Two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have died from measles, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Tuesday, marking the state’s first measles-related deaths in 35 years and the first reported measles deaths in the United States this year amid the country’s largest outbreak of the disease in decades.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen confirmed the deaths during a media briefing held at Lancaster General Health’s Women & Babies Hospital, declining to provide additional details about the victims, including their ages, in order to protect their families’ privacy. “My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss,” Bogen said in a statement.

Both individuals who died lived in Lancaster County, which has served as the epicenter of Pennsylvania’s growing outbreak this year. As of Tuesday, the state had confirmed 393 measles cases across 28 counties, with roughly half of those cases concentrated in Lancaster County alone, according to Bogen. Of those, 86 cases were diagnosed within the past week, and approximately 20% of confirmed cases statewide have required hospitalization, with at least 70 people hospitalized so far for measles-related complications. Bogen noted that none of the confirmed cases in Pennsylvania this year have occurred in people who had received both recommended doses of the MMR vaccine.

Dr. Jeffrey Martin, a physician at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, addressed the significance of the deaths during the briefing, emphasizing the disease’s genuine potential severity. “These tragic deaths remind us that measles is not a harmless illness,” Martin said. He also explained the choice of venue for the announcement. “It’s appropriate that we’re having this press conference at our Women & Babies Hospital. Pregnant women and children are vulnerable to measles if they are not vaccinated,” he said. Officials declined to answer questions regarding whether either of the two people who died was pregnant or an infant.

Bogen emphasized that the state’s relatively low familiarity with measles, following decades without local transmission, has contributed to public underestimation of the disease’s risks. “Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness,” she said. “We want to ensure every Pennsylvanian has the information they need to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.”

The federal government responded to the deaths as well. A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement extending condolences. “HHS and CDC extend their condolences to the families and communities affected by two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,” the spokesperson said. “CDC is working closely with state and local health” officials in response to the outbreak.

The deaths arrive amid a broader, historic resurgence of measles across the United States. According to CNN, the country has recorded more than 2,700 measles cases so far in 2026, surpassing last year’s total and marking a second consecutive record-breaking year for the disease. Measles was officially declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, largely as a result of the nation’s sustained vaccination program, a status public health officials have warned is now under genuine threat given the scale of this year’s outbreak.

The circumstances surrounding the deaths carry added political weight given recent federal vaccine policy changes. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the number of vaccines recommended for children, a move backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that drew sharp criticism from pediatricians and public health experts. According to Axios, that order specifically called for splitting the childhood MMR vaccine into three separate shots administered at separate medical visits, a change health experts warned would make children less safe by decreasing overall vaccination interest and leaving more communities exposed to future outbreaks.

Kennedy has a documented history of anti-vaccine rhetoric, including a 2021 appearance as a keynote speaker at an event in Lancaster County, where he made unsubstantiated claims regarding vaccine safety, according to local reporting from that time. However, amid the current outbreak, Kennedy has more recently described the MMR vaccine as safe and encouraged people to get vaccinated against measles.

Bogen echoed that message directly in response to the two deaths, emphasizing the vaccine’s protective value despite the broader political controversy surrounding federal vaccine policy. “As a physician, I want to make sure that people understand that the MMR vaccine is safe and provides the best protection we have against measles,” Bogen said, according to CNN.

Pennsylvania has taken several steps in recent months to reinforce vaccination guidance amid concerns about shifting federal recommendations. According to Pennsylvania Capital-Star, the state’s Board of Pharmacy has moved to accept vaccination guidelines from established nongovernmental medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Last year, Pennsylvania also joined the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a multistate initiative developed alongside neighboring states specifically to coordinate public health and vaccination guidance amid what officials described as concerns over politicization within federal health agencies.

Measles remains one of the most highly contagious diseases known to medicine, spreading through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. Lancaster County has historically recorded lower vaccination rates compared with the rest of Pennsylvania, a factor health officials have cited as contributing to the county’s outsized share of the state’s confirmed cases this year.

Pennsylvania health officials have urged residents who believe they may have been exposed to measles, or who are currently experiencing symptoms consistent with the disease, to contact the state health department’s dedicated hotline at (877) 724-3258 for guidance. As the outbreak continues to expand statewide, officials indicated the response effort would remain a top public health priority in the weeks ahead, with the Post-Gazette characterizing the situation as requiring an “all hands on deck” approach from state and local health authorities.

This story includes information about an infectious disease outbreak involving fatalities. If you have questions about your own or a family member’s vaccination status or potential measles exposure, consult a health care provider or contact your state or local health department for personalized guidance.

The company, formerly known as ITD Cementation India Ltd., has been meeting institutional investors and could launch the qualified institutional placement in the coming days, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. ICICI Securities Ltd. and SBI Capital Markets Ltd. are working on the transaction, they said.

Deliberations are ongoing and details including the timing and size of the offering could change, the people said. Representatives for Cemindia Projects and the banks didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

The company’s board on July 23 approved raising as much as 50 billion rupees through the issuance of equity shares via a qualified institutional placement.

India’s equity capital market is on track for its strongest month on record despite a lackluster stock market, fueled by a flurry of block trades and institutional placements. Almost $10 billion of deals have priced in August, led by the government’s $3.2 billion sale of shares in Life Insurance Corp. of India, as ample domestic liquidity continues to support demand for new stock.

Live Events

Adani Group, through its Renew Exim DMCC unit, acquired control of Cemindia Projects in 2024 and subsequently increased its holding through an open offer. The group held a 67.46% stake following the transaction.
Cemindia Projects focuses on heavy civil, infrastructure and engineering, procurement and construction projects in India, according to its website.

Airline says older workers bring invaluable life experience and skills

Budget airline easyJet has launched a new recruitment drive, with a specific focus on attracting older workers to join its cabin crew.

Since rolling out an initiative to bring in older workers back in 2022, the number of cabin crew members aged over 50 has more than doubled, while the number of those over 60 has almost quadrupled, the airline said.

EasyJet’s own research indicated that the majority of adults who had switched careers after turning 50 reported feeling happier as a result.

Many prospective applicants assume cabin crew roles are geared towards younger workers, and feared they would be the eldest member of the team, easyJet noted.

Michael Brown, director of cabin services at easyJet, said: “It’s been incredibly encouraging to see the numbers of cabin crew over 50 more than double since 2022 – evidence that many are increasingly viewing cabin crew as a fantastic career pivot regardless of age.

“We want more over-50s to apply as they not only bring their existing skills to excel in a career at easyJet, but also a wealth of life experience that is appreciated by our customers and colleagues alike, which is at the heart of the fantastic service our crew are known for.”

Employment minister Andrew Western said: “Supportive employers like easyJet know the breadth of experience over-50s can bring to the workforce and it shows what can be achieved when this is valued.”

Applications open from September, with vacancies available across the airline’s UK bases.

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

A consortium led by Karbon Homes, plus Thirteen Group, are part of a major housebuilding initiative announced by the Government

Housing associations and a council in the North East are to deliver thousands of new homes in the region after securing multimillion-pound Government funding.

Northumberland housing group Karbon Homes has led a consortium that also involves believe housing, Bernicia, Durham Aged Miners Homes Association and Livin to deliver 2,533 homes with Government funding of £350m. And Middlesbrough’s Thirteen Group has received £349.2m to build 2,750 new properties.

The funding is part of a national programme worth almost £10bn announced by the Government following Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to have the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period. Newcastle City Council is one of three local authorities in England to get direct funding, securing £141.4m to build 966 houses in the city.

Sarah Robson, executive director of development and asset management at Karbon Homes, said: “Alongside meeting customer needs and strengthening local communities, working collaboratively will also enable us to strengthen procurement, share expertise and support the development of a more resilient construction supply chain.

“We’re delighted to receive the maximum available allocation for our partnership bid which reflects our track record and ambition. Although we recognise the financial constraints the Government is operating within, this first wave of funding is critical to ensure we can continue to deliver the much-needed affordable homes our region needs, and we hope further funding will follow in due course.”

Thirteen Group will build properties in the North East, the Tees Valley, and in Yorkshire and Humber.

Chief executive Matt Forrest said: “This is fantastic news for Thirteen and the communities we serve, and will enable us to build thousands more social and affordable new homes over the next 10 years. These homes are very much needed – our new builds attract more than 200 applications each and we really need to close that gap between supply and demand as quickly as possible.

“Developing is in our DNA at Thirteen and securing this funding – the largest sum we’ve ever been allocated – is a huge vote of confidence in our ability to deliver quality new homes at pace and scale. We have a long-established and successful partnership with Homes England and these homes will be in addition to the 1,763 we’re currently developing under the previous funding programme.”

John Johnston, chief executive of housing group Bernicia and chair of the North East Housing Partnership, said: “We very much welcome the announcement of £445m in funding to build 3,400 new social and affordable homes across the North East.

“The North East Housing Partnership is ready to mobilise and begin delivering these much-needed homes for people across the region to support the North East mayor’s Plan for Homes. And with over 50,000 people on housing waiting lists in our region, we know demand is huge, so we will continue to work alongside the mayor to develop the case for additional, long-term funding that matches our shared ambition for new homes and the housing need in the region.”

Vet Tix surpassed an incredible milestone, as it has now handed out 40 million free event tickets to veterans, active military members, former and current first responders, and their families across all 50 states. 

Vet Tix began as a grassroots effort in a garage in Phoenix in 2008, and today, the nonprofit organization has grown into the nation’s largest Veteran Service Organization, serving more than 2.8 million members. They announced their milestone in a press release on Tuesday. 

“It’s not just 40 million tickets. It’s 40 million opportunities to create memories, strengthen family bonds and give something back to those who have served our country and communities,” Michael A. Focareto III, U.S. Navy veteran, CEO and founder of Vet Tix said in the press release. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXBUSINESS.COM

Korean War veteran Donald F. Reid throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on May 25, 2026. (Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“We’re grateful to the thousands of donors, including sports teams, venues, artists, ticketing organizations and individuals, who make these experiences possible. Every ticket helps us move closer to our goal of reaching veterans, service members and first responders in every community across the country. We also work to create opportunities for the family members and friends who support them by securing ticket donations that appeal to a wide range of interests.”

Vet Tix said that the Arizona Diamondbacks were its first major donor in 2008. About 40% of its tickets are sports-related. 

Through Vet Tix and 1st Tix, recipients gain access to sporting events, concerts, family attractions, comedy performances and performing arts events. A study conducted by IMPCT Group found that attending live events has significant benefits for the wellness and social engagement of veterans, first responders and their families. 

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies greets a World War II veteran prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 20, 2025. (Julia Jacome/MLB Photos via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The study showed that 90% of respondents reported that attending events positively affected their well-being, while 86% of respondents reported stronger family bonds. 

The tickets distributed have a combined face value exceeding $2.6 billion, while additional event-related spending has generated an estimated $3.75 billion in economic activity. The total estimated economic impact exceeds $6.5 billion. 

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

A group of military veterans salute the flag during the singing of the national anthem before the start of the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 4, 2012. (Ralph Freso/Getty Images / Getty Images)

On average, Vet Tix distributes 25,000 to 30,000 tickets a day.

“The act of service to our country and communities is something most Americans will never have to experience,” Focareto said. “In addition to enduring the impacts of military deployments or long shifts while on duty, many veterans, service members and first responders endure invisible emotional challenges. These events are much more than a way to pass the time. They create space for moments of joy that are an important part of recovery, rehabilitation, reintegration and reconnection.” 

A video has emerged purportedly showing a Panda Express employee stepping around food while cleaning a frying station, as meals were being prepared. 

Paul Elisha Finger, who captured the footage, told Storyful that he “noticed the gentleman jump on the fryer that the lady had just put food into” when he visited a Panda Express location in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in early July. 

The worker then “started spraying the chemical and wiping [while] standing right over the food,” according to Finger. 

“I could not believe my eyes,” Finger told Storyful. 

POPULAR BEER BRAND TO CUT 220 JOBS AS PRODUCTION SHIFTS

A video taken inside a Panda Express restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, purportedly showed a worker standing around food while cleaning a frying station area. (Paul Elisha Finger via Storyful / Storyful)

A Panda Express spokesperson told FOX Business on Tuesday that “We acted immediately when the video was first brought to our attention.”

“The behavior shown does not meet our food safety or workplace safety standards. We took corrective action, conducted retraining, and reinforced safety procedures with the restaurant team and in the region. The safety of our guests and associates remains our top priority,” the spokesperson added.

The video shows a female employee reaching through the cleaner’s legs to drop a bowl of food into one of the fry baskets, as the male worker apparently was cleaning the exhaust hood area of the fry station. 

E COLI AND SALMONELLA OUTBREAK LINKED TO ALFALFA SPROUTS SICKENS DOZENS ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES

A Panda Express worker is seen reaching through the legs of another employee to drop a bowl of food into a fryer. (Paul Elisha Finger via Storyful / Storyful)

Panda Express says on its website that its food is a “flavorful combination of Chinese regional cuisine and technique with bold American tastes.” 

A video taken inside a Panda Express restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, purportedly showed a worker standing around food while cleaning a frying station area. (Paul Elisha Finger via Storyful / Storyful)

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS       

“Panda Express, the nation’s largest Asian restaurant chain, has revolutionized American Chinese cuisine. Founded in 1983, the family-owned business has grown into a culinary powerhouse, seamlessly marrying authentic Chinese flavors with American tastes,” adds Panda Restaurant Group, Inc., on its website. “With over 2,600 locations worldwide, Panda Express has played a pivotal role in popularizing American Chinese cuisine to millions around the world.”

The domestic brokerage reiterated its ‘Buy’ call on Vedanta Aluminium Metal shares with a target price of Rs 540 apiece, implying around 21% upside from the stock’s previous closing price of Rs 448 apiece. The stock gained over 1% to trade at nearly Rs 454 apiece on Wednesday morning.

Vedanta Aluminium at strong earnings inflexion point

In its latest report, Motilal Oswal said the company that demerged from parent Vedanta earlier this year is entering a strong earnings inflection point, with EBITDA projected to expand at around 18% CAGR over FY26-28. This is supported by a multi-year earnings growth runway, which is largely driven by three levers, including volume scale, integration-led structural cost reductions, and a rising value-added mix.

The global aluminium market is structurally tightening due to China’s production cap, supply disruptions in Europe and Russia, and years of underinvestment outside China, Motilal Oswal noted. This, coupled with India’s robust demand growth and significant import substitution opportunities, creates a favourable outlook for Vedanta Aluminium Metal, according to the brokerage.

It added that India offers an equally compelling long-term opportunity as domestic aluminium demand is expected to grow at an 8-9% CAGR and reach 8-8.5MT by FY30, driven by infrastructure development, electrification, automotive demand, renewable energy investments, and manufacturing growth. The country’s persistent aluminium import dependence further creates a sizeable import substitution opportunity for domestic producers, it further said.

Live Events

In Motilal Oswal’s view, Vedanta Aluminium’s ongoing backward integration, rising contribution from VAP, and robust domestic demand outlook provide strong visibility on earnings growth and cash flow generation over the medium term. The brokerage forecasts the company’s consolidated revenue, EBITDA and PAT to expand at around 11%, 18% and 23% CAGR respectively over FY26-28, aided by volume growth, margin expansion, and increasing downstream contribution.
Also read | Vedanta Aluminium shares in a sweet spot, says ICICI Securities; initiates coverage with Buy rating

Vedanta Aluminium Metal share price

Vedanta Aluminium was the only large-cap stock among the four companies spun off from Vedanta under its mega demerger. It debuted at Rs 522 apiece on the NSE on June 15, surpassing its parent company in terms of market capitalisation.

After the market debut, the stock lost around 19% in a little over a month to hit a record low of Rs 423.15 apiece in late July. The stock has so far recovered over 7% since then.

Also read | Vedanta Aluminium Q1 Results: Net profit soars 3x YoY to Rs 5,629 crore; Rs 8/share dividend declared

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

The Sunderland was bought by Poltronesofà S.p.A for nearly £100m in 2024

The company behind North East furniture chain SCS largely maintained revenues despite closing many of its stores for refurbishments after a takeover by an Italian firm.

Sunderland-based A Share and Sons has released accounts for 2025 in which revenues came in at £239.1m. That compares to £344.8m in the previous accounting period, but that was a 17-month span after the company’s takeover by Poltronesofà S.p.A in January 2024 led to a change in accounting periods.

The accounts show that the previous period’s operating loss of £36.5m was reduced to £22.9m.

SCS’ new owner – which took the company off the London Stock Exchange in a near £100m deal – refurbished 60 stores after its takeover, to improve the look of its showrooms and bring them into line with its international business. Each closure lasted around five weeks, impacting financial results.

The accounts detail how the company’s headcount fell significantly during the year, from 1,565 previously to 1,133. Office and managerial staff more than halved following the Poltronesofà takeover.

The company added a new store in Carlisle, Cumbria, and moved its shop in Warrington, Cheshire, to a better retail park location.

Directors said: “Gross revenue of £253.5m, which represents revenue stated prior to accounting adjustments for interest-free credit fees, was broadly in line with £253.6m achieved on a like for like basis in FY24 (being the 12 month result to 31 December 2024). The revenue performance represents a strong result when considering the impact of FY24 store closures for refurbishments on order bookings for early FY25, the closures within FY25 itself, and with a backdrop of continued cautious consumer spending and confidence.

“Gross margin in FY25 improved to 49.4% compared to 47.4% in FY24. This improvement is a result of the enhancements made to the product range partially offset by an increase in the cost of finance, with an increasing number of customers choosing interest free credit options to finance their purchases, on an increasing average loan tenure. The operating loss, before adjusting items, in FY25 of £22.9m was significantly less than the loss incurred in FY24 of £36.5m. The loss reflects the planned impact of the period of closure of the stores in FY24 and FY25 for refurbishment and alignment of the UK business with the wider Poltronesofà product offering and store look and feel.

“FY25 remained, as planned, a year of transition under the company’s new ownership with the completion of the store refurbishment programme and other activities ongoing to enhance the customer experience. If the FY25 result were to be adjusted to remove the effect of the store closures and also adjusted for a number of one-off costs incurred as part of the transition, the operating loss, before adjusting items, would have been significantly lower at approximately £13.8m.”

In March, the company announced that the Poltronesofà name would be officially introduced to the UK market, and it said its focus in 2026 would be on building recognition of the Poltronesofà name in the UK.