Brent Hinds, the former lead guitarist of the acclaimed heavy metal group Mastodon, was killed in Atlanta overnight.
Police said Hinds, 51, died late on Wednesday after his Harley-Davidson collided with a BMW SUV whose driver did not yield while making a turn. The crash occurred at about 11.35pm.
The Fulton county medical examiner’s office later confirmed his death.
Hinds co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor, and went on to gain recognition for his role in the Atlanta-based band.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Mastodon said they were in a “state of unfathomable sadness and grief”.
“We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many,” the band wrote. “Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Earlier this year, Billboard reported that Mastodon and Hinds had “mutually decided to part ways”. But earlier this month, Hinds disputed that account, saying he was forced out and referring to his ex-bandmates as “horrible humans”.
Mastodon released their debut album, Remission, in 2002. Their hardcore sound that combined prog-rock, alternative and grunge among other styles quickly caught the attention of heavy metal fans, and their follow-up record, Leviathan, elevated the group to the metal music mainstream.
Despite the group’s heavy metal influences, Hinds told the Guardian back in 2009 that he felt the band were more classic rock than metal. “That’s the direction I’ve always wanted us to take,” he said. “I never wanted us to be this screaming, lumbering, lotsa-drum-solos band, I always wanted us to be this heavy, psychedelic thing.”
Hinds also had a small foray into television when he, along with his former band members, made a brief appearance on the popular HBO series Game of Thrones as “wildings” in the show’s fifth season.
The ability to correct disease-causing genetic mistakes using genome editors holds great promise in medicine, but it is not without risk. When this type of “genetic surgery” is performed on DNA, for instance, there is always the danger of leaving permanent genetic scars that may even be heritable.
To alleviate this risk, researchers have experimented with gene editing processes on messenger RNA (mRNA), a central link between DNA and proteins that doesn’t carry the same risks because it doesn’t involve permanent changes to the DNA. But existing RNA editing tools have proven either too cumbersome to use or too toxic to human cells.
Yale researchers have developed a new – and safe – family of RNA-editing tools that utilize an RNA-targeting activity that they found “hidden” inside a popular gene editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9.
The solution was surprisingly simple. We discovered robust RNA-targeting activity hidden inside [the CRISPR tool] and its related enzyme, IscB, and simply unleashed its hidden power to target RNA.”
Ailong Ke, study lead author, professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale School of Medicine and member of Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Their findings were published in the journal Cell.
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) are DNA sequences found in the genomes of organisms – such as bacteria and archaea – whose cells lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) is an enzyme that uses CRISPR sequences. Cas9 enzymes and CRISPR sequences form the basis of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology used to edit genes in living organisms.
The approach was guided by “a deep understanding of the molecular structures of IscB,” including findings reported by the lab in the journal Science, said Chengtao Xu, a postdoctoral associate at Yale and first author of the study.
“It would be much harder to come up with the same idea from Cas9, because its structure is way more sophisticated than IscB.” said Xu. “Nature leaves a lot of treasures for us, and it’s challenging but intriguing to reveal them. This is something we’re particularly good at in molecular biophysics and biochemistry.”
Researchers named their new tools R-IscB and R-Cas9 and defined their usage in genome research and medicine.
“They are the Swiss army knives for RNA editing,” Ke said. “We show that they can be used to perturb mRNA functions, to slice and destroy the targeted mRNA, or to correct the coding mistakes in the mRNA target.
“In essence, we have a way to perform any type of genetic surgery at the RNA level, which is a big deal.”
Xu added that the tools worked just as well on the enzyme Cas9 targets, which use CRISPR sequences. “We’re really excited to see how far we can take this approach with other similar tools,” he said.
Researchers now plan to test the tools in the lab to cure rare genetic diseases or to promote wound healing.
“We’re particularly excited about the trans-splicing reactions performed by the R-IscBs, because it can potentially correct any type of genetic mutations at the RNA level. This is a huge opportunity for genome medicine,” Ke said.
“There are a lot of potential applications. The new tool is robust, very precise, and quite versatile.”
Other study authors include Xiaolin Niu and Haifeng Sun, who are postdoctoral associates at Yale. The study also involved collaborator Professor Weixin Tang from the University of Chicago.
Source:
Journal reference:
Xu, C., Niu, X., Sun, H., Yan, H., Tang, W., & Ke, A. (2025). Conversion of IscB and Cas9 into RNA-guided RNA editors. Cell. doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.07.032
Warner Bros.’ animated event pic The Cat in the Hat has landed a new release date in theaters, relocating from Feb, 27, 2026 to Nov. 6 of that year.
The studio says the new date gives the film — the first title from the newly relaunched Warner Bros. Pictures Animation division — a long runway to play throughout the year-end holidays when families and kids are more readily available.
Based on the beloved Dr. Seuss tale, Bill Hader voices The Cat. The A-list voice cast also includes Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Paula Pell, Tiago Martinez, Giancarlo Esposito, America Ferrera, Bowen Yang and Tituss Burgess.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Dr. Seuss Enterprises are partnering on the feature, which centers on the fanciful feline as he tries to cheer up a pair of siblings struggling to adapt to their new town in an all new, epic adventure where mischief, magic and mayhem reign supreme, according to the film’s longline. The pic marks Hader’s animated feature debut.
Cat in the Hat is being written and directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, with Daniela Mazzucato and Jared Stern producing. Susan Brandt, president-CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, and Hader will executive produce. DNEG Animation will be the animation studio partner.
Warners has released some of its biggest films in November, including the Harry Potter franchise. The holiday time frame is also advantageous in terms of merchandising and partnership programs.
Dr. Seuss’ book The Cat in the Hat was published in 1957 on its way to becoming a perennial classic for generations of kids. This will mark the character’s animated big-screen debut; Mike Myers starred in a live-action adaptation in 2003.
A new study looks at the physical forces that help shape developing organs. Scientists in the past believed that the fast-acting biochemistry of genes and proteins is responsible for directing this choreography. But a new study from Syracuse University shows that steady, powerful flows of tissue might be equally significant in shaping an organ’s development as biochemistry. By understanding this physical process, doctors could find ways to prevent or treat human illness.
“We’ve shown that mechanical interactions are just as important as those biochemical signaling interactions in organ development,” says M. Lisa Manning, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) as well as founding director of the BioInspired Institute at Syracuse University. “The two work together. This is a new and emerging idea coming out of a lot of different labs across the country-that mechanics working together with the biochemistry that does robust patterning of organs.”
She co-authored the study, recently published in PNAS, with Raj Kumar Manna, a former postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics in A&S, Heidi Hehnly, associate professor of biology in A&S, Jeffrey Amack, professor of cell and developmental biology at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Emma Retzlaff, a graduate student at Upstate Medical University, and members of the Amack and Hehnly labs across the BioInspired Institute.
Organs move, driving shape change
Syracuse researchers are looking for answers in a tiny, fluid-filled, balloon-shaped structure called Kupffer’s vesicle (KV) in zebrafish embryos. KV, a temporary organ of about 100 cells, shapes the zebrafish’s body symmetry. KV tells the fish which side of the body its organs must develop.
During its brief existence, KV is slowly pushed and pulled by self-generated cellular forces through the surrounding tissue in the zebrafish’s tailbud toward its tail. This movement of KV builds pressure in surrounding tissue, which also starts to migrate, slowly but steadily and powerfully.
Most scientists previously thought that moving tissues do not play a significant role in shaping organs. But slow-moving tissues generate mechanical forces that can mold organs as they develop, the new study found.
There is a gradient of stiffness in the tissues around Kupffer’s vesicle, with a less-stiff tissue that flows like honey on the side closer to the head, and a stiffer solid-like tissue closer to the tail. When you have this balloon-like organ moving through thick honey-like tissue and nearly solid tissue, it creates strong forces in the tissues. And even these very slow tissue movements can drive forces that are surprisingly large.”
M. Lisa Manning, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S)
With mathematical models, live imaging and physical experiments, the researchers tested how slow-tissue motion affects KV’s shape.
The models showed that slow-moving tissues generate enough physical force to help sculpt KV. Then, using precise laser tools, the team disrupted those forces in living embryos. The organ’s shape changed in exactly the way their models predicted.
Powerful potential
These findings could help researchers understand how parts of the body form, not just in fish but also in humans, informing regenerative medicine and treatments for birth defects in organs and other conditions.
“I am working with scientists who will extend these research ideas to human organoids, which are useful for things like tissue transplants,” says Manning. “We are also studying how these dynamical forces affect cancer tumors.”
Source:
Journal reference:
Manna, R. K., et al. (2025). Dynamic forces drive cell and organ morphology changes during embryonic development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2418111122.
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Investors are bracing for volatility as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell walks a fine line between curbing inflation and supporting the labor market, with thin August trading poised to magnify any market moves from his Jackson Hole speech on Friday.
Wall Street largely expects Powell will signal an imminent easing in monetary policy, but concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs could reignite price pressures may force him to tread carefully. Meanwhile, Powell faces relentless pressure from the Trump administration to cut interest rates, turning his final address as Fed boss at the Jackson Hole economic symposium into a test of Fed independence.
“There is a market tightrope here from a macroeconomic perspective between the inflation data and what’s happening in the employment market,” said Tony Rodriguez, head of fixed income strategy at Nuveen. “And now you combine that with the political tightrope that’s not usually there that he has to navigate. It makes for an incredibly difficult, tricky situation,” he said.
Adding to the drama, Trump on Wednesday urged Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign over mortgage allegations raised by one of his political allies, intensifying his effort to gain influence over the U.S. central bank. Cook said she had “no intention of being bullied” out of her post.
“This (Jackson Hole) would be a good opportunity for Powell to speak about the importance of independence,” said Idanna Appio, portfolio manager at First Eagle Investments, noting that the pressure could eventually lead to a more dovish rate-setting Fed board.
A soft July jobs report and hefty downward revisions to earlier job figures fueled bets the U.S. central bank would cut interest rates from the current 4.25%-4.5% range later this year. But a surge in wholesale prices in July dimmed investor hopes for a half-point move at the Fed’s next rate-setting meeting in September, leaving markets braced for about two 25 basis point cuts for the rest of the year.
So far, consumers have been spared a sharp jump in prices despite Trump’s escalating import tariffs, but doubts linger over how much of those duties will filter through to households in the months ahead.
“I expect that Powell will signal a change in monetary policy that suggests that we’ll resume the rate-cutting cycle on September 17, and markets will welcome that news,” said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Investment Management. “But I think he’ll be reluctant to give too much transparency on the future path of rate cuts, because he knows what he doesn’t know,” Arone said, referring to the inflationary impact of tariffs.
‘EXPECT VOLATILITY’
Investors see any pushback from Powell against an imminent shift to monetary policy easing as the biggest risk heading into the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, event, with poor liquidity in summer trading expected to exacerbate the market reaction.
“It’s next to the last week of August, it’s Friday, markets might be a little more susceptible to some volatility as a result of a little bit less liquidity … (this) might lead to something of an unexpected move,” said Rodriguez at Nuveen.
Powell’s speech comes amid market concerns of stagflation, a dreaded mix of sluggish growth and sticky inflation that could limit the Fed’s ability to ride to Wall Street’s rescue, just as a tech stock selloff this week highlighted long-standing worries over steep stock valuations.
“Stagflation is a risk,” said James Ragan, co-chief investment officer and director of investment management research at D.A. Davidson. “If Powell pulls back on the expectation for a rate cut in September, I think stocks would fall in that scenario and you obviously would see probably bond yields rise at least at the short end,” he said.
To be sure, Powell’s address may ultimately be underwhelming for markets. Hot producer prices data in July removed the possibility that the Fed could deliver a jumbo-sized cut in September, limiting the scope for resistance from an inflation-focused Powell against those expectations.
At the Jackson Hole conference in 2022, Powell echoed late Fed chair Paul Volcker with a hardline vow to crush inflation. This time, with inflation about 1 percentage point above the Fed’s 2% target and a softening but still healthy job market, a subtler balance could be in the cards.
Still, a balanced message could be perceived as hawkish, sparking price fluctuations in stocks and bonds over the next few weeks, said Shannon Saccocia, chief investment officer for wealth management at Neuberger Berman.
“Our advice to clients has been to expect volatility,” she said.
(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe; Editing by Megan Davies and Andrea Ricci)
Nigeria’s 2023/2024 Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reveals that 54% of unmarried women and 48% of unmarried men would not consider a relationship with a tuberculosis (TB) survivor. This indicates that disease survivors are likely to face marital rejection, with women more likely than men to reject a partner who has had TB.
This reflects a significant level of stigma; this stigma may be linked to TB’s classification as a communicable disease, capable of spreading through contact with infected individuals, according to the World Health Organisation.
Such attitudes reflect a deep social bias, and according to research published by the National Library of Medicine, they have the potential to undermine TB control efforts, damage the well-being of those affected, and contribute to further transmission and worsening of the disease.
The NDHS data also shows that more men reported experiencing common TB symptoms, suggesting they may be more likely to face heightened stigma compared to women.
Globally, TB impacts nearly 6 million men each year, including 1.3 million in the WHO African Region. By 2023, Nigeria ranked 20th in Africa, with an average of 219 cases per 100,000 population. WHO data shows Lesotho, the Central African Republic, and Gabon have the highest annual TB incidence rates per 100,000 population on the continent.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of transmitting TB is temporary, meaning a person with active TB disease is contagious only for a limited period, primarily before and shortly after starting treatment. During this time, they are most likely to spread the disease to people with whom they spend time daily, such as family members, friends, and coworkers.
Gender Gaps in Disease Stigma
The stigma and discrimination are not limited to TB; they also extend to other communicable diseases, such as HIV. While the gender difference is small, data show that women tend to hold higher levels of stigma than men toward people with communicable diseases.
For instance, in 2018, the NDHS asked women and men two questions to assess discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV. The findings showed that 59% of women and 58% of men expressed such attitudes.
Compared to the 2023 NDHS data, women display more stigma toward TB survivors than toward people living with HIV, while men show higher discriminatory attitudes toward HIV than toward TB. This suggests that stigma and discrimination vary by gender, influenced by the type of disease and the perceived risk of transmission.
The BMJ Global Health notes that ending TB requires addressing the socially produced vulnerabilities that affect all genders. Its research shows TB affects more men than women, partly due to behaviours and practices, such as alcohol consumption and tobacco use, that increase the risk of exposure.
Stigma following a disease diagnosis can trigger a range of harmful consequences, including psychological distress, social isolation, and reduced access to healthcare and support systems. Its effects extend beyond individuals to families and entire communities, hindering recovery and increasing the risk of poor health outcomes.
In the case of tuberculosis, stigma fosters a culture of silence, fear, and shame, with the emotional and social toll often exceeding the harm caused by the disease itself.
Thanks for reading this edition of SenorRita. It was written by Kafilat Taiwo and Salako Emmanuel.
Robert Downey Jr. to portray antagonist ‘Doctor Doom’ in upcoming film
X2 actor Alan Cumming has spilled insights about the shooting of the upcoming film, Avengers: Doomsday.
The 60-year-old actor is all set to reprise his popular role as Nightcrawler in the new MCU movie.
While sharing inside details about the sets of the Russo brothers’ film, Alan revealed that he shot the entire film in “isolation”.
In conversation with GoldDerby, The Traitors actor opened, “I did the entire film in isolation. Lots of green screen, face replacement.”
He further disclosed that the makers gave “fake names” to the characters.
“They even gave characters fake names. I don’t know who I was acting with half the time. [laughs] I broke the internet by mentioning something once, but honestly, I might have got it wrong”, said Cumming.
The forthcoming Marvel film is going to reunite the team of Avengers including Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anthony Mackie and others.
Meanwhile, Tom Hiddleston will also be returning as Loki.
It is pertinent to mention that the new action sci-fi movie will also feature Robert Downey Jr. but not as Iron Man this time. He will be playing the antagonist Doctor Doom.
Backed by Walt Disney, the upcoming project is slated to hit theatres globally on December 18, 2026.
LONDON — Fifty-five years after rock ’n’ roll’s most important and influential band split up, The Beatles are to release a new collection of unheard outtakes, as well as a remastered and expanded classic documentary series as part of a reboot of a 1990s “Anthology” project.
Paul McCartney, 83, one of the two surviving members of the band alongside Ringo Starr, 85, teased the announcement in an Instagram post on Tuesday, and the band’s official website confirmed on Thursday.
The “Anthology” series was a mid-’90s multimedia project that reunited McCartney, Starr and George Harrison and included three double CD albums, a TV documentary and two new songs, “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.”
The TV series chronicled the band’s meteoric rise from the clubs of Liverpool, England, and Hamburg, Germany, to global fame — and the acrimonious split in 1970.
It has been restored by teams led by “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson and will stream on Disney+ from Nov. 21. There will be a new episode, titled “Episode Nine,” that shows behind-the-scenes footage from the “Anthology” reunion in 1994-95.
The three “Anthology” albums are also to be remastered and re-released alongside a new fourth volume featuring unheard tracks from the ’94-95 sessions.
Beatles aficionados eagerly consumed the three “Anthology” albums’ studio outtakes and alternate versions in the 1990s, which captured the exuberant humor of the band in its early days and the creative mastery they showed later on. The band’s music inspired countless younger acts who were making their strides to stardom at the time, including Oasis.
“Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” were the first new songs from the band in more than 30 years, and both were made possible thanks to a shaky, low-quality demo tape recorded by John Lennon in his New York apartment in 1977.
After Lennon died in 1980, the tape was eventually passed to McCartney by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, and some creative studio trickery from co-producer Jeff Lynne allowed the other Beatles to play along with the faint, ghostly vocals and piano, recorded on a simple four-track tape recorder.
The same tape formed the basis of the Grammy-winning “Now and Then,” the final track to feature all the Fab Four, released in 2023.
The 2020s have been a rich time for celebration of The Beatles’ legacy. Peter Jackson’s “Get Back” documentary showed the making of their final album; the “Beatles ’64” documentary, produced by Martin Scorsese, chronicled the effects of Beatlemania after their whirlwind first visit to the U.S., and McCartney continues to tour and play Beatles classics across the world. His U.S. tour kicks off in Palm Springs, California, on Sept. 27.
However, one question still unanswered for Beatles obsessives is whether the elusive “Carnival of Light” will ever be released. Made at the start of the “Sgt. Pepper” sessions in 1967, the 14-minute avant-garde oddity was made for an event in London. It was driven principally by McCartney but featured all the Beatles, who later reportedly vetoed its inclusion on “Anthology 2” in 1996.
The final Grand Slam event of the season is upon us. Main-draw action at the US Open starts on Sunday, Aug. 24 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
The top three seeds are also the last three players to win the tournament. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is No. 1, 2022 champion Iga Swiatek is No. 2 and 2023 champion Coco Gauff is No. 3.
The first U.S. Open women’s singles champion was crowned in 1887. This year marks the 139th edition, with the champion earning $5 million for winning seven matches.
Here are some key facts:
When does the tournament start?
Main-draw play at the US Open kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 24. The tournament ends on Sunday, Sept. 7.
The singles qualifying began on Monday, Aug. 18 and ended on Thursday, Aug. 21.
The US Open is on Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -4).
How big are the fields?
There are 128 players competing in the women’s singles main draw, with 104 receiving direct entry. Eight players received wild cards into the main draw and 16 more claimed the remaining spots by winning three qualifying matches. One lucky loser will also be in the main draw.
There are 32 seeded players in the singles draw and no byes. The women’s singles champion will have to navigate through seven rounds before hoisting the trophy.
The women’s doubles main draw will feature 64 teams — 49 duos with advance direct entry, eight with on-site entry (deadline Tuesday, Aug. 26, based on that week’s doubles rankings) and seven wild cards. There will be 16 seeded teams in the doubles draw and no byes. The champion team must make it through six rounds before clinching the women’s doubles title.
When are the finals?
The women’s singles final will take place on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. local time.
The women’s doubles final is scheduled to take place on Friday, Sept. 5.
When are the draws?
The women’s singles draw was released on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 12 p.m. The projected fourth-round matches are as follows:
US Open draw: Rising stars Mboko and Eala face tough early competition
[1] Aryna Sabalenka vs. [14] Clara Tauson [9] Elena Rybakina vs. [7] Jasmine Paolini [4] Jessica Pegula vs. [16] Belinda Bencic [10] Emma Navarro vs. [5] Mirra Andreeva [6] Madison Keys vs. [11] Karolina Muchova [15] Daria Kasatkina vs. [3] Coco Gauff [8] Amanda Anisimova vs. [12] Elina Svitolina [13] Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. [2] Iga Swiatek
Notable first-round matches include:
Alexandra Eala vs. [14] Clara Tauson Barbora Krejcikova vs. [22] Victoria Mboko Alycia Parks vs. [5] Mirra Andreeva [SR] Petra Kvitova vs. Diane Parry [WC] Venus Williams vs. [11] Karolina Muchova Ajla Tomljanovic vs. [3] Coco Gauff Maria Sakkari vs. Tatjana Maria [13] Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. [SR] Anastasija Sevastova Laura Siegemund vs. [20] Diana Shnaider Emiliana Arango vs. [2] Iga Swiatek
Who are the defending champions?
Aryna Sabalenka won her third and most recent Grand Slam title at the 2024 US Open, defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in last year’s singles final. It was Sabalenka’s first US Open crown after losing in the 2023 final and the 2021-22 semifinals.
Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko won their first Grand Slam doubles title as a team at the 2024 US Open, defeating Kristina Mladenovic and Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-3 in the final. They will not be defending their title together this year: Kichenok will be partnering Ellen Perez, while Ostapenko has teamed up with Barbora Krejcikova.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori won their first Grand Slam mixed doubles title as a team at the 2024 US Open, defeating Taylor Townsend and Donald Young 7-6(0), 7-5 in the final. The Italian duo successfully defended their title in the competition’s new format, defeating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, [10-6] in the 2025 final on Wednesday, August 20.
What are the ranking points and prize money on offer in the singles main draw?
Venus Williams (2000, 2001) Naomi Osaka (2018, 2020) Emma Raducanu (2021) Iga Swiatek (2022) Coco Gauff (2023) Aryna Sabalenka (2024)
Williams, 45, received a wild card. She made her US Open debut in 1997, reaching the final and will be making her 25th appearance at the tournament.
The eight other Grand Slam champions in the main draw:
Petra Kvitova (Wimbledon 2011, 2014) Victoria Azarenka (Australian Open 2012, 2013) Jelena Ostapenko (Roland Garros 2017) Sofia Kenin (Australian Open 2020) Barbora Krejcikova (Roland Garros 2021, Wimbledon 2024) Elena Rybakina (Wimbledon 2022) Marketa Vondrousova (Wimbledon 2023) Madison Keys (Australian Open 2025)
The seven former Grand Slam finalists in the main draw:
Five teenagers have gained direct entry to the main draw:
Dubai and Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva, 18 Montreal champion Victoria Mboko, 18 Rabat and Eastbourne champion Maya Joint, 19 Ilkley WTA 125 champion Iva Jovic, 17 Grado WTA 125 and Porto WTA 125 champion Tereza Valentova, 18
They have been joined by wild cards Alyssa Ahn, 18, Valerie Glozman, 18, and Julieta Pareja, 16.
What are the scenarios for the World No. 1 ranking?
The PIF WTA World No. 1 ranking will be on the line in both singles and doubles at the US Open.
Singles World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will remain in the top spot if she reaches the quarterfinals. If she loses before the quarterfinals, either Iga Swiatek or Coco Gauff would move to No. 1 if they win the title. Swiatek was last ranked No. 1 in October 2024. Gauff would become No. 1 for the first time.
Doubles World No. 1 Taylor Townsend owns a slim 140-point lead over No. 2 Katerina Siniakova, with whom she has entered the doubles competition. The players who could potentially take the top spot from Townsend after the US Open are:
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, who need to reach at least the semifinals (the Italians would be co-No. 1s)
Veronika Kudermetova, Jelena Ostapenko or Erin Routliffe, all of whom would need to win the title
Errani was ranked No. 1 for 87 weeks between September 2012 and April 2015, and Routliffe for eight weeks between July and September 2024. Paolini, Kudermetova and Ostapenko would be first-time No. 1s.
How has this summer’s hard-court swing played out so far?
Here are the champions and finalists from the hard-court events of July and August so far:
Washington, D.C. (WTA 500): Leylah Fernandez def. Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 Prague (WTA 250): Marie Bouzkova def. Linda Noskova 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 Montreal (WTA 1000): Victoria Mboko def. Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 Cincinnati (WTA 1000): Iga Swiatek def. Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 Monterrey (WTA 500): TBD Cleveland (WTA 250): TBD
What are the key stats for the Top 16 seeds?
1. Aryna Sabalenka
Age: 27 Career high ranking: 1 Career singles titles: 20 (3 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 50-10 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 28-6 Best US Open result: Champion (2024) Last US Open result: Champion (2024)
2. Iga Swiatek
Age: 24 Career high ranking: 1 Career singles titles: 24 (2 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 49-12 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 20-5 Best US Open result: Champion (2022) Last US Open result: Quarterfinals (2024)
3. Coco Gauff
Age: 21 Career high ranking: 2 Career singles titles: 10 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 35-12 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 17-5 Best US Open result: Champion (2023) Last US Open result: Fourth round (2024)
4. Jessica Pegula
Age: 31 Career high ranking: 3 Career singles titles: 9 (3 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 37-16 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 18-8 Best US Open result: Final (2024) Last US Open result: Final (2024)
5. Mirra Andreeva
Age: 18 Career high ranking: 5 Career singles titles: 3 (2 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 36-12 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 2-2 Best US Open result: Second round (2023-24) Last US Open result: Second round (2024)
6. Madison Keys
Age: 30 Career high ranking: 5 Career singles titles: 10 (2 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 37-12 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 33-13 Best US Open result: Final (2017) Last US Open result: Third round (2024)
7. Jasmine Paolini
Age: 29 Career high ranking: 4 Career singles titles: 3 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 33-14 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 4-5 Best US Open result: Fourth round (2024) Last US Open result: Fourth round (2024)
8. Amanda Anisimova
Age: 23 Career high ranking: 7 Career singles titles: 3 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 34-15 (32-14 in tour-level main draws) Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 3-5 Best US Open result: Third round (2020) Last US Open result: First round (2024)
9. Elena Rybakina
Age: 26 Career high ranking: 3 Career singles titles: 9 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 41-16 (including Billie Jean King Cup) Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 5-5 Best US Open result: Third round (2021, 2023) Last US Open result: Second round (2024)
10. Emma Navarro
Age: 24 Career high ranking: 8 Career singles titles: 2 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 25-21 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 5-3 Best US Open result: Semifinals (2024) Last US Open result: Semifinals (2024)
11. Karolina Muchova
Age: 29 Career high ranking: 8 Career singles titles: 1 (0 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 16-12 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 17-7 Best US Open result: Semifinals (2023, 2024) Last US Open result: Semifinals (2024)
12. Elina Svitolina
Age: 30 Career high ranking: 3 Career singles titles: 18 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 35-13 (including Billie Jean King Cup) Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 24-11 Best US Open result: Semifinals (2019) Last US Open result: Third round (2024)
13. Ekaterina Alexandrova
Age: 30 Career high ranking: 14 Career singles titles: 5 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 33-17 (as of the Monterrey quarterfinals this week) Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 9-8 Best US Open result: Third round (2023, 2024) Last US Open result: Third round (2024)
14. Clara Tauson
Age: 22 Career high ranking: 15 Career singles titles: 3 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 33-17 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 3-4 Best US Open result: Second round (2021, 2023, 2024) Last US Open result: Second round (2024)
15. Daria Kasatkina
Age: 28 Career high ranking: 8 Career singles titles: 8 (0 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 17-19 Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 12-10 Best US Open result: Fourth round (2017, 2023) Last US Open result: Second round (2024)
16. Belinda Bencic
Age: 28 Career high ranking: 4 Career singles titles: 9 (1 this year) Win-loss record in 2025: 27-13 (25-13 in tour-level main draws) Career main-draw win-loss record at US Open: 21-8 Best US Open result: Semifinals (2019) Last US Open result: Fourth round (2023)
Compared to the other redesigns, Material 3 Expressive for Phone by Google thoroughly updates how you use the app.
The Google Phone app now has three tabs, with Favorites and Recents merged into Home. Your starred contacts now appear in a bar/carousel at the top of the past calls list, with each conversation (which is also the case throughout the app) placed in a container.
Keypad is the middle tab and replaces the FAB (floating action button). The sheet containing the number pad is now rounded. Voicemail is unchanged save for the updated list style.
Google has moved Contacts into a new navigation drawer accessed from the search field alongside Settings (which benefits from a coat of M3 Expressive), Clear call history, and Help & feedback.
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Meanwhile, Google has updated the Incoming call screen with the ability to answer/decline via Horizontal swipe or Single tap. This can be set from the new “Incoming call gesture” menu in Settings. This is meant to reduce accidental declines and answers “while taking the phone out of one’s pocket.”
The in-call interface makes use of pill-shaped buttons that morph into rounded rectangles when selected. The end call button is also larger than before.
After testing got underway in June, this Material 3 Expressive redesign for the Google Phone app is widely rolling out with version 186 for stable users. It joins the Google Contacts update, while M3E is actively rolling out to the Messages app.
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Globally, TB impacts nearly 6 million men each year, including 1.3 million in the WHO African Region. By 2023, Nigeria ranked 20th in Africa, with an average of 219 cases per 100,000 population. WHO data shows Lesotho, the Central African Republic, and Gabon have the highest annual TB incidence rates per 100,000 population on the continent.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of transmitting TB is temporary, meaning a person with active TB disease is contagious only for a limited period, primarily before and shortly after starting treatment. During this time, they are most likely to spread the disease to people with whom they spend time daily, such as family members, friends, and coworkers.-and-hiv-(2018).png)
The BMJ Global Health notes that ending TB requires addressing the socially produced vulnerabilities that affect all genders. Its research shows TB affects more men than women, partly due to behaviours and practices, such as alcohol consumption and tobacco use, that increase the risk of exposure. 
