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Discovery: “fat factory” of Neanderthals from 125,000 years ago

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CNN

New research shows that humans who currently live by lakes near German lakes systematically treat animal corpses for fatty nutrients.

Archaeologists have discovered the factory by analyzing around 120,000 fractures and 16,000 flint tools over several years at a site known as Neumark-Nord, south of Halle city. The excavator found artifacts along with evidence of fire use.

Researchers say the Neanderthals, an extinct species of human beings known to have lived in the area 125,000 years ago, destroyed bone marrow-rich bones into pieces with a stone hammer and boiled for several hours to extract the fat.

This finding helps to draw pictures of the group’s organization, strategies, and deep-polished survival skills, as the feat included planning a hunt, transporting and storing corpses beyond immediate food needs, and rendering fat in areas specially designated for tasks.

“This attitude that Neanderthals were stupid — this is another data point that proves that it’s not,” said Will Roebroke, a researcher and professor of paleolithic archaeology at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

A series of archaeological discoveries over the past few decades show that Neanderthals are smarter than the original cruel stereotypes suggest. Ancient humans lived all over Eurasia and disappeared 40,000 years ago, and previous research found that they assembled gems from threads and glue, carved bones and cave walls, and Eagle Tarons.

Details of the new study suggest that Neanderthals may have also been unexpectedly refined in their approach to nutrition.

Researchers believe that Neanderthals crush animal bones into fragments and then boil them to extract nutrients.

Research shows that for 300 years Neanderthals who lived on German sites had a clear understanding of the nutritional value of bone grease they produced.

Small amounts of fat are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet. This substance was even more important to hunter-gatherers, such as Neanderthals, who were heavily dependent on animal foods.

A diet dominated by lean meat and lacking fatty acids can lead to debilitating, sometimes fatal forms of malnutrition, impairing the ability of liver enzymes to break down proteins and remove excess nitrogen. Today, known as protein addiction, this condition has gained a reputation among early European explorers in North America as “rabbit addiction” or “maldecaribou.”

Hunter-gatherers, such as Neanderthals, who weigh average between 50 and 80 kilograms (110 and 175 pounds), had to maintain consumption of dietary protein less than 300 grams (about 10 ounces) per day to avoid conditions. Research shows that it amounts to around 1,200 calories. As a result, Neanderthals may need to source remaining calories from non-protein sources, either fat or carbohydrate.

The cuts of meat from the animal’s muscles contain little fat and create bones – even when the animal is malnourished, it contains bone marrow and other adipose tissue – a more important resource.

Researchers found that the vast majority of places here came from 172 individual large animals, including horses, deer, Auroloc and large cow-like creatures that are now extinct. Neanderthals had chosen the longest bone that would have most bone marrow included, the study found.

The AI, which may have looked like a fat factory site was 125,000 years ago, produced impressions.

According to the study authors, it is not clear how Neanderthals dealt with bones. Ancient humans make containers and pots from other body parts, such as birch bark, animal skin, or stomach lining, fill them with water and hang on fire, Lowbroke said.

Neanderthals could have consumed the fat they produced as “greasy soups.” The plant may have been added for its flavor and nutritional value. Burnt sites of hazelnuts, acorns and slaw plums were also found during excavations, he noted.

“These were not simple hunter-gatherers that we walk through every day. They were master planners who could look ahead of the environment, organize complex tasks and narrow down all the last calories,” Smith said.

The findings are “exciting” according to Ludovic Slimac, an archaeologist at the French National Centre for Science and Research (CNRS) and the University of Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. Slimak was not involved in this study.

“They ultimately provide a clear archaeological confirmation of what many of us have long suspected. Neanderthals not only evaluated intrasoneal lipids, they also developed specific strategies to extract and process them.”

“This is in close agreement with the broader archaeological record, which shows Neanderthals as highly skilled big-name hunters with a sophisticated sense of ecological adaptation,” he added.

Bruce Hardy, a professor of anthropology at Kenyon University in Gambier, Ohio, J. Kenneth Smale, said the Neumark Nord site is “the best example of bone glaze rendering.” Hardy was also not involved in the research.

“The combination of evidence presented here at Neumark-Nord is impressive,” Hardy says. “It may well represent a smoldering gun in Neanderthal bone glaze rendering, or a boiled bone soup.”

Russia hits Kiev with a drone attack hours after Trump Putin’s call

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Kiev, July 4 (Reuters) – Russia has launched its biggest drone attack on Russia after President Donald Trump spoke to Russian Vladimir Putin, killing at least 23 people, wounding at least 23 people and damaging buildings in the capital, authorities said Friday.

As Russia began what the Ukrainian Air Force said there were 539 drones and 11 missiles, the cries of Kamikazedoro, echoing from evening to dawn, echoing from the evening to dawn.

A family hangs out in the city centre at the subway station for a shelter. The chief of Kiev’s junta said the body was found on Friday afternoon in one of the strike sites.

Outside the block of a high-rise apartment damaged by the drone, residents were standing investigating the scene as the cleanup job began. Some cried. Others looked quietly.

“I was woken up to the sound of an explosion. The explosion began to begin after the Shahed drone first began to get bustling,” said 40-year-old resident Maria Hirchenko.

“Then people started screaming outside. The explosions from Shahede continued to come.” Shahed Drones are Iranian-designed and are now manufactured in Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the attack “deliberately huge and cynical,” and the first sirens rang out when news of Putin and Trump called out.

Later on Friday, Zelensky spoke to Trump, and the pair agreed to work to improve Kiev’s ability to “protect the sky.” He added that they discussed production and joint purchases and investments of joint defense. The US has suspended missile delivery amid concerns over low stockpile.

Kyiv officials said the attack damaged around 40 apartment blocks, passenger rail infrastructure, five schools, kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the embassy’s consular department was damaged in central Kiev and staff were unharmed.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sibikha said that Chinese components were found in one of the Shahedodros attacking Kiev, adding that the Chinese consulate in the southern part of Odesa was found shortly after another strike suffered minor damage.

“How ironic,” Sibiha wrote to X.

Kiev’s Russian airstrikes have intensified in recent weeks, including some of the war’s most lethal attacks on cities of 3 million.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said drone factories, military airfields and oil refineries were among the targets they hit in Kiev with what they called high-precision weapons. Ukraine did not provide details of targets of military value.

Please seek sanctions

Trump said Thursday’s call with Putin had no progress in efforts to end the war, and the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would continue to push to resolve the “root cause” of the conflict.

Washington’s decision to halt the shipment of some of its important weapons to Ukraine prompted a warning from Kiev that the move would undermine its ability to prevent airstrikes and battlefield progress. Germany said it is in discussions about purchasing a Patriot air defense system to close the gap.

On Friday, Zelenskiy urged Moscow to change “silly and destructive behavior.”

“For all of that strikes on people and human lives, they must feel the proper sanctions and other blows on their economy, their income, and their infrastructure,” he said.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it had destroyed the 478 air weapons that Russia had launched overnight. The airstrikes were recorded in eight locations, with nine missiles and 63 drones.

Social media videos show people running to find shelter, firefighters, fighting the flames in the dark, ruining the building with windows and facades blown away.

Both sides denied targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched in February 2022 with a full-scale invasion. Thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict, and the majority of them are Ukrainians. It is believed that more soldiers were killed on the frontline, but neither side releases military casualties figures.

Late Thursday, Russian artillery fires killed five people in and near Pokrovsk city in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine said.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash, Pavel Polityuk, Max Hunder, Valentyn Ogirenko, Sergiy Karazy, Frank Jack Daniel, Written by Ronald Popesky, Lydia Kelly, Frank Jack Daniel, Edited by Stephen Coates, Rajugo Para Arklishnan, Alexandra Hudson, Sharon Singunton)

Russia welcomes Trump’s cuts to Ukrainian military aid, but that could be fatal for Kiev

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CNN

The response to the Trump administration’s decision to suspend the shipment of arms to Ukraine could not explain the conflict any further.

The Pentagon said Wednesday it has suspended aid as it needs to check whether the support provided to Ukraine is in line with US President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.

However, the move could have fatal consequences for Ukraine. This is because cargo stops include missiles from the Patriots, the US air defense system that protects millions of Ukrainian civilians from Russia’s increasingly large daily air attacks.

According to the country’s Air Force, Kiev endured with 13 hours of terrifying time explosions and trouser overhead with 13 hours of terrifying time explosions and thrust overhead.

When smoke began to clear up in the cities, Ukrainian President Volodymia Zelensky praised the military for shooting down and stuffing most of Russian drones and missiles.

“It is very important that our partners continue to support us in their advocacy from ballistic missiles. Patriots and missiles are the true guardians of life,” he said.

Zelensky had the opportunity to insist directly on Trump when the two spoke on the phone on Friday. Reading the phone from Zelensky’s office said the two leaders “agree to work together to enhance protection of the sky.”

“We are ready for a direct project with the US, and we believe this is extremely important for security, especially when it comes to drones and related technologies,” Readout said.

Other air defense systems cannot match their effectiveness with patriots, but their power is at enormous cost, their production is limited, and they are growing rapidly in the Middle East, Southwest Asia and South Korea, especially in areas where the Trump administration is deemed more strategically important.

The patriot system received by Ukraine will be seen on August 4, 2024 for the Ukrainian Air Force Day.

The US announcement sent shockwaves through Ukraine, with presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak saying it would be “very strange” and “inhuman” to halt the supply of missiles used to protect civilians.

However, despite the panicked response, the movement was not at all unexpected. Trump has threatened to withdraw Ukrainian support to force Kiev to force a table of negotiations, and he has previously suspended shipping of aid.

The United States has long been Ukraine’s biggest supporter, covering around 40% of Ukraine’s military needs on its own, but has not announced new aid to Ukraine since early January, when Trump returned to power.

Meanwhile, European countries have strengthened their support from Ukraine.

Europe is now surpassing the US as the largest donor, according to the German Kiel Institute, which monitors aid to Ukraine. Since the initiation of the full-scale invasion until the end of April, it has supported Ukraine in total aid of 72 billion euros ($85 billion) and exceeded 75 billion euros ($7.6666 billion) from the US.

However, the numbers don’t convey the whole story.

“Ukraine has many different needs, some of which can be met by other suppliers, but some can only be met in the US,” Daniel Byman, director of the War, Irregular Threat and Terrorism Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told CNN.

“Only the US can offer this, especially with ballistic missiles. Those cutoffs leave a huge gap between Ukraine and air defense. And given the scary daily Russian attacks, it’s very consequential.”

Russia has stepped up its air attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks.

Ballistic missiles pose the most deadly threat, and Russia fired 80 of these people in June alone, according to Ukrainian officials.

The rescuers are working at the site of a Russian missile strike in a residential building during an attack in Kiev, Ukraine on June 23.

Ukraine was able to shoot down some of them with the Patriot system, but what slipped out caused unimaginable suffering. Last week, one ballistic missile strike killed 21 people in Dnipro. A week earlier, 21 people were killed when a ballistic missile struck an apartment in Kiev.

Such fatal attacks become more frequent when Ukraine loses access to patriots, widely considered to be one of the best air defense systems available.

They can defeat cruises and high-sonic missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and aircraft. According to analysts, the Ukrainian military is using them in a very effective way, shooting down missiles such as Kinzhar ballistic missiles that Moscow claims were impossible to intercept.

Each system has an estimated cost of around $1.1 billion, and the Patriots are the most expensive equipment sent to Ukraine by their allies. According to CSIS, the Patriot missile rounds are around $4 million each, which is a very high price tag.

However, if Ukraine had the cash to buy these systems, it would not be so you’d find it difficult to raise them.

“The production pace of Patriot missiles is low. It’s not because the US doesn’t want to produce any more, but because it’s so sophisticated, you can’t produce thousands of them a year. You can have allies all over the world that need them.”

Lockheed Martin, who makes US military patriot missiles, has increased production to record levels, but by 2027, it can still exceed 500 a year with plans to increase production to 650 a year.

The $5.5 billion massive deal between US and German companies has approved the first non-US Patriot missile production following a NATO order of up to 1,000 rounds, but initial delivery is not expected until years.

President Volodymyr Zelensky learned about training Ukrainian soldiers in patriot anti-aircraft missile systems in a private location in Germany on June 11, 2024.

A German government spokesman said at a press conference on Friday that although he had previously donated some of its Patriot systems to Ukraine, he was considering the option to purchase Ukrainian missiles from the United States.

Cedarskaushall, a senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based defense think tank, said the global stockpile of Patriot missiles is not “very low,” but there is evidence of concern about the shortage.

“The requirements for patriots, especially in the Indo-Pacific, have been significantly increasing,” he said.

He said that considering that some of the missiles aimed at Ukraine were initially diverted to other allies, including Israel, it is likely that the US wanted to deliver interceptors to countries within the scope of Iranian missiles, or wanted contractual obligations.

Still, Kaushal said it is very unlikely that the US itself will face any kind of emergency missile shortage.

“The US has sent a considerable number of Patriot Interceptors to Ukraine, but restocked stocks through a buyback scheme from Japan, and recent freight has been diverted from export customers rather than from US stock,” he said in a memo sent by email to CNN.

Zelensky previously said Ukraine needs around 25 patriot batteries to effectively defend its airspace. The exact numbers and locations are secretly protected, but at this point it is roughly half a dozen.

But what is known is that Ukrainians are very concerned about running out of munitions. Particularly, the latest US suspension is not about future aid, but is being approved, funded and affecting delivery on the way to Ukraine.

“One of the things that future sales are not approved is to stop what is already in the pipeline. So it is harmful to Ukraine’s future defense and its effectiveness will be very quick. Russian attacks happen every day, and Ukraine relies on these systems and relies on counters.

A shipment suspension could give Russia yet another boost.

“It’s part of (the Russians) strategy. They believe that without US support, Ukraine is likely to collapse or at least make concessions. So we’ll certainly increase the incentives for Russia to maintain military pressure on Ukraine,” Byman said.

The WAR Institute (ISW), a US-based conflict monitor, said previous delays in the salvation of aid to Ukraine are constantly accelerating Russia’s interests on the battlefield.

Russia advanced in Avdivka in eastern Ukraine when the US limped into military aid in late 2023 and early 2024. When the US suspended sharing intelligence news with Ukraine in March, Russian forces advanced in Kursk.

“The halt of US aid to Ukraine will strengthen the theory of victory of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which assumes that Russia can win the war of attrition by making slow, creeping progress and surpassing Western support for Ukraine,” ISW said.

A shipment suspension could reinforce Putin’s belief that time is on the side of Russia. And if he could delay negotiations for long enough, his army would ultimately last longer Western aid to Ukraine.

For many sacrifices Ukrainians trying to protect their country from bigger and stronger invaders, the lack of US military aid isn’t the only thing – it’s potentially a disaster.

Will Walmart open on July 4th? Which stores will open for your holiday?

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Those who need to buy last minute outfits and swimsuits for the 4th July celebration are lucky this year as well.

The US Postal Service banks and offices will close on July 4th, but most retailers will be open during the holidays. Generally, supermarkets and restaurants remain open.

Companies like Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Macy’s will open their doors on July 4th, but many will close earlier than usual.

Why is July 4th a holiday in the US?

The origins of this date date back when Philadelphia residents voluntarily celebrated the first anniversary of American independence, according to a letter from John Adams to their daughter Abigail, who holds the Library of Congress. However, the annual celebrations became regular after the war in 1812, when events such as the Erie Canal and the first rituals of the Baltimore and the Ohio Railroad agreed to the festival on July 4th.

Will Walmart and Home Depot be open on July 4th?

  • Will Target open on July 4th?yes. Target opened on July 4th, and the company confirmed with USA Today. Schedules vary depending on the location, so we recommend checking with your local store.
  • Will Walmart open on July 4th?Walmart will open from 6am to 11pm, a spokesman reported. Still, it’s best to check it in your online directory or local store before you go.
  • Will TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods open on July 4th?Yes, three stores will open, but will close at 8pm local time.
  • Will Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Ace Hardware open on July 4th?Most Home Depots open, but schedules vary depending on where you are. Lowe’s will also open, but will close at 8pm Ace Hardware is an independent property, so schedules vary. I recommend calling beforehand.
  • Will Macy’s open on July 4th?Yes, Macy’s will open, but close at 7pm
  • Will Nordstrom open on July 4th?Schedules vary by store, so check your location.
  • Will Gap and Old Navy open on July 4th?Schedules vary by location. I recommend calling beforehand.
  • Will Bass Pro Shop and Cabella open on July 4th?Yes, both are open from 9am to 7pm, but some stores follow the shopping centre schedule.
  • Will IKEA open on July 4th?Yes, 10am to 6pm
  • Will Dick’s sports goods open on July 4th?Yes, but closes at 7pm
  • Will Ray open on July 4th?Yes, 10am to 6pm
  • Will Burlington open on July 4th?Yes, you can view specific schedules at Burlington.com.
  • Will Staples, Office Depot and Offmax open on July 4th?Some of the main restaurants are open from 10am to 5pm. The rest will close. Office Depot and Offemax will be open from 9am to 6pm
  • Will Petco and Petsmart open on July 4th?Petsmart opens from 9am to 6pm Petco schedules vary depending on location.
  • Will Tractor Supply Company open on July 4th?Yes, 8am to 6pm

What about banks, mail and delivery services?

  • Will the email be open on July 4th? Is there delivery available?All post offices are closed and there are no regular residential or commercial delivery. Priority Mail Express operates 365 days a year, including holidays.
  • Will the bank open on July 4th?Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, Citibank and Jpmorgan Chase will be closed. However, the capital cafe will remain open.
  • Will UPS open on July 4th?There is no collection or delivery of packages. Some UPS store stores can be closed. Check at your location. UPS Express Critical is still available in 24 hours.
  • Will FedEx open on July 4th?Most FedEx services are not available. Schedules will be changed to the FedEx office. FedEx Custom Critical Opera 24/7.

Contribution: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY

Boris Q’va is a national news reporter for Spanish trends on the Connect/USA Today network. You can follow him on X as @boborisqva or email him at bbalsindesurquiola@gannett.com.

How to calm your dog

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Take out the grill and get ready to celebrate Independence Day with barbecues, lawn chairs and delicious dishes! July 4th is perfect for gathering with friends, family and pets. Remember, fireworks are fun for many people, but they can be scary for some animals. Loud sounds like fireworks and thunderstorms are responsible for one in five lost pets.

Here’s how to keep your four-legged friends safe and happy while celebrating Independence Day:

Poor your dog

If possible, your dog should be at home with at least one human. Stay with your pet in a room with minimal windows and play soft music and movies to deflect from fireworks and other noises. A little love comes a long way. One of the best ways to calm your dog is to give your dog a strong, firm putt, veterinarian Diana Watkins, who owns 143 veterinary services in Massachusetts.

Thunder shirt

You can try anxiety-reducing devices like a thundershirt that acts like a weighted blanket to soothe your dog.

medicine

For dogs who are not overly concerned, there are some situational anxiety medications that the veterinarian can prescribe. It can be useful when you are in the process of leaving your dog behind for longer than usual.

Watkins recommends offering only dog-only veterinary products as commercially available anxiolytics and CBD supplements are not FDA controlled and can be harmful to puppies.

Collar with ID

Make sure your pet has the ID tag on at all times, or if your pet is not microchipped, invest in a GPS locator on the collar.

Take a walk before the night

It’s a good idea to take a walk early the day before the fireworks start. If you think fireworks will be triggered, then put your dog on the leash.

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Four tips to calm your dog on July 4th

Dogs and other pets have a wealth of hearing. This is one of the reasons why I hate fireworks.

Staff Video, USA Today

Consider hiring a trainer

If fireworks and fear are affecting animals, you can consider hiring a trainer. Work with a behavioral consultant trainer to gradually decolorize your dog into fireworks. Planning your next fireworks event will never be delayed.

Source: USA Today Network Reporting and Research;American Kennel Club

Top FDA vaccine officials have refused to use the Covid-19 shot extensively, documents show

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Experts from the US Food and Drug Administration’s official official agency of best vaccines suggest that they oppose the widespread use of the two COVID-19 vaccines, a newly released document shows.

Dr Vinai Prasad, director of the agency’s Center for Biological Assessment and Research, said in two notes he opposed the reviewer’s conclusions on the safety of the vaccine and the ongoing threat of the virus that causes COVID-19, especially for young and healthy people.

Prasad’s decision is in line with the broader Trump administration efforts under the leadership of US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit the availability of coronavirus vaccinations. Kennedy said in May that shots would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant people. The FDA said it would approve the new Covid-19 vaccine before that month, but would only approve elderly and high-risk groups.

In a memo that week, Prasad rejected recommendations from around 30 FDA scientists for people over the age of 12. He cited limited data and “lower risk” of severe COVID-19 infections and safety concerns.

He cited similar safety concerns in a May 30 document entitled “Override Memo” on the widespread use of Modern’s latest version of mRNA vaccine Mnexspike. The company had applied for approval for the updated version for people over the age of 12.

Prasad writes that despite the overall data submitted by Moderna, he was unable to conclude that the manufacturer had improved the safety of the shots or raised concerns about the risk of myocarditis or heart inflammation in teens and young people.

Earlier that week, the FDA had advised Moderna and another manufacturer of mRNA Covid-19 vaccine Pfizer to update the label to include warnings about this rare condition.

“Novavax is focused on making Covid-19 vaccinations available to those who choose to receive vaccinations at the highest risk,” the company said in a statement Wednesday. “We believe it is important for consumers to choose a vaccine.

Moderna declined to comment on the story.

“The idea that Dr. Prasad ‘dismissed’ FDA scientists is a distortion of fact,” HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday. “He evaluated the whole evidence and made judgments rooted in gold standard science. It’s not political. It’s what principled leadership looks like.”

Dr. Daniel Griffin, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University, said the memo reflects a broader talk point among health officials.

“They seem to be obsessed with myocarditis and they made the decision simply because they have a fixed ideology that they continue to look for confirmation bias,” he said. “And I think the data there is really clear. Early on, I saw 20 to 65 (cases) per million doses when I was giving the first (vaccine) 3-4 weeks apart. In fact, we didn’t really see much in reality. It’s 10 times more expensive than if you were protected by a vaccine.

The memo also marks a break from typical agency responsibilities, Griffin said.

“The role of the FDA is to make decisions whether or not to obtain a license. However, as long as we limit access, we are to provide guidance on who should be vaccinated. The FDA is supposed to have the power to limit access to safe and effective products.”

“In the past, override memos for the centre director have been rare and only made after very careful consideration, usually after consultation with other centre directors,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of Cber before Prasad, told a text message Wednesday.

Dr. Peter Lurie, former FDA Associate Commissioner, now president and executive director of the Center for Public Interest Science, said overrides like Prasad tend to be false in the aspect of being less restrictive and tend to make the product available when reviewers become more cautious. He has never seen reviewers limit the use of products they deemed safe and effective.

“It’s very difficult to escape the conclusion that these Covid vaccines’ resentment plays a key role in this very rare override,” he said. “Yes, I think there is still concern that they were making policy decisions that should have been reserved for the CDC.”

Prasad’s memo was first reported by the New York Times.

Prasad took on the role as CBER director on May 8 after saying Marks was kicked out of his role due to Kennedy’s vaccine strategy. More recently, FDA commissioner Dr. Marty McCurry has also promoted Prasad to become the agency’s Chief Medical and Scientific Officer.

Prasad is a hematologist oncologist and an outspoken critic of his claims to be thinking of a medical group. Former University of California In clinical trials, the San Francisco professor also questioned the dependence of developers on drug approval processes and secondary outcomes or surrogate endpoints, as well as the dependence of drug approval processes and developers.

Prasad called “former FDA commissioners, both democratic and Republican administrations, who do not need sufficient randomized clinical trial data for approval decisions, “under both Democrat and Republican administrations.”

The biotech stock fell a few hours after it was announced as CBER director. Some industry analysts called Prasad the “anti-establishment” pick and led the division overseeing vaccines and biological products.

He appears to nod his concerns with McCurry at City Hall on May 20, suggesting a flexible approach to speeding up drug approval.

“We must always accept surrogate endpoints for people with illnesses, extremely rare conditions and few treatment options,” he told FDA staff at the Maryland campus. “We have an obligation to promote the FDA to patients who desperately want those products, and we also have an obligation to check our backend and make sure we are actually achieving what we thought.”

Prasad also showed an approach to the Covid-19 vaccine at its city hall.

“The risk of severe illness and hospitalization is declining among Americans. The effectiveness of repeat doses… The effectiveness of these vaccines further reduce severe illness and symptomatic illness is uncertain, and there are important safety considerations that have not been fully known for their long-term effects,” he said. “We will continue to monitor them closely.”

Most of the 99 American cars, trucks, SUVs you can buy

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For 20 years, CARS.COM number clay launchers have used data along with American automotive labeling methods, along with data from countless different sources that generate American-made indexes. This year, there are 99 entries. This is a list of all car and truck models that are at least partially assembled in the US based on a 100-point scale, ranked by content from the lowest American-made* to the lowest American-made* (usually separated by fractions of points). This year’s tariff landscape has increased the aptitude for American-made indexes. Here we break down the highlights and simply know that as the tariff situation continues to change, the models that are ranked the most on this list are the least affected.

*Aala says the parts made in Canada are the same as those made in the US.

Tesla is still up

Tesla has been claiming to be at the top since 2021, but in a surprising move, last year’s No.-21 rank Tesla Model 3 surpassed the three-year list topping model Y due to changes in battery procurement. And this year, like we did in 2023, Tesla was locked up in the top four spots on the list.

36 Big Three Holds in Detroit

GM only has 15 spots on the list, Ford 13 and Stellantis, but the two Jeeps rank higher than all Ford and GM models. Cars.com notes that 50% of all vehicles sold in 2025 are imported.

Jeep Gladiator’s highest rank big three name plate

The Toledo-born Jeep Gladiator, who rose from 8th to 5th this year, is ranked seventh among the Wrangler brothers. 19.

Toprank Ford No. 22

Ford ads will make you believe it is the most American brand. And perhaps considering the hourly car, vehicle and other metrics built here, due to American-made index rules, the electric Ford F-150 Lightning is the highest ranked model of the No. 22 brand. At least no. 31, the Mustang ranked for the highest for Ford in 2024 (Pony will fall to No. 56 this year).

The biggest climbers and losers

We sourced Cross Cross engines from the US instead of Brazil and Japan for the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid engine. From 66, no. 18. Meanwhile, procuring the opposite direction of changes caused the brand’s RAV4 hybrid to fall to the bottom of the list and from no. From 65, no. 99.

Best domestic content

New features on this year’s list are Hyundai Ion Ik 5, KIA EV6, and EV9 electric SUVs, many of which are currently being built in Georgia. The EV6 contains 80% of US/Canada domestic parts.

Michigan builds the most American model

Mittens Auto City assembles 15 vehicles on its list. This helps rank the Midwest, but the number of most American cars from the Southern states has increased by 17% since 2020.

Double the number of EVs

Last year, five EVs created the list, and while the number swelled to 11 in 2025 as battery and assembly plants increased content online in the US, it is worth noting that Cadillac Lyriq’s domestic content plummeted from 62% (71 ranking No. 71) to 11% last year.

Things this list cannot tell you

This is all about the people who assemble the geographical sources of parts and components themselves. It says nothing about where the profits from these sales are. They also do not offer credits for foreign assembled cars with high US-Canadian parts content (probably Mexican-made Ford Maverick, BroncoSport, Mach-E, etc.).

The most American cars, trucks, and SUVs you can buy:

1 Tesla Model 3
2 Tesla model y
3 Tesla Models
4 Tesla Model x
5 Jeep gladiator
6 EV6
7 Honda Ridge Line
8 Honda Odyssey
9 Honda Passport
10 Volkswagen ID.4
11 Acura MDX
12 Honda Pilot
13 Jeep Wrangler
14 Acura Rdx
15 Honda Agreement
16 Acura Integra
17 Get sports
18 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
19 Chevrolet Colorado
20 Nissan Pathfinder
twenty one Jeep Wrangler 4xe
twenty two Ford F-150 Lightning
twenty three Ford Explorer
twenty four Toyota Camry
twenty five Dodge Durango
26 Hyundai Santa Cruz
27 Jeep Wagonia, Wagonia L, Grand Wagonia, Grand Wagonia L.
28 Lincoln Aviator
29 Chevrolet Corvette
30 Hyundai Ionik 5
31 Kia Sorento
32 Toyota Grand Highlander
33 Toyota Highlander
34 Lexus Texas
35 Lincoln Corsair
36 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
37 Ford F-150
38 Chevrolet suburbs
39 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL
40 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV
41 Chevrolet Taho
42 GMC Canyon
43 Toyota Sponge
44 Cadillac CT5
45 RAM 1500
46 Ford Ranger
47 Ford Bronco
48 Kia Telluride
49 Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sports
50 Cadillac XT5
51 Toyota Tundra
52 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
53 Honda Agreement Hybrid
54 Toyota Tundra Hybrid
55 Toyota Sequoia
56 Ford Mustang, Mustang GTD
57 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
58 Toyota Corolla Cross
59 Nissan Murano
60 Nissan Ultima
61 Ford F-150 Hybrid
62 Hyundai Santa Fe
63 GMC Sierra 1500
64 Ford Escape
65 Infiniti QX60
66 Ford Expedition, Expedition Max
67 The EV9 should be
68 Toyota Corolla, Corolla hatchback, Gr Corolla
69 Lincoln Navigator, Navigator l
70 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L
81 BMW X5 50E
82 BMW X6
83 BMW X5
84 BMW X7
85 Honda CR-V
86 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
87 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
88 BMW X3
89 Honda Civic
90 Mercedes-Benz GLE450E
91 Mercedes-Benz GLS
92 Mercedes-Benz Download SUV
93 Mercedes-Benz Guru
94 Honda Civic Hybrid
95 Genesis GV70
96 Subaru Crosstrek
97 Nissan Rogue
98 Cadillac Like
99 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

We would like to see how this list will grow and change as a result of tariff pressure on land production of vehicles and components over the next few years.

Photo by the manufacturer

Russians using chemical weapons against Ukraine: Dutch Defense Minister

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The Hague, July 4 (Reuters) – Dutch and German intelligence agency are gathering evidence of Russian Russia’s use of chemical weapons banned in Ukraine.

Dutch Defense Minister Reuben Brekelmans called for stricter sanctions on Moscow.

“The main conclusion is that we can confirm that Russia is increasing its use of chemical weapons,” he told Reuters.

“This intensification is part of a trend we have been observing for years, and this intensification is due to the more normalized, standardized and widespread use of Russian chemical weapons in this war.”

German BND Foreign Intelligence Agency confirmed the findings in a statement that it had obtained evidence along with its Dutch counterparts. Reuters first reported the information.

Peter Leesink, head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency (MIVD), said the conclusion “follows our own independent intelligence, so we observed it based on our own research.”

Reuters were unable to independently verify the use of banned chemicals on both sides of the Ukrainian War.

The US initially accused Russia of using chloropicrine, which Germany first used in May last year, which is more toxic than riot control agents.

Ukraine claims thousands of cases of Russian chemical weapons use.

The Russian Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this article. Russia has refused to use illegal ammunition and accused Ukraine of doing so.

Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday that she discovered Ukrainian caches of explosive devices in the eastern part of the country, including chloropicrine.

Ukraine has consistently denied such accusations.

The Hague disarmament agency with 193 member states, the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said last year the first charges that both countries lay “have not been adequately demonstrated.”

They are not asked to conduct a full investigation. This must be initiated by member states.

At least three Ukrainians have been linked to the use of chemical weapons, but more than 2,500 people injured on the battlefield have reported chemical weapons-related symptoms to Ukrainian health authorities, according to Brekelmans.

The increased use of chemical weapons by Russia poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other countries, Brekelman added.

“We have to raise the pressure even more, which means we will consider more sanctions and not allow them (Russia) to participate in international organizations like the OPCW’s Executive Council,” he said.

Reesink spoke of “thousands of instances” of chemical weapons use, and also cited figures from 9,000 Ukrainians.

OPCW Council’s two-year seat rotation will increase for negotiations in the coming months.

The findings of the information were presented in a letter to the Dutch Parliament on Friday.

Large programme

Russia is a member of the OPCW and, like the US, destroyed declared stockpiles of chemical weapons.

The increase in sanctions could occur in conjunction with the European Commission, which proposes to list 15 additional new entities and individuals in its sanctions framework, including alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

The Dutch military and general intelligence agency says it is working with foreign partners to uncover concrete evidence of strengthening Russian chemical weapons production.

This includes recruiting scientists for increased research capabilities and the development of chemical weapons, Reesink said. He added that Russian officials gave soldiers instructions on using toxic war agents.

“This isn’t just about ad hoc trolling at the forefront. It’s really part of a massive program, because, of course, these trends are likely to continue unless they clarify and make public what Russia is doing,” Reesink said.

He called the use of chemical weapons by the Russian army “a nearly standing operational procedure.”

“We specifically linked the use of chloropicrin to use chloropicrin with improvised ammunition, such as light bulbs and empty bottles suspended from drones. When it comes to tear gas, we see that we misuse and convert existing ammunition to act as carriers of gas,” he said.

Chloropicrine is listed as a suffocating agent prohibited by the OPCW, created to implement and monitor compliance with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

It can cause severe irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory systems. If consumed, it can cause burns to the mouth and stomach, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.

(Additional report by Andreas Linke of Berlin, edited by Mike Collet White and William McLean)

Do you have AC? Americans beat the heat without air conditioning

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Approximately 39 million Americans do not use AC. Many people can’t afford it or don’t need it (still, as the planet warms up), but some just don’t like it.

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She is finishing a meeting with the new maid service when the thermometer inside Shelly Snyder’s three-storey Victorian home in Columbus, Ohio reaches 88 degrees., I water plants and do chores. And she does it all without air conditioning.

Snyder said she’d be fine without it. Even during the hot recommendations, she found a way to deal with it.

“You can wait all winter, open windows and doors, and have fresh air and summer,” she told reporters on a day when the heat index exceeded 100 degrees.

Snyder is one of the roughly 12% of people who don’t use AC, one of the roughly 39 million Americans, according to the US Energy Information Agency. Many people can’t afford it or don’t need it because they live in cool climates, but others choose to abandon their air conditioners to lower their carbon footprint. Then there’s something like Snyder. They choose to withstand the swell-like temperatures of her “big old house with high ceilings” and the open high-floor skylight windows.

“The ceiling fans just pull the cold air out of the basement just above the house,” she said.

Air conditioners can save lives, but especially amid setting a record heat wave that burned the country in late June — some people don’t like it, according to Gail Brager, director of the UC Berkeley Center for Construction Environments. Certain AC uses can cause “experiential monotony,” Brager said.

“There’s nothing fun about it,” she said. “It’s not healthy for our bodies to be in the same state all the time, anywhere. And it’s not always comfortable, either empirically or very interesting.”

Cooler cities and states don’t need AC – yet

Alaska leads its citizens without AC, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Energy by Professor Lucas Davis, University of California, Berkeley. Only 7% of households there are air-conditioned, but state temperatures are rising exponentially as the planet warms.

Officials issued historic recommendations during the June heat wave in Alaska. There, it is warmed 2-3 times faster than the global average.

San Francisco is the city with fewer air conditioning in the lower 48 states, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s U.S. Housing Survey.

Devin Carraway’s house is one of them. Caraway said he has lived in the Bay Area for most of his life and heat waves are rare and therefore eliminates the need for air conditioners. Even if the weather changes, he said, “AC will not be the first thing I do.”

“AC throws a lot of energy into problems that need to be solved through building design first,” Carraway says.

Instead, Carraway chose to install insulation and a white roof. He said solar panels on the roof and his neighbor’s “really amazing Monterey Cypress trees” also help keep the house cool on occasional hot days.

Support that is so threatened that AC is out of reach

Many Americans simply can’t afford AC because the cost of cooling in the summer is rising. It could make them at a higher risk of fever disease or death.

According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average electricity bill is projected to reach $784 this summer. According to the health policy organization KFF, blacks, Hispanics and low-income households are more likely to say they don’t have or use air conditioners due to financial challenges.

“Many people are afraid to turn on air conditioners because of the cost,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director at Neada.

There are state and federal programs that help customers pay their energy bills with limited revenue, but Wolfe said it’s not enough to meet their growing needs. And the 2026 budget proposed by the Trump administration will eliminate funding for one of those programs, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). If established, Wolf said nearly six million households might have to go without air conditioning or heat.

Adams, 56, on Tuesday in Cathedral City, California, may be one of them. She arrived at the county aid department, clutching a utility bill that had been postponed to June 25th, as temperatures reached 102 degrees, and was smashing over $20,000. Edison of Southern California extended the deadline for more than a year, but she received a notice of breaking up.

She said she had received help from Liheap in the past but was trying to avoid asking too often. She was not chopped out when informed of the looming elimination of all federal funds for the program.

“They have to do something, they can’t stop this program… There are so many people here who are really, really struggling… there are a lot of families in the dark in this heat,” she said.

Giving up AC to break the “vicious cycle” of climate change

The use of residential energy, including cooling, heating and power, accounts for around 20% of US greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2020 survey published in minutes of the US National Academy of Sciences.

“It is this malicious cycle that air conditioners contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, and the temperatures of the warming require more air conditioners,” says Brager.

Stancox wants to break that cycle. The author of “Our Cool: Losing the Unpleasant Truth About Our Conditional World” unfolds fans underground on hot days at his Kansas home, or spends time in a wooden basement. As a result, he used 80% less electricity last June than neighbors of similarly sized homes, he said he was citing the Utilities Bill.

He acknowledges something about “love relationships” with innovation. When he experienced the central air as a child in 1967, he thought “I died and went to heaven,” but later began to dislike the contrast between the cold indoors and the heat outdoors. “I didn’t like it,” he said.

But Cox turns on AC at least once every summer “to make sure it’s still working properly.”

“Or if there’s someone coming for dinner,He said. “Because when we’re at 85 degrees in our house, we can’t really invite people to dinner.”

Back in Columbus, Ohio, Snyder’s neighbor has a large oak that partially shades her home in the morning. And when it’s toast or stuffed, Snyder says she’ll find something to do in the basement or outside.

Snyder has a portable window AC unit, but she reserves it just for visitors staying at night. She hasn’t used it in 10 years.

“I’m grateful for the air conditioner like the next guy,” she said. “Do I personally want to have that? Certainly. I will be 70 this year.

Contributions: Sarah Chernikov and Sarah Elbeshvisi, USA TODAY

“Cool” people tend to have these six things in common, research finds

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An international team of researchers may have just cracked the code for something that would make someone “cool”.

And wherever you live, a study published this week in the Journal of Experimental Psychology shows that personality traits that make someone “cool” appear to be consistent across the country.

Researchers found that people considered “cool” are perceived as more extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open and autonomous compared to those considered “good” or “preferred.”

“The most surprising thing was seeing the same attributes appear in all countries,” said Todd Petzutti, an associate professor of marketing at Adolfo Ibañez University in Chile, who was the co-led researcher for the study.

“Whether it’s China or South Korea or Chile or the US, people like people who are pushing boundaries and causing change,” he said. “So you’d say that coolness really really represents something more basic than the label of coolness.”

Researchers – Adolfoy Banes University, University of Arizona and University of Georgia conducted experiments from 2018 to 2022, with approximately 6,000 people in 12 countries in Australia, Chile, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Spain, Spain, South Africa, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.

Participants were asked to think of people in their own lives that they felt “cool”, “cool”, “good”, or “not good.” They were then asked to use two scales to assess the person’s personality. A survey of portrait values ​​aimed at measuring the Big Five Personality Scale, widely used scientific models that help explain personality traits, and portrait values ​​aimed at measuring the fundamental value of an individual.

Participants in this study consistently relate to being calm, conscientious, universal, comfortable, warm, safe, traditional and good person. Ability was considered both “cool” and “good”, but not so clearly. However, the formula for being “cool” had six character traits, which were more extroverted, pleasing, adventurous, adventurous, open and autonomous, regardless of a person’s age, gender, or level of education.

Pezzuti doesn’t think these “cool” traits are something that can be taught.

“We were born with those attributes,” he said. “Five of these attributes are personality traits, and personality traits tend to be fairly stable.”

The study showed that cool people and good people aren’t the same, but there may be some overlapping traits, said Caleb Warren, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Arizona.

“In order to be considered cool, someone usually needs to be somewhat likeable or stunning. “But cool people often have other traits that they don’t necessarily think are ‘good’ in a moral sense, such as hedonistic and powerful. ”

A limitation of the study was that only those who understood the meaning of “cool” were included in the study. Pezzuti said it would be interesting – but difficult to determine whether the findings are similar among more traditional cultures or between remote groups of people who may not be very familiar with the term.

“We don’t know what we’ll find in ultra-traditional cultures like hunting and collecting tribes and nutritional farming groups,” Pettsuti said.

“One of the things we propose is that in these cultures, innovation and cultural innovation are not so important in those cultures, so “cool” people don’t have a key role in their role,” he said. “So you’re going to say that cool people probably exist in those cultures, but their role isn’t that big and probably isn’t as praised as other cultures.”

When asked to think about public figures and celebrities who embody “cool” based on his research, Pettuti immediately said Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

“He’s a controversial person, but the person that comes to mind is Elon Musk,” Pettuti said, adding that he checks all boxes of six attributes identified in the study.

Elon Musk shows off his shirt saying

Musk is “unmistressly powerful” and autonomous, and appears to be extroverted due to his presence on social media platforms and media, he said.

“I’ve heard he’s TI-disease and probably more TI-disease than he can see, but he looks very extroverted to outsiders. He’s funny. He’s on the podcast and is always in front of the camera,” explained Pettuti.

Some of Musk’s actions also appear hedonistic, he said. “He smoked marijuana on the world’s most popular podcast, “The Joe Rogan’s Experience.” ”

And Pettty added that Mask’s idea of ​​colonizing Mars shows that he is open and adventurous.

Jona Burger, an associate professor of marketing at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, said the new paper is one of the few empirical studies examining exactly what makes people “cool.”

“I’ve been wondering for a long time about what makes people cool (in theory), but there’s not much actual empirical research on this topic, so it’s great to see the work of exploring this space.”

“Coolness may seem like something you were born with, but there are certainly steps people can take to try and move them in that direction,” he said. “It certainly seems worth studying given how many people want to be cool and how much money is spent with that goal in mind.”

John Freeman, an associate professor of psychology at Columbia University, said future research in this field could assess coolness in parallel with goodness and badness rather than isolated from it.

“In real life, coolness can be positive quality, but it can have negative implications in certain social contexts as well. It may be worthwhile to look at the difference between good and bad coolness in future work. This research approach provides a great foundation that was not involved in new research either.

“From a scientific perspective, cool seems far more like a product of reasoning and social construction than genetics, but the low level of temperament informed by genetics can nourish continuous personality structure,” he said.

“The “cool” is deeply ingrained in our social vocabulary as it acts as a stenography of complex reasoning. It encapsulates status, affiliation and identity signals in an instant, deeply stereotypical way.

This is today’s average balance of 401(k)! How do you compare?

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Consistently saving on a 401(k) is one of the best things you can do for retirement. Social Security probably won’t pay you enough money to cover your living expenses. Therefore, some income is required to compensate for these monthly profits. And the 401(k) is the perfect place to find it.

Not only is the 401(k) funded immediately from the payroll deduction, it is convenient, but many companies also offer workers a 401(k) match. If you donate some money yourself, it’s virtually free money for your retirement.

You might want to know how the balance of your 401(k) plan compares to the average saver. For that reason, Fidelity has some new data. And it may surprise you.

The balance is decreasing, but that’s not the reason for panic

Fidelity reports that at the end of the first quarter of 2025, its average 401(k) balance was $127,100. This is down 3% from the last quarter.

The reason for the decline in the average 401(k) balance is likely due to market volatility, which actually lasted well beyond the first quarter of the year. It is also worth noting that the balance of some people may have already recovered from that volatility. As Fidelity reports 401(k) data per quarter, recent updates are not reflected in the numbers released.

Don’t stress short-term changes

Don’t panic if your 401(k) plan loses value from the beginning of the year to the end of the first quarter, or between the beginning of the year and the present. Balance fluctuations are normal and can occur for several reasons.

The key is to regularly fund the 401(k). In the meantime, make sure you’re at least taking home the full employer match. Also make sure you are investing your 401(k) wisely and not losing too much money in the fees.

To minimize investment costs, we recommend supporting passively managed index funds at 401(k). Be aware of the target date funds. They may seem like an easy investment. However, in the sense that “easy” you are not getting the revenue you want from your retirement savings.

What happens if the 401(k) balance is much lower?

Your 401(k) balance may be close to $127,100. But that doesn’t lead to panic either.

The $127,100 balance represents the average for savers of all ages. It’s because if you’re 34, you might not have as much money as someone who’s 54 and works 20 years longer than you have. Not only did older workers give more time to contribute to their savings, they also had complex returns over the years.

However, if you are not satisfied with the progress you have made with your 401(k), assess your spending. Can you cut in some regions to free up more money for savings? If not, can you get a side hustle and fund that 401(k) at a faster pace?

Also, the balance of the 401(k) may be lower than you would like because you are investing your money modestly. Before you exercise, look at the big picture. If necessary, sit with a financial advisor who can provide guidance on investing in a 401(k) and finding a room on your budget for continuous contributions.

The Motley Fool is a partner at USA Today, providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people control their financial lives. The content is produced independently of USA Today.

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Israel kills 15 in Gaza as Trump waits for Hamas ceasefire

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Tel Aviv/Cairo, July 4 (Reuters) – At least 15 Palestinians were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, local health officials say. US President Donald Trump said he hopes Hamas will answer the “final proposal” of the next 24-hour ceasefire in Gaza.

Health officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Eunice, southern Gaza, said Israeli forces were bombing at a tent camp west of the city around 2am, killing 15 Palestinians who had been evacuated in the war for nearly two years.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to pray for funerals before burying those killed overnight.

“A ceasefire came and you lost your brother? There must have been a ceasefire long ago before he lost his brother,” said Mayal Al-Far, 13, who cried. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed.

Trump previously said it is probably known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between Palestinian extremist groups and Israel.

On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel has accepted the conditions necessary to complete a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas.

Hamas previously declared that he agreed to agree to the deal for the enduring purpose of the war, but said it was studying the proposal, but that no official indication was given as to whether it would accept or reject it.

“Trade”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet commented on Trump’s ceasefire announcement. Some members of his right-wing coalition are against the deal, while others have shown their support.

Netanyahu repeatedly says Hamas must be disarmed. This is a position that extremist groups have refused to discuss.

In Tel Aviv, family members and hostage friends held in Gaza were among the protesters gathered outside the US embassy building on the US Independence Day, calling for Trump to secure deals with all prisoners of war.

The protesters set up the iconic Shabbat dinner table and 50 empty chairs to represent those still being held in Gaza. The banner hangs nearby and says Trump, “Make a deal in Gaza. Get hostages back!!!”

Sabbaths, or shabbats observed from the Friday evening to Saturday daytime, are often marked by Jewish families at traditional Friday night dinners.

“Only you can get a contract. We want one beautiful deal. One beautiful hostage deal,” said Gideon Rosenberg, 48, of Tel Aviv.

Rosenberg was wearing a shirt with the image of Abynatan hostage. One of his employees was lured into Palestinian extremists from the Nova Musical Festival on October 7, 2023.

Ruby Chen, 55, and 19-year-old Itai’s father of America and Israel, 1tai, are believed to have been killed after being taken prisoner, urging Netanyahu to return from a meeting with Trump in Washington in a deal that brings all hostages.

“This US Independence Day marks the beginning of lasting peace… that ensures the sacred value of human life and that gives dignity to hostages who have died by ensuring a return to proper burial,” he said.

Itai Chen, a German citizen, also served as an Israeli soldier when Hamas launched a surprising attack on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 more hostages.

Israel’s retaliation war with Hamas devastated Gaza. Gaza has been dominated by extremist groups for almost two decades, but now it is partially dominated, drove the majority of its population to over two million, causing widespread hunger.

More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in nearly two years of fighting, most of whom are civilians, according to local health officials.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell of Tel Aviv, Nidal Al Mugravi of Cairo, and Hatem Khaled of Gaza, edited by Alex Richardson)

Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, “Hard Launch Summer”

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We landed it past a fierce heat wave and in July. This only means that “Hard Launch Summer” is back for good.

Glastonbury, a British music festival, was ripe for romance this year. Pop singers Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo had also hinted at the status of their relationship on Instagram along with photos from the weekend festivities.

Rodrigo had subtly posted photos of British actor Louis Partridge at his previous photo dump, but he never had a face. But towards the end of Glastonbury’s summary post on July 2nd, Rodrigo shared a clip dancing on Partridge’s shoulder, smiling and singing alongside the “general people” of Pulp.

The comments section exploded.

“A hard launch that I was waiting for so much happiness,” one fan wrote.

Abrams also shared photos In his Instagram story dancing on the shoulders of Irish actor Paul Mezcal over the weekend,On July 2nd, she dumped the photo into her feed and was lowered by a selfie.

“I’m very happy to see the two of them who don’t know,” one fan commented. “It’s really special to me that both you and Olivia launch hard on the feed,” writes another.

So, what is the art of “hard launch”? The term sparked waves last summer when Taylor Swift finally posted Travis Kelce on her Instagram feed. The relationship between both Abrams and Rodrigo’s rumors is already in the spotlight. Early kisses caught by paparazzi, gossip circulating social media, and songs that appear to be written about partners (Have you heard Rodrigo’s “So American”?). But “hard launch” is when you share the world together, on your terms.

Therapists say celebrities have countless reasons to pull the proverb. But whether it’s a carefully curated moment or an impulsive expression of love, you can’t unleash that bell.

“Every aspect of the relationship can become feed for public consumption and scrutiny, putting the couple in the spotlight and pressure them to be considered healthy matches,” author Jeff Genter, licensed professional counselor and author, told USA Today previously. “You’re also open to the growing criticism.”

“Hard launch” and story control

Dating is tricky, no matter who you are, especially early on before you decide to start talking to people. Along with celebrities, they not only open themselves to scrutiny from family and friends, but often the whole world.

In the first stage, it may seem too good. And screaming your love from the rooftop can feel like it’s jinxing. Last summer, when Sabrina Carpenter featured the then-error Bo, Irish actor Barry Keogan in the music video for “Please, please, please,” the song asked him to “not be embarrassed.”

While we can’t guess how Carpenter will feel after the carpenter, her latest single, “Manchild,” may give listeners a clue.

“When we introduce someone as our partner, there is an expectation that we examined this person,” Kimberly previously told USA Today, Shashua, a licensed clinical social worker. “It’s embarrassing to have to go back to friends, family, Instagram and break up and update them.” Think about all couples, celebrities or anything else. Often, it’s a matter of self-preservation.

That said, it’s easy to see why celebrities want to scream about their relationship anyway. They are the same as others. It feels good to fall in love.

“When we are confident in our partners, it can feel great to show off them,” Shashore said. “It’s much easier to be honest with friends and family than creeping up. If you’re active on social media, hiding a big part of your life can feel strange.”

Risk and reliability benefits

When publishing private relationships, people must weigh the benefits of reliability against risk. These “depend on what celebrities are coming out of, their impact on their personal and professional lives, and whether their choices are in line with their personality and core values,” Cecil Arlens, a licensed clinical social worker, previously told USA Today.

No matter who you are, you give up on your own fragments during hard launch. Ahrens adds that they may receive “unnecessary attention” or face “constant boundary violations.” After the obvious farewell from Phoebe Bridgers, rumors swirled over her relationship with Mezcal, so ask Abrams, who faces criticism. But as time goes by, Abrams’ “hard launch” has been supported.

“Hard launch” is even a business strategy. “Being open about their relationships will likely lead celebrities to connect more deeply with their fans, boost parasocial relationships, and lead to more sales and followers,” Guenther said.

It is a decision that requires care and conversation. But at the end of the day, at least the decision belongs to them.

Contribution: David Oliver

Openai rejects fraudulent tokenized stocks in Robinhood

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Robinhood began offering iconic stocks in private companies, causing a backlash from Openai as one of its target companies.

At an event in Cannes on Monday, Robin Hood co-founder and CEO Vlad Tenev showed what he described as “stock tokens” for Openai and SpaceX. This move forms part of the European expansion of Robinhood. This includes offering EU users more than 200 tokenized US stocks.

TENEV told participants that European users downloading the Robinhood app have the opportunity to own tokenized stocks in Openai and Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Venture SpaceX.

The trading platform explains on its website: “Robin Hoodstock tokens follow the prices of publicly available stocks and ETFs. These are derivatives tracked on the blockchain and exposed to the US market. When you buy a stock token, you are not buying any actual stocks.

This distinction means that token holders do not enjoy traditional shareholder rights, such as voting privileges, despite financial exposure to the company.

Openai refuses to offer Robinhood’s tokenized shares

This announcement sparked a sharp responsibilities from Openai. The well-known AI company led by Sam Altman has firmly denied its involvement in Robinhood’s initiative.

“These ‘Openai tokens’ are not Openai equity,” the company said in a post on X.

Industry observers note that Robinhood’s approach appears to be designed to provide price exposure to the underlying stock rather than actual ownership, and may be constructed in this way to navigate complex regulatory requirements.

This mechanism is similar to products from other financial technology companies. For example, Cryptocurrency Platform Kraken offers a product called Xstocks. This does not represent direct share ownership, but is instead supported by the underlying stock.

The introduction of tokenized stocks like Openai represents Robinhood’s latest efforts to expand its footprint in Europe while expanding cryptocurrency and blockchain-based products. During the same announcement, the company has facilitated the launch of tokenized US stocks in Europe, along with permanent trading and staking capabilities for American users.

Impact on private market investments

Robinhood’s initiative, if successful despite the pushback, can usually democratize access to the required private companies to make stocks available to institutional investors, venture capitalists and accredited individual investors.

However, the debate highlights the challenge of bringing innovation to regulated financial markets, particularly when dealing with private companies that strictly control their equity.

Financial experts should note that potential investors need to understand the distinction between these tokenized derivatives and actual stock ownership. Value propositions and risks differ significantly from traditional equity ownership, even when exposed to previously inaccessible investment opportunities.

Robinhood’s broader European expansion continues Apace, and the company is keen to capitalize on growing interest among European traders in both American stocks and cryptocurrency investments. It remains to be seen whether the issue of tokenized stocks and subsequent rebound from companies like Openai will help or disrupt these ambitions.

reference: Floods interested in European AI GigaFactories Plans

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Six small towns that are always “always” on July 4th

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These are some of the places throughout America where people proudly wear patriotism all year round.

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Audubon, NJ – Every July 4th, this small town has a marching band, a fire truck, a baby stroller spun with stars, and a child riding a red and blue blue bike.

Homeowners compete for the best decorated home. The fire station has an open house with complimentary hot dogs. The fourth is usually concluded with a high school fireworks show, just like everyone else in America.

But waving the flag is not an hour’s deal here. The district, which has about 8,700 people, was built on a pillar of patriotism. Audubon is home to three Medal of Honor recipients who have been awarded the highest military honors and was awarded to those who have shown extraordinary courage in the battle.

The memorial to the three Medal of Honor recipients is a reminder of the sacrifices at Audubon High School. Samuel M. Sampler from World War I, Edward C. Benfold and Nelson V.

Mayor Rob Jackbowski says Audubon is “always green and gold,” referring to the school’s signature colours. “But we are always red, white, and blue.”

“Audubon loves the country and shows the sacrifices these men have made on July 4th each year,” he told USA Today.

There are other small towns that have been passionate about their love for America since July 4th.

Bedford, Virginia: Bedford Boys’ Home, D-Day Heroes

In Bedford, Virginia, the cost of freedom may be understood a little more deeply than in other small towns.

The town is home to the Bedford Boys, a member of Company A of the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Regiment. The company sent 38 men to the D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach, accounting for the casualties of a per capita, vital battle more than any other town in the United States.

Bedford remembers 20 home town men who lost their lives in the battle. I remember the aftermath that followed through observations, memorials and the National D-Day Memorial.

“It’s a very close community,” said Noel Woodcock of the Bedford Museum and Genealogy Library. The company A man came mostly from a poor rural background and didn’t think he was called for combat duties, but signed the National Guard services for a good paying job, she said. Yet men served with courage, and many made the ultimate sacrifice.

Bristol, Rhode Island: Celebrating since 1785

The Revolutionary War Veterans of Bristol began their first known observance in 1785 of the “Patriotic Movement,” an event honoring military veterans. The Rev. Henry Wight of the first congregation church began in the early 19th century when the town’s website and the day of Bristol’s independence began.

The town of about 23,000 people sees about 200,000 people at its annual July 4th event. This actually starts on the flag day of June 14th and includes a concert series, an orange crate derby, a parade and fireworks. Preparations began a year ago, with Residents and Planning Committee member Kamille Teisheyla talking to USA Today, with over 150 committee members and volunteers working to organize and carry out the activities.

“You take such pride to honor all these people,” she said, calling it a “big and glorious celebration.”

“I stand there and cry through the national anthem. It’s a great experience.”

Cooperstown, New York: A story of (some) origins in baseball

What are Americans more than baseball?

Even if the American Baseball Research Association uncovers the myth that the inventing national entertainment in Hamlet, New York by Abner Doubleday, Cooperstown is still leaning towards myths (accepting that “baseball history is actually much more complicated than that”).

Ryan Geraty, director of marketing and communications at Cooperstown, says that a small village of 1,600 welcomes “hundreds of thousands” of people every summer, many of whom are baseball players, coaches and fans, but many are also drawn to other attractions.

Double Dayfield and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum may be stars of the Cooperstown lineup, but the birthplace of “Last of the Moheecan” author James Fenimo Cooper is home to the Fennimore Museum (a rich collection of Native American art) on Main Street, featuring shops, restaurants and Lake Otzego with its scenic Lake.

“July is our time to shine,” Gerati said. It’s not just baseball diamonds. “We are the most perfect village in America. There are fireworks in the lake (July 4th),” says the Springfield Center near New York, which will host its 111th Independence Day Parade.

Gallup, New Mexico: Home of Code Talker in Navajo

Gallup’s location in American history dates back long before America It was Matt Robinson, the tourism and marketing managers for the town of New Mexico, told USA Today. Known in the Dine language of Navajo na’nizhoozhior “bridge”, Gallup was a Native American trade center for centuries before its official establishment in 1881.

“We bring people together,” said Robinson, including all types of Indigenous communities, veterans and Americans, attracted by Gallup’s natural beauty and rich native history.

But he said Gallup “is disproportionate in a good way – and there are also Native Americans who served the military.

Named “America’s most patriotic small town” by Land McNally in 2013 and 2014, Gallup welcomes its annual ride from California to Washington, DC and motorcycle walls to honor veterans along Route 66 through the town.

“We try to embody patriotism in our daily lives,” Robinson said. “Our town is full of history from thousands of years ago and we praise our local Indigenous communities to keep those traditions alive.”

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: “A pivotal moment in American history”

Other towns in the United States have given no name to both the decisive battle in the war to continue to unite our nation, and the historic president’s speech intended to heal the wounds of a torn nation.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is the bloody Civil War battle, a three-day trial with 50,000 casualties and estimated to be “home to some of the most pivotal moments in American history,” said Mary Grace Kaufman, media relations manager at destination Gettysburg.

A few days after the battle that helped change the tides of the Union forces, President Abraham Lincoln came to the battlefield to give a speech by Gettysburg, one of the most famous speeches in American history.

The battle took place between July 1st and 3rd, 1863, and July 4th is of course Independence Day. The National Park Service will host Ranger Talk, with tours and reenactments in Gettysburg.

“It’s really important to remember history, sacrifice and where we came as a nation,” Kaufman said. “This is the closest thing you can see in person.”

Want to share slices of Americana with USA Today? Please email phaedra trethan at ptrethan@usatoday.com. Please email us via x (formerly Twitter) @wordsbyphaedra, bluesky @byphaedra, or thread @by_phaedra.

Disruption as airlines cancel flights and reroute planes to avoid Middle East airspace

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CNN
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Global air traffic has been disrupted following Israel’s strikes on Iran Friday, with several major airlines suspending flights to and from locations in the Middle East and rerouting their planes to avoid much of the region’s airspace.

The airspace above Iran and Israel as well as Jordan, Syria and Iraq emptied of commercial flights on Friday, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24.

Israel, Iran and Jordan all closed their airspace in the wake of the attack, while Iran suspended all domestic and international flights, the country’s state-affiliated Fars news agency reported on Friday, citing the civil aviation authority.

The Flightradar24 app shows commercial flights avoiding the airspace over Iran.

Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport all closed on Friday. Mehrabad will remain closed until 2 p.m. on Saturday, state news agency IRNA reported on Friday afternoon, while Ben Gurion is shut until further notice, the Israel Airports Authority said early Friday morning. Queen Alia International Airport didn’t say when it would reopen, advising passengers to contact their airlines.

As the strikes on Iran unfolded overnight, several flights were diverted or returned to their origin. Air India said on X that more than a dozen of its flights had been affected “due to the emerging situation in Iran,” including routes from New York, London, Vancouver and Washington.

One Delta Air Lines flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Tel Aviv flew for eight hours only to end up back at JFK, according to Flightradar24.

Meanwhile, Israeli carriers El Al, Israir and Arkia evacuated their planes out of Israel as the country braced for retaliation from Iran, Reuters reported. Data on Flightradar24 shows several planes leaving Tel Aviv airport on Friday morning, several of them headed to nearby Cyprus.

Hermes, Cyprus’ airports operator, said 32 flights from the Middle East had been diverted to Larnaca and Paphos airports as of Friday morning, Reuters reported.

Throughout Friday, airline after airline announced it was suspending its flights to and from various cities in the region. About 650 flights to and from Europe were canceled as of Friday, according to Reuters, which cited Eurocontrol, an inter-governmental organization which helps manage Europe’s airspace. The organization said around 1,800 flights across the continent had been affected in total.

Israel's Ben Gurion Airport is empty of passengers on Friday after all flights were canceled.

German carrier Lufthansa said flights to Tehran and Tel Aviv had been suspended until July 31, and its flights to Amman, Beirut and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan until June 20.

Emirates, one of the United Arab Emirates’ flagship carriers, said it had canceled its flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran until Sunday.

Air France told CNN in a statement that it had suspended flights to Tel Aviv until further notice, while its sister company Dutch carrier KLM said on its website that it will not fly to Tel Aviv until at least July 1.

Delta Air Lines initially warned that travel to, from or through Tel Aviv might be affected until June 30 but on Friday the airline said it was pausing flights between JFK and Tel Aviv until August 31.

Qatar Airways has “temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq,” the airline said in a statement. Three major airports in Iran, including in the capital Tehran, and five airports in Iraq, including its capital Baghdad, have been affected, the airline said.

Every breath you take affects the way you move. Here’s how to fix both:

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Dana Santas,Mobility Makeris a certified strength and conditioning expert in professional sports, mental and physical coach, and is the author of the book “Practical Solutions for Relieving Back Pain.”

If you are dealing with persistent tension, poor posture, or persistent pain, it is worth checking your breathing. The way you breathe not only reflects the quality of your movement, but also retains the power to change it for the better.

Most people understand the role of breathing as a life support function with stress-relieving properties. (Think – deep inhalation, deep breath.) But the way you breathe can reveal how efficiently and effectively you move. And improving breathing will help your body escape from cycles of tension, imbalance and poor strain.

Shallow and rapid breathing can not only affect oxygen exchange, but also disrupt the basics of how the body works. So much of my job in professional sports focuses on teaching the basics of breathing in biomechanics. We first saw that insufficient breathing patterns directly lead to limited mobility, postural issues, chronic pain and increased risk of injury.

In today’s high stress, screen-focused world, these same dysfunctional breathing patterns are common across all walks.

However, by better aware of your patterns and practicing the appropriate techniques for a few minutes each day, you can deal with false breaths. Here’s how to unlock a Super Power:

How stress and screen time can change breath

Aaron Rockwood

Breathing is one of the most basic patterns of movement in the body, and occurs on average over 23,000 times a day. The contraction of the diaphragm plays an important role. However, under stress, your body will naturally transition into sympathetic or combat modes of the nervous system, driving faster, shallower breaths from the top of the chest. Over time, this becomes the default breathing pattern, especially in chronic stress. Your breathing is more vertical on the chest and neck, rather than expanding the lungs and thoracic cage horizontally.

This upper pattern bypasses the diaphragm, forces the neck and shoulder muscles, and takes over the task of pulling each breath. If the diaphragm is not functioning properly, true core engagement requires this large muscle to work in harmony with the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, which cannot serve as a secondary role as a postural stabilizer.

The diaphragm adheres to both the thorax and the spine, resulting in poor engagement and instability of the core, causing shifting thoracic position. When the ribs step out of alignment, the spine and head continue, and the scapula glide over the ribs, affecting the position and function of the shoulders as well.

As the neck is extended, the rib cage is lifted and the flare is extended, anterior head posture occurs. Additionally, rib mobility decreases and limits intermediate rotation and expansion, which are essential for healthy exercise patterns. Overall, motility is reduced and the risk of injury increases as you respond to increased core instability by creating protective tension and muscle compensation.

This creates a vicious cycle. Your breath affects your posture, your posture affects your breath, both affecting the way you feel and move.

People often try to deal with these problems with just stretching and strength tasks, but they remain stuck in a dysfunctional pattern without changing the respiratory mechanics.

Bend your knees and put your feet on the floor and lie on your back to assess your breathing.

One of the easiest ways to assess breathing is to lie down on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Place the underlying rib on either side of the area where the rib is divided under the sternum.

Take a deep breath and spend some time, realizing where the movement is occurring. If the neck, upper chest, or shoulders are tight or moving, or if the ribs are barely moving, they are signs of breathing shallow and not using the diaphragm effectively.

Rather than focusing on the so-called “abdominal breathing,” it focuses on the mobility and diaphragmatic function of the rib, rather than the term often used to promote relaxation but often biomechanically misleading. The slight distension of the abdomen is the result of an increase in intraabdominal pressure and is not exposed to air. Too much emphasis on abdominal movement can inhibit proper thoracic expansion and diaphragmatic mechanics over time.

Try taking a few more breaths and directing your breath into the lung space below the rib bone. With each inhalation, it feels like the rib bone expands laterally under the hand. With each exhale, the rib moves downwards and the lower rib moves, promoting natural core engagement to support movement.

The key to breaking dysfunctional breathing patterns is how you exhale.

If you have identified a potential problem with your breathing pattern, the next step is to learn to retrain it. While many people focus on deep inhalation to improve breathing, the real key to breaking the pattern of dysfunction is how you exhale. Exhausting plays a crucial role in regulating the nervous system, restoring diaphragmatic function, and improving stress resistance.

Exhale completely slowly and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. This is a branch that calms the body and promotes recovery. Also, a long, full breath helps reset the diaphragm position, allowing it to contract more effectively on the next breath.

Oxygen tends to attract most attention, but this process is closely linked to carbon dioxide resistance. Co₂ causes the urge to breathe. However, chronically breeding your body takes up more oxygen than it can use will reduce CO2 levels faster. This can make chemoreceptors, specialized sensors in the brain stems, and arteries that monitor joint levels in the blood become overly sensitive, and even with proper oxygen levels, can cause feelings of shortness of breath.

By exhaling slowly and long, training yourself to slightly increase your carbon dioxide levels can improve breathing efficiency and increase stress resilience.

Daily breathing work helps restore diaphragmatic function and rib mobility.

Sit comfortably with your hands on the rib below to monitor and guide movement.

Inhale your nose for four counts.

For the count of eight people, exhale slowly through your nose or mouth (whatever is best for you).

A quick pause about two people’s counts when they finish exhale.

Repeat this pattern with 10-12 breaths to relax your face, chin, neck and shoulders.

As you practice this every day and build tolerance, it gradually increases to a 5:10 or 6:12 ratio. This breathing work helps restore diaphragmatic function and rib mobility to readjust the nervous system and apply pressure to keep it gentle.

The recognition and proficiency developed through regular breathing work practices become even stronger when applied to physical activity. Integrating improved respiratory mechanics into daily life will make movements feel more fluid, connected and efficient.

Here’s how to apply better breathing during training:

Warm up with conscious breathing To create posture alignment, activate the core and increase focus.

Exhale into exercise: In strength training, exhale in the effort stage to engage with the core and stabilize the spine.

Breathing leads to mobility: During a rotating or flexible drill, use the inhaler to create space, exhale and deepen movement.

Breathe in your nose During light to moderate aerobic exercise to improve oxygen utilization and maintain breathing patterns.

Tension breath to recover: After workout, practice a 2:1 inhalation ratio to downregulate the nervous system.

Remember, your breathing is not just a background function. By restoring proper breathing, it supports better posture, deeper core strength, smoother movement and a more resilient nervous system.

So, the next time you feel your neck feels tight or your shoulder hurts, don’t try to stretch it out immediately. Check your breath first. It may be telling you exactly what you need to know.

Sign up CNN’s Fitness, But Better Newsletter Series. Our seven-part guide will help you facilitate a healthy routine that is supported by experts.

Elephant kills two female tourists from the UK and New Zealand in Zambia National Park

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AP

Two female tourists from Zambia were killed by elephants on Thursday and killed on a safari walking in the national park, police said.

Eastern State Police Commissioner Robertson Mwemba said the victims — Easton Janet Taylor, 68, of England and Allison Jean Taylor, 67, of New Zealand — were attacked by female calf elephants.

A safari guide who was with the group tried to stop the elephant from firing a shot at it and prosecuting the woman, police said. The elephant was hit by gunshots and injured. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant attack, and both women were killed at the scene, police said.

It took place in South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the capital Lusaka.

Female elephants are extremely protective of calves and can respond proactively to what they perceive as a threat.

Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants from various parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were elderly women and were in safari cars when they were attacked.

Is McDonald’s open on July 4, 2025 or is it closed? What do you know

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Friday is July 4th, and is the day to celebrate the birth of American independence from the UK.

Many national retailers, grocery stores and restaurant chains will be open on July 4th, but banks, post offices and stock markets will be closed.

If you want to stop somewhere to have a quick meal on a Friday, this year McDonald’s should be the option for you. Times vary depending on the location, but most locations must be open on July 4th. Customers can check their local store’s time using the McDonald’s app.

Here’s what you need to know about which restaurants will open and close on July 4th, 2025:

Is the restaurant open on July 4th?

The following restaurants are available open On July 4th, the times of the companies that provided them are listed.

  • Starbucks
  • Dunkin’
  • Chickfill A
  • Chipotle; Restaurant will close at 3pm local time
  • Hippo
  • Zaxbys
  • Cracker Barrel
  • Wendy’s
  • Golden Coral
  • Olive Garden
  • Longhorn Steakhouse
  • Applebee’s
  • ihop
  • KFC
  • subway
  • Taco Bell
  • Bonefish Grill
  • Firehouse Subs
  • Cheesecake Factory
  • Panera bread
  • Krispy Cream
  • Whataburger
  • Longhorn Steakhouse
  • First clock

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’s UFC birthday plan and how it turned out

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The president recently announced plans to hold a UFC match at the White House. However, his relationship with the Octagon is nothing new. This is the latest round of long-standing charm.

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President Donald Trump likes to be on the cage side for the fight. And fans have given him a loud cheer when they see him there, adding to the constituency base that Trump has built up among fighting sports fanatics.

Trump’s announcement on Thursday, July 3rd that he will be holding the ultimate fighting championship event at the White House next year may come as a shock to some. But Trump’s love for the Octagon and his support for its fans and stars is nothing new.

His public relations team says it is part of his appeal to the public who are not known to read mainstream news media.

“Audiences can see him through a filter that is not contaminated by news media and political bias,” Trump’s White House communications director Stephen Chan told the Associated Press in 2023.

Cheung himself is familiar with UFC’s Cage Fighting World. He was an organizational spokesman before he handpicked him to become his communications director.

It’s not just about voting and public imagery. Trump’s appeal for mixed martial arts dates back several years, further back to his 1988 days of hosting Wrestle Mania in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Trump said this week that the UFC event, celebrating the White House’s 250th birthday, will be part of a package of the broader event. But he highlighted it as a highlight.

“We’re going to host some great events, some professional events, and amateur events. But the UFC fight is also a big deal,” Trump told the crowd on July 3 at the Iowa fairground.

He said he expects the Fighting Card to host nearly 25,000 spectators at the White House.

Playing cards and the octagon

Dana White, CEO of the UFC, is a friend of the president. White introduced Trump at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in 2024.

“I know that President Trump is a fighter,” White said, introducing him to the crowd. “I’m in the business of a tough guy. This guy is the toughest and most resilient person I’ve ever met.”

White and Trump have been friends for 25 years, the CEO said at the convention.

The first UFC battle held under the ownership of White and his partners took place in 2001 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

Trump frequently played UFC matches with famous aides over the years since his first fight under White.

His first public announcement after his 2024 conviction for hash money fees came at a famous UFC event in Newark, New Jersey

Videos from the event show Trump, a newly convicted felon on all 34 counts, enters the stadium through a fighter tunnel and delivers a loud applause.

Trump attended another UFC event with White, Elon Musk and Kidlock shortly after the presidential election last November.

Again, Trump received a warm welcome from the crowd before the start of the main card action.

One of the top men in the corner of a playing card

Former UFC Communications Director Cheung became the quick response director for the Trump campaign, with his focus being “keeping the latest campaign in breaking news and resuming false or unbalanced reports.”

According to Sports Joe, Cheung had a reputation for revoking media qualifications for reporters he disliked. At least four reporters have revoked their qualifications for Cheung, according to the Sports News Outlet.

According to Jung’s Mother Jones profile, former high school football player Chang became a martial arts fan and dabbled in Taekwondo and Muay Thai boxing. “Chang’s past political activities and perhaps even his role in the UFC gave him ideal employment to the Trump campaign, which struggled to attract veteran experts,” the publication wrote.

Political analysts have for years expressed that Trump has been skillfully using combat sports venues such as the UFC to reach out cheaply and effectively to voters who don’t follow mainstream news media or campaigns. It is also given to UFC Latino and black fans as well as being visually appealing as UFC fans. Trump’s high-profile visibility at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event has attracted praise from past sports champions, including Colby Covington, who has openly praised Trump in UFC crowds and elsewhere.