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  • Fed chair Powell raises hopes of US rate cut

    Fed chair Powell raises hopes of US rate cut

    Jerome Powell, the head of the US central bank, has given a rocket boost to expectations that there will be an interest rate cut in September, a move President Trump has been demanding for months.

    Speaking to central bankers gathered at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Powell also argued that the inflationary impact of Trump’s tariffs could prove temporary.

    But he did not, as some had expected, address the additional challenges he has faced in recent months: the political pressure exerted on the US central bank, Trump’s barrage of name-calling and demands for Powell to be removed from his post.

    The shift to a more “dovish” stance, suggesting an easing of the cost of borrowing, sent share prices higher.

    Economists and investors were already expecting borrowing rates to come down from their current 4.25 to 4.5% range. Recent weakness in the US jobs market raised those expectations further, but the impact on prices of Trump’s sweeping tariffs had raised doubts.

    “In the near term, risks to inflation are tilted to the upside, and risks to employment to the downside—a challenging situation,” Powell said.

    Central banks typically cut rates to boost growth if there are signs of slowing economy and falling employment, as it makes it cheaper for consumers and businesses to borrow.

    But boosting growth has to be balanced with keeping a check on rising prices. Higher interest rates can help control inflation, which is often seen as a central bank’s main priority.

    Powell said the effects of tariffs on consumer prices were now “clearly visible” but said that there was a “reasonable” case to be made that inflation would be “relatively short lived – a one-time shift in the price level”.

    He said it would take time for the price changes to work their way through, but he downplayed the likelihood of inflation becoming embedded due to increased wage demands, or higher inflation expectations.

    As interest rates were already “in restrictive territory” – high enough to be having a dampening impact on economic activity – Powell suggested that “the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance”.

    The only time Powell appeared to make reference to the extra pressure exerted by the Trump presidency was when he cautioned against a presumption that a September rate cut was set in stone.

    He said: “Monetary policy is not on a preset course”.

    Members of the policy making committee would take the decision “based solely on their assessment of the data and its implications for the economic outlook and the balance of risks.

    “We will never deviate from that approach,” he said.

    Friday’s speech is likely to be Powell’s final address to the annual gathering of the country’s central bankers in Jackson Hole, as his term comes to an end in May 2026.

    He was appointed chairman of the Federal Reserve by Trump in 2017.

    Since then however Trump has expressed increasing animosity, hurling personal insults at the central banker, including calling him a “numbskull” and a “stubborn moron”, because he did not support the president’s calls for rapid, large cuts to borrowing rates.

    Trump has also publicly raised the idea of removing Powell from his post early, although it is not clear that he has the legal authority to do so.

    Earlier this week the president called for another of the Fed’s officials, Lisa Cook, to resign, over alleged mortgage fraud. She said she would not be “bullied” into leaving.

    Investors welcomed Powell’s speech, pushing the main American share indexes sharply higher in the minutes after he began speaking. By the end of the day’s trading in the US, the broad S&P 500 index was around 1.5% higher.

    Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management, said the Fed had opted against being the “party-pooper”.

    “Chair Powell has shown he has an open mind to reading the data tea leaves,” he said.

    Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG US said: “Powell opened the door a little wider to a cut in rates in September.”

    But she said the Fed clearly remained concerned about the risk of rising prices.

    “There is more caution than the markets are giving him credit for,” she said.

    Capital Economics’ deputy chief North America economist, Stephen Brown, said that while a September rate cut now looked “almost nailed on”, higher job creation or “much more concerning” price data in August could still trigger a delay.

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  • Exoplanets could aid the search for dark matter

    Exoplanets could aid the search for dark matter



    New research suggests that exoplanets, which are planets orbiting stars outside our solar system, could also serve as tools to investigate dark matter.

    More than 5,000 planets have been discovered beyond our solar system, allowing scientists to explore planetary evolution and consider the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

    The researchers examined how dark matter, which makes up 85% of the universe’s matter, might affect Jupiter-sized exoplanets over long periods of time. Their theoretical calculations suggest dark matter particles could gradually collect in the cores of these planets. Although dark matter has never been detected in laboratories, physicists are confident it exists.

    “If the dark matter particles are heavy enough and don’t annihilate, they may eventually collapse into a tiny black hole,” says paper first author Mehrdad Phoroutan-Mehr, a graduate student in the astronomy and physics department at the University of California, Riverside who works with Hai-Bo Yu, a professor of physics and astronomy.

    “This black hole could then grow and consume the entire planet, turning it into a black hole with the same mass as the original planet. This outcome is only possible under the superheavy non-annihilating dark matter model.”

    According to the superheavy non-annihilating dark matter model, dark matter particles are extremely massive and do not destroy each other when they interact. The researchers focused on this model to show how superheavy dark matter particles are captured by exoplanets, lose energy, and drift toward their cores. There, they accumulate and collapse into black holes.

    “In gaseous exoplanets of various sizes, temperatures, and densities, black holes could form on observable timescales, potentially even generating multiple black holes in a single exoplanet’s lifetime,” Phoroutan-Mehr says.

    “These results show how exoplanet surveys could be used to hunt for superheavy dark matter particles, especially in regions hypothesized to be rich in dark matter like our Milky Way’s galactic center.”

    Phoroutan-Mehr was joined in the study by Tara Fetherolf, a postdoctoral researcher in the earth and planetary sciences department.

    Phoroutan-Mehr explains that, so far, astronomers have only detected black holes with masses greater than our sun. He says most existing theories suggest that black holes must be at least that massive.

    “Discovering a black hole with the mass of a planet would be a major breakthrough,” he adds.

    “It would support the thesis of our paper and offer an alternative to the commonly accepted theory that planet-sized black holes could only form in the early universe.”

    According to Phoroutan-Mehr, exoplanets have not been used much in dark matter research largely because scientists did not have enough data about them.

    “But in recent years, our knowledge of exoplanets has expanded dramatically, and several upcoming space missions will provide even more detailed observations,” he says.

    “With this growing body of data, exoplanets can be used to test and challenge different dark matter models.”

    Phoroutan-Mehr says in the past scientists investigated dark matter by observing objects like the sun, neutron stars, and white dwarfs, since different models of dark matter can affect these objects in different ways. For example, some models suggest that dark matter can heat up neutron stars.

    “So, if we were to observe an old and cold neutron star, it could rule out certain properties of dark matter, since dark matter is theoretically expected to heat them up,” he says.

    He adds that many exoplanets (and Jupiter in our solar system) not having collapsed into black holes can help scientists rule out or refine dark matter models such as the superheavy non-annihilating dark matter model.

    “If astronomers were to discover a population of planet-sized black holes, it could offer strong evidence in favor of the superheavy non-annihilating dark matter model,” Phoroutan-Mehr says.

    “As we continue to collect more data and examine individual planets in more detail, exoplanets may offer crucial insights into the nature of dark matter.”

    Phoroutan-Mehr notes that another possible effect of dark matter on exoplanets—and possibly on planets in our solar system—is that it could heat them or cause them to emit high-energy radiation.

    “Today’s instruments aren’t sensitive enough to detect these signals,” he says. “Future telescopes and space missions may be able to pick them up.”

    The study appears in Physical Review D.

    Source: UC Riverside

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  • 5 things to look for while buying magnesium supplements

    5 things to look for while buying magnesium supplements

    Higher dose means better results. Too much magnesium can cause side effects like diarrhoea, nausea, or even low blood pressure. For most adults, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) is around 310-420 mg of elemental magnesium, depending on age and gender (source: National Institutes of Health).

    Supplements should fill nutritional gaps, not flood the system. If the diet already includes magnesium-rich foods (like spinach, almonds, or pumpkin seeds), then a smaller supplement dose might be enough.

    Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if there are existing health conditions or medications involved.


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  • Elon Musk and X reach tentative settlement with laid-off Twitter employees | X

    Elon Musk and X reach tentative settlement with laid-off Twitter employees | X

    Elon Musk and his social media platform, X, reached a tentative settlement on Wednesday with former Twitter employees after a years-long legal battle over severance pay. Former staff had sought $500m in a proposed class action suit against the billionaire.

    A court filing released on Wednesday stated that both parties had reached a settlement agreement in principle and requested that a scheduled 17 September hearing in the case be postponed while they worked to finalize a deal. The filing did not disclose any details of the tentative agreement and it is unclear what level of compensation that former employees may receive.

    Former Twitter employees, led by Courtney McMillian and Ronald Cooper, alleged that the company failed to appropriately pay thousands of workers severance after conducting mass layoffs. When Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, he cut more than 6,000 employees in an overhaul of the company’s workforce, slashing almost the entirety of departments such as content moderation and communications. The layoffs led to several lawsuits, some ongoing, from staff and executives, and foreshadowed how Musk’s “department of government efficiency” would approach its gutting of government agencies earlier this year.

    The lawsuit alleged that laid-off workers were owed at least two months of pay plus additional compensation depending on their time worked at the company, in accordance with a 2019 severance plan. Instead, Musk failed to honor the contract and in some cases paid workers no compensation at all, according to the suit.

    The tentative settlement is a turnaround from last year, when a US district judge dismissed McMillian’s suit in a legal victory for Musk. Judge Trina Thompson ruled last July that the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Erisa) governing benefit plans did not cover the former employees’ claims, forcing the plaintiffs to appeal the decision to a higher court.

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    Musk’s $44bn acquisition of Twitter, which he subsequently rebranded to X, remains an incredibly contentious business deal. Twitter executives, including former CEO Parag Agrawal, are also suing Musk in a separate, still-pending case over allegations that he failed to pay them $128m in severance.

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  • Taiwan economy minister resigns ahead of expected cabinet reshuffle

    Taiwan economy minister resigns ahead of expected cabinet reshuffle

    TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s economy minister said on Friday he had resigned for health reasons, ahead of a widely expected cabinet reshuffle as the government faces domestic challenges including trying to work with an opposition-dominated legislature.

    One of the ministry’s key roles is overseeing the crucial semiconductor sector in Taiwan, home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker TSMC.

    It also enforces controls to ensure sensitive high-tech goods do not end up in countries subject to export curbs such as China or Russia, and oversees energy policy.

    Kuo Jyh-huei, previously a senior executive of a TSMC supplier, Topco Scientific, assumed the role in May of last year as President Lai Ching-te’s administration took office.

    In a statement issued by his ministry, Kuo said his resignation was based on “health considerations” given the taxing nature of the job.

    Kuo has faced criticism from opposition parties for his frequent verbal slip-ups.

    “Regarding the criticism and feedback I have received from various sectors during this period, whether directed at policies or at me personally, I sincerely appreciate it and humbly accept it,” he said in his resignation statement.

    There was no immediate word from the cabinet on his replacement.

    Lai has had to contend with opposition parties, who form a majority in parliament, blocking legislation and passing their own, as well as imposing swingeing budget cuts.

    Taiwan media said this week that a cabinet reshuffle this month was very likely, and named Kuo as one of the ministers most at risk of being replaced.

    Kuo had also been one of the ministers involved in formulating the government’s response to President Donald Trump’s 20% tariff on goods exported to the United States.

    Earlier on Friday, Digital Affairs Minister Yennun Huang said he was also stepping down, to return to academia.


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  • Pakistan Creates Ice Hockey History with LATAM Cup Triumph

    Pakistan Creates Ice Hockey History with LATAM Cup Triumph

    Pakistan has carved its name into ice hockey history by winning its first-ever international championship, clinching the LATAM Cup Division III title in the United States.

    The men’s team thrashed Peru 6–1 in the final to finish the tournament unbeaten, while the women’s side marked its debut by bagging a bronze medal in Division II.

    For a sport still in its infancy in Pakistan, the twin achievements are nothing short of remarkable.

    The men’s team, after winning just one match in their maiden LATAM Cup appearance last year, roared back this time with a flawless record—five victories in tournament play followed by the emphatic win over Peru in the final.

    Head coach Kameron Sabir, a Canadian physician from Edmonton, called it “an amazing day for the country and ice hockey.” He praised not just the champions but also the women’s team, which fielded a small squad of barely 10–12 players yet still managed to secure bronze.

    “You can’t do better than this—first gold, first cup,” Sabir said. “And hats off to the women; they did such an amazing job in their first tournament.”

    This year’s LATAM Cup featured more than 62 men’s, women’s, and youth teams—plus exhibition squads—representing 17 countries and territories. For Pakistan to come out on top in such a competitive field has been described by analysts as a watershed moment.

    Officials believe Pakistan’s triumph will give ice hockey in the country a vital push, potentially attracting investment in rinks and facilities that meet international standards. That, in turn, could open doors to sanctioned tournaments and future Olympic qualification.

    For now, however, the headline is clear: an international title in only their second year of competing signals a bright future for the Pakistan ice hockey team. Fans and officials at home have embraced the moment as historic, hoping it will inspire a new generation of athletes to dream on the ice.

    The ice may be scarce in Pakistan, but after this golden breakthrough, the future suddenly looks wide open.


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  • Limited Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Older Women With HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

    Limited Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Older Women With HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

    The use of adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer has been continuously debated. Despite being the most common breast cancer subtype in women aged 70 years or more, clinical decision-making has historically relied on evidence generated from younger cohorts, where the benefits of chemotherapy are more pronounced.1,2

    Results from the phase 3 ASTER 70s trial (NCT01564056), recently published in The Lancet, shed critical light on this issue, suggesting that chemotherapy may offer limited survival benefit in this population while substantially increasing toxicity risks.1,2

    Image Credit: RFBSIP | stock.adobe.com

    The ASTER 70s trial enrolled over 1000 women aged 70 or older with newly diagnosed HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer or isolated recurrence. All tumor specimens were assessed with the Genomic Grade Index (GGI), an 8-gene test used to classify risk. Patients with high-risk disease were randomized to receive adjuvant chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy or solely endocrine therapy. The median age of the participants was 75 years, and around 40% had a score of 14 or less on the G8 frailty test, indicating common health issues in this group.2

    After a median follow-up of 7.8 years, no statistically significant survival benefit was observed for chemotherapy. At 4 years, overall survival (OS) was 90.5% in the chemotherapy-endocrine group versus 89.3% with sole endocrine therapy. At 8 years, OS was 72.7% versus 68.3%, neither reaching statistical significance (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.63–1.11; P = 0.21).¹ These findings challenge the routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy in older patients with genomically high-risk HR-positive disease.

    Severe adverse effects were seen in 34% of the patients receiving chemotherapy, compared with only 9% in those who received endocrine treatment. Treatment-related deaths occurred only in the chemotherapy group and none in the endocrine-only group.¹ Such toxicity has extreme implications for older patients, since many also face risks of mortality from other non-cancer health issues.

    These results highlight the importance of weighing quality of life against modest, if any, survival gains with chemotherapy. As noted by Sabine Linn, MD, and Florentine Hilbers, MD, in an editorial, the study aimed to detect a large survival improvement but lacked sensitivity to capture smaller subgroup effects; this highlights why careful analysis, and not just a broad restriction on chemotherapy, is necessary for older adults.1

    While providing key insights, the ASTER 70s study had notable flaws. The team used a non-commercial genomic assay, which may reduce how much providers can apply this data in day-to-day clinic operations where tests like Oncotype DX and MammaPrint are more commonly applied. Additionally, competing mortality in older populations diluted the trial’s ability to measure modest benefits from chemotherapy. Finally, subgroup analyses by frailty, age strata, or comorbidity were underpowered, leaving uncertainty about whether specific subsets of older patients could still benefit.²,³

    The ASTER 70s study provides strong evidence that adjuvant chemotherapy offers minimal survival benefit but significant toxicity in older women with high-risk HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. While these facts don’t fully rule out benefit for select subgroups, they highlight the need for tailored care plans, gene risk assessment, and patient-centered care. Pharmacists play a key role in these conversations, aiding both patients and providers in balancing efficacy with tolerability in this vulnerable population.

    REFERENCES
    1. Bankhead C. No chemo benefit in older women with high-risk HR-positive breast cancer. Medical News. August 13, 2025. Accessed August 22, 2025. https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/breastcancer/116983?xid=nl_mpt_Oncology_update_2025-08-15&mh=6d2b5f4f91352444bdf817a9c17750bc&zdee=gAAAAABm4uL9FCoIf1N83nrcwYYqnQUvN6Iw4dbaY-dGva4sOp57nSM2Ew3wD87ohRuoseQBDbCp1MG30J6ETpHXK1wNpp0NgnGTMFXrtFaNfWUoL5ekf-Y%3D&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Automated%20Specialty%20Update%20Oncology%20BiWeekly%20FRIDAY%202025-08-15&utm_term=NL_Spec_Oncology_Update_Active
    2. Brain E, Mir O, Bourbouloux E, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonotherapy versus adjuvant hormonotherapy alone for women aged 70 years and older with high-risk breast cancer based on the genomic grade index (ASTER 70s): a randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2025;406(10502):489-500. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00832-3
    3. Wildiers H, Kunkler I, Biganzoli L, et al. Management of breast cancer in elderly individuals: recommendations of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology. Lancet Oncol. 2007;8(12):1101-1115. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(07)70378-9

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  • ‘I will be displaced once again’: Gaza City residents forced to flee as military operation begins – France 24

    1. ‘I will be displaced once again’: Gaza City residents forced to flee as military operation begins  France 24
    2. Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of planned Gaza City offensive  BBC
    3. Israeli PM Netanyahu approves Gaza City seizure despite ceasefire talks  Al Jazeera
    4. Israel set to rejoin ceasefire talks, but ‘on its own terms’  Dawn
    5. Ex-defense minister Ya’alon says Katz admitting to war crimes by threatening to destroy Gaza City  The Times of Israel

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  • Abrupt changes taking place in Antarctica ‘will affect the world for generations to come’

    Abrupt changes taking place in Antarctica ‘will affect the world for generations to come’

    Antarctica has long been seen as a remote, unchanging environment. Not any more.

    The ice-covered continent and the surrounding Southern Ocean are undergoing abrupt and alarming changes. Sea ice is shrinking rapidly, the floating glaciers known as ice shelves are melting faster, the ice sheets carpeting the continent are approaching tipping points and vital ocean currents show signs of slowing down.

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  • Prince William and Kate’s future neighbours speak out – ‘I’ll invite them in for a cuppa’ | Royal | News

    Prince William and Kate’s future neighbours speak out – ‘I’ll invite them in for a cuppa’ | Royal | News

    Prince William and Princess Kate will reportedly be relocating to their “forever home” this year, just four miles away from their current residence, Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor and their soon-to-be new neighbours have already started sharing their views on the big royal move. The Prince and Princess of Wales are thought to be relocating to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park alongside their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, after a difficult period in Windsor, which saw the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the King and Kate being diagnosed with cancer.

    A source close to the family told The Sun: “Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years, while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage, there have been some really difficult times. Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”

    Now, locals have spoken of their rumoured new royal neighbours and expressed their sincere wish about the family.

    Jean Reeve, 87, said she would be happy to have the family in the area but hoped the public would let them live in peace.

    She said: “I’m happy for them. I welcome them. But I hope the public allow them to live their quietly as a family.

    “It’s a less private spot than their previous home – from what I know about the location. So I’d hate for people to always be going past and saying, ‘Oh, that’s where they live.’

    “They have young children after all. They deserve privacy.”

    Mrs Reeve, who has lived in the area for 40 years, said William and Kate were probably her favourite members of the Royal Family.

    She said: “I think they are going to be good for the country. I was a teenager when the [late] Queen was crowned and she did a lot for this country.

    “But now young blood is a good idea. And William and Kate are lovely. They’re young. They’re family-orientated. They’re always with their children.

    “It’s a new style of monarchy. They’d like to be treated as normal people.”

    Steven Scorgie, 57, was also keen to welcome the royals to the neighbourhood.

    He said: “I’m happy to hear they’re moving this way. It’ll be nice to have some nice neighbours.

    “I hope they say the same about me! I’ll invite them in for a cuppa if they want.”

    Mr Scorgie said he had always been a fan of the royals – most likely because his father served the British Army as a Scots Guard.

    He said: “I’m a fan of the royals. They bring a lot of trade into this country.

    “And my father served the Queen. So I was brought up that way.”

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