Sunday, July 27
In The NEWS
Trump administration unfreezes billions in withheld education funding.
The Education Department announced yesterday the release of over $5B in funding for extracurricular programs, English language classes, teacher preparation, and more. The funding represents the bulk of the $7B that was frozen earlier this month while Trump administration officials reviewed whether funding allocations aligned with their policy priorities. More than $1B for after-school and summer programs was released last week amid mounting bipartisan pressure from lawmakers.
Conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalates.
Thailand warned of war Friday as an armed border dispute with Cambodia entered its second day. Thai authorities also imposed martial law in eight districts, amid reports that at least 16 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced. The Cambodian prime minister said his country was prepared for a ceasefire and accused Thailand of backing out of a deal brokered by Malaysia. The US and China also offered to mediate a truce. See our previous write-up here.
Aging accelerates in middle age, according to new research.
A comprehensive study of protein changes in different organs over time suggests aging is not linear. Researchers analyzed tissue samples from 76 individuals of Chinese ancestry, aged 14 to 68, who died of accidental brain injuries; they found an inflection point around age 50, after which the pace of aging appeared to accelerate. The study also revealed different organs age at different rates, with blood vessels aging first. However, researchers caution larger studies are needed to confirm age 50 as a definitive turning point.
The UK and Australia to sign nuclear submarine treaty.
The pact cements a 50-year partnership between the United Kingdom and Australia to develop nuclear-powered submarines. It strengthens AUKUS, a trilateral security alliance formed by the UK, Australia, and the US in response to growing Chinese military power in the Asia-Pacific region. Initially entered by the US under the Biden administration, the alliance is now undergoing review by the Trump administration to ensure it aligns with its agenda.
Deportations from 'Alligator Alcatraz' begin, Florida governor says.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced yesterday the Department of Homeland Security had flown about 100 detainees from the remote Everglades detention center to other countries. He did not specify which countries, but said the number of deportations would soon increase. Critics have condemned the facility as inhumane; it was built within a week and currently holds roughly 2,000 people who the Trump administration claims are violent criminals. See our previous write-up here.
Former US Rep. George Santos begins federal prison sentence.
The former New York congressman reported to federal prison yesterday to serve a more than seven-year prison sentence for fraud charges that also led to his expulsion from Congress. The Republican pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his 2022 congressional campaign. In the days leading up to his sentence, he appeared on a podcast, posted a series of emotional tweets, and hosted a virtual goodbye party on X.
Astronomer HR chief resigns after Coldplay kiss cam incident.
Kristin Cabot's resignation as chief people officer at the technology company yesterday came days after CEO Andy Byron resigned. The two executives were caught on a Jumbotron having an intimate moment at a Coldplay concert in Boston; the video quickly went viral. Both Cabot and Byron are reportedly married and have children.
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Turning on Trump
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Mainstream Media could not believe it when Donald Trump got elected for a second term, initially believing the election had to have been stolen. They could not believe he was that popular a second time around.
During first few months of his Presidency, they still could not believe the polls indicating his popularity was still high. When his numbers decreased a little, they ROARED with positive statements about he was failing and nothing would be going his way.
Trump's second administration planned from the getgo that they had 2 years to get things done because history tells us that midterm elections always favor the party that is not in control... meaning the GOP is likely to lose the House and Senate.
Again, this is exactly what TRUMP PLANNED FOR...
Not only do they expect to lose the House and Senate, the odds are (historically) that the 2028 election will favor the DEMOCRATS in the Presidency, maybe the Congress.
SIX MONTHS INTO THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, mainstream media is publishing articles that say EVERYONE IS TURNING AGAINST TRUMP...
Whether that is true or not is meaningless and irrelevant...
Trump cannot run for a THIRD TERM.
Trump was President twice and he is done... I don't think, given Trump's age, that he gives a damn what happens to the GOP because there is a new generation of politicians to FINALLY REPLACE THE BABY BOOMERS...
Looking at what is happening to this country, the USA is likely to NOT GO REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT BUT SOCIALISTIC...
Why do I say that?
AI/Humanoid Robots are taking 80% of the jobs... We will be face with having a govt that takes care of the people via a guaranteed income... that is SOCIALISM...
Our govt will either have to tax companies at a higher rate, tax the use of robots, or tax wealthy people at a higher rate... OR All THREE...
We cannot stop AI/Humanoid Robots!!!
We cannot stop AI/Humanoid Robots from taking our jobs!!!
We will be backed into the corner to provide an income for everyone!!!
SOCIALISM MUST CONQUER US GOVT
100 undiscovered galaxies could be orbiting the Milky Way, according to new research
There could be many more satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way than previously thought or observed, according to astronomers.
As many as 100 undiscovered galaxies that are too faint to be seen could be surrounding the galaxy that houses Earth and the solar system, new research has found.
Cosmologists at Durham University in England made the discovery using a new technique that combines the highest-resolution supercomputer simulations in existence with mathematical modeling, they announced at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Durham on Friday.
The supercomputer predicted the existence of missing "orphan" galaxies -- suggesting that up to 100 or more satellite galaxies are orbiting the Milky Way at close distances.
Saturday, July 26
Headlines
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| WPA Pool/Getty Images |
World leaders tell Israel to end “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. In a joint statement yesterday, the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire and urged Israel to let aid into Gaza, a day after France said it would recognize Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly this fall. Dozens of Palestinians in Gaza have died of starvation this month, according to health officials, and the UN says a third of the population hasn’t eaten in days due to a total border blockade. Earlier this week, the UN’s human rights office said Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid since May, mostly around sites run by a US- and Israel-backed group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Israel denies shooting aid-seekers, and said yesterday it would soon let countries parachute aid into Gaza, which humanitarian experts criticized as insufficient.—ML
Trump heads to Scotland for EU tariff talks and golf. President Trump is in Scotland, where he’s scheduled to visit two golf courses his family owns and to meet with world leaders. It’s possible that an EU trade deal could emerge from his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tomorrow. The EU leader said they had “agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong,” amid reports that the two sides have been discussing a deal for 15% tariffs similar to the one the US recently made with Japan. Before boarding his plane to Scotland, Trump said the chances for a deal were “50/50.” He’ll also meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to finalize a trade deal they discussed in June.—AR
Education Dept. to release $5.5 billion in frozen funds. The Trump administration said it plans to release the grant money, which had previously been approved by Congress, but was withheld from schools as part of a funding freeze at the beginning of the month while the administration reviewed the allocation. With the new school year approaching, the money will now be available to support English language instruction, adult literacy, and other programs. Another $1.3 billion of funds for after-school and summer programming was unfrozen last week. The freeze was challenged by lawsuits, and lawmakers from both parties had also urged the funds’ release.—AR
At A Glance
Bookkeeping
> About $1.75: Bonus Ryanair staff receive for every oversized bag intercepted; could soon be more.
> Up to $3M: Expected hammer price for an original Darth Vader lightsaber when it goes to auction in September.
> 21 weeks: The gestation period of the youngest prematurely born baby to live.
Browse
> How some people don't pay any federal income taxes.
> Danish artist inspires stewardship by creating trash trolls.
> Seeded watermelon is making a comeback.
> Fully remote work is least popular among Gen Z.
> Map of the world’s firefly hotspots.
Listen
> Hacks for smarter, cheaper trips from a travel reporter.
> What makes for the perfect summer read?
Watch
> Director's take on a key scene in the new Superman movie.
> Strange and fascinating facts about human blood.
> Why lightning forms—and how to avoid being struck.
Long Read
> Reflections from the last survivors of Japanese American incarceration.
> How an ancient ice age shaped the world as we know it.
> Over 20 years later, she found the stranger who changed her life.
Most Clicked This Week: The numerous benefits of walking backward.
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Comic-Con International 2025, the world's biggest comic book and pop culture convention, kicks off in San Diego; see full schedule of TV and movie panels (More)
> Chuck Mangione, two-time Grammy-winning jazz musician who released more than 30 albums, dies at age 84 (More)
> The 112th Tour de France wraps this weekend; see updated standings heading into final stages (More) | All five charged members of Canada's junior world hockey team found not guilty of 2018 sexual assault (More)
Science & Technology
> OpenAI to release GPT-5, the latest version of its flagship large language model, in August; reports suggest upgrade will include a new version of its video generator, Sora (More) | The neural network that preceded OpenAI's models (1440 Topics)
> Grand Canyon fossil discovery reveals a number of new complex species; discovery helps fill in the fossil record during the Cambrian explosion, roughly 500 million years ago (More)
> Researchers identify genes that, when "turned off," inhibit the ability of the Ebola virus to infect hosts; findings may lead to new treatments for emerging diseases (More) | What makes Ebola so deadly? (1440 Topics)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.1%, Dow -0.7%, Nasdaq +0.2%); S&P 500, Nasdaq close at fresh records (More) | Southwest shares close down 11% after airline trims full-year profit (More) | Intel beats Q2 revenue estimates; plans to cut 15% of workforce (More)
> UnitedHealth faces federal criminal and civil investigations over its Medicare billing practices; America’s largest private insurer also launches third-party review of its business policies (More) | Federal Communications Commission approves Skydance Media's $8B acquisition of Paramount (More)
> President Donald Trump visits Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington, DC, to tour the central bank's estimated $2.5B renovation project; Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell publicly disagree on estimated cost (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Justice Department launches strike force to investigate claims by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard of wrongdoing by Obama-era intelligence officials following 2016 election (More) | DOJ meets with Ghislaine Maxwell, former associate of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein (More)
> The US cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks, accuses Hamas of negotiating in bad faith after group's response to latest proposal (More) | Two people in Gaza die of malnutrition over the past 24 hours, per Gaza health officials (More) | France says it will recognize Palestine as a state in September, first G7 country to do so (More)
> Russian passenger plane crashes in the country's far east, killing all 48 people onboard; cause of the crash was not immediately clear (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Home Ownership
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I purchased my first home in the 1970s in North Carolina via a VA loan that required no down payment. This is another reason why spending a couple of years in the military can work to your advantage.
Our first home cost $120,000 and I purchased an additional ten acres of land associated with the property but not part of the original deal. I have no idea how much it was sold for or when it was sold as a few years later, I got a divorce and moved to Tennessee.
My second home was also purchased using a VA loan but my partner and I each put $20,000 down to reduce our mortgage payments. This house purchased for $110,000 was much bigger that the house owned in NC because property values were lower in TN.
I have own five homes during my thirty plus year residency in TN, with each home selling for much more than it was purchased for making owning homes financially profitable.
Over time, home values, regardless of state markets, typically increase although they may also decline every now and then before adjusting.
Investments, including real estate usually show gains over long periods of time say ten to twenty years.
However, it takes money to maintain a home properly otherwise, the value of the home will decline regardless of how long you own it. Typically, improvements only need to be made in the bathrooms and kitchens in order to increase a home's value.
Scientists develop nuclear clock method to detect dark matter using thorium-229
For nearly a century, scientists around the world have been searching for dark matter—an invisible substance believed to make up about 80% of the universe's mass and needed to explain a variety of physical phenomena. Numerous methods have been used in attempts to detect dark matter, from trying to produce it in particle accelerators to searching for cosmic radiation that it might emit in space.
Yet even today, very little is known about this matter's fundamental properties. Although it operates in the background, dark matter is believed to influence visible matter, but in ways so subtle that they currently cannot be directly measured.
Scientists believe that if a nuclear clock is developed—one that uses the atomic nucleus to measure time with extreme precision—even the tiniest irregularities in its ticking could reveal dark matter's influence. Last year, physicists in Germany and Colorado made a breakthrough toward building such a clock, using the radioactive element thorium-229.
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