Savannah Guthrie was absent from NBC’s “Today” show for a second consecutive day this week, with no on-air explanation offered for her absence on either Wednesday or Thursday, a pattern that comes amid the ongoing, months-long search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since late January.

Guthrie’s usual seat alongside co-anchor Craig Melvin was filled by Sheinelle Jones on Wednesday, July 8, and by Laura Jarrett on Thursday, July 9. Unlike some previous absences, during which Melvin or other co-hosts have briefly noted the reason for Guthrie’s time away, no explanation was given on air for either day this week, despite Guthrie having been present on the broadcast earlier in the week. During the July 7 episode, Guthrie had performed an unexpected on-air outfit change in the middle of the live broadcast, underscoring that her absence beginning Wednesday marked a shift from her regular presence just days earlier.

Guthrie’s schedule on “Today” has fluctuated considerably over the course of 2026 as she has navigated both the personal toll of her mother’s disappearance and a separate professional commitment to host an upcoming NBC game show based on The New York Times’ Wordle. Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on January 31, when a family member dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona. She was reported missing the following morning after failing to appear for church, and investigators believe she was abducted from her home in the early hours of February 1. She has not been found, and the case remains an active investigation more than five months later.

Following her mother’s disappearance, Savannah Guthrie stepped away from “Today” entirely for roughly two months, spending February and March with her family in both Arizona and New York before making an emotional return to the anchor desk on April 6. “It’s good to be home,” Guthrie said on her first broadcast back. Her longtime former co-anchor, Hoda Kotb, filled in for her during that initial hiatus, and the two later sat down for an emotional interview in March in which Guthrie discussed the ongoing search for her mother.

Since her April return, Guthrie has continued to balance her anchor duties with periodic absences tied to production work on the upcoming Wordle game show, which NBC has said will be produced in partnership with Jimmy Fallon’s Electric Hot Dog production company and The New York Times. Guthrie has described Wordle as something she and her mother connected over personally, and has spoken about the strangeness of continuing to build a new professional project while her mother’s case remains unresolved. “Everything is strange right now,” Guthrie told The New York Times in May. “It’s strange to get up and do the Today show every day, and it’s strange to say that I’m going to do a game show when your heart is broken.”

Guthrie has also spoken candidly on air about the emotional difficulty of returning to daily television work amid the ongoing search. During a June appearance on “Today’s” fourth hour alongside Jenna Bush Hager, Guthrie described the challenge of maintaining her composure each day. “It’s really hard to come back. I’ve been trying so hard to hold it together,” she said at the time, adding that she cries most mornings on both her way to and from work. She said the job nonetheless brings her “a little respite” and “a lot of joy” during an otherwise painful period, explaining that she felt compelled to keep working in part because she believed it was what her mother would have wanted. “My mom would have said the same, like, ‘Honey, just keep going, just keep going.’ And so I am,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie’s most recent public statement specifically addressing her mother’s case came on July 1, marking five months since Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Speaking to Arizona-based outlet KOLD 13 News, Guthrie said, “It is five months of agony and unending trauma for our family,” and thanked both the community of Tucson and investigators from the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department for their continued work on the case.

The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has continued to develop in recent weeks, though without a confirmed suspect or resolution. Earlier this month, an FBI official confirmed to Reuters that three ransom notes sent to news outlets, including TMZ, had been determined to be fraudulent extortion attempts rather than genuine communications from anyone involved in Nancy’s disappearance. The FBI has separately said other ransom-related communications remain under active investigation as potentially legitimate, while a California man previously pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to a separate fake ransom message sent to the Guthrie family.

“Today” has periodically acknowledged the broader strain the situation has placed on the show and its anchors throughout the year, including moments when co-anchors wore yellow ribbons in solidarity with the Guthrie family during earlier stages of the search. The show has continued operating with a rotating cast of substitute anchors, including Jones, Jarrett, Kotb and others, filling in for Guthrie during her various absences since February, reflecting what people familiar with the program have described as an ongoing effort to keep the broadcast running smoothly while supporting their longtime colleague through an extended personal crisis.

As of this report, neither Guthrie nor NBC has issued a public statement addressing the specific reason for her absence from “Today” on either Wednesday or Thursday this week. It remains unclear whether her time away is connected to ongoing developments in her mother’s case, continued work on the Wordle game show, personal time, or another unrelated matter, and network representatives have not responded publicly to questions about when she is expected to return to the anchor desk.

The Iran war has scrambled the old map of safety, leaving bond investors rethinking which havens still deserve the name. It’s debatable whether the period since the attacks began on Feb. 28 has forged a new normal, but

‘We are excited to have the opportunity to help grow the business further’

A Gateshead contractor which has been trading for almost 50 years has been acquired in a corporate deal backed by a significant seven-figure investment. Ryton based Debmat Surfacing Limited (Debmat) was established in 1979 as a surfacing contractor and civil engineering business.

It provides domestic and commercial surfacing and civil engineering solutions to a wide range of sectors including construction, commercial, retail, and education, Now the firm has been acquired in a Buy In Management Buy Out (BIMBO) – a deal in which both existing and outside managers buy and take control of the firm – supported by a seven-figure investment from NPIF II – NEL Debt Finance, managed by NEL Fund Managers as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).

The investment will also support Debmat’s next stage of growth as the new leadership team plans to introduce complementary services, including remediation activities, in response to client demand. New jobs are expected to be created on the back of the new business streams.

The incoming ownership team includes Debmat’s existing co-managing director, John Turner; Nick Shilling, former managing director of demolition contractor Thompson’s of Prudhoe; and Ian Wilkin, a chartered accountant and former CFO and COO of a New York-based real estate private equity firm.

Mr Turner, who has more than 32 years of sector experience and a strong track record of growing the business, will move from managing director to chairman.

The management team has also been strengthened with Martin Barker as managing director and Ben Harris as commercial director.

Mr Shilling worked at Thompson’s of Prudhoe from the age of 16 and went on to become managing director. He led the company during a period of significant growth, with the company also recognised as Contractor of the Year at the World Demolition Awards under his leadership.

Before selecting Debmat, Mr Shilling and Mr Wilkin reviewed more than 25 acquisition opportunities. They have known each other since college and have worked together on multiple projects over the years, and say this marks an opportunity to work more closely together.

Mr Shilling said: “We are thrilled to be joining forces with John and his outstanding team at Debmat. We are excited to have the opportunity to help grow the business further, exploring new complimentary service lines and expanding into new geographies with clients who see Debmat as a trusted partner. We are grateful for the support of the whole Debmat team, as well as the advisors and partners who have supported us in making this opportunity a reality.

“The NEL team and our legal and advisory partners provided fantastic support at all stages of the transaction, confirming that we chose the right partners to join us in this transaction. We look forward to continuing our relationship with them as we grow.”

Rachael Munro, Investment Executive at NEL added: “Debmat is a fantastic business with a strong reputation, a skilled team and real momentum for the future. We are delighted to support this next chapter and back an experienced leadership team with ambitious plans to build on the company’s success and create further opportunities for growth. It was a pleasure to work alongside all of the advisers involved, and the collaborative approach throughout the process was instrumental in ensuring a smooth and successful transaction.”

The legal side of the transaction was supported by Hill Dickinson LLP acting for Debmat, Muckle LLP acting for NEL, and Swinburne Maddison acting for the sellers.

Sarah Newbould, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank said: “Through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II we are proud to be backing engineering and infrastructure businesses like Debmat Surfacing that sit at the heart of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy. Investments like these are key to helping strengthen regional construction and civil engineering capacity, create highly-skilled jobs and drive long-term economic growth across the North.”

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Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen understands that recovery is just as important as training.

The 2024 NFL MVP said quality sleep plays a critical role in helping him perform at his best, which is why he and Natrol announced an expanded partnership Wednesday.

As part of the collaboration, Allen will incorporate Natrol Ultra Sleep and Natrol Ultra Energy into his overall wellness routine. According to the company, Natrol is a drug-free sleep aid brand.

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NFL player Josh Allen holds a bottle of Natrol and a football. (Natrol® / Unknown)

In an interview with FOX Business, Allen spoke about the importance of how much of a role sleep has played in his football career.

“As we all know, quality of sleep, it’s not a luxury. It’s the foundation of overall performance,” Allen said. “Now being a dad, it’s given me a whole new perspective on sleep. Introduced a whole new reality on interrupted sleep and the unpredictability of it. 

“The training aspect, making sure you’re sleeping well enough to get the recovery that you need to then wake up and feeling good to go and get back at it again. … And with Ultra Sleep helping supporting my sleep and overall wellness and then the Ultra Energy, which helps your overall wellness, I think it’s been a really good pair.”

Allen further noted that the wider partnership is about more than football, emphasizing his commitment to recovery and overall wellness.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) calls an audible during the second quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Jan. 17, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images / IMAGN)

JOSH ALLEN SURPRISES KIDS AT RECESS AND THE REACTION FROM YOUNG BILLS FANS IS PURE JOY

“It’s about being present for my family, my teammates and the people that count on me every day. Sleep is the foundation for everything I need, while Ultra Energy provides the sustained cellular support to show up as my best self regardless of what the day brings,” Allen said in a news release.

Allen followed up his 2024 NFL MVP campaign by leading the Bills to a wild-card round victory in January, scoring the decisive rushing touchdown in a thriller against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished the 2025 regular season with 25 touchdown passes.

Allen and his wife Hailee Steinfeld welcomed their first child together in April.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) smiles at something someone said before the Buffalo Bills wild card game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 12, 2025. (IMAGN / IMAGN)

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“Our baby girl has arrived!!” Steinfeld wrote in a Substack titled “Special Delivery” at the time. “We’re feeling incredibly grateful and blessed and savouring these early moments. Thank you so much for the love and well wishes.”

The company is working on a potential rapid diagnostic test for the highly infectious Bundibugyo strain

York life sciences business Aptamer has announced it has started developing a potential diagnostic test for Ebola. The company, which develops synthetic binders for the life sciences industry, is working on a potential rapid diagnostic test for the highly infectious Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

An outbreak of the strain started in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in May – the largest recorded outbreak of the rare strain – and the World Health Organization has declared both an epidemic and a public health emergency.

Fatality rates for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola range from approximately 30% to 50%, depending on factors including virus strain, the quality of patient care quality, and how quickly it is picked up and treated. Early detection is critical to patient outcomes and outbreak containment.

Unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, for which vaccines and treatments exist, current diagnostic tests struggle to rapidly and reliably identify Bundibugyo.

In a note to shareholders, Aptamer said its Optimer technology has previously demonstrated rapid responses in diagnostic applications to support the response to infectious disease outbreaks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Aptamer developed SARS-CoV-2 binders that were successfully translated into lateral flow tests.

The firm says the global Ebola testing market was valued at $1.2bn in 2025 and is projected to grow from $1.3bn in 2026 to $2.3bn by 2033.

Within this, the market in North America dominated with a revenue share of 40.9% in 2025.

The new programme will aim to develop Optimer binders suitable for integration into rapid, field-compatible diagnostic tests for Bundibugyo Ebola and work has started immediately.

Dr Arron Tolley, chief executive officer of Aptamer Group, said: “Those following the Ebola outbreak in Sub-Saharan Africa will note the growing severity of the situation on both a human and economic level.

“The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Director-General Jean Kaseya, has warned that containing this outbreak could cost billions of dollars. A critical limiting factor in response is rapid, accurate diagnosis. Existing tests lack the sensitivity needed for timely detection in field settings.

“During COVID, our platform demonstrated its ability to deliver diagnostic tools at pace to respond to infectious disease outbreaks. We are now applying that capability to develop Optimers for specific proteins of the Bundibugyo strain. With development under way in our labs, I look forward to updating shareholders as the programme progresses.”