Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02689-2Steps towards a new life.

The top five seeds, play-in group and bottom five. NBA expert predict where all 30 teams will land in the standings for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Baisangur Susurkaev entered the week of Aug. 12 unknown and ended it Dana White's "favorite fighter."

Its picture-perfect, of course.

It was a sharp rebuke to the prosecutors who are dealing with the fallout from President Trumps move to send National Guard troops and federal agents into Washington.

The presidents Middle East envoy signaled that the war would be settled before the end of the year, but seemed to rule out a temporary truce.

The post Iguana Surprisingly Un-Chill appeared first on The Onion.

LAWTON, OKDisturbed by the sudden appearance of duct tape, rope, and plastic sheeting in the kitchen, sources confirmed Wednesday that local mom Jennifer Kirkendall was trying something called the serial killer diet. Ive already lost four pounds just by focusing on my inner animalistic urge to kill instead of stuffing my face with empty calories, said Kirkendall, noting that her ideal body weight was somewhere between Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy. My sister heard about it online, and when I saw how gaunt her face looked, I had to give it a try. Before every meal, I make a journal entry outlining how I would murder and then dismember a drifter without getting caught. Plus, I do 30 minutes of stalking randos at the grocery store every other day, which burns a ton of calories. Kirkendall added that she planned to quit the diet after reaching her goal weight because her newfound bloodlust was giving her horrifying nightmares.The post Mom Trying Something Called The Serial Killers Diet appeared first on The Onion.

WASHINGTONGrateful but confused by the unexpected windfall of financial support, top aides to President Donald Trump were reportedly confused Wednesday after his super PAC received a series of generous donations from the sporting goods giant Spalding. Are we doing something with basketballs? Did the president threaten to outlaw basketballs? Do we have to establish a basketball task force now? said White House aide Jacob Walker, expressing bafflement after the prominent basketball equipment manufacturer sent several multimillion-dollar checks to Trumps campaign war chest. Spalding just gave another $4 million to MAGA Inc. out of nowhere. This seems to be a quid pro quo of some kind, but its hard to tell what theyre angling for. Is it possible they did something illegal with basketballs that theyll need a pardon for? Hard to think what that would even be. Maybe lets just have the president take a picture holding a Spalding basketball in the Oval Office and call it a day? At press time, the aides were reportedly thrown into deeper confusion by a sudden series of generous contributions from Tachikara volleyballs.The post Trump Aides Unsure Why Spalding Making Such Generous PAC Donations appeared first on The Onion.

Bartender Shelby Campos mixes a non-alcoholic beverage - or mocktail - at the non-alcoholic Good News Bar, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)2025-08-27T13:54:46Z Several years into her sobriety, Logan Denzer decided to try nonalcoholic beer and mocktails while others around her drank real booze.A lot of people feel out of place when everyone else is imbibing, said the 27-year-old from Los Angeles, who considers these beverages an excellent solution.Millions of Americans agree including others recovering from addiction, people trying to cut down on their drinking and the rising number of young adults forgoing alcohol altogether.Theyve fueled a booming industry. Recent research shows that drinking less, or nothing at all, is a much healthier way to go. Alcohol has been linked to cancers, injuries and a host of other problems.Still, health experts say nonalcoholic beverages arent for everyone, especially if they might trigger cravings for alcohol. These so-called NA drinks are meant to mimic alcohol in many ways, such as appearance, smell and taste.Its important to recognize that these are probably not one-size-fits-all products, said researcher Molly Bowdring of Stanford University. You might see peers or friends or family members use them and have no problem with them, but it really comes back to your own individual experience. This article is part of APs Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Be Well. Zebra striping helps cut back on boozeRetail sales of nonalcoholic wine, beer and spirits surged to $823 million last year. Thats according to market research firm NielsenIQ, which says more than nine in 10 NA customers also buy alcohol.Theyre wanting to not necessarily drink during the week, or theyre wanting to switch out at a particular occasion, said Marcos Salazar of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association. So they may have an alcoholic beverage and then an adult nonalcoholic beverage. Thats called zebra striping ... and it kind of extends the night. Retiree Ann Kopp Mitchell, who recently tasted various NA beverages at Monday Morning Bottle Shop in San Diego, does a version of this. If I want a glass of wine with my dinner, I dont feel guilty. I can enjoy that glass of wine. And if I wanna have a spirit because were celebrating someones birthday, or champagne, I will do that. But Ill only have one, and then let it go, and then maybe go to a nonalcoholic, she said. Its a way of continuing with that social pattern of drinking that I enjoy.While a typical beer has about 5% alcohol by volume, NA drinks are only allowed to have up to 0.5%, about the same as a ripe banana. People sometimes pick them when they dont want to be intoxicated, like before exercise or driving.More mocktails on the menu is a positive health trend but watch the sugarAn online survey Bowdring conducted with colleagues found that the vast majority of people who drink both beverages say NA drinks help them reduce their alcohol use.That makes their growing popularity a positive trend overall, said Dr. Joseph Lee, CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, an addiction treatment and advocacy organization.More and more when I go to restaurants, mocktails are just offered, like theyre on the menu and its just part of the norm now, said Lee, an expert in psychiatry and addiction medicine. Those are really healthy things to see on a broader public health level. But there is a catch: Some drinks, like mocktails made with soda and sweet syrups, have high levels of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than about six teaspoons a day for women and nine teaspoons a day for men. A 12-ounce can of soda on its own contains 10 teaspoons.Who should be wary of NA beverages?The picture gets murkier for people with drinking problems.Those entering treatment for alcohol use disorder say theyve had mixed success using NA beverages to reduce or stop their drinking, Bowdring said. They do contain a lot of the alcohol-related cues, she said. Because they are so similar to alcohol, it could be that they actually trigger craving for full strength alcohol and may lead people to revert to alcohol use.When Denzer first got sober seven years ago, she and her friends avoided drinking NA beverages.We were pretty opposed to it because we were like, Well, this tastes like beer and were a year sober, and so were going to associate that taste with actual alcohol, said Denzer, who was treated at Hazelden Betty Ford. As time went on, we became more open to it. But its not for everyone, she said, particularly for people who are either newer in recovery or who are on shaky ground.Experts agreed that NA drinks are more appropriate for those further along in recovery.Everyones journey is going to be a little bit different, Bowdring said. I encourage folks to just sort of be aware of how these drinks are impacting them.Thats the bottom line, even for those who arent dealing with alcoholism.You should have an honest appraisal, without judgment, about your own health risk in much the same way that most people can look at their family history and gauge their risk for everything from diabetes to breast cancer, Lee said. What it comes down to is: You really need to know yourself. --Video journalist Javier Arciga contributed to this story from San Diego.____The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. LAURA UNGAR Ungar covers medicine and science on the APs Global Health and Science team. She has been a health journalist for more than two decades. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

A demonstrator blocks a highway during a protest demanding the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas and calling for the end of the war in the Gaza Strip, near Modiin, Israel, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)2025-08-27T10:46:15Z GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli and American officials will meet in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the aftermath of war in Gaza, despite no sign that the conflict, which has killed tens of thousands and pushed its largest city into famine, is nearing its end.Their meeting comes as ceasefire talks show little apparent movement and outrage mounts over deadly Israeli strikes on a southern Gaza hospital that killed 20, including journalists and emergency responders. Israels military said it would investigate the hospital attack. In initial findings Tuesday, it offered no immediate explanation for striking twice and no evidence for an assertion that six of the dead were militants. Israel prepares Gaza City for an evacuation it calls inevitableTalks about the future of Gaza are unfolding in Washington as aid groups warn an expanded Israeli offensive could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory, where most residents are displaced, neighborhoods lie in ruins, and a famine was declared in Gaza City and threatening other areas.Israels military on Wednesday told Gaza City residents, many already displaced, to prepare for an impending evacuation.Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson, said Israeli forces have surveyed the vast empty areas south of the city to assist the evacuating residents as much as possible.The evacuation of Gaza City is inevitable, Adraee wrote in Arabic on X. He said the displaced would receive space for tents and infrastructure would be set up to distribute aid and water. More than 80% of Gaza Strip is designated as an Israeli military zone or subject to displacement orders, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in June.Hamas said last week it accepted a ceasefire plan from Arab mediators, even as Israel announced plans for a major military offensive to seize Gazas biggest city, where some health and infrastructure services remain online and hundreds of thousands are sheltering. Israel has pressed ahead with plans to mobilize tens of thousands of reservists. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the military will launch its offensive while simultaneously pursuing a ceasefire.An official from Qatar, one of the countries mediating the talks, said last week that the proposal under discussion was almost identical to an earlier draft that Witkoff put forth and Israel accepted. Hamas and Israel have both previously announced acceptance of truces under discussion. But many have fallen apart, with both sides accusing the other of last minute changes.The deal said to be under discussion would include a 60-day truce, the release of some hostages held by Hamas in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a road map toward talks on a lasting ceasefire.Many in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition oppose such a phased deal. U.S. and Israel to talk as strikes continueIn Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday.U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Tuesday that President Donald Trump would chair a separate meeting, which would feature a very comprehensive plan were putting together on the next day.He did not offer details about the meeting, which did not appear on Trumps public schedule on Wednesday. Pope demands end to collective punishmentAs a growing chorus of international leaders urge Israel to reconsider its offensive and commit to talks, Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday called for Israel to halt the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.Leo was interrupted twice by applause as he read out his latest appeal to end the war during his weekly general audience attended by thousands of people in the Vaticans auditorium.Historys first American pope also called for the release of hostages still in Gaza.I beg for a permanent ceasefire to be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid to be facilitated and humanitarian law to be fully respected, Leo said. Hospitals report strikes near aid sites and in displacement tentsOn Wednesday, hospitals reported at least 10 casualties, including one near an aid distribution site in central Gaza and at a displacement camp in southern Gaza.An Israeli strike killed three people, including a child and a woman, and injured 21 others when it hit displaced peoples tents in Khan Younis overnight on Wednesday, the Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital said. Three separate Israeli strikes killed at least six others in Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital said on Wednesday.Israels military did not immediately respond to questions about the strikes. Its military offensive has killed 62,895 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children.The ministry said Wednesday that 10 people died of starvation and malnutrition over the past 24 hours, bringing the total of victims of malnutrition and hunger to 313 people died, including 119 children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive.Protests have swelled in Israel, with families of hostages and their supporters urging a ceasefire. The government argues that a broadened offensive is the best way to bring them home and cripple Hamas capacity to launch such attacks again.__Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank and Abou Aljoud from Beirut, Lebanon. Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war SAM METZ Metz covers Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and points beyond for The Associated Press. mailto

Kilmar brego Garca, a la derecha, y su hermano Csar brego Garca, al centro, llegan a la oficina del Servicio de Inmigracin y Control de Aduanas, el lunes 25 de agosto de 2025, en Baltimore. (AP Foto/Stephanie Scarbrough)2025-08-27T13:29:19Z Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his administration WASHINGTON (AP) Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who has become the face of President Donald Trumps hardline immigration agenda, wants to seek asylum in the United States, his lawyers told a federal judge Wednesday.Abrego Garcia, 30, was detained Monday in Baltimore by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement after leaving a Tennessee jail on Friday. The Trump administration said it intends to deport hm to the African country of Uganda. Administration officials have said hes part of the dangerous MS-13 gang, an allegation Abrego Garcia denies.The Salvadoran nationals lawyers are fighting the deportation efforts in court, arguing he has the right to express fear of persecution and torture in Uganda. Abrego Garcia has also told immigration authorities he would prefer to be sent to Costa Rica if he must be removed from the U.S.He had been denied asylum in 2019 by a U.S. immigration judge because he applied for asylum more than a year after he fled to the U.S. He left El Salvador at the age of 16 around 2011 to Maryland to join his brother, who had become a U.S. citizen. Although the immigration judge denied asylum for Abrego Garcia, the judge did issue an order shielding Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador. Thats because he faced credible threats of violence from a local gang there that had terrorized him and his family. Following the immigration judges ruling, Abrego Garcia was released under federal supervision in 2019 and continued to live with his American wife and children in Maryland until this year. But the Trump administration deported him to a notorious El Salvador prison in March. Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. The deportation violated the immigration judges 2019 order barring his deportation to El Salvador. Abrego Garcias wife sued to bring him back. Facing mounting pressure and a U.S. Supreme Court order, the Trump administration returned Abrego Garcia to the U.S. in June, but only to face federal charges of human smuggling. The Trump administration moved to deport Abrego Garcia again on Monday. He then stated his intent to reopen his immigration case in Maryland and to seek asylum again, his lawyers said Wednesday. Abrego Garcias lawyers say sending him to Uganda is punishment for successfully fighting his deportation to El Salvador, refusing to plead guilty to the smuggling charges and for seeking release from jail in Tennessee. Meanwhile in Uganda, critics claim that the country has made a murky deal with the Trump administration to accept deportees in exchange for easing political pressure on the countrys president, who has ruled for nearly four decades.___Finley reported from Norfolk, Virginia.

Amtrak Police officers patrol Union Station, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)2025-08-27T13:12:56Z Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his administration WASHINGTON (AP) Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that his department is taking management of Union Station, the main transportation hub in Washington, away from Amtrak, in another example of how the federal government is exerting its power over the nations capital.Duffy made the announcement in a statement before he joined Amtrak President Roger Harris at Union Station for the launch of the NextGen Acela, the rail services new high-speed train.The secretary said Union Station, located within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol, had fallen into disrepair when it should be a point of pride for the city. By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost, Duffy said. At the event, Duffy said President Donald Trump has been pretty clear about what he wants. He wants Union Station to be beautiful again. He wants transit to be safe again. And he wants our nations capital to be great again. And today is part of that, Duffy said.Duffy echoed the Republican president, who said last week he wants $2 billion from Congress to beautify Washington as part of his crackdown on the city. The Republican president has sent thousands of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officials into Washington in a bid to fight violent crime he claimed had strangled the city. Local police department statistics show violent crime in Washington has declined in recent years, but Trump has countered, without offering evidence, that the numbers were fudged. National Guard troops have been on patrol inside and outside of Union Station after Trump launched the anti-crime effort earlier this month. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were shouted down by opponents of the federal intervention when they visited with troops there last week. During Wednesdays train unveiling, Duffy will also talk about what the administration is doing to turn Union Station into a world class transit hub, according to a Transportation Department news advisory.Duffy had pressed Amtrak about crime at Union Station in a March letter to its chief operating officer and requested an updated plan on how it intended to improve public safety there. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families.

The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store logo in Pearl, Miss., is photographed, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)2025-08-26T23:47:02Z Cracker Barrel said late Tuesday its returning to its old logo after critics including President Donald Trump protested the companys plan to modernize.In a post on its website, Cracker Barrel said it will retain its old logo, which features an older man in overalls sitting next to a barrel and the words Old Country Store.We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel, the company said in a statement. Our new logo is going away and our Old Timer will remain.The tempest over the logo began last week, when the company announced plans for a simplified design featuring only the companys name. Lebanon, Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel, which has 660 restaurants in 43 states, made the change as part of a wider plan to modernize its restaurants and appeal to younger customers.The chains sales have been slipping as it faces growing competition from breakfast chains and others. In its 2024 fiscal year, Cracker Barrels same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, dropped 0.1% despite a 4.9% increase in menu prices. Same-store retail sales at its shops fell 5.5%. But many protested the change. On Monday, Cracker Barrel put out an apologetic statement, saying it could have done a better job sharing who we are and who well always be. At that point, Cracker Barrel didnt say it would change the logo, but said it would listen to its customers and keep many of the things they have come to love about the restaurant, like the rocking chairs on its front porches. The company said it would continue to honor Uncle Herschel the older man in its logo, who represents the uncle of Cracker Barrels founder on its menu and on items sold in its stores. But the controversy continued. On Tuesday morning, Trump said via Truth Social that Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before. Cracker Barrels shares rose after more than a week of declines. By Tuesday evening, Cracker Barrel had made its decision and scrapped the new logo.At Cracker Barrel, its always been and always will be about serving up delicious food, warm welcomes, and the kind of country hospitality that feels like family, the company said. As a proud American institution, our 70,000 hardworking employees look forward to welcoming you to our table soon. Trump was among those celebrating the move.Good luck into the future. Make lots of money and, most importantly, make your customers happy again! Trump said via Truth Social. DEE-ANN DURBIN Durbin is an Associated Press business writer focusing on the food and beverage industry. She has also covered the auto industry and state and national politics in her nearly 30-year career with the AP. twitter mailto

Once known, even branded, for its dynamism and progress, Texas has entered into a spiral of animus and legislative contempt toward LGBTQ+ Texans reminiscent of Mississippi in the Sixties, in its final throws of opposition to integration and civil rightsMississippi helped clear the way for its massive resistance to integration by harnessing the fear of what legislators called racial perverts and outside agitator deviants. U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves wrote in his 2014 opinion striking down Mississippis ban on same-sex marriage, segregationists called their opponents racial perverts; Klan propaganda tied together Communists, homosexuals, Jews, fornicators and angry blacksinfidels all. Today, this seems to be the new Texas blueprint from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms (for the infidels) to enacting book bans, drag bans, a new ban on LGBTQ+ clubs in schools, school speech bans (Dont say gay), and an obsessive number of anti-transgender proposals and laws.Despite incredible cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas/Fort Worth, the state seems to have locked itself into a gerrymandered, fundamentalist, and hate-steeped lawmaking that is gaining national infamy for Texas, much like Mississippi achieved during the Sixties. Remember blues singer Nina Simones hit song Mississippi Goddam? Through the notorious Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, formed in 1956 to fight integration and organizing of Black voters, the state launched an investigatory war on Negro perverts openly gay African American student organizers on campuses like HBCU Rust College in Holly Springs. It was Gov. Paul Johnson Jr.s and the legislatures politics of exposure to crush campus organizing.But there was a larger goal: stop integration in its tracks by harnessing old-time, Southern homophobia. Its the agitators and perverts! The good news is they failed, thanks to President Lyndon Johnson, who signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today As in Mississippi, the tap root of Texas political use of LGBTQ+ legislative politics goes back to racism.The father of Texas political homophobia, Waco Congressman (and later Athens, Texas) John Dowdy (1912-1995) was one of four Texas Congressmen who signed the 1956 Southern Manifesto, a call to arms for southern states to resist integration of all public places triggered by the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The effort was called Massive Resistance. The entire Congressional delegations of Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia signed the Southern Manifesto. along with Texas Congressman Dowdy. Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn were not signatories.When blocking integration stopped working for him, Dowdy went on to the next best target: perverts and homosexuals. Dowdy organized and led a historic attack, holding hearings in the House of Representatives in 1963, targeting Dr. Franklin E. Kameny, president of the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. Dowdys bill to suspend the Mattachines license to operate as a non-profit in the District of Columbia was passed by both the House and Senate. The acts of these people are banned under the laws of God, the laws of nature and are in violation of the laws of man! Dowdy thundered.The controversy afforded Frank Kameny a national platform for his message Gay is good that reverberated across Texas. A political descendant of Dowdy, a far more powerful politician in Texas today, is Lt. Governor Dan Patrick named this year as chairman of Donald Trumps Religious Liberty Commission. The Commissions inaugural meeting, in sync with its Christian Nationalist messaging, was held at the evangelical Museum of the Bible in Washington. We can be sure one of its first targets will be same-sex marriage.Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick drove the Texas legislature in the last session to file over 150 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, according to Equality Texas. These included a ban on gay-straight alliances; a parental rights bill giving school boards, not school librarians, the final say over what materials are allowed in school libraries; bathroom bills; trans healthcare bills; counseling bills; and Dont Say Gay bills. There was so much incoming legislation, think of needing a counter-drone system to identify, track, and destroy them all. Both Texas A&M University and the University of Texas attempted to ban campus drag shows. Walter Wendler, president of West Texas A&M University (located in Canyon, near Amarillo), compared drag to blackface performers denigrating others (women). Following West Texas A&M, the Texas A&M system of eleven universities with over 150,000 students banned drag on campus. In this atmosphere of denigration and fear, Texas Republicans continued to tighten their lock on the legislature. It was never really about drag bans and blackface in Canyon.The legislature is now enacting a new Congressional districting map at Donald Trumps request that could net Texas Republicans as many as five new seats in the House of Representatives, a five-alarm fire for American Democracy, warns California Gov. Gavin Newsom.Texas has reached the standard of Mississippi 63 for its LGBTQ+ citizens, their families, and allies, minus the violence for which we can all be grateful. From the White House to the House of Representatives, all the way down to banning high school gay-straight alliances; great universities like Texas A&M twisting and small towns like Canyon losing it Try to name a state that has surpassed Texas in the scale of its contempt. I only wish Texas humorist and author Larry King (Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) were still with us. He would love the clash of civilizations between chicken-fried, churched politicians and the students who use they/them and perhaps make us all laugh in a better place. Hey, Larry, Texas is #1!Charles Francis is president of the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., an LGBTQ history society. Author of Archive Activism: Memoir of a Uniquely Nasty Journey (University of North Texas Press, 2023), Francis great-grandfather moved from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Dallas in 1878.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02650-3Some people who stop using topical steroids go through a withdrawal that leads to aggressive flare-ups. But not all physicians take the problem seriously.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02652-1Researchers are hoping to trick the immune system into fighting back against the bane of adolescents everywhere.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02648-xEngineered multilayered tissues are showing great promise in the clinic, and could also provide more-accurate models for studying skin disease.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02555-1Classifications drawn from outmoded concepts of race impede research and clinical practice.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02647-yFresh treatments shift the focus from symptom management to repair, and help children with skin conditions to live active lives.

Safety Jordan Poyer is returning to the Bills, signing to the team's practice squad, a source told ESPN.

The Vikings and Panthers are finalizing a trade for wide receiver Adam Thielen to return to Minnesota, sources told ESPN.

The is a vocal crowd within NASCAR unhappy with the the playoff format. Not Joey Logano, though, who has come to thrive in the biggest moments.

The shooting was reported at Annunciation Catholic Church, which operates a school.

The conservative majority has been largely receptive to the administrations claims of executive power.

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Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns a shot to Reilly Opelka, of the United States, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)2025-08-27T13:29:31Z NEW YORK (AP) Carlos Alcaraz is among the tennis stars getting into the swing of things at the U.S. Open.A golf swing, that is.After his first-round victory at Flushing Meadows this week, the five-time Grand Slam champion used his racket to pantomime using a club on the course perhaps a nod to one of the spectators in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium that night, golf star Rory McIlroy.Plenty of athletes eyeing a trophy on the hard courts of New York, including the person Alcaraz beat in the 2022 mens final, Casper Ruud, and 2024 womens runner-up Jessica Pegula, are swapping fuzzy yellow tennis balls for dimpled white golf balls as a way to relax. So are past tennis greats such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.Alcaraz and Ruud sometimes travel on tour with their clubs. Even during Wimbledon last month when he famously went golfing with Andy Murray on off days and while preparing to go to the U.S. Open, Alcaraz made sure to find opportunities to put the rackets in the bag and tees in the ground.Every time that I can, Alcaraz said with a smile. Tennis stars take to Instagram looking for a game of golfRuud, one of tennis best golfers, went on social media to post a photo with Alcaraz on a course recently and captioned it: Who should we challenge to a match??Similarly, Federer asked Anyone ready to take on the two of us?? with a picture showing him and Nadal when they hit the links in Mallorca in July. The serve-and-volleyers can also chip and puttGolfers say their counterparts have got game.Tennis players are good golfers, Ill tell you that, 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia said. Ive played with a lot of them.His report on fellow Spaniard Nadal?Hes a fighter, just like he was as a tennis player, Garcia said.Federer, like many in retirement, has thrown himself into a game he didnt have as much time for when he was working.He has a lot of potential. Great technique, as you can imagine, said McIlroy, who teed it up with Federer a few months ago. He didnt play a ton when he was playing tennis because it always (bothered) his lower back a little bit. But hes really getting into it. Hes super keen. He went and got fitted for clubs. His wife, Mirka, is playing, his kids are playing. Its turned from a tennis family to a golf family. Sebastian Korda comes from a family thats both. His parents were professional tennis players Mom, Regina, was ranked in the top 30; Dad, Petr, won the 1998 Australian Open and was the runner-up at the 1992 French Open and his sisters, Nelly (ranked No. 1 until recently) and Jessica, are pro golfers.Theyre both individual sports and, as an athlete, you want to be competitive at anything you do, Korda said. Theres a lot of challenges in golf, and as tennis players, we kind of love problem-solving. Thats a big part of our sport: figuring things out.Thats what lured Pegula back to the course. Shes been playing since she was young, but had one of those rounds last year that makes even passionate golfers put away the clubs.I had a meltdown and I was like, This isnt helping me, Pegula said. She stayed away until just a few weeks ago. Her swing and enjoyment of the game came right back.I think it is relaxing, but its also mentally a challenge. I like to kind of problem-solve and think through it and try to be smart with how Im playing, Pegula said. I feel like it kind of sharpens me a little bit mentally. I finally was like, OK, Ill play for the first time. I actually played pretty well, considering I hadnt played all year.When the tours were in Madrid this year, she outdid Ruud in a closest-to-the-pin challenge posted on YouTube. Neither golfs during the European clay-court season; Ruud explained that courses are too far from major cities that host tournaments. The U.S. hard-court tennis swing offers chances to tee it upThere are more options in the New York area, which will host golfs Ryder Cup shortly after the U.S. Open. The Norwegian has played Winged Foot, home to multiple golf U.S. Opens.Northeast America has great golf courses, as well as Palm Springs and Miami, said Ruud, who said hes nearly a scratch golfer.Alcaraz isnt there yet. But he intends to keep playing 18.When youre walking to the next hole, youre just forgetting about everything else, just enjoying the moment and enjoy being with your friends, he said. I just love being like that.___AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich in New York, AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson in Atlanta and AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Plymouth, Michigan, contributed to this report.___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis BRIAN MAHONEY Mahoney is an editor on the AP Sports desk. He also is a pro basketball writer, primarily covering the two NBA teams in New York. twitter mailto

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed head of the Russian-controlled Kherson region of Ukraine, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)2025-08-27T12:34:41Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russias invading forces have broken into an eighth region of Ukraine, a Ukrainian military official said Wednesday, seeking to capture more ground in their three-year war of attrition as U.S.-led peace efforts struggle to gain traction.Some Russian troops have entered the villages of Novoheorhiivka and Zaporizke in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, a major Ukrainian industrial center next to the Donetsk region where fierce fighting has been taking place, Victor Trehubov, spokesman for local ground forces, told The Associated Press by phone.Russias Defense Ministry claimed earlier this month that its forces had taken the two villages.But the Russians have not entrenched or built fortifications there, and fighting is continuing in the villages, Trehubov said.Ukrainian troops are under severe strain as they try to hold back Russias bigger army. Military analysts say there is no sign of a looming collapse of Ukrainian defenses and note that Russian forces have been unable to take major towns and cities, but their slow slog through rural areas keeps Ukraine under pressure. The front line, where tens of thousands of troops on both sides have been killed, snakes along roughly 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of eastern and southeastern Ukraine, which borders Russia. Russian forces are already in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. Russia illegally seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, and now occupies about a fifth of Ukraine. Western leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian troops move deeper into Ukraine.U.S. President Donald Trump bristled Tuesday at Putins stalling on an American proposal for direct peace talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said Friday he expects to decide on next steps in two weeks if direct talks arent scheduled. Ukraine has accepted U.S. proposals for a summit with Putin and a ceasefire.Russia has also balked at U.S. and Western plans to establish postwar security guarantees for Ukraine, which fears another Russian invasion in the future even if a peace deal is clinched now.The possible security guarantees being worked out by Western officials could include the deployment of European troops in Ukraine. But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Wednesday that soldiers from NATO member countries would be unacceptable for Moscow.Ukraine is trying to disrupt Russias war effort by striking infrastructure behind the front line with ling-range drones. Gas stations have run dry in some regions of Russia after they struck refineries and other oil infrastructure in recent weeks.Russia, meanwhile, is continuing its campaign to cripple Ukraines energy supply ahead of the bitter winter by wrecking the power grid with repeated attacks.Ukraines Energy Ministry said Wednesday that Russia struck energy and gas infrastructure in six regions of the country.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Subscribe to 404 Media to get The Abstract, our newsletter about the most exciting and mind-boggling science news and studies of the week. Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the mystery of how life first emerged on Earth by demonstrating how two essential biological ingredients could have spontaneously joined together on our planet some four billion years ago.All life on Earth contains ribonucleic acid (RNA), a special molecule that helps build proteins from simpler amino acids. To kickstart this fundamental biological process, RNA and amino acids had to become attached at some point. But this key step, known as RNA aminoacylation, has never been experimentally observed in early Earth-like conditions despite the best efforts of many researchers over the decades.Now, a team has achieved this milestone in the quest to unravel lifes origins. As they report in a study published on Wednesday in Nature, the researchers were able to link amino acids to RNA in water at a neutral pH with the aid of energetic chemical compounds called thioesters. The work revealed that two contrasting origin stories for life on Earth, known as RNA world and thioester world, may both be right.It unites two theories for the origin of life, which are totally separate, said Matthew Powner, a professor of organic chemistry at University College London and an author of the study, in a call with 404 Media. These were opposed theorieseither you have thioesters or you have RNA.What we found, which is kind of cool, is that if you put them both together, they're more than the sum of their parts, he continued. Both aspectsRNA world and thioester worldmight be right and theyre not mutually exclusive. They can both work together to provide different aspects of things that are essential to building a cell.In the RNA world theory, which dates back to the 1960s, self-replicating RNA molecules served as the initial catalysts for life. The thioester world theory, which gained traction in the 1990s, posits that life first emerged from metabolic processes spurred on by energetic thioesters. Now, Powner said, the team has found a missing link between the two.Powner and his colleagues didnt initially set out to merge the two ideas. The breakthrough came almost as a surprise after the team synthesized pantetheine, a component of thioesters, in simulated conditions resembling early Earth. The team discovered that if amino acids are linked to pantetheine, they naturally attach themselves to RNA at molecular sites that are consistent with what is seen in living things. This act of RNA aminoacylation could eventually enable the complex protein synthesis all organisms now depend on to live.Pantetheine is totally universal, Powner explained. Every organism on Earth, every genome sequence, needs this molecule for some reason or other. You can't take it out of life and fully understand life.That whole program of looking at pantetheine, and then finding this remarkable chemistry that pantetheine does, was all originally designed to just be a side study, he added. It was serendipity in the sense that we didn't expect it, but in a scientific way that we knew it would probably be interesting and we'd probably find uses for it. Its just the uses we found were not necessarily the ones we expected.The researchers suggest that early instances of RNA aminoacylation on Earth would most likely have occurred in lakes and other small bodies of water, where nutrients could accumulate in concentrations that could up the odds of amino acids attaching to RNA.It's very difficult to envisage any origins of life chemistry in something as large as an ocean body because it's just too dilute for chemistry, Powner said. For that reason, they suggest future studies of so-called soda lakes in polar environments that are rich in nutrients, like phosphate, and could serve as models for the first nurseries of life on Earth.The finding could even have implications for extraterrestrial life. If life on Earth first emerged due, in part, to this newly identified process, its possible that similar prebiotic reactions can be set in motion elsewhere in the universe. Complex molecules like pantetheine and RNA have never been found off-Earth (yet), but amino acids are present in many extraterrestrial environments. This suggests that the ingredients of life are abundant in the universe, even if the conditions required to spark it are far more rare.While the study sheds new light on the origin of life, there are plenty of other steps that must be reconstructed to understand how inorganic matter somehow found a way to self-replicate and start evolving, moving around, and in our case as humans, conducting experiments to figure out how it all got started.We get so focused on the details of what we're trying to do that we don't often step back and think, Oh, wow, this is really important and existential for us, Powner concluded.Subscribe to 404 Media to get The Abstract, our newsletter about the most exciting and mind-boggling science news and studies of the week.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) slammed Florida cities that are resisting his mandates to remove their Pride crosswalks, accusing them of virtue signalling. Its like they think that they should just be a law unto themselves, DeSantis said, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Youre always gonna have the Key Wests of the world that are going to virtue signal. Thats just what they do. Related Federal road safety study interrupted after vandal destroys rainbow crosswalk While multiple cities have already given in and painted over the Pride intersections, a few, like Key West and Delray Beach, are fighting the administration, which is clearly angering DeSantis. He declared during a press conference, Were not doing the commandeering of the roads to put up messaging. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today While the Pride intersections are no doubt a significant motivation for the new no street art policy from the anti-LGBTQ+ DeSantis administration, the state is implementing it across the board. Officials are forcing municipalities to remove street murals expressing support for everything from racial justice to police forces. Some of the reported 400 murals on the list to be removed are also merely art pieces with no underlying message including one outside a school in Tallahassee created by students. What I would tell kids is we have a, you know, representative system of government, DeSantis said to defend his actions. People elect their representatives. Theyre able to enact the legislation with the governors signature and then when that happens, then obviously people will conform their conduct accordingly.At the same press conference, state Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue made clear that prior approval for street art by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is no longer relevant now that DeSantis has signed a law forbidding it.Pavement art is not allowed and were removing everything thats not compliant with state/federal standards and thats the approach that were taking, Perdue said. Both state and federal officials have justified the actions by claiming street art is distracting to drivers. The data, however, supports the complete opposite. TheBloomberg Philanthropies 2022 Asphalt Art Safety Studyfound that crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists drop 50% at painted intersections. It also reported a 25% decrease in conflicts between drivers and pedestrians, a 27% increase in drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians, and a 38% decrease in pedestrians crossing when the walk signal was not lit at intersections involving public art. The data also revealed that injuries resulting from crashes drop 37% in painted intersections. Lets be honest. We all know this is not about traffic safety. This is political, said Delray Beach Vice Mayor Rob Long during a commission meeting, where he cited this data. Its part of the same culture war climate where symbols of inclusion are targeted precisely because they represent acceptance. Its about erasing the visibility of our LGBTQ+ people at the same time when their rights are again under direct threat. But the DeSantis administration is focused on nothing but forcing cities to comply with its orders, threatening a revocation of funding as well as saying state officials will remove the murals and charge cities for the work if they wont do it themselves. This already happened in Orlando. Last week, FDOT officials painted over the crosswalkin the dead of nightwithout notifying city officials. They then painted over it a second time on Sunday morning after protestors restored the rainbow colors to the road. The state is also now spending time and money on having patrollers surveil the area. Its silly, said state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D). The amount of money and time being spent by the state on a crosswalk when theres so many better uses for it to fix potholes, for example.Youre creating controversy over a sidewalk, she added. No one cared about it before you made it a deal.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Parent-to-be hire midwives for a myriad of reasons, from wanting a home birth to more personalized prenatal care to in-hospital natural pain management to support during a cesarean section, but when you are trans or nonbinary, picking a midwife becomes much more complicated.Pregnancy is already an emotionally and physically vulnerable time that is only made more fraught when you are also worried about whether or not the medical professionals you have to rely on are going to use your correct pronouns, respect your relationship, or help you navigate complex feelings about your own body during this time.So how do you know how to pick the right midwife for you, what red flags should you be on the lookout for, and what questions should you be asking your care providers? We talked to author and LGBTQ+ midwife Marea Goodman, who works with the virtual queer community PregnantTogether, to break this all down.How is choosing a midwife for trans and nonbinary parents more complex or different than for their cisgender counterparts?Finding the correct midwife will make you feel more comfortable during your pregnancy and birth journey, but research also shows that having access to an affirming provider and inclusive care reduces health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer populations and leads to better management of mental health conditions. When choosing any type of care provider as a trans and nonbinary person, its important to make sure that they are someone who understands you and your relationships, and can use your correct pronouns and other language that helps you feel safe and comfortable, Goodman tells PRIDE. This is especially important when choosing a midwife, since pregnancy, birth, and postpartum are intensely vulnerable times.To facilitate finding the best midwife for you, Goodman created a free resource on finding affirming care providers while growing your family, which you can access here.What are the benefits for trans and NB parents of having a midwife?Trans and nonbinary future parents are choosing to hire midwives at higher rates than the rest of the population because you get more personalized care. Midwifery care is generally associated with a higher level of personalized care when compared to seeing an obstetrician during pregnancy, they say. "In the United States, people may choose to work with a hospital-based midwife or a homebirth midwife, depending on their access to care, preferences, and health status (midwives are licensed to work with low-risk birthing people, so people with pre-existing conditions may need to see an obstetrician for health reasons).They say that midwives improve health outcomes for patients, including decreasing the risk of surgical intervention, and overwhelmingly improve peoples experiences of receiving medical care."What qualities should you be looking for in a midwife?According to Goodman you should try to find providers who regularly work with trans and nonbinary patients and have the type of medical experience that matches the birthing experience you are looking for. So whether you want a home birth or a hospital birth, look for a midwife who has that type of experience.Make sure that whoever you are interviewing has experience working with trans and/or nonbinary patients, and that everyone in their office does, too. Sometimes, people find a great, affirming provider, only to find out that the front desk personnel or medical assistant doesnt use their preferred pronouns and clearly doesnt have the experience or training to adequately support the queer community.What questions should you ask?Picking a midwife is an important decision so dont be shy about asking hard questions. Goodman recommends asking every potential provider the following:Are you experienced in caring for trans and nonbinary folks? Do you enjoy working with folks like me?What percentage of your practice is currently trans and nonbinary folks?How do your standards of care differ when working with folks in my particular position? How are they the same?Are your intake forms inclusive of trans and nonbinary folks?Have all of your staff, including front desk personnel, received training around supporting trans and nonbinary folks?What is your practices experience with insurance billing and advocacy for trans and nonbinary folks?Does your billing department provide assistance due to the discrimination that people in my position face?What red flags should you be watching out for?Finding the best healthcare provider for you when your trans or nonbinary can be a tall order and youre likely to come across midwives who arent inclusive or dont have the knowledge base to work with the LGBTQ+ community.There are some practices that put a rainbow flag on their website to advertise to the queer community, but havent actually done the work to make their practice a safe place for trans and nonbinary people, Goodman warns. I always recommend asking the hard questions (over email, first, if you can). It can also be extremely helpful to get recommendations from other trans and nonbinary folks in your community and ask them what their experience was working with a particular doctor or clinic.They say you should also one on the lookout for intake paperwork that assumes relationship status or the gender of your partner, negative reviews from community members, or if you have a pervasive feeling of discomfort in their office or in their presence.How can PregnantTogether help?PregnantTogether is a virtual queer family-building community which connect over 300 LGBTQ+ folks and solo parents all across the U.S. and beyond who are trying to grow their families. In the community, you can meet and connect with so many other people like yourselfand often get referrals to doctors and clinics other trans and nonbinary people recommend, Goodman says. We have tons of support and resources for queer folks navigating everything from trying to conceive, pregnancy, feeding their infants, and parentingand we even have local meetups in many cities across the US. You can use this special link to check out the community for your first month, free-of-charge (after that, its $20/month but Im always happy to share sliding scale memberships for those who need).Source cited:Marea Goodman is an author and midwife who founded Restore Midwifery, works with ParentTogether, and co-wrote Baby Making for Everybody: Fertility and Family Building for LGBTQ+ and Solo Parents.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02514-wFour individuals from areas of academia to private industry share their tips on cracking into the states evolving aerospace industry.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02513-xCompanies and students are flocking to the state, drawn by growth and employment opportunities in the aerospace sector.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02651-2Demystifying itching, giving robots facial expressions, and other key studies and trials.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02649-wTodays antibody therapies must be taken for life to avoid severe setbacks. Researchers are pushing for a more durable treatment.

Nature, Published online: 27 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02738-wEnglands health service is trialling an artificial-intelligence tool that can identify skin cancer as accurately as a physician.

The Enhanced Games, which promise no drug testing, have filed an $800 million antitrust lawsuit against their detractors for what they claim is an illegal campaign to make athletes boycott their event.

Keegan Bradley did not call his own name Wednesday for the United States Ryder Cup team, deciding against becoming the event's first playing captain in 62 years.

Another 1,000-yard season for Mike Evans? Travis Kelce to surprise? Rookies to watch? Eric Karabell offers the lines on overs that are appealing.

The documentary series American Experience begins an abbreviated schedule this week. A victim of the federal funding take-back, it has suspended production and laid off its staff.

Australia has accused Iran of directing an attack on a Jewish restaurant in Sydney through a web of intermediaries. The operation on the ground, court records suggest, was messy.

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Trader Patrick Casey works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)2025-08-27T05:25:49Z U.S. stocks edged higher in midday trading Wednesday ahead of a highly anticipated earnings update from computer chip giant Nvidia that may provide insights into the current state and future of artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 was up 0.2%. The benchmark index remains near its record high set earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 104 points, or 0.2%, as of 12:07 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Gains in technology and financial companies helped outweigh declines in communication services, health care and other sectors.Investors see Nvidias quarterly report, coming after the bell, as a barometer for the strength of the boom in artificial intelligence because the company makes most of the chips that power the technology. Its heavy weighting also gives Nvidia outsized influence as a bellwether for the broader market. Its shares were up 0.1%. Cracker Barrel shares climbed 8.3% after the restaurant company scrapped plans to change its logo following an uproar on social media that even drew a comment from President Donald Trump. Shares in several companies rose after they reported quarterly results that topped analysts forecasts. Department store chain Kohls vaulted 17.4% and database platform company MongoDB surged 34.9%. Both companies also raised their full-year guidance. Abercrombie & Fitch rose 0.4% after the teen clothing retailer reported second-quarter results that exceeded Wall Streets estimates. J.M. Smucker slid 5.1% for one of the biggest declines among S&P 500 companies after the jelly and jam makers latest quarterly snapshot fell short of analysts estimates.Among other stocks losing ground were doughnut shop chain Krispy Kreme, which fell 6.6%, and Paramount Skydance, down 6%.Treasury yields were mixed in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.26% late Tuesday. Crude oil prices rose. European markets were mostly lower and Asian markets closed mixed overnight.Trading on Wall Street is off to an uneven start this week following big gains last week on hopes for interest rate cuts from the Fed.Markets have been subdued after Trump escalated his fight with the central bank by trying to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cooks lawyer said shell sue Trumps administration to try to stop him. Trump has been feuding with the central bank over its cautious interest rate policy. The Fed has held rates steady since late 2024 over worries that Trumps unpredictable tariff policies will reignite inflation. Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling. Still, he is only one of 12 votes that decides interest rate policy.For now, the situation isnt expected to have a major impact on the Feds near-term policy. The two-year Treasury yield, which closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, slipped to 3.64% from 3.68%.Traders are still betting the Fed will trim its benchmark interest rate at its next meeting in September. Traders see an 90.3% chance that the central bank will cut the rate by a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group. The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate in late 2024 after spending the last several years fighting rising inflation by raising rates. It managed to mostly tame inflation and avoided having those higher rates stall economic growth, thanks largely to strong consumer spending and a resilient job market.The Fed hit the pause button heading into 2025 over concerns that higher tariffs imposed by Trump could reignite inflation. Lower interest rates make borrowing easier, helping to spur more investment and spending, but that could also potentially fuel inflation. However, concerns are deepening over the jobs market. Economic data is relatively light this week until Friday, which will bring another update on inflation: the U.S. personal consumption expenditures index. Economists expect it to show that inflation remained at about 2.6% in July, compared with a year ago. Businesses have been warning investors and consumers about higher costs and prices because of tariffs.Steep tariffs placed by the Trump administration on India over Russian oil purchases took effect Wednesday, bringing the combined tariffs imposed on the U.S. ally to 50%. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Sophie Nocera, 21, a senior at Eckerd College, plays with her dog Zuco in her college dorm on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Tina Russell)2025-08-27T04:02:17Z Crossing paths with dogs, cats and other animals is part of campus life for students at Eckerd College, a liberal arts school in Florida that allows pets to live in dormitories.Sophie Nocera, an Eckerd senior, said she probably knows the names of pets better than her fellow students. Thats the case for a lot of the students, said Nocera, who lives on the campus in St. Petersburg with her Border collie, Zuko. When Im walking my dog, I often hear, Oh my god, hi, Zuko! Its like Im not even there. Sophie Nocera, 21, a senior at Eckerd College, plays with her dog Zuco on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Tina Russell) Sophie Nocera, 21, a senior at Eckerd College, plays with her dog Zuco on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Tina Russell) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Some colleges and universities around the country welcome pets in campus residences, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to Stephens College in Missouri.For students, the companionship can help reduce stress, anxiety and homesickness. The colleges also see benefits for student engagement and helping them build connections with one another. Federal law requires public and private colleges to allow service animals and emotional support animals in student housing. But growing numbers of schools are allowing pets, with various restrictions. Not all animals are welcome on pet-friendly campusesMIT allows only cats, in limited numbers and in preapproved spaces. At Eckerd, students can bring their family pets to live with them on campus after their first semester. The college requires pets to have been part of students home life at least six months before coming to campus and must not be venomous or aggressive.At the University of Northern Colorado, students in three of the more than dozen residence halls on campus are allowed to have dogs and cats. The animals must be at least 6 months old and no more than 40 pounds (18 kilograms). Students are limited to one pet. This fall, the school will have the most registered pets on campus since it began allowing them over a decade ago, said Jediah Cummins, executive director of housing. One of the markers of adulthood is, Can I not just take care of myself, but can I take care of another living being? Thats an important part of this, Cummins said. Student Molly Cheer sits with her pet comfort cat, Louie, as she looks at upcoming course work in her dorm room at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) Student Molly Cheer sits with her pet comfort cat, Louie, as she looks at upcoming course work in her dorm room at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Molly Cheer, a senior nursing major, said she chose Northern Colorado in part because of its pet-friendly policy. When she is stressed about school, she said, it helps coming home to Louie, the cat she adopted during her first year. Whenever Im feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I pick him up and cuddle him, and he just deals with it for as long as I need it, she said. Eckerd has had pet-friendly dorms since 1973. Jack Layden, assistant dean for residential life and student engagement, said the college has hosted hundreds of animals, including rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, birds, guinea pigs, bearded dragons, geckos, turtles, snakes, frogs, fish, and even a tarantula. Pets change the college experience for their ownersNocera said Zuko has helped her meet other people on campus, as well as emotionally, when she struggled with a decision to change her major. I remember coming back to my dorm and just melting to the floor, and Zuko was right there. And I remember thinking, whatever happens tomorrow, Im going to wake up, and Im going to take him to the dog park. And, were going to go play fetch regardless of what my major is, said Nocera, who is the staff director of Pet Life, a student-led department on campus tasked with administering the pet policy. Student Molly Cheers pet comfort cat, Louie, peers out of his shelter in her dorm room at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) Student Molly Cheers pet comfort cat, Louie, peers out of his shelter in her dorm room at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More At Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, Eva Chatterjee-Sutton saw the difference a pet can make when a first-year student was struggling to make connections before her mother suggested a puppy. After the dogs arrival, the student became more involved in campus life, said Chatterjee-Sutton, vice president of student life. I think its absolutely changed her college trajectory and her connection with others on campus, Chatterjee-Sutton said.Residence halls set boundaries, get creative to support pet owners Pet-friendly dorms require colleges to consider things like safety concerns, noise complaints, how to avoid agitating animals during fire alarm tests, as well as additional costs for cleaning, Layden said. Some schools charge a pet fee, which varies by school, type of pet and is often included in housing expenses. For example, at Stephens College, the annual fee for a dog or cat is $220, for a cage- or aquarium-dwelling pet is $50 and free for fish. Others require students to have liability insurance and roommate agreements. Pets are required to be restrained when in public, and most colleges require students to ensure their pets are healthy and vaccinated. Student Molly Cheer gives her pet comfort cat, Louie, a treat in her dorm room at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) Student Molly Cheer gives her pet comfort cat, Louie, a treat in her dorm room at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Eckerd and other colleges recognize pets role in their students lives at graduation ceremonies, allowing them to cross the commencement stage together in some cases.Having pets obviously isnt for everyone, and that is totally OK, Nocera said. But for the people that it is a good fit for, it is so worth it. This upcoming year, Ill be graduating, and Zuko will be in his little pet graduation ceremony, walking across the stage with me.___The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. CHEYANNE MUMPHREY Mumphrey is a national writer who covers higher education. twitter mailto

Parents await news of their children after a reported mass shooting at Annunciation Church on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP)2025-08-27T14:24:30Z Follow live updates on the shooting at Minnesotas Annunciation Catholic School MINNEAPOLIS (AP) At least five children were injured in a shooting Wednesday during the first week of classes at a Minneapolis Catholic school, authorities and a hospital said.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the violence horrific. The Minneapolis city government said the shooter had been contained after the gunfire at Annunciation Catholic School and there was no longer any active threat to residents.Walz said on social media that he had been briefed on the shooting.Im praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence, Walz wrote on X.Childrens Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, said in a statement five children were admitted for care. Hennepin Healthcare, which has Minnesotas largest emergency department, said it also was caring for patients from the shooting. Bill Bienemann, who lives a couple of blocks away and has long attended Mass at Annunciation Church, said he heard dozens of shots, perhaps as many as 50, over as long as four minutes.I was shocked. I said, Theres no way that could be gunfire, he said. There was so much of it. It was sporadic. Bienemanns daughter, Alexandra, said she attended the school from kindergarten to 8th grade, finishing in 2014. After she heard of the shooting, she said she was shaking and crying, and her boss told her to take the day off. Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. It breaks my heart, makes me sick to my stomach, knowing that there are people I know who are either injured or maybe even killed, Alexandra Bienemann said. It doesnt make me feel safe at all in this community that I have been in for so long. The school was evacuated, and students families later were directed to a reunification zone at the school. Outside, amid a heavy uniformed law enforcement presence, were uniformed children in their dark green shirts or dresses. Many were trickling out of the school with adults, giving lingering hugs and wiping away tears. Local, state, county and federal law enforcement officers and agents converged on the area, a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown Minneapolis. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the tragic shooting and that the White House would continue to monitor it.Dating to 1923, the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school had an all-school Mass scheduled at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to its website. Monday was the first day of school. Recent social media posts from the school show children smiling at a back-to-school event, holding up summer art projects, playing together and enjoying ice pops.At a meeting of Democratic officials elsewhere in Minneapolis, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin noted the shooting and unknown amount of victims.The gunfire was the latest in a series of fatal shootings in the city in less than 24 hours. One person was killed and six others were hurt in a shooting Tuesday afternoon outside a high school in Minneapolis. Hours later, two people died in two other shootings in the city. Wednesdays school shooting also followed a spate of hoax calls about purported shootings on at least a dozen U.S. college campuses. The bogus warnings, sometimes featuring gunshot sounds in the background, prompted universities to issue texts to run, hide, fight and frightened students around the nation as the school year begins.___Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jennifer Peltz in New York; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; and Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; contributed to this report. STEVE KARNOWSKI Karnowski covers politics and government from Minnesota for The Associated Press. He also covers the ongoing fallout from the murder of George Floyd, courts and the environment, among other topics. twitter mailto

Pope Leo XIV reads his message during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)2025-08-27T11:32:07Z ROME (AP) Pope Leo XIV demanded Wednesday that Israel stop the collective punishment and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza as he pleaded for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the besieged territory amid preparations by Israel for a new military offensive.Leo was interrupted twice by applause as he read aloud his latest appeal for an end to the 22-month war during his weekly general audience attended by thousands of people in the Vaticans auditorium.Historys first American pope also called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas in southern Israel 50 of them remain in Gaza and for both sides and international powers to end the war which has caused so much terror, destruction and death.I beg for a permanent ceasefire to be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid to be facilitated and humanitarian law to be fully respected, Leo said. He cited international law requiring the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibition of collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force and the forced displacement of the population. Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for an expanded offensive promised by Israel in some of the territorys most populated areas including Gaza City, where famine has been documented and declared. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will launch its Gaza City offensive while simultaneously pursuing a ceasefire, though Israel has yet to send a negotiating team to discuss a proposal on the table. He has said the offensive is the best way to weaken Hamas and return hostages, but hostages families and their supporters have pushed back, saying it will further endanger them. Hamas took 251 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, in the attack that also killed about 1,200 people and triggered the war. Most hostages have been released during previous ceasefires or other deals. Israel has rescued eight hostages alive. Of the 50 still in Gaza, Israeli officials believe around 20 are still alive. Leo drew attention to a joint statement by the Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Jerusalem, who announced that the priests and nuns in the two Christian churches in Gaza City would stay put, despite Israeli evacuation orders ahead of the Gaza City offensive. They said the people sheltering in the churches were too weak and malnourished to move and that doing so would be a death sentence.The Holy Family Catholic church and the Saint Porphyrius Orthodox church have sheltered hundreds of Palestinian civilians during the war, including elderly people, women and children as well as people with disabilities. Pope Francis, even during his final days in the hospital, stayed in daily touch with the parish priest of Holy Family to offer his solidarity and support to the people there, cared for by the nuns of Mother Teresas Sisters of Charity religious order.In their joint statement, Catholic Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III noted that just last weekend, Leo issued a strong statement about the rights of people to remain in their homelands and not be forced to move. All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, especially the right to live in their own lands; and no one can force them into exile, Leo said in comments Saturday to a group of forced refugees from the Indian Ocean archipelago Chagos that were clearly destined for a broader audience.Netanyahu has said Gazas population should be relocated to other countries through what his government has described as voluntary emigration. Rights groups have objected, and Palestinians fear that even if they leave temporarily to escape the war, Israel will never allow them to return.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. NICOLE WINFIELD Winfield has been on the Vatican beat since 2001, covering the papacies of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and the Francis pontificate and traveling the world with them. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

This article was produced in collaboration with Court Watch, an independent outlet that unearths overlooked court records. Subscribe to them here.4chan and Kiwi Farms sued the United Kingdoms Office of Communications (Ofcom) over its age verification law in U.S. federal court Wednesday, fulfilling a promise it announced on August 23. In the lawsuit, 4chan and Kiwi Farms claim that threats and fines they have received from Ofcom constitute foreign judgments that would restrict speech under U.S. law.Both entities say in the lawsuit that they are wholly based in the U.S. and that they do not have any operations in the United Kingdom and are therefore not subject to local laws. Ofcoms attempts to fine and block 4chan and Kiwi Farms, and the lawsuit against Ofcom, highlight the messiness involved with trying to restrict access to specific websites or to force companies to comply with age verification laws.The lawsuit calls Ofcom an industry-funded global censorship bureau.Ofcoms ambitions are to regulate Internet communications for the entire world, regardless of where these websites are based or whether they have any connection to the UK, the lawsuit states. On its website, Ofcom states that over 100,000 online services are likely to be in scope of the Online Safety Actfrom the largest social media platforms to the smallest community forum.Both 4chan and Kiwi Farms are notorious online communities that are infamous for their largely anything-goes attitude. Users of both forums have been tied to various doxing and harassment campaigns over the years. Still, they have now become the entities fighting the hardest against the UKs disastrous Online Safety Act, which requires websites and social media platforms to perform invasive age verification checks on their users, which often requires people to upload an ID or otherwise give away their personal information in order to access large portions of the internet. Sites that do not comply are subject to huge fines, regardless of where they are based. The law has resulted in an internet where users need to provide scans of their faces in order to access, for example, certain music videos on Spotify.The Electronic Frontier Foundation has said the Online Safety Act is a threat to the privacy of users, restricts free expression by arbitrating speech online, exposes users to algorithmic discrimination through face checks, and leaves millions of people without a personal device or form of ID excluded from accessing the internet.Ofcom began investigating 4chan over alleged violations of the Online Safety Act in June. On August 13, it announced a provisional decision and stated that 4chan had contravened its duties and then began to charge the site a penalty of 20,000 (roughly $26,000) a day. Kiwi Farms has also been threatened with fines, the lawsuit states."American citizens do not surrender our constitutional rights just because Ofcom sends us an e-mail. In the face of these foreign demands, our clients have bravely chosen to assert their constitutional rights," Preston Byrne, one of the lawyers representing 4chan and Kiwi Farms, told 404 Media.Ofcom did not immediately respond to 404 Medias request for comment.

Navigating the challenges of growing up can be difficult for any young person trying to figure out who they are as their bodies change and their emotions run wild. And when a teen identifies as LGBTQ+, coming out to their families can be yet another significant stressor.Having a teen come out can also be a challenge for parents, who may feel a range of emotions in the moment, such as pride and anxiety about what may lie ahead for their child. Parents may question the best way to respond while worrying about their childs health and safety. Related My parents response to my coming out chilled me to the bone. Cutting them out brought me peace. When a teen comes out, it introduces a new set of experiences, needs, and emotions into the parent-child relationship. Understanding how to react and proceed can set the stage for a healthy and supportive relationship.Research shows that parental acceptance of their LGBTQ+ children is crucial, as it allows them to grow into adulthood with a healthy sense of self, better mental health, and greater life satisfaction overall. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Responding in the momentWhen your teen asks you to talk and then tells you that they are LGBTQ+, how you respond as a parent in that moment is critical. Your teenager is showing courage and trust in you at this moment, and your next few words will not only shape their self-esteem but also your relationship with them for years or even decades.The first step is to pause and refrain from interrupting. The next step is to listen. Let your teen share their feelings, even if they struggle to find the words. Try to silence your knee-jerk opinions or reactions, allowing your child the space to communicate openly.Your reaction should convey unconditional love that is not contingent upon their identity or orientation. Language such as I love you, and I understand this is hard for you, so thank you for trusting me, can let your teen know that they made the right decision opening up to you. Parents should be mindful to avoid judgment and questions such as Are you sure? or Do you think this is just a phase? These responses can make the teen feel dismissed or as if their feelings are invalid. Instead, ensure that any responses celebrate their honesty and affirm their identity.The coming out talk should also include your teens personal experiences and what they need from you as their parents in terms of support. Respect your teens wishes when choosing to come out to others and let them lead the way in further conversations.With unconditional love and understanding, you will be able to provide your teen the support they will need as they navigate the next steps. Health and safetyOne of the primary concerns of parents when their teen comes out is their childs health and safety. Many of todays parents vividly remember the peak of the AIDS epidemic and are keenly aware that health concerns for the LGBTQ+ community remain. In addition, anti-LGBTQ+ violence is on the rise, creating understandable concern for parents whose children have recently come out.Parents can help teens navigate these unique challenges by, first and foremost, providing them with a judgment-free and safe space within the home. When a newly out teen feels safe at home with their family, they can carry that love and acceptance out into the real world once they reach adulthood.It is true that the LGBTQ+ community stands at increased risk for STDs such as HIV, which makes finding affirming healthcare providers for regular checkups monumentally important. Parents can help their teen find doctors, specialists, or clinics with experience treating LGBTQ+ youth. Many LGBTQ+-affirming clinics will offer benefits such as mental health support groups and free HIV testing, normalizing care for sexual and mental health and setting the stage for lifelong wellness. Let love be your guideComing out to ones parents is a seminal moment in the life of an LGBTQ+ person. As a parent, how you respond to this declaration of self can determine the relationship you have with your teen going forward. A parents acceptance of their LGBTQ+ teen arms them with courage, self-esteem, and resilience to step out into the world with confidence in who they are.When you support the needs of your LGBTQ+ child, whether by using the right pronouns or helping them find inclusive healthcare resources, you send them an indelible message: They are loved and they matter. That is something that will stay with them forever.ThresaGilesis the Chief Executive Officer ofHope & Help, Central Floridas leading nonprofit dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. With over 30 years of experience across the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Thresa brings extensive leadership expertise in finance, operations, compliance, and organizational development. Prior to joining Hope & Help, Thresa served as Chief Financial Officer of Stand for Children, Inc., a national nonprofit advancing education and social equity. Her career has spanned key functional areas, including procurement, regulatory compliance, grant administration, and asset management. Thresas leadership is driven by a vision of strengthening community partnerships and expanding access to care through strategic growth, innovation, and team development. Her work has earned her accolades such as the Jacksonville Women of Influence Award, the Ultimate CFO Award, and the State of Delaware Outstanding Leader Award.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.