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A social media call, which went viral, urged women to participate in a march on the night of India’s Independence Day, with the message “For women’s independence on the midnight of Independence,” as stated in a Facebook post by Rimjhim Sinha, a 29-year-old student. As India celebrated its 77th year of independence from British rule on Aug. 15, women across the country took to the streets, fueled by anger over a brutal alleged rape and murder case that took place in Kolkata the previous week. Tens of thousands of women and men participated in a “Reclaim the Night” march at midnight on Thursday in Kolkata and other cities. Holding candles, signs, and flaming torches in the rain, they demanded swift justice for the victim. In Kolkata and other cities, many women have expressed frustration about having to fear for their safety in public. The victim was a 31-year-old woman training to be a doctor at RG Kar Medical College, a government-run hospital. She fell asleep in a seminar room after a 36-hour shift. The following morning, on Aug. 9, her colleagues discovered her severely injured body on the podium. Local police arrested a hospital volunteer worker as the main suspect but faced accusations of mishandling the case. This prompted Kolkata’s High Court to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday. In response, thousands of doctors and healthcare providers went on strike this week to demand better protections for women in the medical workplace. The Reclaim the Night march was seen as an additional way to mobilize women nationwide, urging authorities to do more to protect them. For many, the timing of the march coinciding with India’s Independence Day served as a stark reminder that the country’s women were still fighting for their freedoms and liberation. “A doctor was raped and killed in her workplace—it could have been any of us,” one marcher told Scroll, an Indian digital news outlet. “The streets, homes, and public spaces were already spaces of brutalization. We did not expect the rot to find us at our offices too.” The case has brought renewed attention to India’s long-standing problem with sexual violence. In 2012, a 23-year-old student named Jyoti Singh Pandey was raped and killed on a public bus in a case that garnered widespread global coverage and became known as “Nirbhaya,” meaning fearless. Since then, India has made headlines for rapes that occurred in Delhi in 2017, in Unnao in 2018, and in Hathras in 2020. Sexually violent crimes against women in India are now so prevalent that a report by the National Crime Records Bureau revealed that the country recorded one rape case every 16 minutes in 2022. During Independence Day celebrations at New Delhi’s Red Fort, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told crowds that crimes against women “should be investigated expeditiously” to foster greater trust in society. “There’s outrage against the atrocities being committed against our mothers, sisters, and daughters,” Modi said in his speech. The Kolkata case has also raised alarms within the medical community. A 2015 survey conducted by the Indian Medical Association found that over 60% of doctors had experienced some form of violence while on the job, with women accounting for nearly 30% of India’s doctors and 80% of its nursing staff. The safety concerns for medical workers aren’t new: The BBC reported that one of the most shocking cases involved a nurse in a Mumbai hospital named Aruna Shanbaug, who was raped and strangled by a ward attendant in 1973, leaving her in a vegetative state. She died in 2015 from severe damage and paralysis. Since the most recent incident, medical associations have called for an overhaul of security measures at hospitals after several female doctors and nurses expressed concerns about their safety at work. “When I was in college, we would not go to the restroom alone during night duty… because it was often in an area which was isolated and we were scared,” one doctor based in Bengaluru told the local outlet Scroll on Aug. 14. In an open letter penned on Tuesday, the Indian Medical Association told Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda that doctors “are abused, trolled, sued and even beaten to death” due to “violence unleashed on them” in the medical profession. It warned that the Kolkata case would not be the first or the last if “corrective measures are not taken.” As the Independence Day gatherings grew in numbers in various locations across Kolkata, and then spilled into neighboring towns like Siliguri in the north and Canning in the south, the marchers chanted about justice, safety, and respect, undeterred by the rain. “From time to time, women’s individual anger, fear, and hope coalesce with one another,” says women’s rights lawyer Karuna Nundy. “Reclaiming the night is a reclaiming of freedom and of women as a whole.”

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Season 4 Part 1 of Emily in Paris. The previous seasons of have centered on the complicated love triangle between Emily (Lily Collins) and her friends, the charming French couple Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Camille (Camille Razat). While Emily and Gabriel confessed their feelings for each other in , the revelation that Camille was pregnant with Gabriel’s baby and that she was secretly in love with artist Sofia (Melia Kreiling) seemed to put a hold on Emily and Gabriel's romantic aspirations. However, in Season 4, it appears as though each of these friends might finally get what they desire, even though their lives remain intertwined. After a period of introspection and withdrawal, Camille decides to pursue a relationship with Sofia (who moves to Paris for her) while preparing for co-parenting with Gabriel. After seasons of romantic tension and veiled flirting, Emily ends her relationship with her British boyfriend Alfie to finally pursue a romance with Gabriel. Despite their desires, the adage that “the course of true love never did run smooth” seems to continuously disrupt the lives of these friends and lovers. Sofia and Camille are staying with Gabriel while they search for an apartment, leaving Gabriel and Emily, whose best friend Mindy (Ashley Park) shares her tiny studio apartment and bed, with no space to spend time together as a new couple. The unconventional living situation highlights the long-standing bond and lack of boundaries between Camille and Gabriel, who asserts that they will "always be family," particularly with a baby on the way, which causes concern for both Emily and Sofia. When Sofia and Camille finally find their own apartment—coincidentally, in the same building as Emily and Gabriel, it seems like a solution to the anxieties of this ménage à quatre—but instead, it exposes the group's real problems. During a shopping trip at Les Puces for their new apartment, Sofia breaks up with Camille, revealing that she never intended to move to Paris and was caught up in her feelings for Camille. She is troubled by Camille's reluctance to move away from the city and Gabriel. Sofia returns to Athens and leaves an open invitation for Camille to join her and resume their relationship. Camille's discontent after the breakup, intensified by Emily and Gabriel’s burgeoning romance, reaches a breaking point when she visits the ob-gyn and discovers that her pregnancy test was a rare false positive. Her missed period was due to stress, and she was never pregnant at all. In the final episode of Season 4 Part 1, grieving over these losses, Camille chooses not to inform Gabriel that she isn't pregnant, seemingly in an attempt to avoid losing another person she cares about. While Camille's shocking revelation is her secret for now, it remains uncertain whether or not it will stay that way, or for how long. With Part 2 of Season 4 premiering on Sept. 12 on Netflix, time will tell how Camille's big secret impacts her friendships with Emily and Gabriel, and her relationship with Sofia.

Parvovirus B19, a respiratory virus known for causing a distinctive "slapped-cheek" rash, is becoming more prevalent in the U.S., according to an August 13 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While there's no routine monitoring for parvovirus in the U.S., various signs indicate a widespread spread of the virus. Doctors have observed unusual occurrences of parvovirus-related complications in two high-risk groups: pregnant individuals and those with blood disorders. Furthermore, laboratory data from June suggest that approximately 10% of the U.S. population, and 40% of children aged 5 to 9, had antibodies in their blood, indicating a recent infection, according to the CDC's alert. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know about parvovirus B19 as the virus spreads. What is parvovirus B19? Parvovirus is a common respiratory illness, with periodic "mini-outbreaks" occurring roughly every three to four years, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). In developed countries like the U.S., a significant majority of people contract the virus at some point in their lives, often during childhood. Up to 10% of children experience parvovirus by the age of 5, says the NLM, and roughly half of the population has been infected by age 20. Parvovirus B19 is a virus that exclusively affects humans; it's distinct from the canine parvovirus. Similar to other respiratory diseases, it spreads from person to person, typically through respiratory droplets released when an infected individual sneezes or coughs. In most cases, parvovirus B19 infections are mild or even go unnoticed. When individuals develop symptoms, they usually start with fever, headache, cough, and sore throat. As the illness progresses, individuals may experience additional symptoms. The most noticeable late-stage symptom is a red facial rash, often referred to as a "slapped-cheek" rash, which is more common in children than adults. Some individuals might also develop a rash extending to the torso, limbs, and buttocks. Patients with parvovirus may also develop joint pain as their illness progresses. Sometimes, according to the CDC, joint pain is the sole symptom experienced by adults, and it can persist for weeks or even months after infection. Is parvovirus B19 serious? Generally, healthy individuals recover from parvovirus without complications and don't require treatment. However, complications are possible for certain groups. Individuals with blood disorders or compromised immune systems might experience potentially serious anemia, a decrease in red blood cells, if they contract parvovirus, according to the CDC. Pregnant women who acquire the virus may transmit it to their fetus, potentially causing anemia in the fetus and increasing the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. Individuals belonging to these categories should consult a doctor if they suspect they have parvovirus. What should I do during the parvovirus B19 outbreak? There is no vaccine to prevent the spread of parvovirus, so the best way to avoid infection is to wash your hands frequently, clean shared surfaces like doorknobs regularly, and avoid direct contact with someone who is sick with the virus. People are most contagious during the early stages of the illness, says the CDC. An individual is unlikely to be contagious by the time they develop a rash or joint pain. During the current outbreak, the CDC recommends that individuals working in high-risk settings, such as schools and daycares, or those at high risk of complications, consider wearing a mask for additional protection.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Strip's Health Ministry announced on Thursday that over 40,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The ministry, operating in Hamas-controlled Gaza, also reported that the Israeli offensive has left 92,401 people injured and displaced over 85% of the population from their homes. Notably, the ministry's casualty count does not differentiate between civilians and militants. This announcement came amidst renewed efforts from international mediators to secure a ceasefire in the war, which has now entered its eleventh month. The conflict ignited on October 7 after militants led by Hamas attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people — the majority of whom were civilians — and the abduction of around 250 hostages to Gaza. Israel states that 111 of the captives remain unreleased, including the bodies of 39. Among the hostages are 15 women and two children under the age of 5. In Gaza, health officials have faced challenges in fully identifying the deceased due to the overwhelming influx of bodies into hospitals and morgues. Amidst the chaos of war and displacement, they are compiling the count. In its most recent detailed report on the fatalities, released on Thursday, the ministry reported a death toll of 40,005. Health officials and civil defense workers maintain that the true number of deaths is likely significantly higher, as many bodies remain buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed in airstrikes. Israel's aerial and ground offensive in Gaza has been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. The bombardment and shelling have claimed the lives of entire Palestinian families. With cemeteries often inaccessible, families fleeing Israeli airstrikes are burying their dead wherever possible — in backyards, along roadsides, and beneath the staircases of their homes. Israel asserts that its aim is to eliminate Hamas. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths, arguing that militants operate within civilian areas and have constructed extensive tunnel networks beneath them. Israeli forces have regularly targeted mosques, schools, hospitals, and cemeteries, alleging that fighters or tunnels are located there, often resulting in civilian casualties. The fighting has also resulted in the deaths of 329 Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military claims that approximately 15,000 Hamas fighters are among those killed in Gaza but has not provided evidence. Nearly 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been forced from their homes, fleeing multiple times across the territory to escape ground offensives. During the war, thousands within Israel and in southern Lebanon have also been displaced. The assault has created a profound humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The entire territory is at a heightened risk of famine, and over 495,000 people — exceeding a fifth of the population — are projected to experience the most severe level of hunger in the coming months, according to the latest report from the leading authority on measuring hunger. Sanitation systems have been destroyed, leaving pools of sewage and mounds of garbage in tent camps overflowing with displaced families. The offensive likely damaged or destroyed 59% of all structures in Gaza by July 3, including 70% of buildings in northern Gaza, according to an analysis of satellite data by Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek, experts in mapping damage during war. The conflict has ignited concerns about a broader regional war, with Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Israeli military engaging in almost daily fire exchanges along their shared border. Over 500 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, including roughly 350 Hezbollah members and 50 fighters from other militant groups, with the remainder being civilians. In Israel, 22 soldiers and 24 civilians have been killed. ___ Frankel reported from Jerusalem.

(LOS ANGELES) — Law enforcement officials have confirmed that at least one person has been arrested in connection with the death of Matthew Perry. The official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to disclose details, revealed that authorities are set to hold a press conference in Los Angeles later Thursday morning to provide further information regarding the case. In May, Los Angeles police announced their collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to investigate the presence of a significant amount of the surgical anesthetic in Perry's system. On October 28, Perry was found unconscious in his hot tub by his assistant. Paramedics were called immediately and pronounced him dead at the scene. Perry's autopsy, released in December, indicated that the level of ketamine in his blood was comparable to that used during general anesthesia in surgical procedures. [video id=LIqkHc7d autostart="viewable"] In recent years, ketamine, a decades-old drug, has seen a surge in its use as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and pain. Individuals close to Perry informed the coroner's investigators that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy. However, the medical examiner stated that Perry's last ketamine treatment, administered 1 1/2 weeks prior to his death, couldn't account for the high levels of the drug found in his blood. Typically, ketamine is metabolized within a few hours. According to the medical examiner's report, Perry was under the care of two doctors - a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist who served as his primary care physician. No illicit drugs or related paraphernalia were found at his residence. The coroner's report listed ketamine as the primary cause of death, ruling it an accident with no indication of foul play. The report also identified drowning and other medical conditions as contributing factors. Perry's battle with addiction spanned years, dating back to his time on "Friends." During the show's run from 1994 to 2004, he became one of the most prominent television stars of his generation, playing Chandler Bing alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer in NBC's highly successful sitcom. ___ Balsamo reported from New York.

NEW YORK — Walmart experienced another strong quarter, exceeding nearly all sales expectations. The retailer's comparatively low prices proved a powerful draw for millions of consumers struggling with rising costs in housing, groceries, and other essential items. The nation's largest retailer also raised its full-year outlook, indicating confidence in its business model. Walmart Inc. reported earnings of $4.5 billion, or 56 cents per share, for the three months ending July 31. This compares to $7.9 billion, or 97 cents per share, in the same period last year. Adjusted per share earnings reached 67 cents, exceeding Wall Street's expectations by 2 cents, according to FactSet. Sales increased nearly 4.8% to reach $169.33 billion, surpassing expectations as well. Comparable store sales, encompassing online and stores open for the past 12 months, rose 4.2% in the U.S. This compares to a 3.8% increase in the first quarter and a 4% rise in the fourth quarter. Global e-commerce sales surged 21%, maintaining the pace set in the first quarter. Both the number of transactions and the average amount spent per transaction at Walmart were higher than during the same period last year. In a potentially positive shift, Walmart reported that sales of discretionary items, such as clothing and electronics, were flat to very slightly positive. For the past two years, American consumers have focused heavily on essentials, forgoing non-essential purchases and allocating that spending to groceries and other necessities. Before the market opened on Thursday, Walmart shares surged 6%, boosting the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, is among the first major U.S. retailers to report quarterly results. These results offer insight into consumer spending patterns and suggest that the red-hot U.S. economy may finally be cooling. U.S. employer hiring declined unexpectedly sharply in July, and the unemployment rate rose for the fourth consecutive month. This trend is attributed to the impact of higher interest rates on businesses and households. The strong U.S. economy has been a primary driver of global economic growth, and the U.S. job market has provided Americans with the financial resources to maintain spending. The Labor Department reported on Wednesday that year-over-year inflation reached its lowest level in over three years in July, suggesting that the worst price spike in four decades is fading. This development could pave the way for a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September. However, prices haven't decreased overall, and consumers are still facing financial challenges. The effects of these higher costs have become evident in the performance and sales figures of U.S. retailers. Home Depot reported its quarterly results on Tuesday and noted that customers are continuing to curb spending. Walmart has stepped up its discount strategy. During the most recent quarter, the retailer implemented 7,200 price rollbacks, with a 35% increase in the number of rollbacks on food items. In July, Walmart launched its most significant store-label food brand in 20 years, offering a wide range of items. The goal is to reach younger consumers who may not be loyal to specific grocery brands and are seeking to reduce their grocery bills. Walmart anticipates having a total of 300 products under the Bettergoods label by the fall, covering a range from frozen foods and dairy to coffee and chocolate. For the back-to-school season, Walmart revamped its 30-year-old No Boundaries brand to appeal to Gen Z customers. This rebranding is part of a strategy to position Walmart as a destination for cool clothing alongside groceries. For the entire year, Walmart anticipates earnings per share to be in the range of $2.35 to $2.43. This represents an increase from its previous estimate of $2.23 to $2.37 per share. Analysts had projected $2.44 per share, according to FactSet. The retailer is projecting annual sales growth of 3.75% to 4.75%. Previously, Walmart expected sales to rise 3% to 4%.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will propose a federal ban on price gouging for food and groceries as part of a larger plan to lower consumer costs, her campaign announced in a preview of her first policy speech for her presidential campaign. The Democratic nominee promises to address price gouging and price-fixing within her first 100 days in office, alongside other steps aimed at easing the burden of high prices, which have impacted American households and contributed to many voters' negative view of President Joe Biden's handling of the economy. Harris plans to instruct the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies to investigate and penalize “big corporations” that violate the rules, and to find ways to combat price fixing and anti-competitive practices in the food and grocery industries, her campaign said late Wednesday night. Although price controls have a mixed track record in the U.S., Harris' team is working to swiftly add some proposals to the Biden administration's achievements and goals, which are central to her campaign platform. She will also outline plans to reduce prescription drug and housing costs in an economic address during a visit to Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday. Former President Donald Trump has made inflation, which soared early in the Biden administration during the Covid-19 crisis, a key point in his argument that he should be returned to the White House. The Republican candidate and his supporters blame Democratic spending programs for the surge in prices for food, gasoline, and many other goods. The Trump campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. While Harris acknowledges that “price fluctuations are typical in free markets,” her campaign stated that there is “a clear distinction between fair pricing in competitive markets, and excessive prices unrelated to the costs of doing business.” Americans, the campaign added, “can see that difference in their grocery bills” as prices have remained high even as corporations' costs have stabilized and their profits have stayed high. Harris, in her speech, will specifically target the highly consolidated meat industry, labeling its processing middlemen “particularly egregious” price fixers with a history of being found to have illegally manipulated prices. She also plans to instruct her administration to carefully examine proposed mergers between large food companies, focusing on whether they will result in higher grocery prices for consumers. This work would include continuing to scrutinize the proposed merger between Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos., which faces challenges from the FTC and several states. The Harris campaign argues that her proposals “stand in stark contrast” to Trump’s economic agenda, which it said “would increase inflation and costs for middle-class families” by imposing tariffs on imports of household goods including groceries.

NEW YORK — Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned Wednesday after a short and turbulent period in charge. During her time at the helm of the prestigious New York university, she faced protests regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and criticism over how the school responded to tensions related to the war. The Ivy League school in upper Manhattan was rocked by student protests this year. The protests reached a peak with police officers armed with zip ties and riot shields storming a building that had been occupied by students. Similar protests swept through college campuses across the nation, leading to violent confrontations with law enforcement and mass arrests. The announcement came just days after the university confirmed that three deans had stepped down. Officials said that these deans had exchanged derogatory text messages during a campus discussion about Jewish life and antisemitism. Shafik was also among the university leaders called to testify before Congress earlier this year. Republican lawmakers harshly criticized her, accusing her of failing to adequately address concerns about antisemitism on Columbia's campus. Shafik announced her resignation in an emailed letter to the university community just weeks before the start of classes on Sept. 3. The university on Monday started limiting campus access to people with Columbia IDs and registered guests, citing a desire to prevent potential disruptions as the new semester approaches. In her letter, Shafik acknowledged "progress in a number of important areas" but expressed regret that, during her time as president, it was "difficult to overcome divergent views across our community." “This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in the community,” she wrote. “Over the summer, I have been able to reflect and have decided that my moving on at this point would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead.” Columbia's Board of Trustees, meanwhile, announced that Katrina Armstrong, the CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, will serve as interim president. Armstrong, who also holds the position of executive vice president for the university's Health and Biomedical Sciences, stated that she was "deeply honored" to be leading the university at a "pivotal moment for Columbia." “Challenging times present both the opportunity and the responsibility for serious leadership to emerge from every group and individual within a community,” she wrote. “As I step into this role, I am acutely aware of the trials the University has faced over the past year.” Pro-Palestinian protesters initially set up tent encampments on Columbia's campus during Shafik's congressional testimony in mid-April. The school sent in police to dismantle the tents the next day, only for the students to return and spark a wave of similar protests at campuses nationwide. As the protest continued for weeks, the school became a focal point of controversy. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson arrived to condemn the encampment, while Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came to show support for the protesters. Ultimately, talks between the school and the protesters reached an impasse. As the school set a deadline for the activists to vacate, a group instead occupied Hamilton Hall. Even after the protests were cleared, the school decided to forgo its university-wide commencement ceremony, opting instead for a series of smaller, school-specific ceremonies. The campus remained relatively peaceful over the summer, but a conservative news outlet in June published images of what it claimed were text messages exchanged by administrators while attending a May 31 panel discussion titled "Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future." The officials were subsequently removed from their positions. Shafik, in a July 8 letter to the school community, described the messages as unprofessional and "disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes." Johnson, in a statement, called Shafik's resignation "long overdue" and suggested it should serve as a cautionary tale for other university administrators that "tolerating or protecting antisemites is unacceptable and will have consequences." Other prominent Ivy League leaders have stepped down in recent months, largely due to their handling of the volatile protests on campus. University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned after less than two years in the role, facing pressure from donors and criticism over her testimony at a congressional hearing. At the hearing, she was unable to state, under repeated questioning, that calls for the genocide of Jews on campus would violate the school's conduct policy. And in January, Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned amid plagiarism accusations and similar criticism over her testimony before Congress. Shafik stated that she will return to the United Kingdom to lead an effort by the foreign secretary's office to review the government's approach to international development and explore ways to enhance its capabilities. “I am very pleased and appreciative that this will afford me the opportunity to return to work on fighting global poverty and promoting sustainable development, areas of lifelong interest to me,” she wrote. “It also enables me to return to the House of Lords to reengage with the important legislative agenda put forth by the new U.K. government.” Shafik was appointed president of the university last year, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She was one of several women newly appointed to lead Ivy League institutions. The Egyptian-born economist previously led the London School of Economics, but had primarily made her mark outside academia with roles at the World Bank, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development, the International Monetary Fund, and the Bank of England. At the time of Shafik's appointment, Columbia Board of Trustees chair Jonathan Lavine had described her as a leader with an "unshakable confidence in the vital role institutions of higher education can and must play in solving the world's most complex problems." —Associated Press reporter Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this story.

Hurricane Ernesto intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday morning, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts reaching 75 mph to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Numerous areas across Puerto Rico remain under flood flash warnings, as the storm has produced up to 10 inches of rainfall across much of eastern Puerto Rico, while other areas have been less affected. Rainfall from Ernesto is expected to impact Bermuda on Thursday. The hurricane could become a Category 3 storm by Friday, reaching wind speeds as high as 129 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Ernesto, the third hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season, is predicted to stay offshore the U.S. East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. However, the Center warns that people should still be cautious of life-threatening surf and rip currents along East Coast beaches. Rip currents are responsible for approximately 100 drowning fatalities annually. Over the next few days, the hurricane will continue its northward journey through the Caribbean, and is anticipated to reach Bermuda by Friday or Saturday. As of Wednesday morning, the hurricane was moving at a speed of 16 mph and was located 175 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the Virgin Islands, nearly 90% of the population, or over 45,000 customers, were left without power. In neighboring Puerto Rico, LUMA Energy, the operator of the island’s electricity grid, reported that half of their clients were without power, according to the latest update on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. eastern time. One in four flights departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport were canceled, and an additional 27% were delayed due to the hurricane.

Manchester United and Brazilian soccer star Geyse Ferreira has publicly condemned homophobic comments directed towards her. The 26-year-old soccer player received hateful messages after she shared photos with her female partner on Instagram on Aug. 10. “I love you, us against the world,” Ferreira wrote in the caption, accompanied by a white heart and ring emoji. Comments on the post have since been restricted. “Yesterday, after publicly sharing my relationship, I was the target of homophobic attacks. I would like to clarify that love, in all its forms, is something that should be respected and celebrated, regardless of gender, orientation or any other characteristic,” Ferreira wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday. “These attacks, in addition to being deeply hurtful, reflect a mentality that is not in line with the values of respect and empathy that we should promote as a society.” While there were numerous celebratory comments on Ferreira’s Instagram post, some users questioned Ferreira’s relationship, suggesting she should be with a man, or labeling the post “weird.” TIME reached out to Manchester United Women for comment. The Rainbow Devils, the independent LGBTQ supporters club of Manchester United that works to empower and celebrate queer soccer stars, released a statement in support of Ferreira on Tuesday. “There is no room for homophobia in our sport,” they said, also providing information on how to report discrimination. “I reiterate that I will not remain silent in the face of prejudice. I will continue to live and share my life with authenticity and courage, in the hope that one day everyone will be free to love whoever they want, without fear of judgment or reprisal,” Ferreira added on X. Ferreira received support from some of her Brazil teammates who left comments under the original Instagram post featuring the athlete and her partner. Fernanda Palermo, a midfielder, wrote “aww,” on the post with a heart eye emoji. Kathellen Sousa commented with the same emoji. Other female soccer players like Amanda Gutierres and Marta Turmo also left messages of support. Ferreira joined Manchester United Women a year ago, after representing Brazil at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The team won the Adobe Women’s FA Cup this May, six years after the club’s formation.

Parenting is hard enough without any additional complications. So imagine trying to parent from behind bars. A new Netflix documentary film sensitively explores this challenge by profiling a father-daughter dinner-dance that took place at a Washington, D.C. prison in 2019, enabling select inmates to spend some quality time with their young daughters. The film follows four girls—Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and Ja’Ana—over eight years, giving viewers an extended look at not only how they prepared for the dance and interacted with their fathers there, but also how they kept up with them in the years afterward. Filmmaker Natalie Rae directed the movie with Angela Patton, who started the dinner dance and runs Camp Diva Leadership Academy and the nonprofit Girls For A Change, two programs that prepare Black girls for adulthood. Video of Patton’s 2012 TEDxWomen talk on the origins of the dinner-dance in Richmond—which launched that same year—have racked up about a million views on TED Talk’s website and led to the making of Daughters. “Because a father is locked in does not mean he should be locked out of his daughter’s life,” Patton says in the viral talk. The directors wanted to raise awareness about how difficult it is for families to stay in touch with incarcerated loved ones. Many inmates are not allowed to have in-person visits with their family members and can only talk to them via video chat. They also said in a statement that they sought to humanize the Black men at the center of the story, who are not always afforded that treatment in the media or in their lives. One key way in which they accomplish this is by refraining from discussing the crimes that landed the featured fathers in prison, allowing the viewer to get to know them separate from their convictions. Daughters demonstrates the strain caused by separation. One of the girls in the film, 15-year-old Raziah, complains about only getting 15 minutes at a time to talk to her father Alonzo, who is serving a 30-year sentence. The distance bred by those limitations is hard on Raziah. Her mother Sherita gets teary-eyed when she talks about the two times Raziah talked about ending her life; one time, she found her daughter on the roof of their home, ready to jump, and talked her down by telling her that killing herself wouldn’t help her dad, that he’s already suffering enough. Santana, 10, is very forthcoming about how much her father Mark’s incarceration has affected her. She’s seen in a car rehearsing what she wants to tell him when she sees him at the dance. “I’m done shedding tears because he wants to keep doing bad stuff that he shouldn’t be doing—it’s not OK. It’s affecting me.” She adds that she never wants to have children of her own. “You could give me a million dollars, still not going to be a mother.” Some of the featured mothers were skeptical about the dance. In the film, Ja’Ana’s mother Unita questions whether her daughter’s incarcerated father deserves the opportunity for bonding. As she paraphrases a conversation she had with him, “Why do you want to bond with her while you’re incarcerated when all this time you had out here, you didn’t even really want to be bothered with her?” In order to attend the dance, the participating inmates have to complete emotional coaching from an educator, Chad Morris. Over 10 weeks, Morris helps prepare them for what he calls an emotional rollercoaster, from the excitement of seeing their daughters—for the first time, in some cases—to the snap back to reality at the end of the event. Patton joins one of the sessions to talk about how excited the girls are to meet their dads. As she explains the significance of the event to them, “This is about healing our families. This is about strengthening our families because we know, when our families are intact, that our community thrives.” The dads are given haircuts, suits, shirts, ties, and shoes for the big event. Throughout the dance hall, there are craft tables and photo ops so the dads and daughters can get their photos taken and have souvenirs to remember each other by. But the gathering itself is bittersweet. As the dads and daughters dance to Luther Vandross’s “Never Too Much,” some break down in tears singing along to the lyric “I would never, never…Never let you go.” Aubrey, 5, is seen at a table telling her dad to come home sooner, and he tells her he’ll be out of prison when she’s a teenager. Studies show that recidivism rates are high. One analysis found that 82% of individuals released from prison get arrested at least once in their first 10 years free. A debrief following the dance, during a fatherhood therapy session, suggests that programs like this dance could help change that. As one inmate says in the film, “That’s the day I actually felt like I can’t come back to prison no more…because of the power I felt that day.”

PETERSBURG, Va. — Chesterfield County Police reported that a shooting incident occurred early Wednesday morning at Virginia State University, leaving four individuals injured. Authorities have identified multiple suspects, and charges are pending. Officials have assured the community that there is no ongoing threat. Officers responded to a shooting call around 12:30 a.m. at the university located south of Richmond. Upon arrival, they discovered four individuals who had been shot. All four victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment of injuries deemed non-life-threatening. According to university spokesperson Gwen Williams Dandridge, none of the victims or suspects are registered for the upcoming fall semester. Although classes are scheduled to begin next week, freshmen and student leaders have already arrived on campus this week. Both county and university police are currently investigating the incident. Police confirmed that no officers discharged their firearms during the incident. According to the university's website, the institution enrolls approximately 4,000 students.

The annual inflation rate has slowed down, according to new data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The July consumer-price index shows an annual inflation rate of 2.9%, which is slightly lower than expected and the smallest increase since March 2021. This slowing inflation rate may be a welcome change for American consumers who have been feeling the impact of rapidly rising prices in recent years. However, experts say it is unlikely to lead to a decrease in grocery store prices. “If inflation goes down, it means the rate at which prices increase is slowing down, but it generally doesn't mean that prices are going down,” explains William Hauk, assistant professor in the Department of Economics at the University of South Carolina. High inflation has resulted in a surge in consumer prices in the U.S. in recent years. In 2022, the U.S. experienced one of the highest inflation rates ever recorded. Grocery store prices are now almost 25% more expensive than they were before the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with global conflicts, caused major supply chain disruptions and higher prices. But in recent months, inflation has shown signs of cooling down. In June, the inflation rate dropped by 0.1%, marking the lowest monthly growth rate since May 2020 and a two-thirds decrease from June 2022. While this may not translate to lower prices, it does mean shoppers are less likely to experience sticker shock each time they visit the store. While most consumers might be hoping to see cheaper prices, economists say that lowered prices, also known as deflation, would be a bad sign for the economy and could lead to a recession. This is because deflation typically occurs when people are spending less. “Of course, we'd like prices to be lower, but the problem is that one person's spending is another person's income,” says Hauk. “So if prices are generally decreasing throughout the entire economy, on average, it also probably means that people are making less money throughout the economy, on average.” If people expect prices to go down in the future, they might hold off on buying big items, resulting in less money flowing through the economy. Deflation would also cause problems in the lending market, if borrowers are not making enough to pay off loans. However, this doesn't mean that consumers have nothing to gain from disinflation. Mortgage rates tend to go down during periods of disinflation, making it easier for potential homebuyers or car owners. And above all, consumers can expect a lot more stability. “It's difficult to do financial planning when you're not sure about the rate at which prices are going to be increasing in the future,” says Robert Triest, Professor of Economics at Northeastern University. Whether you’re buying a home or a carton of eggs, that's good news.

TOKYO — Japan, a nation highly susceptible to earthquakes, issued its first-ever "megaquake advisory" last week after a significant earthquake struck off the southeastern coast of Kyushu, the southern main island. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake did not result in any fatalities or major damage. However, the advisory has caused widespread confusion and lingering anxiety among a population accustomed to regular seismic activity, sparking concern about the timing of the next major earthquake. The Associated Press clarifies the meaning of the advisory, explains the recommended actions, and outlines the potential consequences if a massive earthquake were to strike Japan. What is a megaquake advisory? The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued the advisory after concluding that the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that occurred on August 8 on the western edge of the Nankai Trough increased the likelihood of another powerful earthquake. There is a 70-80% probability of a magnitude 8 or 9 earthquake associated with the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, and the probability is now "higher than normal" following the recent earthquake, according to the JMA. However, this does not constitute a prediction of a megaquake at a specific time or location, emphasizes Naoshi Hirata, a seismologist at the University of Tokyo who leads the JMA's expert panel. He urged the public to exercise caution and preparedness. What is the Nankai Trough? The Nankai Trough is an undersea trench that extends from Hyuganada, located in the waters off the southeastern coast of Kyushu, to Suruga Bay in central Japan. It stretches approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) along the Pacific coast. The Philippine Sea Plate in this region slowly pulls down on the Eurasian Plate, causing it to occasionally snap back. This action could potentially trigger a megaquake and tsunami, as stated by the JMA. The last Nankai Trough earthquake off Shikoku in 1946, preliminarily estimated at magnitude 8.0, resulted in over 1,300 fatalities. How damaging can a megaquake be? In 2013, a government disaster prevention team projected that a magnitude 9.1 Nankai Trough earthquake could generate a tsunami exceeding 10 meters (33 feet) within minutes, potentially causing the deaths of up to 323,000 people, the destruction of over 2 million buildings, and economic damage exceeding 220 trillion yen ($1.5 trillion) to vast areas of Japan's Pacific coast. What is the government doing to prepare? In response to the "megaquake advisory," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled his planned August 9-12 trip to Central Asia and announced that he would lead the government's response, ensuring preventative measures and effective communication with the public. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency directed 707 municipalities considered at risk from a Nankai Trough earthquake to review their response measures and evacuation plans. Experts and officials have urged the public to remain calm and continue their daily social and economic activities while also securing emergency food and water and discussing evacuation plans with family members. In a reassuring statement on Monday, JMA experts reported that they have not detected any abnormal seismic or tectonic activity that would indicate an imminent megaquake. How are people reacting? The "megaquake advisory," filled with scientific terminology, has caused worry and confusion among the population. Some towns have closed beaches and canceled annual events, leading to challenges for travelers during Japan's Obon holiday week, a time traditionally marked by festivals and fireworks throughout the nation. Many individuals have postponed planned trips and rushed to stock up on rice, dried noodles, canned food, bottled water, portable toilets, and other emergency supplies. This surge in demand has resulted in empty shelves at numerous supermarkets in western Japan and Tokyo, even though the capital city is outside the at-risk area. The Summit supermarket chain reported a shortage of microwavable rice and implemented purchase limits of one pack per customer. Yoshiko Kudo and her husband Shinya expressed their difficulty in understanding the precise meaning of the advisory, the level of concern warranted, and the appropriate actions to take. "We are trying not to go overboard. Excessive worry is not beneficial," said Yoshiko Kudo. "We are uncertain about how to prepare while still living normally as the experts advise," remarked Shinya Kudo, a caregiver in his 60s. Yoneko Oshima, while walking near a major train station in Tokyo, stated: "It's frightening... They mention a (70-80%) chance within the next 30 years, but it could happen tomorrow." Her recent purchase was a portable toilet. She emphasizes the importance of water for her diabetic husband, who requires medication after every meal. "I intend to use this opportunity to create a list and ensure we have everything readily available," Oshima said. She has not altered her holiday plans for this week, but her daughter canceled a planned trip to Mount Fuji. In Matsuyama city, situated on the island of Shikoku, which is known for its hot springs, hotels, and resorts, establishments have reviewed their evacuation procedures and emergency equipment. They have also implemented a radio communication system for emergency use. Since the advisory was issued, they have received hundreds of cancellations, according to Hideki Ochi, director of the Dogo Onsen Ryokan Association. Rail companies operating in the region have announced that their trains are operating at slightly reduced speeds as a precautionary measure. A crisis management task force in the coastal town of Kuroshio in Kochi prefecture, where a tsunami as high as 34 meters (111 feet) was predicted in the government's risk analysis, initially established 30 shelters across the town. However, only two remain open following Monday's JMA statement that there is no indication of an impending megaquake. Higashi Osaka urged residents on its town website to avoid "unnecessary and non-urgent" travel in the event of a major earthquake. The popular seaside town of Shirahama in Wakayama prefecture announced that its four outdoor hot springs, parks, and other facilities would be closed for a week. The town's annual fireworks festival, scheduled for Saturday, was also canceled.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced he will not seek a second term as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in September, paving the way for a new leader and a subsequent change in the prime minister's position. “I will devote myself to supporting the new leader selected through the presidential election as a foot soldier,” Kishida said at a nationally broadcast news conference on Wednesday. Given the LDP’s dominance in parliament, the winner of its leadership race, expected for late September, is virtually assured of becoming the next prime minister. Kishida’s successor will be Japan’s third prime minister since Shinzo Abe, the country’s longest-serving leader, stepped down in September 2020. The yen strengthened on the news, rising about 0.3% against the dollar at 12:08 p.m. in Tokyo, while Japanese share indexes were mixed, with the Nikkei down 0.2% and the Topix gaining 0.5%. Japanese government bond futures were little changed. Support for Kishida has been in decline for months amid voter frustration over his handling of a wide-ranging party slush-fund scandal, ongoing inflation and a slump of the yen. Kishida, who took office nearly three years ago, said the series of political finance scandals has eroded trust and weighed on his decision. Kishida’s government and the central bank have sought to show a united front and restore calm to financial markets, after the biggest stocks plunge in more than three decades this month triggered criticism of monetary policy tightening and cast a shadow over efforts to get households to invest their assets. Kishida’s predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, criticized Kishida in a June 23 media interview and said it would be key for the LDP to bring a “sense of change” at the next leadership election. “The first and most obvious step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step aside,” Kishida said Wednesday. While no general election needs to be held until 2025, some surveys show the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party gaining on Kishida’s LDP in terms of current voting intentions. The next premier may still call an election to firm up the new government’s mandate. But the LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito are expected to easily keep control given their powerful position in national politics. It is unclear who will replace Kishida as premier, although former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was the most popular choice in local media surveys. Other names that often come up in polls include Digital Transformation Minister Taro Kono, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of a former premier. “The market implication is that Japanese politics is going to be foggy,” said Shoki Omori, chief desk strategist at Mizuho Securities. “Market participants are going to dislike the uncertain situation, especially those investing in risk assets, such as equities.”

A federal court ruling on Friday has thrown the future of student loan forgiveness into uncertainty for millions of borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. This decision is the latest in a series of legal challenges to President Joe Biden’s efforts to address student debt. The Eighth Circuit of Appeals issued a preliminary injunction, just weeks after another federal court halted the income-driven repayment plan. The SAVE program, designed to be the most affordable repayment plan, was intended to provide loan forgiveness for borrowers with a principal balance of $12,000 or less, while those owing more would receive relief after 20-25 years. The plan featured payment amounts based on income and family size, potentially as low as $0 per month. The ruling, made by judges appointed by Republican presidents, states that borrowers who have already received forgiveness under the program will not be required to repay their loans retroactively. However, the judges deem the program illegal, arguing that it is “broader” than any other repayment plan previously established by the Education Department. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona expressed strong disagreement with the Eighth Circuit’s decision, stating that politically motivated lawsuits are hindering lower payments for millions of borrowers. He warned that if upheld, the ruling would force borrowers to pay hundreds of dollars more each month and potentially deny loan forgiveness to individuals who had been expecting it after years of consistent repayments. Earlier this year, in July 2023, the Supreme Court also rejected President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, preventing relief for approximately 16 million borrowers. What happens now? In July, following a previous court ruling that temporarily halted SAVE, borrowers were placed on an interest-free forbearance plan, meaning they were not obligated to make loan payments. Secretary Cardona assured borrowers that the Department would provide updates in the coming days. The injunction will remain in place until either the Supreme Court or the Eighth Circuit of Appeals issues a different ruling. Despite the uncertainty surrounding SAVE, borrowers can still apply for enrollment in income-driven repayment plans, including SAVE. However, the Department of Education has announced a temporary pause in the processing of income-driven repayment plan applications by servicers. Through other relief efforts, the Biden Administration has provided student loan forgiveness to 4.8 million borrowers.

Mars, once thought to be a watery world like Earth, may still hold vast reserves of water, but not in the way we imagined. For billions of years, Mars was partially covered in water, evidence of which remains in the form of dry ocean basins and riverbeds on its surface. However, the loss of its magnetic field three billion years ago exposed Mars to the solar wind, causing its atmosphere to dissipate and the water to evaporate into space. However, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that the water may have been trapped within the pores of volcanic rock, buried 11.5 to 20 km (7 to 13 mi.) underground. This vast reservoir, if brought back to the surface, would cover the entire planet in a mile-deep ocean. Even beneath the surface, the presence of this water could support Martian life within the rocky pores or slurry. “Water is necessary for life as we know it,” said Michael Manga, study co-author and professor of geophysics and planetary sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, in a . “I don’t see why [the underground reservoir] is not a habitable environment. It’s certainly true on Earth—deep, deep mines host life, the bottom of the ocean hosts life.” These findings are based on research conducted by the , which landed on Mars in 2018 and operated until 2022. InSight's seismometer detected marsquakes up to a magnitude of 5— on the Richter scale. While the source of these tremors could be volcanic activity, meteor impacts, or crustal contraction, the speed at which the seismic waves travelled through the subsurface provided crucial information. Computer models of these measurements indicated the presence of a water-saturated region at a depth of 11.5 to 20 km. “The available data are best explained by a water-saturated mid-crust,” the authors wrote. The amount of surface water locked in Mars’s polar caps is insufficient to account for the vast amount of water that once existed on the planet, judging by the depth of the river and ocean depressions. This suggests that the water either sank or escaped into space. The new findings point to the former scenario. “Understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the climate, surface and interior,” said Vashan Wright, another co-author of the paper and an assistant professor of geophysics at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in a . “A useful starting point is to identify where water is and how much is there.” The discovery of this underground water reservoir has significant implications for Martian biology and our understanding of the planet's history. However, it doesn't bring us any closer to establishing a Martian colony. The deepest hole ever drilled on Earth, the in northwest Russia, extends about 12 km deep. While this could potentially reach the water on Mars, the logistics of transporting the massive drilling equipment necessary to achieve such a feat to Mars are insurmountable. “Drilling a hole 10 kilometers deep on Mars—even for [Elon] Musk—would be difficult,” Manga .

Arizona voters will have a crucial decision to make in November: whether to formally protect the right to abortion in the state constitution. This move, in a state considered pivotal in the presidential election, could have a significant impact on the already turbulent and historic race. The Arizona secretary of state’s office confirmed to TIME that the measure will be on the November ballot, having certified over 577,971 signatures—well exceeding the necessary threshold. Dawn Penich, spokesperson for the coalition backing the initiative, Arizona for Abortion Access, states that they gathered the most signatures ever for a citizen initiative in state history, surpassing 820,000. The coalition, including groups like the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, celebrated the news. “The progress of our ballot initiative and the overwhelming support we've received demonstrate that Arizonans are tired of their rights being subject to the political whims of those in the legislature or the courts. They want to resolve this issue definitively for themselves through this citizen initiative process,” says Chris Love, spokesperson for the coalition's campaign. Currently, Arizona prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. This law, passed in 2022, includes exceptions for medical emergencies. Proposition 139, the November ballot measure, would legalize abortions until a fetus can survive outside the womb, typically around the 24th week of pregnancy. It would also include exceptions after this point if the pregnant person's life is at risk or if their physical or mental health is in jeopardy. This amendment to the state constitution would prevent the state from banning or restricting access to abortion before viability. Other states like and have previously approved similar measures. Opponents of the measure argue it goes too far, claiming that the is overly broad and would allow for the termination of viable pregnancies. The presence of this abortion initiative on the November ballot could have political implications beyond reproductive rights in Arizona. In the presidential race, it highlights a key difference between , who played a central role in the Biden Administration's messaging on reproductive rights, and , who appointed three of the Supreme Court Justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Other Democrats have made it a central theme of their 2024 campaigns, and states including Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and South Dakota are also addressing abortion rights this year. The issue's impact on political races and voter turnout could be especially decisive in Arizona, a crucial battleground state in the 2024 election. “Arizona is a swing state; our election outcomes are usually extremely close,” says Samara Klar, a political science professor at the University of Arizona. “We're witnessing tiny margins of victory in high-profile elections and, frankly, in local elections as well. Therefore, having an issue on the ballot that motivates voters to come out is incredibly important.” In other ballot initiatives related to abortion that have been put to voters since the U.S. Supreme Court significantly weakened the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, Americans have largely and the issue has generally benefited Democrats. “Having abortion on the ballot is beneficial for Democrats because it mobilizes the types of people who are likely to support Democratic candidates,” Klar says. Some polls indicate support for abortion rights among Arizonans. In March, Klar collaborated with YouGov on a of 800 registered Arizona voters. Over 40% stated that abortion decisions should be left to a woman and her doctor, while approximately 25% supported a near-total abortion ban. A in May found that 65% of likely Arizona voters said they would vote “yes” on a ballot measure establishing a constitutional right to abortion in the state; 21% said they would vote against it. Abortion policy in Arizona has been somewhat uncertain since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in two years ago. In April, the Arizona Supreme Court an 1864 law that only allowed abortions to save the pregnant person’s life, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The Republican-controlled legislature then the law, leaving a 2022 statute banning abortions after 15 weeks in place. “There's been a lot of confusion about the legal status of abortion in Arizona,” Love says. “Enshrining this right in the constitution will give Arizona voters the certainty they need to understand their reproductive rights and, importantly, take control of those matters and make personal healthcare decisions with their families and medical providers.” And as Arizona voters head to the polls, the abortion initiative “absolutely could make a difference” in the presidential race, Klar says. “This is a close state, a significant issue, and one that motivates voters.”