1. Queen Elizabeth II dies at age 96

Wednesday, Sept. 8 marked the end of the seven decade long era of Queen Elizabeth II’s rule over the British monarchy, making her the longest ruling monarch in UK history. Buckingham Palace reported the queen died peacefully in her Scottish Highlands estate. 

The queen’s condition has been on critical watch since early morning on Sept. 8, with news outlet BBC suspending broadcasts to go live with updates on the queen’s health, and at 6:30 p.m. BST, it was officially announced via The Royal Family’s Twitter that the queen had passed. 

Queen Elizabeth II died Thursday after 70 years on the throne. She was 96.

A link to the almost-vanished generation that fought World War II, she was the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and her name defines an age: the modern Elizabethan Era. https://t.co/Uh4cBLpMzH pic.twitter.com/3wvXWZZE7y

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 9, 2022

The New York Times reports messages began to pour in from all over the world. President Joe Biden canceled a report on COVID vaccine updates in respect of the late Queen and called her “steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons.”

The queen’s death arrived at a tumultuous time for the British, with new Prime Minister Liz Truss having been officially appointed by the queen only two days ago. In an address on Sept. 8, shortly after the news of Her Majesty’s death, Truss urged the public to support King Charles III. Truss herself is entering this period with low levels of support amidst an energy crisis resulting from the Ukraine-Russia conflicts that have affected all of Europe. 

Many British leaders mourn the queen, viewing her as a firm foundation on which the country built itself on.

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2. Carlos Alcaraz advances to the US Open semifinals after the latest match

In an historic match, 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz beat 21-year-old Jannik Sinner in the U.S. Open tennis quarterfinals. The two had a five set game that began at 9:35 and ended at 2:50, resulting in a 5-hour, 15-minute match. 

Carlos Alcaraz has outlasted Jannik Sinner in the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history, advancing to the semifinals. The No. 3 seed fought off a match point in the fourth set and then put away the match that ended at 2:50 a.m. https://t.co/TMhrjydXOW

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 8, 2022

The longest match at the Open happened between Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang for their 5-hour, 26-minute match in 1992. American player, Coco Gauff, took to Twitter to express her excitement around 2 a.m. tweeting  “this match is insane. I leave at 6 a.m. for the airport but I refuse to sleep and miss this. #Sinner #Alcaraz”

The Associated Press Reports that Alcaraz, the No. three seed in the competition, is the youngest competitor since Pete Sampras in 1990, who won the competition at 19, to make it this far in the competition. 

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3. New vaccines arrive in time for flu season

As flu season rolls around again, Life Hacker reports there are five different options to protect oneself from the flu this year. All five versions are quadrivalent, meaning they prevent four different strains of flu virus. 

Despite the process of influenza vaccine development usually occurring within chicken eggs, there are two new vaccines on the market developed without the need for egg usage. There are also two new vaccines developed for those 65 and older, that are intended to protect the immune system better. 

In a surprising move from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the nasal spray version of the flu vaccine has been added to the recommended flu prevention methods list this year.

Though experts recommend getting one’s vaccine by at least Halloween, they will offer vaccines for as long as flu season is around.

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