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Ultra-positive foods may be linked to increased risk of lung cancer, new research show

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There are many reasons to avoid super-leg foods, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. However, the increased risk of lung cancer may be yet another, new research suggests.

Limited foods contain ingredients that are never used or rarely used in kitchens or additive classes that have the ability to make the final product attractive or more attractive, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

These ingredients found in items such as soda, chips, packaged soups, chicken nuggets, and ice cream can be added or altered by adding preservatives against mold and bacteria, artificial colouring, emulsifiers that stop separation, and sugar, salt and fats to make your food even more attractive.

According to a study published in the Journal Thorax, people who eat the most ultra-highly processed foods are 41% more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer, even after considering other factors such as smoking.

In this study, researchers analyzed data from over 100,000 people who completed the National Health and Nutrition Survice Survey Food Frequency Questionnaire on Dietary Habits and compared medical records and information for lung cancer diagnosis.

On average, people drew three drinks of ultra-highly processed foods per day, most commonly lunch meat, diet or caffeinated soft drinks, or caffeinated soft drinks a day.

“Industrial treatments change the food matrix, affecting the availability and absorption of nutrients, and produce harmful contaminants,” the researchers added. They particularly highlight acrolein, which can come from burning tobacco, wood, plastic, gasoline, and cooking fats and oils at high temperatures, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Packaging materials could also be part of the problem, they suggested.

This study is observational. This means that, although the methods were clear and powerful, this study cannot clearly demonstrate that food causes lung cancer. However, there is a link between the two, said Dr. David Katz, a preventive and lifestyle medicine expert and founder of the nonprofit true health initiative. He was not involved in the research.

“This study strongly suggests that (ultra-highly rocessed foods) can contribute to the risk of lung cancer,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is a common cancer, with an estimated 2.4 million new cases in 2022.

Smoking is a major contributor to the risk of lung cancer, but those who don’t smoke can still get it.

The author adjusted for factors. That is, while we explained other possible things that could increase the diagnosis of lung cancer, such as whether a person smoked or not, it is important to note that measurements are not subtle, Dr. Hwang Fang Chan said he is the chairman of the division of division of nutrition and data science. She was not involved in the research.

“Smoking is a very important risk factor for lung cancer, so adjusting smoking in a crude way can leave a large room for the rest of the confounding,” she said in an email. “It is important to adjust for intensity (e.g., tobacco/day) and duration (e.g., years of smoking) or cumulative exposure of smoking (e.g., pack year). However, the authors found that the association between ultra-high-handled food consumption and the risk of lung cancer is stronger among people in no way strong.”

A new study found a link between lung cancer and ultra-highly processed food consumption.

There are no studies on ultra-positive foods or the risk of lung cancer, but much of the existing evidence shows how important diet quality is to predict early death from any cause in the United States, Katz said.

In many cases, ultra-positive food consumption is linked to lower dietary quality, including higher intakes of saturated fats, chemicals, salt and sugar, as well as higher calorie consumption.

These factors “major pathways in cancer development and progression — can damage the microbiota and impair immune system function,” he said in an email. “This combination of excessive inflammation and immune disorders makes you better at illicit cells. …This scenario is the beginning of cancer.”

Foods with super-legged legs tend to be lower than omega-3s, said Tom Brenna, PhD, professor of pediatrics, human nutrition and chemistry at Dell Medical College, Austin. According to the National Institute of Health, Nutrition Supplements, omega-3 is a healthy, healthy fat that the body cannot produce on its own.

“Omega-3s limit shelf life, so if you’re going to extend something… you’d like to get rid of the omega-3,” said Brenna, who wasn’t part of the research.

Chang said that the additive processed foods, carcinogens formed during processing, or chemicals in food packaging may also be at play.

“However, these pathways are not well understood and guarantee further investigation,” she said.

The study adds the risk of lung cancer to its list of reasons to avoid ultra-highly processed foods and improve diet quality, Katz said.

Health and diet quality improves mostly when you eat untreated foods and plants such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, he added.

If you want to make changes, Zhang recommends starting by reading the food labels.

“While avoid foods with long ingredients lists with unfamiliar names. These are more likely to be additives, preservatives and artificial flavors,” she said. “Whenever possible, prioritize whole foods and prepare meals using all or minimally processed ingredients.”

Instead of focusing on what you don’t eat, try prioritizing adding food directly from nature to your diet, Katz added.

“If you’re used to eating a lot of UPF, then more ‘real’ foods move on to less of those, one better option at a time,” he said in an email.

It may take a minute for the taste to adapt to healthier foods, but if you give them a few weeks to get used to it, you can become more likely to prefer the taste of more natural ingredients, he said.

“When that happens, it becomes much easier to maintain a healthier diet,” Katz added.

Sign up for CNN’s Eat. But better: Mediterranean style. This eight-part guide introduces you to a delicious, expert-supported dietary lifestyle that will boost your health for life.

Trump’s EPA to abolish climate regulations and tailpipe emission rules

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WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency retracts long-standing findings that greenhouse gas emissions put human health at risk and vehicle tailpipe emission standards at risk, setting what it describes as the largest deregulation action in US history.

Republican President Donald Trump’s choice to run EPA Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s plans to withdraw “dangerous findings” on Tuesday in a ruthless podcast.

In 2009, the EPA under former Democrat President Barack Obama announced its discovery that emissions from new cars contribute to pollution, putting public health and welfare at risk. It was supported by several legal challenges and supported subsequent greenhouse gas regulations.

“When it comes to risk discoveries, they’ll say that carbon dioxide is a pollutant and that’s the end. They won’t acknowledge any kind of benefits or the need for carbon dioxide,” Zeldin told the podcast. “It’s important to note how important it is to the planet.”

Last week, Reuters reported that the EPA plans to remove all greenhouse gas emission standards for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and engines in the coming days after removing scientific findings that justified these rules, in accordance with the summary.

It is also expected to justify retracting the discovery of danger by casting doubt on the scientific record used to make the discovery, saying that “development raises great questions on the reliability of the discovery.”

In a landmark case in the 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA, the U.S. Supreme Court said the EPA has authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and called on agencies to make scientific discoveries on whether to put public health at risk.

If confirmed, this measure will destroy the EPA’s ability to implement its main authority to limit climate pollution under the Federal Clean Air Act.

Environmental activists quickly condemned the announcement.

“As if doubt remains, the Trump administration has formalized climate denial as an official US government policy,” the Sierra Club said in a statement that is Lauren Blackford’s executive director. “If approved, revoking the finding of danger will be a critical blow to the EPA’s authority to limit the EPA’s fatal greenhouse gas emissions and protect the planet from the worst of the climate crisis. Almost every day, extreme weather, record-breaking incidents, record-breaking floods, deadly floods and droughts threaten our lives and our communities.

“The Trump administration is once again doing so only in the interests of corporate polluters while we settle the very foundations and laws of our government and pay the prices.”

Zeldin said he will make a formal announcement in Indiana Tuesday afternoon.

Contribution: Ben Adler

Cheesecake Factory announces deals, new flavors

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National Cheesecake Day is Wednesday, July 30th, with the Cheesecake Factory celebrating its customers with new flavors and sweet deals.

The restaurant chain announced last month to USA Today that it launched a new flavor in honor of its holiday. The flavor, called Peach Perfect on Raspberry Drizzle, features peach and peach cheesecake on top of vanilla crust and finished in raspberry sauce, the company told USA Today.

Additionally, the chain will offer “any slices, half price” deals on July 30th. This offer is valid for the first day only for cheesecake reward members to eat.

At the end of the promotion there is a charity element. The company told USA Today that it would donate 25 cents to the United States for each slice of Peach Perfect along with the Raspberry Drizzle, which was sold until July 29, 2026. According to the restaurant chain, they have donated nearly $7 million to the United States in the past through the sale of the featured cheesecake.

The origins of National Cheesecake Day, Cheesecake Factory

According to Old Farmer’s Almanac, National Cheesecake Day was founded in 1985. However, the dessert itself has roots dating back to ancient Greece.

In 1972, Evelyn and Oscar Overton moved to Los Angeles to open the Cheesecake Factory Bakery. According to the restaurant chain’s website, they soon began selling Evelyn’s cheesecakes to restaurants in Los Angeles.

Six years later, son David decides to open a restaurant in Beverly Hills to showcase his mother’s cheesecake. The restaurant became the first place in the cheesecake factory.

Cheesecake Factory comes in a variety of flavors

According to Cheesecake Factory, the menu features more than 30 different cheesecakes. This includes the fresh strawberry flavour, which the company says has been doing its most popular flavour for over 45 years. Other flavors available include the ultimate red velvet cake cheesecake, coconut cream pie cheesecake, and Godiva chocolate cheesecake. Of course, all of these are part of the “slice, half price” deal.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter for USA Today. You can follow him with X @geuna Alternatively, email him at gdhauari@gannett.com.

Trump and China’s trade negotiations approach extension of tariff ceasefire

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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration and Chinese officials appear to be moving towards extending the 90-day tariff ceasefire that both sides attacked in May, but President Donald Trump has not yet signed off.

The momentum to extend the ceasefire came as a result of two days of US-China talks in Stockholm, as the two countries became modest with massive, triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports.

“I’m going to talk to the president about whether that’s what he wants to do,” Trump’s trade trade representative, Jamieson Greer, told reporters in Stockholm. “That’s certainly something that’s been discussed.”

When Trump returned to the White House from Scotland to Air Force 1, he expressed optimism about the latest debate between his economic team and Chinese officials.

“They’ll explain to me tomorrow, either we’ll accept it or not,” Trump said, referring to the extension of the ceasefire.

China’s top trade negotiator Li Chenggang said the two countries agreed to push for an extension of the trade ceasefire without specifying when or how long.

In May, the Trump administration and China agreed to cut tariffs for 90 days to eliminate the trade war between the two biggest economies in the world, but the two continued to negotiate a long-term deal. However, the long-term contract between the US and China has yet to come ahead of the August 1 deadline, when nearly 180 countries were preparing to impose high tariffs on goods.

During the May ceasefire, the US reduced the 125% mutual tariffs imposed on Chinese imports to 115%, to a baseline tariff of 10%, consistent with the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on other countries. Trump’s 20% tariff was a slap in China over fentanyl production, meaning that US tariffs on China are totaling 30%.

Next, the Chinese government agreed to reduce retaliatory tariffs on US exports from 125% to 10% for 90 days.

The Treasury Department, Scott Bescent, who participated in the trade talks in Stockholm, said he thought Trump was “shocked” by the recent announcement of the trade deal between Japan and the European Union.

“They never comply, but I think they were more in the mood due to the wider discussion,” Bescent said, calling the tone of a “constructive” lecture.

Bescent said Trump’s team communicated the US’s need to improve its trade balance with China in areas such as rare earth minerals, semiconductors and drugs.

“We’ve repeated to them. We don’t want to separate. We need to eliminate certain industries and risks,” Bessent says.

Reach Joey Garrison with X @joeygarrison.

Ghislaine Maxwell says she talks to Congress, but there’s a catch

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Ghislaine Maxwell is willing to testify before Congress about what she knows about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but says that the testimony will be on her terms.

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Gislaine Maxwell, a convicted conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein, is willing to testify before Congress about what she knows about the dishonest investor who died in prison in 2019, but says she has conditions.

Maxwell expressed her enthusiasm from her lawyer, David Marx on July 29 to Rep. James Comer of R-Kentucky, who heads the House Committee on Surveillance and Government Reform. Comer issued a subpoena last week at the Federal Correctional Facility in Tallahassee, Florida, on August 11 to secure Maxwell’s testimony through deposition.

However, Maxwell said in the letter that the obvious arrangement in her testimony was “non-alien” without first securing immunity.

“(w)e wants to find a way to work with Congress if we can establish a fair and safe progress,” the letter states.

The letter comes after Maxwell spoke to Justice Department officials over two days last week. According to ABC News and NBC News, the department has granted a limited form of immunity to ensure participation in the interview.

These talks followed weeks of enduring rage from politicians and the public over the division’s announcement that it would not publish the files at Epstein in early July.

The Trump administration and Congress have resorted to Maxwell as a potential source of transparency and accountability regarding other Epstein co-conspirators who may have been involved in the sex trafficking ring. Epstein died in prison in 2019 and was awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking charges. He was previously convicted in 2008 of two crimes, Florida prostitution crimes.

Federal ju umpire found Maxwell guilty in 2021 for trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse. She currently serves a 20-year prison term and is appealing before the U.S. Supreme Court. The High Court was able to decide whether to hear Maxwell’s appeal in September.

Maxwell asked Comer to schedule testimony from her after the Supreme Court dealt with her appeal and then another court appeal she plans to. She also requires the House committee to provide questions in advance, and says the arrangements allow for preparation and identification of documents that can support her answers.

Alternatively, Maxwell said he would be happy to testify before Congress if President Donald Trump acknowledges her generosity. Trump has the power to forgive Maxwell and commute her sentence.

The opioid fight calls for stronger policy support, demanding better overdose reversal strategies, says the former US surgeon general.

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Editor’s Note: Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as the US Surgeon General in the first Trump administration, is a well-known professor of pharmacy practice and public health at Purdue University.

One big, beautiful bill law recently passed predicted by experts will cut Medicaid compensation for millions of Americans and, coupled with the proposed abolition of $56 million grants for overdose reversal training and distribution, threaten to undermine progress in reducing mortality from opioid overdose. Medicaid supports the treatment of approximately 1 million people with opioid use disorders, particularly through its expansion.

If federal funds collapse, many people could lose access to care, reversing the hard-earned profits against overdose deaths driven by expanded health care and life-saving tools. As synthetic opioids like fentanyl fuel the ongoing overdose crisis, maintaining progress requires both robust policies and progress in overdose reversal strategies.

Federal estimates show that drug overdose deaths fell sharply to five-year lows in 2024, but last year there still had more than 80,000 deaths. Synthetic opioids were involved in more than half of these cases.

Highly synthetic opioids like fentanyl (HPSOS) that are 50-100 times more potent than heroin, have formed an overdose landscape. Fentanyl can cause rapid respiratory arrest within minutes and often last longer than standard inverters. First responders frequently report that multiple doses of naloxone (best known under the brand name Narcan) must be administered to reverse fentanyl overdose.

Recent analysis by Dr. Mark Gold, The University of Washington’s School of Psychiatry and colleagues explore the challenges of reverse HPSO overdose and utilizing observational studies, lab data and clinical experience. They emphasize that effective reversal requires the agent to be tailored to the efficacy and duration of the opioid. This is a complicated task given the increasingly unpredictable nature of today’s illicit drugs.

Among the options, nasalmefene has emerged as a prominent tool due to its rapid onset and longer duration compared to the standard inverting drug naloxone. It is administered via a simple spray and acts quickly to restore breathing, helping to reduce the risk of “re-drilling”.

However, the American School of Medical Toxicology and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology are paying attention to the adoption of nalmefene as a primary drug, citing potential risks such as revival of respiratory depression due to prolonged withdrawal symptoms and the weakened effectiveness of the drug.

However, these concerns are not specific to nalmefene, as all opioid antagonists carry similar risks. Furthermore, these risks are easily managed with proper medical surveillance and surveillance. This is the standard practice after inversion.

To put it plainly, we would rather risk having to treat such side effects to living people who have revived, than thinking “if any” about tens of thousands of people each year who are sadly not saved by our current efforts.

The development of new reversal agents such as nalmefene highlights the important need for sustainable research funding to address the evolving opioid crisis. However, recent budget proposals include significant cuts from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with NIH down to $27.5 billion to a 40% reduction and CDC down to 44% in 2026, threatening research into new treatments and public health responses.

These cuts could halt the progression of innovative solutions such as Compound 368. This increases the potency of naloxone by 7.6 times, resulting in a 10-fold effect, allowing covalent naloxone nanoparticles (CNLX-NPs) to maintain treatment levels for 48 hours to prevent linercutting. While promising, slowing the onset of CNLX-NPs requires pairing with fast acting naloxone for rapid effects. Such potentially life-saving advances rely on consistent funding to move from labs to real-world use.

Policy continues to play an important role in stopping the tide. The World Health Organization recommends limiting access to precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production and increasing international control of their analogs. It’s nice to see this is one of the few areas that the Trump administration agrees with whom. Strengthening border security and surveillance could further limit the supply of illegal HPSOs.

Equally important, HPSOS rapidly induces hypoxia, and therefore receives latest training for first responders and bystanders, highlighting the interaction between reversible agents and immediate CPR. Public awareness campaigns should highlight the efficacy of HPSOS and the need for rapid intervention, new agents such as nalmefene and multiple doses and Narcan, and post-inversion monitoring.

Thankfully, the CDC has reported a recent decline in national overdose deaths. However, vulnerability persists, especially in communities facing geographical, racial, or demographic disparities.

The rise in stimulants added to fentanyl, which promoted a 50-fold increase in related overdose deaths between 2010 and 2021 and accounted for 32.3% of fatal overdose, complicating the crisis. These contaminated drugs turn non-opioid use into a fatal risk. This is because users often lack opioid resistance. A comprehensive strategy combining policy, education and innovative reversal tools is essential to addressing this diversity threat.

Protection of Medicaid and overdose prevention funds is important to maintain progress in the fight against deaths caused by opioid overdose. Combining these efforts with evidence-based training and advances in reversal strategies will allow us to better equip our communities to confront the evolving opioid crisis and save lives.

We burn USID purchase contraceptives worth $9.7 million, rather than delivering to women overseas.

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Rather than reaching women abroad, the Trump administration is set to destroy $9.7 million worth of US-purchased contraceptives. Demolition of foreign support programs implemented by the US International Development Agency or USAID.

“Preliminary decision” to destroy USAID–The procured birth control was confirmed by a State Department spokesperson. He said the cost of incinerating them would be $167,000.

Contraceptives are housed in Ziel’s warehouse in Belgium. The Belgian Foreign Office said it is engaged in diplomatic consultations with the US Embassy to work to find alternative solutions for supplies.

Asked about whether birth control pills will undoubtedly be destroyed, State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said Tuesday it was a “changeable situation every day.”

“We are aware of the problem, but of course we are committed to policies that Americans care about,” she said in the briefing.

A US Congress aide told CNN that contraceptives are mostly long-term types of contraception, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and injections. According to the aides, it is not clear when the consumables will be destroyed.

“They contain high levels of hormones and don’t want to risk leaking by-products in the environment, so they need to double-burn their products. “The Trump administration is literally burning taxpayer money.”

A list of supplies shared with CNN by another source with knowledge of warehouse inventory shows that contraceptives include copper IUD, rod implants, contraceptive injections, levonorzestrel and ethinylestradiol tablets. According to the source list, some users have USAID branding, but the majority do not.

Most products expire in 2028 or 2029, with the earliest date of the product in April 2027.

A US State Department spokesperson called the birth control pills “a specific abortion contraceptive commodity from a terminated Biden-era USAID contract.”

Whether a particular birth control pill is described as avortifascient or causes abortion is controversial due to debate over whether the egg is bloated or begins at a subsequent stage. Several contraceptive methods, including IUDs, may work by preventing implantation of fertilized eggs. However, IUDs work primarily by suppressing egg release or preventing sperm from reaching the egg.

“Only a limited number of products have been approved for disposal. No HIV drugs or condoms have been destroyed,” the spokesman added. “USAID avoided an additional $34.1 million taxpayer fees by negotiating a non-cost cancellation of a pending order made under the Biden administration.”

“There’s nothing like Avortipastic birth control pills,” an American obstetric gynecologist (ACOG) told CNN.

“Birth controls prevent pregnancy by definition – they don’t end pregnancy. IUDs and other contraceptions do not cause abortion, and otherwise the suggestion is misinformation,” the ACOG said Tuesday.

In response to media reports that contraceptives have been set to be moved to French medical waste facilities so that they will be destroyed by the end of July, French diplomatic sources told CNN that the contraceptives have been being processed by private groups and “no information on the transfer” as last Thursday.

“We will firmly support the Belgian authorities’ commitment to find solutions to prevent the destruction of these contraceptives, so that they can reach the women and men around the world who need them and are waiting for them,” the diplomatic source added. “Access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health services and products is both human rights and public health issues.”

US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) dispatched staff As part of an effort to introduce legislation in Belgian warehouses that prohibit “destroying such goods unless all efforts to sell or donate have been exhausted.” Staff also found that the date for birth control pills expired is 2027, and some consumables did not expire until 2031. This means it could be used for years to come.

“It’s a shame the moment the Trump administration makes devastating cuts to foreign aid, the State Department signs off on actually spending money to save lives and destroy paid goods awaiting deployment,” Shaheen said in a statement. “In countries affected by conflict, such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where hunger is in place, food and family planning products are desperately needed.”

Florinda Barresi, a spokesman for the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CNN “we are exploring all possible paths to prevent the destruction of these stocks, including temporary relocations.”

An organization called MSI Reproductive Choices said IT and other funding partners offered to pay for shipping and repackaging for the USAID brand supply, but the US government declined the offer.

“We were not given a reason for why this offer was not accepted, but the conversation revealed that it was not and that it was being put into our efforts to find alternative solutions to the birth control gap.

The State Department responded to questions about the offer from CNN, highlighting the so-called “Mexico City Policy.” This “prohibits prohibiting certain assistance to foreign non-governmental organizations that perform or actively promote abortion as a way of family planning.”

That policy, which opponents call the “global gag rule,” prevents non-governmental organizations providing abortion, providing counseling about abortion, or advocating for safe access to abortion from receiving US funds.

The planned destruction of birth control pills sparked protests from other organisations, such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

“Access to birth control pills is already limited in the communities provided by MSF, whether they are affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human disasters, or exclusion from health care,” the organization said in a statement. “The context that previously relied on contraceptive products with USAID funds has increased supply chain disruption and inventory risk.”

“MSF has seen firsthand the dangerous consequences of when and when women and girls can freely make their health decisions by choosing to prevent or delay pregnancy,” added Avril Benoît, chief executive of MSF USA.

MSF also cited reports that more USAID branded contraceptives are housed in UAE warehouses, but the organization said the US government’s plans for supplying these are unknown.

A State Department spokesperson did not address questions about contraceptives that were warehoused in the UAE. CNN contacted the UAE government for comment.

At the beginning of July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the end of USAID, saying future foreign aid programs will be administered by the State Department in line with management policies. The rapid demolition of USAID, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has cut thousands of foreign aid programs, including many people focused on life-saving work.

A study published earlier this month by the leading medical journal Lancet estimated that cuts in USAID funding could result in more than 14 million deaths by 2030. We estimated that USAID funding reduced HIV/AIDS-related mortality rates and that malaria would likely follow suit.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

Pura recalls home scent diffusers that exceed 852,000 than children’s health risks

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The Utah-based business has recalled more than 852,000 home fragrance diffusers due to the risk of magnet separation. This can lead to infection, blood poisoning, or other problems if your child ingests a magnet.

Pura Scents Inc. has recalled Pura 4 Smart Home Fragrance Diffusers with removable covers, the company reported to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“The magnets on the inner cover can separate, pose a risk of ingestion to children,” the company said. “When a strong magnet is swallowed, the ingested magnets can be attracted to each other, attract other metal objects, and stay in the digestive system.”

Pura Scents Inc. said that around 851,400 units have been recalled, recalling 1,100 sold in Canada. They were made in China and sold nationwide in the US between August 2023 and May 2025, and sold for around $50 on Pura.com, Amazon.com, Target.com and Scheels.com.

If the magnet is swallowed, the child could potentially suffer from perforation, twisting, or obstruction of the intestine, infection, blood poisoning and death, the company said.

The company has received three reports of magnets detached from the cover, but no injuries have been reported.

Which models are affected?

Pura Scents Inc. said the affected diffusers have the following serial numbers ranges:

  • From JX230000001 to JX230801425
  • jx240000001 to jx240049959

The Diffusers removable covers have five magnets (three small ones and two larger ones), the company said. The diffuser is approximately 4 inches wide and 4 inches long. The serial number is on the back label above the metal prong.

What if I have a recalled product?

Customers should discard the original removable cover, lock the diffuser out of reach of children and pets, and contact Pura Scents Inc. to get a free replacement front cover.

The company contacts customers directly, but customers can also contact Pura Scents Inc.:

Customers who have issues with recall therapy or who have not been able to get a response from the company about fixes can use this recall complaint form to explain the situation to the CPSC.

Recall no. It’s 25-408.

Saleen Martin is a reporter for the USA Today Now team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Email her to sdmartin@usatoday.com.

Scotland’s new Trump golf course joins these international locations

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  • President Trump has opened a new 18-hole golf course at Trump International Scotland Resort near Aberdeen.
  • Trump visited the property along with his sons Eric and Donald Jr., who run the Trump organization.
  • Trump Golf says it owns 18 different properties around the world.

President Donald Trump concluded his trip to Scotland with a ribbon cut on his latest 18-hole course.

According to the website, the new Scotland course near Trump International Scotland near Aberdeen is scheduled to officially open on August 13th. Trump’s sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are the executive vice presidents of the Trump organization and joined the president at the course opening event on July 29th.

“We played it very quickly, then went back to DC and put out the fires all over the world,” Trump said in his remarks at the event. “We stopped the war. But we stopped five wars. It’s far more important than playing golf. As long as I like it, it’s far more important.”

Before his trip, Trump said he was traveling to speak trade, so he announced his contract with the European Union ahead of the looming tariff deadline. However, he traveled with his family not only to a resort near Aberdeen, but also to the Trump Turnberry Resort on Scotland’s west coast.

Where else could the president travel to play golf on one of his courses?

Where is the Trump Golf Course?

According to the website, this is where Trump Golf holds his wealth overseas.

  • Balmadi (Aberdeen) in Scotland
  • Scotland, Turnberry
  • Doonbeg, Ireland
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Lido, Indonesia
  • Bali, Indonesia (listed “come soon”)
  • Muscat, Oman (listed as “come soon.”)

Where is the Trump National Golf Course in the US? According to the website, this is the list.

  • Miami, Florida (Doral)
  • Jupiter, Florida
  • West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Potomac Falls, Virginia (Washington, DC)
  • Bedminster, New Jersey
  • Colts Neck, New Jersey
  • Pine Hill, New Jersey (Philadelphia)
  • Hopewell Junction, New York (Hudson Valley)
  • Briarrif Manor, New York (Westchester)
  • Mooresville, North Carolina (Charlotte)
  • Rancho Palos Verdes, California (Los Angeles)

Eric joins President Trump at Don Jr. Scotland’s golf course open

The president’s eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, control the Trump organization, and Donald Trump still owns it. Ethics has long been a concern about the possibility that families could benefit from the presidency.

Eric Trump, his wife, Lara Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend, Bettina Anderson, all flew to Aberdeen from the other side of Scotland and along with British Kiel Starmer to Aberdeen, the White House said.

“We had an unlimited budget and we exceeded that,” Eric said of the new golf course. “This was his Mona Lisa.”

Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland and moved to New York in the 1930s. At the Trump Resort near Aberdeen, there is a building with her name.

Contributed by Francesca Chambers, USA Today

Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA Today Network. Contact her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and Tiktok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

Maternity Hospital was the safest place for “sunny rays” who were hoping for her first baby. Then Russia slammed it with a missile

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Diana Koshyk’s friend said that the 23-year-old had trouble getting pregnant and suffered from several miscarriages before she and her husband finally got the news they wanted: they were expecting.

The doctor said pregnancy was at high risk, so Koshik was sent to what he believed was the safest place for her and her baby, the safest place for her and her baby, Kamianke’s maternity hospital in eastern Ukraine.

Early on Tuesday morning, Russian troops struck the hospital with ballistic missiles, killing her unborn baby and two other people. At least 22 people were injured, including several nurses and midwives, doctors and patients.

Koshik’s sudden death shocked her loved ones when she was full of hope.

“She and her husband wanted a child, but they had a miscarriage… and she got pregnant with a smile on her. She was already seven months old.

Another longtime friend, Anna Bunich, described Koshik as “the ray of the sun.”

“She loved her children so much, she was waiting for herself eagerly… and now Russia has cut the threads of their lives,” Bnich told CNN.

Kamianke’s maternity hospital was one of several apparently civilian targets struck by Russia just hours after President Donald Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had cut the 50-day deadline to end the war “10 or 12 days.”

Speaking to a Scottish reporter on Monday, Trump showed he has run out of patience with President Putin.

“We thought it had settled down many times, so Putin goes outside and starts launching rockets in cities like Kiev, killing a lot of people in nursing homes and more,” Trump said.

Kamianske's hospital was attacked by a Russian missile on July 29, 2025.

Ukraine welcomed the new deadline and said Putin would only respond to the show of strength.

“A clear stance and stated resolve by (Trump) — when, on time, many can change their strength for real peace,” Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky told X.

But Trump’s new deadline did not stop Russia from launching a deadly attack.

At least 27 civilians were killed throughout Ukraine until Tuesday morning. This is a very high death toll, considering the large increase in the number of drones and missiles that Russia has recently launched towards Ukraine.

Five people were killed when a rocket launcher strike crashed into a small grocery store in the village of Novoplatnivka in the Khalkiv area, killing 16 civilians in the attack at a prison in the Zaporisia area.

Zelensky said the fatal attacks indicate that Russia is not interested in peace.

“Russia’s leadership is wasting the world’s time by talking about peace while killing people,” he said.

“The killing of our people through the strikes of Russians, all of the Russians, shows that Moscow is very harsh, truly painful and therefore deserves fair and effective sanctions pressure when the ceasefire may have been in place for a long time, if not due to Russia’s rejection.”

However, the Kremlin seemed less gradual to the new threat.

“I warned about President Trump’s statement yesterday,” Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday.

“Special military operations continue as before,” he added, using Moscow’s term for the war with Ukraine.

If I have experience but no degree, do I need to apply for a job?

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Johnny C. Taylor Jr. is working on your HR questions as part of the USA Today series. Taylor is the world’s largest HR professional society and the president and CEO of the Human Resources Management Association, author of “Reset: A Guide to Leaders to Work in an Era of Trending Times.”

Do you have a question? Please send it here.

Question: I have been involved in program management for 14 years with three different organizations and have never completed a degree in this field. I was looking for new opportunities and came across a listing my degree as a requirement. Do I still need to apply because I meet or exceed all other criteria? – Jamie

Answer: It must be applied absolutely. If you’re interested in your work, go for it! Don’t let your degree requirements hinder you. Let me be clear: I’m not discounting the value of university education. It is essential in many ways. However, real-world experiences are often the best teachers, and employers are increasingly aware of this. If you meet and surpass other standards, you may be the person they are looking for.

Previously, most professional roles required a degree, but the recruitment landscape has changed. Employers are expanding their talent pool and finding that their degrees don’t automatically make someone the best candidate. There is momentum behind this idea. Two members of Congress recently introduced a bipartisan bill to ensure that workers without bachelor’s degrees consider fair employment. This trend is genuine and works in your favor.

This is how you can position yourself as a candidate for the top:

◾Adjust your resume and cover letter. Customize your resume and match it to your job description. Use the cover letter to share the lessons you’ve learned throughout your career.

◾Use transferable skills. Program management includes leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and risk management. With 14 years of experience, you could be an expert in subjects in these fields. It highlights how your skills and outcomes are directly aligned with your role.

◾Ask the correct questions during the interview. If you are selected for an interview, don’t hesitate to ask your employment manager whether your degree is truly necessary or whether the relevant experience is important. If your degree is unnegotiable, consider whether you are willing to pursue it and ask if the company offers educational benefits to support that journey. Many employers provide financial support for continuing education.

Here is the bottom line: do not remove yourself from the running before you start. If this job is interested in you, apply it. Let the hiring team decide if you’re right. And if you’re told no, it’s not the end – it’s an opportunity to reassess and find a role and company that better aligns with your goals. Say yes until you say no and keep moving forward. You have this!

The opinions and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of USA Today.

Trump met the victims of teenage Epstein, a contestant in his beauty pageant

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One of the four survivors who testified at Gislaine Maxwell’s trial is one of the few who raised Trump. She did not accuse him of fraud.

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  • A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse testimony at Gislaine Maxwell’s trial said she met Epstein and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago when she was 14.
  • Survivor “Jane” was a contestant for Trump’s Miss Teen America pageant, but did not explain inappropriate behaviour by Trump.
  • Maxwell recently spoke with the Associate Attorney General about a potential Epstein accomplice under limited immunity.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A South Florida child sex abuse survivor who testified at the Gis Lane Maxwell trial in 2021 said he met Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump in Marlago in the 1990s at the age of 14.

The pseudonym “Jane” is one of the few Epstein survivors who publicly said they had met Trump through Epstein. But she never explained the inappropriate behavior by the President, but she never said any more about the meeting, including why she and Epstein were there. Trump has never been formally accused of taking part in or knowing Epstein’s crimes.

Jane said she took part in the pageant in 1998, but it was not clear whether it was before or after Mar-a-Lago’s introduction. According to a 2016 BuzzFeed report, four contestants in 1997 say they were walking through the changing rooms while they were dressed.

Trump and Epstein lived within two miles of the island each, moving around at about the same time. Trump in 1985 and Epstein in 1990.

Their relationship has returned to the spotlight to raise transparency into Epstein’s case, in the face of pressure from Republicans, his own supporters and Democrats.

Trump said he was “killed out of his club because he was creeped.”

“I drove him out, that was it. If you know the truth, I’m happy you did that,” Trump told reporters on July 28 at a meeting with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer.

Ghislaine Maxwell has limited immunity

Maxwell ended the two days by speaking with Associate Attorney General Todd Blanche in federal court in Tallahassee from July 24-25.

Blanche granted limited immunity to answer questions about possible Epstein accomplices, perhaps, possible questions. Trump said he could forgive her, but he didn’t say he would.

The meeting took place in response to a controversial fire from Trump’s own base on July 7, after the Justice Department announced in a memo that it had not found a “client list” evidence from Epstein’s documents and other digital evidence.

The agency also said it would not make any more public. Furthermore, no evidence was found that could launch an investigation into “third parties” or why Epstein believed everyone had threatened, the memo said.

The memo confirmed previous reports of more than 1,000 Epstein victims.

One of them, Jane, led four victims who testified about the prosecutors at Maxwell’s 2021 trial. Maxwell was convicted of a minor in sex trafficking and was sentenced to 20 years in 2022. She spends her time at the federal prison in Tallahassee.

Jane was one of two Florida victims. The other is Carolyn Andriano, 36, of Wellington, Florida, who was found dead a year after Maxwell’s sentencing for an accidental drug overdose in a hotel room in West Palm Beach. At least one ju umpire said that she found her testimony to be very persuasive and helped lead the group to conviction.

Jane said she met Epstein and Maxwell in 1994. He is 14 years old at an arts camp in Michigan, and is refreshing from his father’s sadness. Maxwell was walking with Yorkie and Jane asked to keep a dog. Soon Epstein joined them at a picnic table, and they talked about how they were all Palm Beach County residents. Epstein, the camp benefactor, had a cabin nearby.

A few weeks later, 8th grade Jane and her mother were invited to the Palm Beach Mansion in Epstein for tea. Jane went back for a week or so without her mother.

Maxwell initially acted like a sister, Jane testified, but she was focused on showing how to sexually please Epstein. Jane said Epstein sexually abused her for the first time in his pool house at his Palm Beach property.

Soon after that, Maxwell and Epstein sexually abused her, she said. The abuse occurred not only in Palm Beach, but also in New York City and Epstein’s homes in New Mexico.

Jane spoke to authorities in 2019

Jane said she stopped seeing them around 2002, and that was the first time she’d told anyone. Her ex-boyfriend confirmed her story in the stands. She spoke to law enforcement in 2019, she said. Because as an actor, she was afraid of the impact of her career.

Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of a minor in sex trafficking. Three weeks later, awaiting trial, he was found dead in his Manhattan prison.

Holly Baltz is the editor of the Palm Beach Post. You can contact her at hbaltz@pbpost.com.

Ozzy Osbourne Funeral Procession Passes through Birmingham, UK

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Black Sabbath fans can honor Ozzy Osbourne at their hometown funeral procession.

The heavy metal legend, who passed away on July 22nd, will pass through the streets of Birmingham, England on the morning of Wednesday July 30th, according to the Birmingham City Council.

Osborne’s body travels in spirit hearse with brass bands, and with each release from the council, they head to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, where thousands of fans are already flowers and respectful and respectful. A live stream of Black Sabath Bench is available online.

The Grammy-winning Prince of Darkness and the legendary locker passed away a few weeks after reuniting with Black Sabbath for his final show in the UK. The concert on July 5th was a reprieve from the tragic battle with Parkinson’s disease by the British singer.

The UK procession precedes a funeral for private families that has not yet been made public. The Osborne family covers all the costs of the procession.

A family statement shared with USA Today after his death said that the locker had died “surrounded by love” in Birmingham, England. He leaves his wife, Sharon Osborne, for over 40 years, and daughters Jessica, Amy and Kelly, and sons Elliot, Louis and Jack.

Osborne was one of the most iconic figures in the rock, shaping the sounds and perceptions of heavy metals with his unique voice and shocking attitude. He is well known for chasing Rock’s Zenith in his reality TV career and biting his head from a bat on stage, like he’s having an argument at home with his wife and children.

Contributions: Melissa Laggieri and Edward Segara

Meteor Shower: Where to see the peaks of Delta Aquarido and Alpha Capriconid

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Sky-Gazers may have a good chance to see fireballs this week, past the night sky. Two meteor showers (Alpha Capriconid and South Delta Aquarido) peak, with the other ramp up.

The Alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower is best known for producing very bright meteors that may look like a shooting star, but will most likely be visible at 1am Wednesday, according to Robert Lunsford, Fireball Report Coordinator for the American Meteor Society. Its radiation – the point at which meteor stripes appear to be generated – is in the constellations of Capricorn.

Alpha Capriconids are visible all over the world, but are most commonly found in places like Australia and Africa, according to Bill Cook, a lead at NASA’s Weather Environment Office. These meteors are expected to be displayed at a rate of 3-5 per hour. If you are looking from the Northern Hemisphere, you can get a glimpse of it with a lower eyelid along the southern sky.

If it wakes up later, you can see the Southern Delta Aquaridos reach peak activity at 3am Wednesday, Lansford said. The southern Delta Aquariid, the most visible in the Southern Hemisphere, is showered with stronger showers than the Capriconid. People located in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, such as the United States, can expect to be able to see up to 10-15 meteors per hour, while people in the Southern Hemisphere may see 20-25 per hour.

According to Lansford, the Aquariid appears to flow from the southern part of the Aquarius constellation, about 40 degrees east of the Capricorn constellation.

Both showers will be available until August 13th, but there is disagreement about the dates when the peak occurs. American Meteor Society experts say peak activity occurs from Tuesday night to early Wednesday mornings, but NASA people say it happens on Wednesday night.

“Meteor shower peak times are not constant each year. They may vary by plus or minus one or two days,” Cook said.

But missing the peak isn’t something to worry about, according to Lansford. “It’s not a really sharp peak… you can go outside on the 31st or 29th and see almost the same activity.”

For best viewing, avoid areas of bright light and objects, such as tall trees and buildings, that can obscure the view of the sky. Choosing a high altitude location, such as mountains and hills, can make it easier to find these showers.

Sky-Gazers may be able to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower this week alongside the Aquariids and Capricornids Meteor Shower.

According to Cook, it is a common phenomenon that multiple meteor showers occur simultaneously. “For example, during Perseid, you have the remains of the Southern Delta Aquariid,” he said.

Currently, Alpha Capriconid, South Delta Aquarido and Perseid are all active, and Perseid has not reached its peak, but we may still see some of its meteors this week. According to Lunsford, you could also see 10-12 meteors that are not associated with any of these showers.

The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids are visible each year as they pass through debris fields left behind by two Jupiter family comets, 169p/Neat (Alpha Capricornids) and P2008/Y12 (Southern Delta Aquariids). Cook also says that every year, “We’re Alpha Capriconid) showers will become the strongest shower visible from the Earth in 200 years and 200 years.

For those interested in contributing to astronomers’ understanding of meteors, this week we offer a great opportunity to count the number of meteors seen in the night sky and report to places like the American Meteor Society.

According to the American Meteor Society and Earthky, the other meteor showers and their peak days are expected for 2025:

  • Perseid: August 12th-13th

  • Draconids: October 8th-9th

  • Orionid: October 22nd-23rd

  • Southern Taurid: November 3rd to 4th

  • Northern Taurid: November 8th to 9th

  • Leonid: November 16th-17th

  • Geminid: December 12th-13th

  • Ursids: December 21st-22nd

Check out five more Full Moons this year. Supermoons occur in October, November and December.

According to Farmers Almanac, this is the list of the 2025 remaining Full Moons.

  • August 9th: Sturgeon Moon

  • September 7th: Corn Moon

  • October 6th: Harvest Moon

  • November 5th: Beaver Moon

  • December 4th: Cold Moon

Solar Eclipse of the Moon and Sun in 2025

Two solar eclipse events occur as the end of summer.

According to date and time, on September 7th and 8th, a total lunar eclipse will be visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, eastern South America, Alaska and parts of Antarctica.

A lunar solar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes precisely between the sun and the moon, casting the latter into the shadows, making it appear dark or dim.

According to the Natural History Museum in London, when the moon sits in the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow, the rays of the sun can bend around the Earth, allowing light to suffocate to the surface of the moon. Some call the result “blood moon.”

Two weeks after the total lunar eclipse, on September 21st, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Australia, the Atlantic, Pacific Ocean and Antarctica.

According to NASA, solar eclipses on the moon occur when the moon travels between the sun and the earth, blocking part of the sun’s surface from view. This creates a crescent-shaped shape, as if something “bites” from the sun.

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory Science Newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

German Zoo kills 12 baboons who didn’t have enough space to accommodate despite the protests

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Berlin (AP) – A zoo in Germany’s Nuremberg city said it killed 12 baboons on Tuesday despite protests. The zoo covered a story rooted in concern that there was too little space to accommodate growing groups.

The Tiergartennurnberg Zoo was first to announce its plan to kill a baboon that had no space in February 2024.

The plan attracted criticism from animal rights groups. They also attracted protests at the zoo, which said they must begin preparing to kill the baboon on Monday. It announced Tuesday morning that it was closing the day for unspecified “operational reasons.”

On Tuesday afternoon, police said several activists had surged to the ground.

Shortly afterwards, the zoo said it had killed 12 baboons, the German news agency DPA reported. Details were not available immediately. Animal rights groups said they plan to file criminal charges.

The zoo’s Guinea baboon population grew to 43, too big for a house built for 25 animals and young animals in the late 2000s, causing more conflict between animals.

The zoo says it has taken steps in the past to address the issue as 16 baboons have moved to zoos in Paris and China since 2011. Attempts of birth control were abandoned several years ago after failing to produce the desired results.

Animals are regularly euthanized at European Zoos for a variety of reasons. Several cases in the past have sparked protests. For example, in 2014, when the Copenhagen Zoo killed a healthy two-year-old giraffe, they slaughtered the body in front of a crowd that contained children and gave it to the lion.

Home Depot reveals Halloween Line for 2025, Skelly Cat, New Tech

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August is approaching, and with that, it’s Halloween shopping season.

At least, it revealed plans for the decorative lines, ghouls and monsters this year on July 28th, according to Home Depot.

Featuring familiar faces like Notorious Giant Skelly and Friends, Home Depot’s 2025 Halloween line will drop online and apps in store this fall.

(Horror) Ready to start holiday shopping? Check out some of the highlights here.

Skelly is back…

Home Depot’s unofficial superstar has entered the 21st century.

Skelly, the official name for Home Depot, the 12-foot skeleton figurine that first went viral in 2020, achieved unprecedented skill in 2025.

He’s about half the size of the original Skelly, 6.5 feet tall, but Ultra Skelly is packed with Bluetooth features that allow users to connect to their smartphones and direct movements.

Perhaps most impressively, the user can interact with Trick-Or-Treater via Skelly by speaking directly to the app on his phone and hearing words come out of his mouth. The app also comes with the option to pre-record 30 original phrases, and can be creeped using the built-in audio filter feature.

The original 12-foot Skelly is retail for $299, while the Ultra Skelly costs $279.

…with another new pet: Skelly Cat

Last year, Skelly welcomed a new friend who wasn’t too brawl. The old dog has returned with a new trick, but this time it has a shortened version of its original shape and 5 feet repetition.

Cat fans don’t have to worry this year. Because Skelly has been welcoming cats to join his group. The 5-foot Pussycat is poised to be attacked by a squatting position with adjustable, sparkling eyes.

You can bring Skelly’s dog and Skelly’s cat home for $199, but Skelly’s dog with LCD eyes sells for $249.

The more terrifying giant

This season, the bigger figures than Skelly are not the only ones who have Skullcue.

Home Depot’s new “Horrible Grounds” collection is inspired by a creepy wooded atmosphere and features two 15-foot-high characters.

It is a wandering, pumpkin patch guard scarecrow twisting take, with towers over Skelly and boasts a wingspan of over 13 feet. Adorned with a tattered jacket and hat, the moving strooker features a moving head and sparkling eyes, mouth and chest.

The relatively tall row of Garry is Urolic’s counterpart, with a literal birdlike appearance of the “crow” part of its name, with a torn cloak and red eyes and chest.

Despite their imposing size, both may face the groans of Wyverns that change their 8-foot colour. Dragon-like creatures are equipped with three colour options, two booming roars, and a head and neck that prepares to blow fire into unsuspecting visitors.

Wool, Garry, Color and Animated LED Wyvern colors are listed for $399.

A familiar face

Love – and fear – this eerie season is in the air.

Chucky, the original evil doll from 1988’s Child’s Play, will be appearing for the second time in this year’s collection as a 3.5-foot animated doll. Adorned with his classic overalls and equipped with a knife, Chucky cycles through audio lines written specifically for Home Depot decorations – after all, the language of the original film was a bit too vulgar to play in the store.

Still creepy, Chucky’s face features not only tumbling and moving eyes, but also a creepy smile that twists his realistic look into a majestic smile.

He is accompanied by his bride, Tiffany Valentine, and at a measurement of 3.5 feet tall, he wears an unmistakable white wedding dress, a black leather jacket and combat boots. With a smile that is perhaps even more ominous than her mistress, she also waves the knife, repeating her five phrases to passersby.

The Frankenstein monster has returned, and is still standing at something impressive 7 feet, but this time he is towing his own bride.

Frankenstein’s new six-foot bride is made with lively skin and bulbous wandering eyes, like her beloved. Dressed in her wedding vest, she moves with her waist, arms and face, and speaks four classic phrases.

Like Tiffany Valentine’s, it is equipped with classic Chucky and wounded Chucky, a light bloody knife and torn face skin. Frankenstein’s Monster and Frankenstein’s Bride priced at $279.

Our caregivers suffer from a higher rate of suicidal thoughts

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Editor’s Note: This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat with 988 at 988lifeline.org.

After angie Shue takes her a few minutes, she runs off to the back porch in Westerville, Ohio, where she sits and hears the birds cry.

She stares at the bushy basil plants in a large pot and the aging Macintosh apple tree in her garden. She says her feelings of overwhelm are temporary, but she knows that the mixed chaos associated with motherhood is part of the transaction. She always wanted to be a mom. She loves three daughters. Evelyn, 17; Sofia, 14; and her youngest, four-year-old Rachel, born from Down syndrome during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sheu, 44, said she had thoughts of suicide three times. 30 years ago, again in 2021, again in the fall of 2024, and more recently, at that moment she thought, “Should I leave?”

“It usually follows a period of catastrophe,” Shue said. “It usually follows a period of hopeless and helplessness, not knowing what to do and feeling unsure of an answer.”

According to the CDC, an estimated 4.3% of the US population experiences suicide thoughts, but among caregivers, the rate of suicidal ideation could exceed the general population. Suicidal thoughts were found to be the highest in parents of children with disabilities (42%), veteran caregivers (23.6%), and dementia caregivers (32%). While experts have been turning the alarm for several years, caregivers are focused on what they care about, so they are often less likely to seek help. A 2024 survey found that among parents of children with disabilities who experience suicide thoughts and behaviors, more than half (53%) had never revealed these thoughts or experiences to anyone.

“Wendy Martinez Farmer, vice president of 988 Strategy, Grants and Clinical Standards,” said Wendy Martinez Farmer. “But these feelings you have, being trapped and irritated, sometimes angry, requires normalizing a very normal conversation.”

Scheu had no plans to harm herself, so she always said that within a day she could speak herself from the thoughts of suicide. She told her mother and husband about these thoughts, but withheld details. She doesn’t want to worry about her family.

“There’s no reason for the alarm,” she said.

In an ideal world, Shue said he would go back to treatment, but for now, that’s not an option.

Adult caregivers report worsening mental health outcomes, but often “restrain yourself from your happiness.”

Factors that can increase the risk of suicidal ideation among caregivers include the existing mental health struggles exacerbated by high care burden, fatigue, social isolation, feelings of stress and confinement, preemptive sadness, and financial difficulties. Losing someone who cared for can lead to aimless emotions, a risk factor, even among the general public.

“A lot of what caregivers experience is exactly those things that we worry about when we think about risk factors for suicide,” Farmer said.

In a 2016 survey, over half (55.4%) of hospice and mitigation social workers reported working with one or more caregivers who showed warning signs of suicide. During the pandemic, 30.7% of self-reported unpaid caregivers for adults who committed suicide were seriously considered suicide, compared to 10.7% of the general population. Additionally, adult caregivers reported disproportionately experiencing increased mental health outcomes and substance use.

However, caregivers often don’t have the time to “rest, recover, and care for their needs.” This allows you to “give up your happiness.”

“Sometimes being a mom means your needs are the last time,” Shu said. “I think that’s what every mom can shake her head at Jesus.”

Farmer said feelings of shame can contribute to caregivers’ hesitations to discuss the idea of suicide.

“When you’re caring for people, people call you a hero. And heroes don’t ask for help, right? We need to change that story. You have to take care of yourself in order to be healthy enough to care for those you love,” Farmer said.

Due to financial barriers, caregivers do not seek mental health help

According to Farmer, caregivers often call the 988 Helpline on someone else’s behalf. These conversations can also create mental health challenges for the caregiver themselves.

While access to crisis assistance is lifesaving, legal Rossner challenges the idea that talk therapy is the only gold standard for supporting caregivers. Rather, it is one component of a larger equation.

Jurist-Rosner said concrete support (such as financial support and relief from administrative tasks) to ease some of the caregiving needs is important.

“If you’re physically overwhelmed, feeling hunger for time, worried about your financial future, and worrying about putting food on the table because the cost of care is so difficult, will spend an hour with a therapist change any of that?” she said.

Scheu said she went to online therapy in 2023 after parent-child stress gave up on her professional dreams and began closing her sustainable homeware stores.

However, when she ran out of limited sessions paid by her husband’s health insurance, she couldn’t continue.

“We had to use our funds and use our HSA accounts for other things,” she said. Her daughter has countless health conditions and frequently requires doctor visits.

Shari Turner, chief health officer at Crisis Text Line, worries that Medicaid cuts will disproportionately affect caregivers. “They will affect the care of underserved people,” she said. “And many caregivers rely on Medicaid to support or complement the people they care for.”

Economic stress, social isolation is the “perfect storm” for male caregivers

While most of the American caregivers are women, more men assume the role of caregiving and are more active parents than ever before.

This adds additional responsibility, stress, and some men struggle. But they don’t want to talk about it, said Gary Barker, CEO and president of Equimundo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to gender equality and violence prevention.

A 2025 report from the nonprofit American Men surveyed nearly 2,500 people, with 86% of men and 77% of women saying they are providers. Men facing economic tensions are 16 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts, while women facing financial tensions are seven times more likely to report suicidal thoughts.

The financial stress and social isolation that many male caregivers feel is a “perfect storm,” Barker said. But men are “a much less likely to seek help,” he said. Americans don’t do a good job teaching young boys and men how to deal with their emotions and practice mindfulness, Barker added. But it’s “if we do that, it’s really rewarding.”

“I think I’m a man who will probably retreat when he can reach the edge that harms himself or someone else,” Barker said.

“Too many people rely on me.”

Scheu works part-time for a nonprofit organization. She works mainly at night and weekends, so she can take care of girls during the day.

Her days are full of concern. Be concerned about her daughter’s health and her family’s budget.

“It’s easy to have a catastrophe,” she said. “I try not to let you go that path anymore… there are too many people who rely on me.”

Her main entrance is decorated with a sign that reads “Welcome to Camp Chaos.” Inside, Rachel’s toys are scattered across the floor, and her cry of joy fills the air.

But in her back pouch, Shu finds a tranquility. She returns to remind herself: “This is temporary.”

Madeline Mitchell’s role in covering women and caregiving economy at USA Today is supported by partnership with extremely and Journalism Funding Partner. Funders do not provide editor input.

You reach Madeline with memitchell@usatoday.com and @maddiemitch_ x.

(This story has been updated to include a video.)

According to the UK and UK Starme, which recognizes Palestinian states, unless Israel meets certain conditions.

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British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer said in September that the UK will recognize the Palestinian state unless Israel takes substantial steps to end the horrifying situation in Gaza and meets other conditions.

“We have always said that at the moment that we have had the greatest impact on the solution for the two states, we will recognize the Palestinian state as a contribution to the appropriate peace process,” the star said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

“Unless the Israeli government takes substantial steps to end the horrifying situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to long-term sustainable peace that revives the prospects of the two states’ solutions, the UK can confirm that it will recognize Palestine at its UN General Assembly in September.”

The stars convened a meeting as British leaders “rebellious” by the image of the British public starving in Gaza and spoke alongside Scotland’s President Donald Trump.

He holds a placard and flag in front of Downing Street on Tuesday as the prime minister convened an emergency cabinet to discuss government policies on Gaza.

Starme faces pressure from within the Labour Party to gain Israel’s tighter boundaries, becoming even more serious after the announcement that French President Emmanuel Macron in September recognized the Palestinian state and became the first G7 nation.

France praised the announcement of starmer on Tuesday, with Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barott saying the UK will “convene today in the momentum created by France for the recognition of the Palestinian state.”

“Through this vital decision and our combined efforts, we will break an endless cycle of violence and resume our regional peace prospects,” he posted on X.

Starmer explained that the UK’s decision is driven by “exhausted situation in Gaza” that it said is getting worse every day, and concerns that the two states’ potential solutions are declining.

“The reason we announced this in a way related to the September General Assembly is precisely because we want to make sure that this changes ground conditions and ensure that the aid comes in and that we want a solution to the two states for the future,” he told reporters after the meeting.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Americans see inflation as the primary obstacle to saving for retirement

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Although inflation has fallen from the height of dizziness in 2022, Americans still view it as the best obstacle to saving for retirement, studies show.

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Although inflation fell from the dizzy 9.1% rate in 2022, Americans are still worried that price increases will prevent them from leaving comfortably, a new survey by Charles Schwab showed.

Inflation is the biggest obstacle to comfortable retirement, saying it added 57% of 1,000 US 401(k) plan participants as well as participants in the 100 Gen Z plan surveyed last spring.

Many Americans have found ways to continue saving, but even so, only 34% of participants feel that they are very likely to achieve their savings goals, according to the survey. That’s down from 43% in 2024, Schwab said.

“401(k) investors continue to face uncertainty,” said Lee McAdoo, managing director of Schwab Retirement Planning Services. “Inflation and market volatility remain the best in mind that can make developing long-term retirement strategies difficult.”

How do Americans still save?

Most Americans cut their spending to prioritize retirement savings, Schwab said. Four in ten people are purchasing cheaper products (39%) to reduce the number of purchases they purchased and maintain their 401(k) donations. Research shows that only 11% of respondents reduced their 401(k) contributions due to the economic situation.

Furthermore, the survey shows that 401(k) loans and difficult withdrawals have fallen to 21% from 26% in the previous year.

“It’s encouraging to see that most savers prioritize consistency in terms of contribution rates and largely avoid penetration into retirement savings,” McAdoo said. It is a “positive sign that they are focusing on their future.”

How much do you think Americans need to retire?

“We’ve seen a lot of experience in our client experiences,” said Marci Stewart, Director of Client Experience at Schwab Workplace Financial Services.

The decline comes from fewer survey respondents who are expected to require more than $1 million, Stewart said.

“Part of that is people who adjust to high-cost environments by tightening their spending,” she said. “While they tighten their spending belts, they may decide that there is less need for retirement.”

On average, workers are also hoping to retire at age 66, and believe their savings will last 22 years after retirement, the survey said. Generation Z, or those born between 1997 and 2012, expect to retire even younger at an average age of 62.

“I believe they have good reasons to be optimistic,” Stewart said. They have more time to invest and are putting more effort into finances compared to their older generations of contemporaries.

Young workers also have access to more resources as they begin their careers, including personalized financial planning advice through a 401(k) plan that can provide solid long-term plans to achieve their goals, Stewart said.

Why is 401(k) saving so important?

Schwab said that as savers are declining in Social Security, savers are increasingly dependent on workplace plans for retirement income.

Half of consumers aged 45 to 75 (52%) have little confidence in social security, according to a survey released this month by the non-profit consumer education institution The Alliance for Lifetime Income (ALI). Ali surveyed 3,502 consumers aged 45-75. This collected results from 500 financial experts, weighed in by age, gender and region to represent the census demographics.

Furthermore (58%) would reduce social security benefits, Ali said.

According to an analysis by the Responsible Federal Budget Commission, double-earning couples who retired in early 2033 can expect annual Social Security benefits benefits, on average, $18,100 less than they would if they had retired. That’s a 24% drop, according to a non-profit think tank.

How do employers help?

About a third of those surveyed said their company had increased their pay, Schwab said. Another 15% said they received a higher 401(k) match, with additional bonuses or benefits cited by 14% of participants surveyed respectively. The most special benefits from employers were health savings accounts, Schwab said.

“We see employers play an important, expanding role in our employees’ financial lives,” Stewart said.

On average, survey participants estimated that 401(k) provides 45% of their retirement income, an increase of 2% from last year. Social Security is expected to donate 18% to retirement income, an increase of 2%.

Medora Lee is a money, market and personal finance reporter for USA Today. mjlee@usatoday.com and Subscribe to our free daily money newsletter Personal finance tips and business news every Monday to Friday.

Trump calls Manhattan to shoot “crazy madman”

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Trump commented on the shooting of Midtown Manhattan in True Society during his trip to Scotland.

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says he was briefed in a shooting in midtown Manhattan that claimed at least four lives, including a New York City police officer.

“Our law enforcement believes that this crazy madman will reach the bottom of why he committed such meaningless acts of violence,” Trump said in the Truth Social Post. “My heart is with four murdered families, including the NYPD officer who made the ultimate sacrifice. God bless the New York Police Department, and God bless New York!”

The shooting at the commercial real estate building at 345 Park Ave on July 28th was not far from the president’s longtime New York City residence and retail space Trump Tower. Police say they are investigating the shooter’s motives. The 27-year-old Nevada man has been accused of fatally shooting at least four people before committing suicide.

Trump currently lives in Palm Beach, Florida and is currently traveling to Scotland.

He said the filming was “tragic” and called Manhattan “where I know” in a social media post hours after cutting the ribbon with an extension of Aberdeen’s golf property, playing its first round on the course, opening later this month.