volume growth over short-term trade-war risks. The expansion of port infrastructure is being treated as a strategic long-term investment.
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