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Signature-critical mineral contracts between the US and Ukraine after months of tension

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Signature-critical mineral contracts between the US and Ukraine after months of tension




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The US and Ukraine have signed an “Economic Partnership Agreement” that will allow Washington to access Kiev’s rare earth minerals in exchange for the establishment of an investment fund in Ukraine.

The United States and Ukraine have been trying to break the natural resources agreement since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.

The deal came after weeks of intense negotiations, sometimes bitter and temporarily derailed Washington’s aid into Ukraine.

Speaking in a call with News Nation on Wednesday, Trump told Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky at a weekend meeting of bystanders at Pope Francis’ funeral if he signed the contract for “Russia is much bigger and far stronger.”

Trump said he has signed a contract to “protect” Washington’s contribution to Ukraine’s war efforts.

“We know far more than theoretically $350 billion today, but we wanted to be protected,” Trump told News Nation. “I didn’t want to be there and look stupid.”

Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the actual total contribution the US has made to Ukraine is close to $123 billion.

On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department announced that the two countries had signed an agreement. “As the president said, the United States is committed to helping to promote the end of this cruel and meaningless war,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.

“The agreement clearly shows Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered around Ukraine, where it has long been free, sovereign and prosperous,” Bescent said. “And to be clear, the states or supplies that fund or supply Russian war machinery will not be permitted to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.”

Ukrainian Economic Minister Julia Swillidenko was in Washington to sign on behalf of the Ukrainian government.

Among the terms of the contract is “full ownership and control” with Ukraine, posted to X on Wednesday.

“All our territory and all of our territory’s resources belong to Ukraine,” she said. “The Ukrainian state decides where to extract. The subsoil remains under Ukraine’s ownership. This is clearly established in the agreement.”

The signature comes hours after last-minute disagreements when documents signed Wednesday threatened to derail the transaction.

Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky was expected to sign a contract during his trip to Washington in February, but the agreement was not signed when the visit was shortened following a controversial oval office meeting.

One of the key sticking points in negotiations was the issue of security assurance. And whether the US will offer them as part of the transaction. Trump initially refused by saying he wanted Ukraine to sign the agreement first and then talk about the guarantee later.

At the time, Zelensky explained that he wanted him to “sell” his country. Ukrainian officials have since shown that they believe US investment and the presence of American companies in Ukraine will make the US even more concerned with Ukraine’s safety.

Shortly after his fateful visit to the White House, Trump ordered our aid to Ukraine to be stopped. Support has since been restored, but this episode has become a major awakening call for Ukraine’s European allies, pledging to strengthen their help for the country.

Trump has largely requested the agreement, claiming that Ukraine had “repayed” for the aid the US has provided to Ukraine since Russia launched an unprovoked full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Bescent said the deal was “a signal to the American people and we have the opportunity to participate and get some of our funds and weapons and compensate them for them.”

Details of the contract have not been made public. However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Dennis Schmichal said on Sunday that the deal “does not include the assistance provided for the signature.”

On Wednesday, Schmihal described the deal as “a strategic agreement on the establishment of an investment partnership fund.”

“This is an equal and beneficial international agreement between the US and the Ukrainian government regarding joint investment in Ukraine’s development and recovery,” he added.

Under this agreement, the US and Ukraine will establish a co-investment fund in Ukraine, contributing equal distribution between them, equal distribution of managed stocks between them.

“The US may also count new things. I am highlighting new military aid to Ukraine as a contribution to this fund,” Schmihal said.

Kiev’s allies have long looked at the country’s mineral wealth. Ukraine has 22 deposits of 50 materials classified as important by the US Geological Survey.

These include rare earth minerals and other materials that are essential for the production of electronics, clean energy technologies, and several weapons systems.

Global production of rare earth minerals and other strategically important materials has long been dominated by China, with Western countries desperate for other alternative sources, including Ukraine.

A memorandum prepared under the Biden administration last year said the US would promote investment opportunities for Ukrainian mining projects to American companies in exchange for creating economic incentives and implementing excellent business and environmental practices.

Ukraine already has a similar agreement with the European Union, which was signed in 2021.

This story has been updated in development.



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Opens seven new locations in the IN-N-OUT set of four states. Where should I look?

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Opens seven new locations in the IN-N-OUT set of four states. Where should I look?


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LOS ANGELES – The animal-style empire expansion appears to have California Burger provider In-N-Out set up to open at least seven new locations.

The double-double home, once praised by late food authorities Anthony Brudain, has continued to expand beyond its California roots in recent years, opening stores in Texas and Colorado, Idaho.

Four new locations are located in the company’s hometown, but all three other states can see the new locations.

Here’s where even more in-n-outs will soon open.

It’ll open soon

The In-N-Out website lists seven locations as “soon open,” but the company did not respond to USA Today due to a more clear time frame. They can be found at:

  • Surprise, Arizona: 16440 W. Cactus Road
  • Indio, California: 82177 Ave. 42
  • Modesto, California: 3401 Oakdale Rd.
  • Monrovia, California: 560 W. Huntington
  • Sylmer, California: 13864 Foothill Blvd.
  • Brighton, Colorado: 3860 Eagle Blvd.
  • Ridgefield, Washington: 5801 Pioneer Canyon Dr.

Office shuffle in-n-out

IN-N-OUT has announced that it will close its Irvine, California office and staff will be redirected to its office in Baldwin Park in the Los Angeles area, a mile from the first restaurant Harry and Esthersnyder opened.

The company plans to open its headquarters in the Nashville area. The Nashville office is scheduled to open in 2026, the company said when it announced the closure of its Irvine office.

Five locations have been identified in the Nashville area so far, according to Tennessee, part of the USA Today network. The restaurant told the paper that the location will open “by 2026.”



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FEMA staff were hampered to help the public discuss the future of the agency

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FEMA staff were hampered to help the public discuss the future of the agency


The Trump administration wants to rethink the role of FEMA in disasters. So far, it has mostly “caused a lot of confusion.”

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Employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency are trained to respond to disasters, but struggled with the situation unfolding at their agency this spring.

While they are deployed to the Los Angeles wildfires and flood the southeast in response to Hurricane Helen along the Kentucky River, FEMA workers have seen a massive cut in staff, budget cuts and threatening disruptions to demolish their agents. They observe difficult questions from friends, colleagues and disaster victims about what the future holds.

“It caused a lot of confusion,” said Michael Cohen, a FEMA veteran who has been 15 years old and resigned from his position as Chief of Staff on the day of inauguration.

Around 6,100 full-time employees of the roughly 2,000 agency are planning to leave or leave under the wave of dismissals and voluntary retirement ordered by Elon Musk’s Government Efficiency Bureau, Coen told USA Today. This does not include the power cuts expected to be made by the federal government in the coming weeks.

President Donald Trump has also cut reviews and funding for agencies for some FEMA grant programs, angering state officials who had already been committed to. The debate draws on a long-term debate about the role of the nation and federal government in disaster response.

It’s difficult to find civil servants who don’t think the way the country responds to disasters can be improved, but it raises concerns about whether FEMA will be able to respond to major disasters during the summer storm season, where full-time staff will be cut by 30% and can lead to hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires.

Jay Inslee, whose term as Washington State’s Democratic governor ended in January, is one of those with significant concerns about FEMA’s ability to respond.

“Gutting FEMA not only does it require more and more families to live under a blue tarp for years, but it also prevents them from receiving the financial aid they deserve when paying their taxes,” Inslee said. “I’m furious on their behalf.”

The state can’t do it alone, workers are exhausted

Major disasters require federal resources, and state and local governments cannot deal with it on their own, said Shana Udvaldi, senior climate resilience policy analyst at the Allied Scientists’ Association

“These attacks on FEMA were not exacerbated as there were dangerous summer seasons with extreme weather, including climate fuel disasters, and they proceeded quickly,” Udvardy said. “Congress must push these terrible plans back in a bipartisan way, and disasters do not discriminate on the basis of politics.”

When huge natural disasters befall the communities, especially the smallest ones, they just don’t have local resources, Inslee said. “Essentially, everyone pitches together from the county to the Red Cross, to the state and the federal government.”

The remaining full-time employees at FEMA are warned that even employees who work at headquarters and don’t normally deploy are ready to deploy in disasters this summer.

Government agencies have been in short supply for years, federal documents show. Staff will flex up and down as the need arises, with around 12,000 employees responding as reserves or temporary local employment.

Among the full-time cuts this year were 200 probation staff, who were rejected because they were recently hired or recently promoted. Cohen said another 800 had taken the “folk-in-road” plan. undefined

“A lot of the people at the agency were exhausted,” he said. “Last year has been a very difficult year for FEMA employees who have received all the disasters that have occurred, as well as all (Hurricane) Helen’s misreports.” In the aftermath of Helen, some FEMA officials discovered their personal information was published on the web, and some people were found to be threatened.

“Remove FEMA:” Takeaway from a trip to Trump’s two disaster zones

The inauguration ceremony has opened a new chapter. Trump was critical of FEMA during his campaign, and his first official trip was to visit the Helen disaster zone in western North Carolina.

At least 12 staff members were asked to submit tests for the lie detector after information was leaked from an early meeting with new FEMA officials, Coen said.

Employees are afraid to talk to former colleagues. Because they fear they will be exposed to lie detectors, Cohen said. “If the head of the agency is not respected by the secretary’s office, why am I here if he is exposed to the lie detector test?”

Even some of the younger staff members think, “I don’t need this anxiety,” he said.

The role of FEMA in disaster response

FEMA responds to any major natural disaster, assesses damages and provides assistance under pre-established guidelines and state agreements.

In Washington, “FEMA has been an incredible, absolutely essential partner,” Inslee said. “From a ground boot perspective, FEMA was incredibly valuable.”

In recent years, FEMA has seen a significant increase in the number of disasters that require response. That’s part because the number of extreme weather events is increasing, and there are bigger wildfires brought about by more heavy rainfall and climate change, Inslee said. This is backed up by numerous federal reports. The scope and complexity of the disaster is also increasing. Because more people live in vulnerable areas, where they are exposed to storms and fires.

In the current fiscal year, the agency will be financially obligated to 30 major disasters dating back to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, according to its February 2025 monthly report. The actual estimated total obligation for these disasters is approximately $57 billion. This year’s budget officials were $33 million.

FEMA reputation issues

The agency’s reputation is a struggle, partly because FEMA meets people when it is likely to be at the lowest and most hopeless points, partly because its mission is often misunderstood, Cohen said.

FEMA is primarily supposed to serve as a backstop for people who are not insured. If you have homeowner insurance to cover uninsured losses, he said, “You probably don’t qualify.” “It irritates people who feel they’ve done it all right.”

Victims often expect FEMA to be there first, despite having to wait for the state government to request it. That message is often hampered at home by emergency management staff. Emergency management personnel remind residents to store sufficient supplies for five to seven days after a disaster.

What does FEMA do? What to know after Trump considers it to “remove agents”

The agency’s mission has evolved, and it’s a tightrope walk between trying to fight fraud and not attaching so many rules that you can’t get to where you need it.

State and local officials often refer to the recovery phase as “post-disaster disaster.” The 2022 General Accounting Office report made many suggestions for dealing with the “deficit” in disaster recovery.

Cohen said a prime example of the misconception was complaints from states that the Trump administration recently denied claims of disaster assistance and refused to extend certain assistance from others.

“I’m not personally critical of that,” he said. He added that when the federal government is a large part of its economic responsibility, it often slows recovery, and once new bridges and other infrastructure are completed, other officials and organizations may forget to gain credibility and acknowledge the role of FEMA.

What happens next with FEMA?

By executive order on January 24th, Trump ordered a “full review” of FEMA. The federal response to Helen and others’ disasters “indicating the need to dramatically improve the efficiency, priorities and capabilities of the agency,” his executive order said.

The review council appointees, released on April 28, will be tasked with looking in all aspects of the traditional role of states and citizens in securing disaster aid, life, liberty and property during the period before and after FEMA, and how FEMA can serve as a support agency if the state maintains control of disaster relief. They are expected to make recommendations to Trump for improvement or structural changes to promote national interests and enable national resilience.

Members include Defense Secretary Pete Hegses, Homeland Security, Christa Noem, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Florida emergency management director Kevin Guthrie and Tampa Mayor Jane Castl. Noem already states that he wants to eliminate FEMA.

True socially, Trump said:

Udvardy, along with a coalition of scientists of concern, is among many who agree that there is room for reform in federal agencies. Real reforms should be informed by science, expertise and the experiences of disaster survivors,” she said.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. Atlantic hurricane season begins just a month away.

Dinah Voyles Purver covers climate change, disasters and the USA Today environment. Contact her at dpulver @usatoday.com or @dinahvp.



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Rudy Gobert, Minnesota, shows the LA exit door

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Rudy Gobert, Minnesota, shows the LA exit door


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The Los Angeles Lakers landed Luka Donsic in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks in February to bolster their team’s championship aspirations, but the Lakers’ playoff run ended soon after it began.

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Lakers 103-96 in Game 5 on Wednesday to win the first round series 4-1. The Timberwolves led up to 14 points in the first half, but the Lakers took an 88-87 lead with 6:29 remaining in the game. However, Minnesota closed the game and series with a 15-9 run, beating the Lakers on the home floor of crypto.com arena.

Timberwolves Center Rudy Gobert led the way with two blocks as well as playoff career highs (27) and rebounds (24). Anthony Edwards struggled to get from behind the arc and fired 3-11 shots, but he finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lakers’ superstar duo, Don Sic and LeBron James, both played injured in matchups. Doncic suffered a lower back injury in the first half, but despite being under 100%, he scored a game-high 28 points and added nine assists. James, who was also in a state of disarray, finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

That marks a disappointing end for No. 3 seed lakers. Here’s a summary of Game 5:

Check out the top highlights of Game 5:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbjpmh_gn18

The Lakers came within one point heading into the fourth quarter, surpassing the Timberwolves 31-22 in the third quarter. Luka Donsic returned to court at the beginning of the third quarter and scored 13 of her 25 points in the third quarter despite visibly stepping into the foot with a lower back injury. The Lakers took the first lead of the game, with 2:38 left in the quarter after three from Dorian Finney Smith.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves came out flat. Rudy Gobert scored a team-high 24 points, while Anthony Edwards had 13 points.

Dallas Mavericks superstar Kyrie Irving was seen on the court to win Game 5 between the Timberwolves and Lakers at the crypto.com arena in Los Angeles. Irving, who suffered from a torn ACL in March, was a former teammate of both LeBron James and Lucadon Sic.

Donsic returns to the court and begins the third quarter with what appears to be his waist brace.

The Timberwolves have double-digit advantages over the Lakers through the first two quarters, leading 59-49 to the locker room. The Lakers, which hadn’t led at any point in the contest so far, do not appear to have the answer to Rudy Gobert’s size. Gobert scored a game-high 15 points and eight rebounds in two quarters, shooting an efficient 7-10 from the field. Anthony Edwards added 10 points.

The Lakers finished the quarter with superstar Luka Donsic. He scored a team-high 12 points before the exit. LeBron James and Louis Hachimura each have 10 points.

Donsic returned to the locker room, holding his back for the remaining minute in the first half after a apparent lower back injury.

Donsic was driving to the basket as the Lakers chased Timberwolves 55-47 as they had 1:01 left in the second quarter when the Lakers were fouled by Donte Divinsenzo. Donsic fell awkwardly and quickly frowned in pain while he grabbed his back. He knocked down both free throws before being put down on the next play. Doncic skipped the bench and quickly returned to the locker room. He came out with 12 points.

The Los Angeles Lakers had to win to keep the season up and didn’t make their best start in Game 5. LukaDoncic and Lebron James matched up nine points (1-1) in the first quarter. Worse, Donsic has been in foul trouble by entering the second quarter.

The Minnesota Timberwolves led the Lakers 21-9, leading by 14 points in the first quarter. Rudy Gobert scored a team-high nine points, while Julius Randle added eight points.

At the end of Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick’s pre-game press conference on April 30, reporters asked if there was anyone who could help him make a rotation decision, considering he was leaning against his assistant coach or playing the entire second half of five players in Game 4 of the Lakers Game 4.

“You say I’m inexperienced, that was an inexperienced decision I made,” Reddick replied. “Do you think you don’t talk to your assistant about substitutes with each timeout?

The reporter replied: “No, I think there are a lot of coaches who lean against their assistants in such a situation.”

“Just like me,” Reddick said. “Every time. That’s a strange assumption.”

Redick then sat the microphone at the table to finish the press conference. Check out the full story of Jeff Zirgit here.

Lakers vs Timberwolves Game 5 Schedule

Game 5 of the NBA Playoff Series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timber Wolves is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30th at 10pm.

How to watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves: Time, TV, streaming information

  • time: At 10pm
  • tv set: TNT
  • stream: Fubo
  • position: crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)

The USA Today app will bring you to the heart of the news – Fast. Downloads for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, EnewSpaper and more.





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Milwaukee announces the closure of new schools to address the dangers of lead paint as the pollution crisis deepens.

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Milwaukee announces the closure of new schools to address the dangers of lead paint as the pollution crisis deepens.




CNN
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Milwaukee will temporarily close two more school buildings as the city works to deal with the lead crisis in public schools.

The district also announced an updated plan Monday to tackle the peeling and chalk paint of aged buildings suspected to be responsible for increased blood lead levels among four students in this grade.

The new closure will affect primary schools Westside Academy and Brown Street School. The other two primary schools remain closed: the Starms Early Childhood Education Center and the Lafollette School. In total, the Milwaukee School District announced work at nine schools this year to address the dangers of leads. Students are relocating while work is in progress.

The city’s school district and health department have inspected about 100 buildings built before 1978, and 2018 Reed is banned from paint. They expect work to last until summer.

Coach Brenda Caserius said the district hopes to clean up 54 schools built before 1950. The additional 52 schools built between 1950 and 1978 are expected to be cleaned by the end of the calendar year, she said.

“We want families to stay vigilant and let our children test lead exposure,” and test their children for lead exposure through their family doctors or through city-sponsored pop-up clinics. ” said Caserius.

There is no safe level of lead. At high levels, lead can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and seizures. At lower levels, lead is a neurotoxin that can affect how a child’s brain grows and functions. Children exposed to high levels of lead can suffer from learning challenges as well as attention and behavioral issues.

The new lead plan outlines the process that districts will follow to assess and repair schools. It starts with a visual inspection of each building, and based on that, the building is classified as low, medium or high risk. Middle and high-risk schools may undergo additional lead tests and be subject to full or partial closures for reductions. The school also says it is developing plans to test adults who may be exposed to leads in schools such as custodians.

The city is about to screen more students for leads in blood. When the agency’s lead addiction prevention program was reduced, it was working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Test Strategies.

The CDC also denied the city’s demand for Epiaid, a short-term loan for epidemiologists. This cited the reduction in agency lead programs to guide responses and assisted staff. Rejection of EPIAID requests is rare, but it has happened in the past if the program believes it cannot meet the needs of the requester, said Dr. Eric Pebtzner, chief of the CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Division and its epidemic intelligence agency.

“Obviously, in this case we no longer had the CDC expertise to support that request,” he said.

Last week, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Democrat Gwen Moore wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging the CDC’s chief expert to recover.

“You have the ability to immediately correct this issue and I recommend doing so,” they write.

The crisis was discovered late last year after children were detected as positive for high levels of lead in their blood and their children were positive. Environmental testing found no large lead sources in the children’s homes or relatives’ homes, but peeled lead paint in the children’s school basement bathroom. We also discovered high levels of lead in the dust around windowsills and floors.

Milwaukee, the city of old homes, has a long history of lead problems. In some areas north, health department data shows, one in five children tested positive for increased blood lead levels between 2018 and 2021.

However, the current crisis is the first time that children’s lead poisoning has been linked to city schools.

One of the most cost-effective ways to control lead exposure from old paint is to leave it sealed under a layer of new paint. The district was lagging behind in its efforts to do that.

In a report to the state legislature last year, the district disclosed postponed maintenance of more than $265 million.

On Monday, Milwaukee City Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Totratis said he was notified of three more students in the district where authorities had raised their lead levels. However, it is not yet clear whether the environmental conditions at the school are the cause.

“As everyone understands, when you receive a referral or complaint, you need to identify whether it is an addiction from home, a secondary address belonging to the family, or it is tied to the school.

He said the health department has considered two types of exposure to children: acute exposure in which the child takes a tip of peeling paint and chronic exposure in which the child takes or inhales dust over time.

Totoraitis said acute exposure would appear within 2-4 weeks of intake. Chronic exposure may take some time for it to become clear. He said it is unclear how much time the kids are exposed to lead at school as the maintenance that led to the program didn’t occur overnight.

“That can be a bit scary, but we have a really good track record of seeing those levels drop if we test them high,” he said.

Usually, babies test lead by finger-guided blood tests at the doctor’s office at age 1 or 2. However, the same type of screening does not usually extend to school-age children.

Totoraitis said the city is considering revising screening recommendations to include older children.

Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee Department have held several school-based clinics, making lead testing more convenient for families. The next lead screening clinic is scheduled for May 7th.

The Health Department hoped to do many of these with the help of the CDC, but says it will continue to do everything possible with the resources it has.



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Natural Nurturing: Re-wild and Mental Health Going Hands Devon Estate | Re-wild

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Natural Nurturing: Re-wild and Mental Health Going Hands Devon Estate | Re-wild


tThe WO landscape, separated by a wide sweep of the river, tells the story of change. On one side is a farm that is ubiquitous throughout the UK, with traditional farmland, dense grazing, uniform grass, well-maintained hedges and sparse of trees. On the opposite bank, rough, uneven lawns grow unevenly between the trees, thistle and bramble, with a natural disruption of obstacles swaying in the wind towards the re below.

The land on the Charphem Estate side of the Darts River was once a mirror of a traditional farm at the bank on the other side. It held non-organic dairy farms and vineyards in the rigorous 18th century heritage landscape of the deforested park.

But five years ago, the trust manager began the process of natural recovery on a 223 hectares (550 acres) site in South Devon, vision of tackling the twin crisis of the 21st century: an increase in people suffering from mental health and catastrophic loss of nature.

Traditional farmland and uniform grass grow on one side of the river, while grass on the other side of the riverbank grows unevenly between the trees, thistles and brambles. Photo: Johnny Weeks/Guardian

A real estate created by the Navy captain, Charfam became wealthy from the plunder of Spanish treasures and held a Buddhist-inspired retreat for many years. However, after taking over as real estate director, teacher and conservationist Julian Kernell saw the landscape and felt a conflict.

“I was conscious of people coming here for mindful retreats, but there was a disconnect from the way we manage our land,” Kernel said. “I wanted to do a little more overall on the land.

“Policymakers tend to see nature as a headache. Many people struggle in their lives, whether it’s the crisis, stress, or the costs of mental health. Antidepressants have 8.7 million people and a huge waiting list for counseling. We turn things around and… (nature) is a great resource to support people and those people want to take care of them. ”

To connect with as many people as possible, the natural recovery of real estate, operated as a social enterprise, was designed to allow people to access with in mind, allowing the environment to be used as a treatment in a seamless way.

In the landscape of protected heritage, his rewild partners and directors of Ambius, Kernel and Jack Skews, had to bear in mind in the past. “We had to balance heritage designation with environmental ambitions, so what we’re doing is pushing the envelope a little bit,” Kernel said. “We’re back to something like wooded pasture.”

Sharpham partner Jack Skuse said the project wanted to be about education and outreach. Photo: Johnny Weeks/Guardian

They secured a National Lottery Heritage Grant for a Natural Restoration Project, and Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell unlocked the reconstruction, turning the traditional 1,416 hectares (3,500 acres) farm into a barely 20 years of wildlife slumming location.

Kernel and Skaus scanned maps of 18th-century estate, replanted trees in their original locations, planted orchards, removed vineyards, replaced them with wildflower meadows, opened perspectives, improved access, and rebuilt the bridge.

“We wanted our stories to be about education and outreach,” said Skuse, whose company trains conservation people. “We live through the devastating decline of wildlife and we have to change the basics: we bring in school children, bring in farmers, talk to them, inspire and reassure them.

“We used this beautiful storytelling landscape to develop land use changes from dairy farms and vineyards to prioritize wildlife and natural recovery.”

Kernel and Skause scanned 18th century maps at the original Parkland location and replanted trees. Photo: Johnny Weeks/Guardian

After 12 months, the conversion was already visible. The land came to life as the persuasive power of thick, uneven vegetation took over the valley and provided the structure and cover of wildlife. “You were walking through the fields, small animals like vols and mice spilling everywhere, bouncing and jumping up. Their population exploded,” Skuse said.

In the second year, predators came. “We are foraging every day across the fields, picking up small animals, kestrels float on the ground, diving into long grass, and breeding on sites that we have never had before.”

There is a sighting of Osprey, one of the UK’s biggest birds of prey. This is in the register at risk due to its historic decline and low breeding numbers.

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Today, natural restorations span 61 hectares (150 acres), with regular butterflies, birds, vegetation and tree surveys being carried out by Skuse and his team. There was a notable victory. A herd of 500 goldfinches drawn into food sources from grass and thistles. A common white throat look on the amber list of conservation birds. Stonek, usually on the coast, feeding and breeding. Nesting curls. Every year, studies show consistent rises in butterflies. “These are big changes to what would otherwise have been fairly standard farmland,” Skuse said.

The regenerated scenery is the source of the treatments currently offered at Sharpham. “We are here as a mental health charity that connects people to nature,” Kernel said.

Kernel is in touch with NHS experts to help tackle the crisis of maintaining the service staff. Last year, Brighton and Hove Federation’s GPS and primary healthcare staff were given the opportunity to participate in a nature retreat.

Charphem Estate map. Photo: Johnny Weeks/Guardian

“I can’t say that impact on you, it’s extraordinary,” said Dr. Rachel Cottam, Brighton’s Grand Prix who participated in Sharpham’s Mindfulness Retreat.

“People feel calmer and less stressed, but they feel that it can be very difficult and can find joy once again, touching on the original motivation to get into this compassionate job.

The Nature Restoration project has changed its political narrative since it began in 2020 with Sharpham. While Labour had promised before the election to maintain the beauty of the British natural environment and the degradation of the reverse environment, the rhetoric of Starmer and Rachel Reeves of Kiel now stands against nature’s growth, and the government has halted environmental grants for farmers.

Meanwhile, government benefits coincides with mental health waiting lists growing for up to 18 months or more.

Kernel believes that Charphem’s most powerful response over the next five years is to continue to show nature as a powerful, resilient, preventative prescription to keep people healthy and resilient.

“When we look at the various crises we are facing — the biodiversity crisis, the climate crisis, the mental health crisis, etc., we tend to think about them in silos,” Kernel said. “But they are all interrelated, so there’s a need for a more consistent, holistic approach.”



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Pirates-Cubs Game Fans Fall from Stands on the Field: What We Know

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Pirates-Cubs Game Fans Fall from Stands on the Field: What We Know


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Fans are in crisis after coming out of the outfield stands during an April 30 game between the Pirates and the Chicago Cubs and fell on a warning track at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.

The incident occurred at the bottom of seven innings.

According to a video shared on social media, fans appeared to be rolling down the top rail and sitting in the front row of their seats just before they fell into the dirt below. The scary waterfall was from one of the tallest seats in the outfield. The tallest fence in the outfield was the 21-foot right field, in honor of Hall of Fame Roberto Clemente, according to the Pirates, and was wearing the numbers.

Fans were seen by doctors on the field, placed on the backboard and removed to cart following social media videos.

“The Pittsburgh EMS Field Medic handled him on scene until he was taken to hospital in danger,” Pittsburgh Public Safety said on social media.

The Pirates issued a statement regarding the post-match incident. This resumed after a short delay (Pirates won 4-3):

“During the seven innings of the match at PNC Park tonight, an adult man fell from the correct field breaker to the field of play. Pittsburgh EMS, Pirates and Cubs Athletic Training Team and other PNC Park officials responded quickly, responded immediately and managed care.

“There is no further information at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

Pittsburgh Public Safety said it is “investigating” an incident in which “VCU detectives are under investigation.”

At least two fans have been killed in the last 15 years as a result of a significant fall at MLB Stadium. One happened in 2011 at the old Texas Rangers stadium. The other took place in 2015 at Turnerfield, the former home of the Atlanta Braves.

This story has been updated with new information.





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Fan hospitalized after a scary fall from an outfield wall during a game with Cubs and Pirates

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Fan hospitalized after a scary fall from an outfield wall during a game with Cubs and Pirates




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Fans joining the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs games on Wednesday night From the 21-foot right field wall, he fell into the field at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

“In seven innings of the match at PNC Park tonight, an adult man fell from the correct field breaker to the field of play,” the Pirates said in a statement.

“The Pittsburgh EMS, the Pirates and Cubs athletic training team and other PNC Park staff responded, responded and managed care. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time.

Play was stopped as medical staff joined the fans before eventually transporting him off the field.

Pittsburgh Public Safety, which includes Pittsburgh Police and EMS, posted to X late Wednesday night that the man was taken to hospital in dangerous conditions and police are investigating it.

The incident came after Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen knocked a double on two runs to give the team a 4-3 lead. The player immediately sought help from medical staff.

Players from both teams could be seen kneeling, while the other teams put their hands on their heads in concern for the injured fan.

After falling from the stands at PNC Park, the fans are transported out of the field.

“I really hate what happened tonight,” McCutchen said in an X’s statement.

The incident on Wednesday night marks the latest fan accident at the stadium.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans passed away in 2022 after falling from the escalator at the team’s Axture Stadium following a game against the New York Jets.

In 2015, 60-year-old Gregory Muray of Alpharetta, Georgia, tumbled out of the stands during an Atlanta Braves match against the New York Yankees. He later passed away in the fall.

In 2011, a 39-year-old man died while trying to catch the ball in a game of the Texas Rangers. He thrusts his gloves out and reaches for the ball, but loses his balance, flips over the railings in the outfield seat, and smashes his head into the scoreboard.

That same year, a man collapsed and died trying to slip a railing at Coors Field at a Colorado Rockies game. An autopsy later discovered marijuana in his system, revealing blood alcohol levels more than twice the legal limit for driving.

This story has been updated with additional information.



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China suggests that Covid-19, born in the US, is proposing in response to Trump’s allegations

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China suggests that Covid-19, born in the US, is proposing in response to Trump’s allegations



Beijing
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China said in a pandemic response white paper released Wednesday that Covid-19 could have occurred in the US after President Donald Trump’s administration condemned lab leaks in China.

The White House launched its Covid-19 website on April 18th. There, he said the coronavirus came from China’s lab leak, but he said he was criticising former US health civil servant Anthony Fausi, who is a critic of World Health Organization (WHO).

In a white paper released by the official new paper press, China accused the US of politicizing issues of Covid-19 origin. It cites the Missouri lawsuit, which resulted in a $24 billion ruling against China to stock up on protective medical devices and cover the outbreak.

China shared relevant information in a timely manner with the WHO and the international community, the white paper said that a joint study by the WHO and China concluded that the lab leak was “highly unlikely.”

The US should not “continue to pretend deaf,” but should respond to legitimate concerns from the international community, the white paper said.

“Substantial evidence suggests that Covid-19 may have emerged earlier than the officially charged timeline and earlier than the outbreak in China,” he said.

The CIA said it is more likely that the pandemic has emerged from Chinese labs in January than from nature. It stated that he was “low confidence” in the new review, noting that both the lab’s origins and natural origins remain plausible.

Officials from the National Health Commission of China said the next step in the work of tracking origin should focus on the United States, according to Xinhua School, which cited a statement about the white paper.



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“Blessed” Illinois player claims $349 mega million jackpot for $349

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“Blessed” Illinois player claims $349 mega million jackpot for $349


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Several Illinois lottery players were “blessed” after winning the Mega Millions Jackpot in March.

The anonymous winner claimed a $349 million mega million jackpot on April 30, about a month after the painting was held, state lottery officials said in a news release.

It wasn’t just profitable from cash. Casey’s general store in Cortland, a city more than 700 miles west of Chicago, received a $500,000 bonus to sell winning tickets.

“We took the opportunity and bought one quick pick ticket,” the individual told state lottery officials. “We are absolutely ec and we are incredibly blessed. We are going to spend this money and do good things. This incredible prize is a gift that we really keep giving.”

The “historic” victory marked the fourth time an Illinois lottery player won the Mega Millions Jackpot in nearly four years. The next Mega Millions drawing, with an estimated $80 million in jackpots, will take place on May 2nd.

USA Today contacted Illinois lottery officials on April 30 to confirm the winner’s details.

When will you draw the next Mega Millions? How can I play?

The next drawing, which determines the number of wins for the $80 million jackpot, is 11pm EST on Friday, May 2nd.

A huge millions of drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11pm ET. Tickets are available up to 15 minutes before the drawing is made.

Five of the numbers are from white balls from gold megaballs in the range of 1-70 and the last ones are from white balls from gold megaballs in the range of 1-25. Players can also choose the “Easy Pick” or “Quick Pick” option.

“Megaplier”, the $1 add-on feature, allows you to increase your non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. A huge drawing is drawn in front of each regular Mega Million picture. From the pool of 15 balls, six are marked “3x”, five are marked “2x”, three are marked “4x”, and one is marked “5x”.

Texas Lottery Committee resignation: The resignation comes amid a state investigation into a controversial victory

Where can I buy the lottery ticket?

Tickets can be purchased directly at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Networkthese US and territories include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Maine, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, order, look at tickets, and collect all your winnings using your mobile phone or home computer.

Jack Pocket is the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to Jackpocket Services. Must be over 18 in AZ, 21+, and 19+ in NE. It is not affiliated with the state lottery. Gambling issues? Call 1-877-8-Hope-Ny or Text Hopeny (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-mylimit (or); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-Gambler (all other). visitjacketpocket.com/tos In perfect conditions.

Contributor: Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today



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Powerball wins 4/29/2025: Jackpot $30 million

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Powerball wins 4/29/2025: Jackpot $30 million


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The Powerball jackpot rose to $30 million on Wednesday, April 30th, and rose as no one won the Top Award on Monday, April 28th.

If someone matches all five numbers and Powerball on Wednesday, they can opt for a one-off cash payment of $13.9 million.

There were three Powerball Jackpot winners in 2025, but the most recent Kentucky person won the $167.3 million award on April 26th.

The Oregon lucky player has his first Powerball ticket to win the 2025 Jackpot, winning $328.5 million on January 18th. The second jackpot winner won all six Powerball numbers on March 29th, winning $527 million.

Check the following to see the number of wins in Powerball Drawing on Wednesday.

Powerball win counts on 4/30/2025

The number of wins for Wednesday, April 30th is as follows: 1, 2, 3, 57, 59 Powerball: 9

Power play: 2x

Winning lottery numbers is sponsored by J.Ackpocke, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network.

Has anyone won the Powerball?

Powerball winners will be posted here after being announced by lottery officials.

To find the full list of previous Powerball winners, Click on the link to the lottery website.

When will the next Powerball picture be?

The following drawings will take place on Saturday, May 3rd, just after 11pm ET.

How to play Powerball

To play Powerball you will need to buy a ticket for $2. This can be done in a variety of places, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and even grocery stores. In some states, Powerball tickets can be purchased online.

Once you have your ticket, you will need to select six numbers. Five of these are white balls with numbers 1 to 69. Red Powerball ranges from 1 to 26. People can also add “Power Play” for $1.

The “Power Play” multiplier can be multiplied by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x on the prize.

If you feel unlucky or want your computer to do your job, the “quick pick” option is available, where computer-generated numbers are printed on your Powerball ticket. To win a jackpot, players must match all five white balls with any order and Red Powerball.

The Powerball painting takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday nights. If no one wins the jackpot, the prize money will continue to be engraved.

Where to buy lottery tickets

Tickets can be purchased directly at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today NetworkThese US and territories include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Maine, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, order, look at tickets, and collect all your winnings using your mobile phone or home computer.

Jack Pocket is the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to Jackpocket Services. Must be over 18 in AZ, 21+, and 19+ in NE. It is not affiliated with the state lottery. Gambling issues? Call 1-877-8-Hope-Ny or Text Hopeny (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-mylimit (or); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-Gambler (all other). visit jacketpocket.com/tos In perfect conditions.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes @gannett.com and follow him at x @fern_cerv_.



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Matt Wrack will remain in office as union general secretary | Matt Wrack

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Matt Wrack will remain in office as union general secretary | Matt Wrack


The head of the education union said he plans to stay in the post despite attempts to “silly” and “coordinated” by his political opponents.

Matt Lack, appointed general secretary of NASUWT, said he will be taking the new election as a candidate for the union’s executive, bringing a week of legal challenges and a reopening of post nominations.

He also claimed that there were “some adjustments” to many media outlets from senior Tory figures, including former ministers Michael Gove and Damian Green.

In his first interview since the line was dragged into court last week, Wrack also says:

  • The rejection was that “there are not many secretaries in state or senior civil servants,” claiming that he had no experience in leading an education union.

  • He assured that the union would not be fused with the National Education Union, and denied the claim that he was friends with Noi’s general secretary.

  • He said he never downplayed anti-Semitism, as the report argued, “I am not a Zionist, but I believe in the solution of two states.”

Amid speculation that he could stand aside, Wrack told the Guardian that he would remain an official candidate for the union’s control body. “I have been simply notified by national executives that I remain a candidate for national executive,” he said.

Wrack believes that senior conservatives have jumped into the queue in an attempt to damage trade unionism. Former Education Secretary Gove told the audience podcast: Former Home Office Minister Damien Green told the Telegraph that Wrack was “a horrifying socialist of the 1970s.”

Wrack said: “I’ve never met Michael Gove in my life, but he doesn’t seem to be like me. Damian Green, he doesn’t seem to be like me. He seems to have quite a determined effort to portray me in a certain way.

“In 2022, the firefighters were one of the few bits in the public sector that had not taken action through collective bargaining and achieved wage settlements without strikes. So the idea that I simply wanted a strike is a slut dic and frankly, I feel a bit off.”

Wrack suspects that there has been “some adjustment” to media criticism. “It’s about trying to do hand-hat work on me because they don’t want effective unionism,” he said.

In April, Wrack was appointed general secretary of the UK’s second largest education union. This contrasted with the more moderate position of NASUWT, as he was best known for the firefighter leftist leader for the past 20 years.

Critics were struck by the fact that he was not a teacher, and his appointment meant he didn’t have to challenge the election.

This week, his position was cast into doubt by a legal challenge amidst his appointment as a “correction” by a state enforcer who unfairly eliminated potential candidates.

Faced with an injunction, the union said it would resume nominations and hold elections if other candidates are nominated. The High Court has ruled that the union must pay £78,000 for legal issues, with its own legal costs well above £100,000.

Wrack said he could not comment on either legal challenges or future reelection contests, fearing that he would violate union rules. “I will not discuss (the legal case against NASUWT), that is not appropriate and I will not discuss the NASUWT election,” he said.

Some NASUWT members fear Wrack is too close to Neu General Secretary Daniel Kebede and wants to see a merger between the two unions.

Wrack rejected the report and said he would not insist on the merger. “The NASUWT Conference took a very clear stand on (the merger) and that is the union’s decision-making body and anyone who is the general secretary must respect that decision.

“Perhaps I don’t know about one or two meetings with Daniel over the years. I have been competing in the union movement for a very long time, at TUC General Council for 20 years.

Wrack is accused of being too close to Jeremy Corbyn and disregarding anti-Semitism in labour. Wrack said the claim was wrong, saying it was criticized by the FBU in collaboration with mutual community groups in the UK and Israel.

“I don’t call myself a Zionist, but I support two state solutions in the Middle East. The FBU supported the exact same position as the TUC.

Wrack, who attended a Catholic Grammar School in Manchester and studied at the Open University before completing his part-time master’s degree at the London School of Economics, said his lack of educational experience was irrelevant.

“It looks like people can become Secretary of State for education without any education experience,” he said.

Shortly after losing his attempts to reelection as FBU general secretary, he was asked if he did the right thing by becoming the general secretary of the education union. Lack said:



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Christina Aguilera, “Benjamin Button,” “Undetectable” era

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Christina Aguilera, “Benjamin Button,” “Undetectable” era


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Christina Aguilera has a new fan-filled photo shoot, which could be an important reminder about the age of beauty we have found.

The 44-year-old pop star recently posed for Carsy magazine, and her photo sparked comments from people who have thought about how she was open about cosmetic treatments in the past.

“She’s still in her 20s,” wrote one X user. “I need to know if I’m her doctor PLS,” another wrote. Another appeared to coincide with a new term for Aguilera and other celebrities.

Aguilera is not the only celebrity to receive compliments and speculation about her youthful appearance. Lindsay Lohan, 38, urged posts and comments on how youthful she looks after the release of Netflix Christmas Rom-Com’s “Our Little Secret” late last year.

If you stopped and wondered if there seemed to be more celebrities who didn’t look like they were aged, but also didn’t carry any obvious signs of fillers or other cosmetic surgery – you’re not alone.

“The fact that people are making faces next year will blow you away as we enter an era where we are in an undetectable state,” said Dr. Prem Tripati, a facial plastic surgeon, in an August video, which earned an astounding 6.2 million views. He continues to define this era as “the time of aesthetics that we all wanted and waited, where the steps people have made on their faces are irrelevant.”

So are we really in a new, brave and ‘undetectable’ world? Well, it’s not accurate. The dermatologist says we have actually been here for a while – the only difference is that now normal people who don’t know the world of celebrity plastic surgery.

“It’s not undetectable. It’s modest,” Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist and surgeon who hosts the podcast, previously told USA Today. “It’s very minimal, but there’s improvement. So it’s not this top, face-to-face, big cheeks, frozen face. It’s really subtle. It’s really great, refined. I love it.

Have you changed the way you view plastic surgery in an “undetectable era”?

Dermatologists say they hope that “an undetectable age” will bring much needed changes in how people view plastic surgery.

When people come in seeking cosmetic treatment, people tend to fall into one of two camps. Those who want the appearance as natural as possible are those who want dramatic and noticeable changes as if they weren’t doing their job at all.

People in the latter category tend to pursue plastic surgery for the wrong reasons. Sometimes there are body dismorphia and other mental health issues. That’s because they see plastic surgery as a status symbol. For those people, it is often the point that they appear to be doing expensive jobs.

Dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy previously told USA Today that he hopes that an undetectable era will inspire people to take a more natural, subtle approach to cosmetic regimens, not just treatments.

“There was a time when people wanted an almost constant look,” she said. “Like the status symbol, it was a kind of symbol. If you saw a particular way people knew they could afford these things, I think now people want a more natural look.”

more: We are in an “undetectable era” of plastic surgery. It is a revolution in beauty.

She wants people to know that beauty that cannot be detected by going under a knife is not achieved. It also includes living a healthy lifestyle.

“We’re also seeing more focus on that by realizing that you can’t do things in your face,” Jeffy said. “It’s about taking care of your whole body. It’s important to what kind of fuel you’re putting in. If you’re smoking, if you’re drinking alcohol, that’s important. So I think it means that it means that we generally take a step in the right direction for the way we should take care of our bodies.”

In the “undetectable era,” sincerity is even more important

One of the major issues is transparency. Mental health professionals agree that celebrities provide great service to their fans when they are honest about the work they have done. It helps fans maintain healthy and realistic beauty standards.

However, in times of undetectable detection, transparency can be reduced.

more: Lindsay Lohan’s transformation will surprise fans. Are we in the “undetectable era” of plastic surgery?

It is also important to remind us that there are many things we don’t know when it comes to celebrities’ looks.

“It may establish an unattainable ideal, and I think the more we get used to who we are, the less it becomes an issue,” psychotherapist Stephanie Salkis previously told USA Today. “When we feel okay about ourselves, we tend not to compare ourselves to others.”

According to Rossi, there are no plastic surgery — undetectable or not — can enhance your self-worth. It comes from you.

“I’m really trying to tell people, you need to love yourself,” he said. “The work of cosmetics is amazing. It’s great. I love it. …I do it for the patient, but it never fully fulfills your self-image issues. It comes from within.”





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King Charles looks back at the “darkest moment” of cancer diagnosis

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King Charles looks back at the “darkest moment” of cancer diagnosis




CNN
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British King Charles revealed his cancer diagnosis on Wednesday, saying it could be a “difficult and sometimes awful” experience for those with illnesses.

In a message shared at the reception of the cancer support charity at Buckingham Palace, Charles said that despite the fears that cancer can bring, it can illuminate the best of humanity.

“As one of my own statistics, I can assure you that it is also an experience that brings to focus on the very best humanity,” Charles said.

Having this disease “certainly gives me a deeper understanding of the extraordinary work that the notable organizations and individuals I have gathered here.

Added to this, “I reinforced what I have observed for so long during these visits – the darkest sick moments can be illuminated by the greatest compassion,” the monarch added.

Wang was diagnosed with private cancer early last year, resulting in a temporary retreat from his public duties before returning to them in April 2024 months.

When he was diagnosed, Charles said he was “reduced to tears” after thousands of people sent him messages of support. “Those kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement,” he said at the time.

The royal family has long-standing ties with cancer support charities, including MacMillan Cancer Support, which is Charles’s patronage. His first publicity after receiving his diagnosis was at Macmillan Cancer Centre at University University Hospital in London, where he met patients and clinicians.

Charles’ daughter-in-law, Princess Welsh, Katherine, announced last year that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

Last month, Wang “needed a brief observation in the hospital” after experiencing “temporary side effects” from his planned cancer treatment, but he was later told he was in good form.



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Stock markets are still volatile for Trump

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Stock markets are still volatile for Trump


Analysis of the second term S&P 500 in DONALD TRUMP, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the Nasdaq and how it compares to the initial conditions of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Fifteen days after Donald Trump’s second presidency, investors are not sure about the short-term outlook for American business, as he did when he took the oath of office.

In the weeks leading up to Trump’s election to inauguration, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 rose more than 4% as investors were hoping for more business policy. Currently, both indexes are above 6% standing on Election Day. The high-tech Nasdaq has declined by more than 11%.

After several days of volatility throughout April, all three major US indexes narrowed the monthly decline or rise (Dow: -3%, S&P 500: -1%, NASDAQ: 1%).

Uparrow was the first to turn down in February when Trump and his administration deployed tariff plans for Mexico and Canada. Investor concerns about the US economy peaked in April after the US and China announced massive tariffs and Trump threatened to eliminate Federal Reserve Chief Jerome Powell.

How the stock market worked in Trump’s first 100 days

Can’t view the graphics? Click here to see them.

Intensifying the trade war could put us on the brink of a recession

Since then, Trump has ensured investors that he will not fire Powell, and he and others in the administration have spent the last week easing the tone to China after repeated tariffs on major tech products. Trump announced plans to provide tariff relief to automakers on April 29th, allowing taxes to be offset on some of the parts of vehicles assembled in the US

These first steps helped calm the market, but little has changed elsewhere in the US-China trade war.

A note from Matthew Martin, a senior economist at Oxford economics last week, underscored the importance of restraining the trade war.

And the latest economic figures generally think about where businesses and the economy stand. None – Aside from estimating GDP for the first quarter, the initial impact of tariffs was measured.

“The trade deficit won a new record as a frontline tariff for businesses in the first quarter,” Comerica Bank chief economist Bill Adams said in a memo on Tuesday’s report. He predicted a high trade deficit would cut GDP, a decline of -0.3% in the first quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Wednesday.

First quarter GDP falls for the first time in three years

One of the biggest economic issues is based on many 90-day hiatus in tariffs introduced by Trump in early April after the stock market fell and volatility jumped.

“Fear Gauge” jumps to levels that have not been seen since Covid-19 closure

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), known as the “Fear Gauge,” measures the way investors bet on the market. A higher number indicates that investors are protecting their investments from further declines in the market.

After hitting unseen highs from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the gauge quickly returned to a higher level – unlike previous shocks where gauges rose for several months.

Of course, Trump is no stranger to the volatile stock market movements during his presidency.

How the stock market worked on the first terms of the recent president

In 2020, rattling investors drove Dow Jones Industry Average over 25% in less than two weeks as Covid-19 led to closures and layoffs. The panic has almost wiped out all of the Trump administration’s profits over the past three years. But by the end of his first term, the Dow had risen 55%.

It is a story that has been told frequently in the past few decades.

Barack Obama entered the White House in the midst of the Great Recession and saw the stock continue to sink before it rose nearly 70% by the end of his first term. Joe Biden enjoyed a similar rebound after 40 years of high inflation receding.

Should I buy and keep a 401(k)?

401(k)S, will the investment method of purchase and retention be rewarded again in the way with the previous shock?

Just a few weeks ago, two days of selling wiped out a $6.6 trillion market value on Wall Street. Since then, stock prices and major US indexes have erased many of these declines. But again, these indices are also quite below the 100-day location.

Perhaps investors say “wait and see” to buy more securities while committing to gradually cut US tariffs, restructuring global trade and bringing manufacturing and employment back to the US

In a breaking news on April 11, BlackRock Investment Institute said “continuous uncertainty is increasing the risk of a recession,” but in order to respond quickly to market tariffs in April, “the US administration has explained some degree of financial risk and costs.”



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Harris warns of “constitutional crisis” in Trump’s sharp criticism

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Harris warns of “constitutional crisis” in Trump’s sharp criticism


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On April 30, former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized President Donald Trump’s approach to the economy, warning of the president’s sharpest responsibilities constitutional crisis since leaving the White House in January.

“Instead of an administration that works to advance America’s highest ideals, we are witnessing the abandonment of wholesale of those ideals,” Harris told San Francisco in his speech at the 20th anniversary gala of Emelge America. The organization will recruit, train and take office Democrat women.

Harris, who came out a day after Trump marked his 100th day in office, said the new administration was trying to terrify Americans.

But she said that the courage comes in the face of fear.

“The courage of Americans united in the face of the biggest artificial economic crisis in modern presidential history,” she said. “Americans across the political spectrum declare that the president’s reckless tariffs will hurt workers and their families by increasing the costs of everyday essentials.”

As a result of Trump’s repeated tariffs, the market has become visible and consumer confidence has declined. It all came to mind Wednesday when data from the commercial sector showed it had the worst quarter in three years.

Trump pushed responsibility forward to former Harris boss, former President Joe Biden, saying there was a “boom” in the economy when his tariffs began.

However, Harris, who lost the 2024 presidential election after taking over from Biden, said he predicted that Trump’s tariffs were “evidently inducing a recession.”

The former vice president also warned that he would balance checks and balances the US’s historical reliance on “starting buckles.” Congress and the courts must play their role in protecting that balance, Harris said. But if the president denied them, it was the beginning of serious problems, she said.

“Friend, that’s called a constitutional crisis,” she said. “And that’s a crisis that will ultimately affect everyone, because it means that rules protecting our fundamental rights and freedoms ensure that each and every one of us speaks about the work of our government no longer matters.”

She reportedly weighs the next move in politics, but whether it’s her third campaign towards the president or the next campaign to become California governor, Harris warned Americans that things will probably “get worse before they get better.”

“Always remember that this country belongs to us,” she said. “It’s not about the people in the White House. It’s yours.”



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Does musk occur? Trump says Doge’s chief “want to go back to his car.”

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Does musk occur? Trump says Doge’s chief “want to go back to his car.”


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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s cabinet secretary applauded Elon Musk as the billionaire Tesla CEO attended his final cabinet meeting before taking the backseat due to the government efficiency he launched.

Musk’s appearance at the April 30th meeting came after last week’s world’s wealthiest man said in May that he began allocating quite a few minutes to Doge.

“They say I wear a lot of hats, and as you can see, it’s true. I even have a hat in my hat,” said Musk, wearing a red “American Bay” hat over his black maga hat.

He later appeared to say goodbye, calling him “I am honored to work with your incredible cabinet.”

“I just want to say, thank you guys. It’s great to work with you,” Musk said.

more: Elon Musk takes the back seat after Donald Trump took office 100 days

The cut in Mask’s role in the White House comes after his electric car company Tesla suffered from the consequences of his increasingly polarized brand as president of the US Chief Sidekick. Tesla fell 71% in revenue in the first quarter of 2025.

“He was really at sacrificing a lot and was treated very unfairly,” Trump said after Musk spoke to Trump’s full cabinet to commemorate his first 100 days. “But the majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you. This whole room can say that very strongly.”

more: Is the US economic slip temporary? Trump, Biden Allies split after GDP: Live Update

It was the fifth cabinet meeting Musk attended since Trump returned to the White House, which already takes on an invisible role after Musk, the first chief government destroyer since January 20th.

“You know, you’re invited to stay as long as you want, and at some point he wants to go back to his car,” Trump said.

Trump believes that the group Doge will “open many eyes” to what the government can do with masks, piloting efforts to cut federal workers and eliminate programs. “You did a great job,” Trump said he praised Musk for eliminating $150 billion in spending from the federal government.

“$160 billion,” Musk revised Trump, but both figures are very short of $1 trillion (originally $2 trillion), but originally a goal mask for savings has been proposed.

Mask’s status as a “special civil servant” is expected to end at the end of May. The White House says Doge will continue until mid-2026.

more: Elon Musk reduces Doge’s expected savings from $1 trillion to $150 billion

play

How did Elon Musk become so powerful in Washington?

As a leader in the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk has made a huge difference, who is Elon Musk and how did he stand up in Washington?

Musk cites the need to return to Tesla, but multiple polls suggest that his step back from Doge is becoming Trump’s political responsibility. Additionally, Musk butted his head with several top management personnel, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and trade adviser Peter Navarro.

However, by watching the Cabinet Meeting on April 30th, you will not recognize the friction caused by the presence of musk in the White House. Several Cabinet Secretaries praised Doge’s work to reduce “waste and fraud” from their department.

Bessent said Doge helped update long-term IT updates at Internal Revenue Services.

“The update that began in 1990 – before he was born – thanks to the youths that Doge sent, will end during your term,” Bessent said. “We couldn’t make up for that.”

Reach Joey Garrison with X @joeygarrison.



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Israel is taking on a rare strike outside Damascus amid Syrian sect tensions

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Israel is taking on a rare strike outside Damascus amid Syrian sect tensions




CNN
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Syria strongly condemned foreign intervention in the country following the unusual Israeli strike near Damascus on Wednesday amid deadly sectarian violence.

Syria said the Israeli strike killed at least one security guard and injured several others.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli troops said they had taken a strike on the outskirts of Syrian capital.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the operation in the southwest Sanaya town of Damascus is a “warning lawsuit” against unidentified armed groups “preparing to attack an obscure population.”

Syrian Foreign Ministry responded with an “unwavering commitment” to protecting all Syrians, including the “honorable Druze community.”

According to Syrian state communications agency SANA, Syrian government forces launched a wide range of operations to arrest “banned gangs” in areas around Sanaya after an unidentified armed group attacked a Syrian government checkpoint late Tuesday, causing injury to three officers.

Other groups simultaneously fired civilians and security vehicles from nearby areas. Recent violence has killed at least 11 people and injured dozens.

Syrian Muslim clergy cleric Osama al-Rifai asks all Syrians to stay calm and not escalate the situation.

“Everyone has to… step away from calls for revenge and retaliation and allow justice to take the course,” Lifai said in a statement Wednesday that Sana cited “recent events” in Sanaya.

Two local journalists in Damascus spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity that the Sahnaya clash broke out between fighters loyal to the Syrian government and Druze minority militias.

Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad regime, Israel has established itself as a guardian of Syrian Druze, an Arab community that exists primarily in Syria, Lebanon and Israel, following its derivatives of Islam. While a few Druzes have welcomed Israeli overtures, noting the new regime led by former jihadists, many others have publicly condemned them.

A considerable number of druzes live within Israel’s internationally recognized borders, possessing Israeli citizenship and serving the military. The height of the Israeli occupied Golan also has a large Syrian Druze population, most rejecting Israeli citizenship and traditionally do not serve the Israeli army. Within Syria, many druzes live in the south of the country, some of which were declared buffer zones by Israel after Assad’s collapse.

“This anniversary for fallen Israeli soldiers underscores our commitment to protecting Syrian brothers in order to respect the contribution of the Druze community to Israel’s security,” the joint statement added.

Israeli officials also urged the Syrian government to prevent harm to the Druze community.

On Wednesday evening, Israeli forces said three Syrian Druze citizens had evacuated to Israel for treatment after being injured in Syria.

Syrian UN envoy, Gaia Pedersen, expressed deep concern in a statement Wednesday that “unacceptable violence in Syria, particularly in the outskirts of Damascus,” and that he “warns reports of Israeli attacks.”

“These attacks must cease,” Pedersen said, sought “full respect for Syrian sovereignty.”

The ground situation remains unstable, and residents tell CNN that Sanaya continues to witness sporadic collisions and intermittent attacks by unidentified local groups, including mortar fires and medium caliber machine guns. Escalating efforts by government officials and community mediators are ongoing, several residents in the area told CNN.



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Forever21 Shutter All US Stores: This is what you know

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Forever21 Shutter All US Stores: This is what you know


“Retail is changing, and like many brands, Forever 21 is adapted to build the right balance in stores, e-commerce and wholesale,” says Jarrod Weber.

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More than 350 Forever 21 stores are expected to close by by the beginning of May following the fast fashion company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in March.

Court documents obtained by USA Today are expected to close by May 1st. Many people started closing their doors as early as April 1st.

Forever 21 operator F21 OPCO previously said that if a buyer moves forward with interest in the brand, the store closure will be suspended. However, as of the afternoon of Wednesday April 30th, no potential buyers were shared by the company.

“Forever 21 is one of the most famous names in fast fashion. It’s a global brand rooted in the United States with a strong future,” Jarrod Weber, global president of the real brand lifestyle, told USA Today in March. “Retail is changing, and like many brands, Forever 21 is adapted to create the right balance in stores, e-commerce and wholesale.”

Neither Forever 21 nor F21 OPCO responded immediately when contacted by USA Today on Wednesday afternoon due to comments about the store’s closure.

Which Forever 21 stores are closed?

All 354 Forever 21 stores in the US are closed. However, notices to customers on the Forever 21 website say international stores will remain open.

Gift cards, store credits, and refunds are no longer accepted

Forever 21 accepted gift cards and kept their credits on April 15th. Refunds and exchanges are no longer available.

Why did 21 file for bankruptcy forever?

Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Delaware area on March 16 for “competition with foreign first fashion companies,” economic challenges, evolution of consumer trends, Brad Sell, Chief Financial Officer of F21 OPCO, the country said in a news release.

The historic rise in inflation, which began in 2021, has resulted in a significant increase in the operating costs of F21 OPCO, including Stephen Coulombe, co-elector reorganiser of F21 OPCO.

According to Coulombe, “a very competitive retail environment” is also hurting Forever 21 by exempting De Minimis from its exemption, exempting items under $800 from import operations and customs duties.

“Certain non-US online retailers competing with (F21 OPCOs) such as Temu and Shein have been using this exemption, allowing consumers to pass significant savings,” Coulombe said in a document. “As a result, retailers such as (F21 OPCO) who have to pay duties and duties to purchase products from US stores and warehouses are undercut.”

Gretacross is a national trend reporter for USA Today. Story ideas? Email her to gcross@usatoday.com.



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Michael Bolton Brain Cancer Diagnosis: What do you know?

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Michael Bolton Brain Cancer Diagnosis: What do you know?


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Michael Bolton’s fight against glioblastoma attracted attention for one of the most complex, deadly and therapeutically resistant cancers.

The 72-year-old singer told people that she was diagnosed in December 2023 after undergoing emergency surgery. He also underwent another brain surgery in January 2024.

In an interview published on April 30, Bolton said he completed radiation and chemotherapy in October, and his latest scan was apparent in early April.

The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is approximately 6.9%, and the average survival rate is estimated to be just eight months, according to the National Brain Tumor Association. But Bolton told people he was intentionally unprognosed.

Here’s what you need to know about aggressive brain tumors:

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer that begins as the growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord, according to Mayo Clinic.

Dr Mustafa Caslow, a neurooncologist at Duke University School of Medicine, said cancer is aggressive and could grow rapidly while invading and destroying healthy tissue.

“It has proven to be extremely difficult to treat and there is a high chance that you will grow even with the best surgical procedures, treatments, everything,” he said.

According to the National Brain Tumor Association, it is estimated that more than 10,000 people die from glioblastoma each year. However, Khasraw said not all patients died within a year.

“In our practice, we have a pretty significant group of long-term survivors,” he said. “They are outliers.”

Notable figures who died of glioblastoma include Sen. John McCain, the first black Republican woman elected to Congress, Mia Love, Beau Biden, and the son of former US President Joe Biden.

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Mia Love, the first black Republican woman in Congress, dies at age 49.

Mia Love, the first black Republican woman to be elected to Congress, passed away at the age of 49 at her Utah home.

No Brands – News Value

Symptoms of glioblastoma

Although the diagnosis can occur at any age, Mayo Clinic said older people are more likely to develop glioblastoma.

Symptoms of glioblastoma include:

  • headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion, brain functioning or memory loss
  • Changes in personality and irritation
  • Visual changes such as blurry vision, double vision, and loss of peripheral vision
  • The difficulty of speech
  • Balance or adjustment issues
  • Face, arms and legs weakness
  • seizures, especially those who have never experienced before

Bolton told People Magazine that his treatment had an impact on his short-term memory, speech and mobility.

More about Bolton: Michael Bolton talks about brain cancer diagnosis: “I want to keep going.”

Is there a treatment for glioblastoma?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, glioblastoma can be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or brain surgery, called cranial muscle.

Treatment may slow the growth of cancer and reduce symptoms, but there is no treatment.

This is one of the few cancers that have made little progress in 20 years despite increased funding from organizations, institutions and pharmaceutical companies, Khasraw said. This is due to the aggressive nature of cancer and how difficult it is to include sufficient participants in robust clinical trials.

“We are notoriously finding great new treatments and improving results is difficult,” he said. “It’s an area of ​​unmet needs.”

However, the field has recently circumvented to focus on small-scale biological research. Khasraw encourages patients with a diagnosis of glioblastoma to seek treatment in clinical trials.

Adrianna Rodriguez can visit adrodriguez@usatoday.com.

(This story has been updated to add new information. )



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