Taylor Swift leaves fans speechless with latest surprise
Taylor Swift fans were on their toes waiting for the next big reveal after the countdown on her website went live, however the surprise left them wanting more.
The 35-year-old pop superstar unveiled the surprise in the form of a seven-second clip of herself from the photoshoot of one of her covers for The Life of a Showgirl.
The video showed the Anti-Hero hitmaker striking a pose, looking over her shoulder and Swifties were left polarised on social media.
Fans quickly rushed to fan pages to gush or discuss their disappointment over the big reveal they waited for, with one writing, “Feel like that was a lot of countdown for a gif lmao.”
While another added, “I kept clicking the button thinking there had to be more,” and, “Almost 2 days countdown for a short clip.”
A third chimed in, “Literally could have been an email,” while another declared, “Me unsaving out of protest.”
However, some Swifties were more optimistic and theorised, “This feels like a music video hint, like behind the scenes from it.”
“Is this maybe from a music video for a single? It has to be a clip from something larger,” another echoed.
It remains to be seen what Swift does after the short clip, whether it’s a teaser from something or just one of the smaller countdowns leading up to the album release.
Social Determinants, Health Literacy Factor in Noncommunicable Diseases, Subsequent Infections
At ASM Microbe, Jacinda C. Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH (University of California San Diego), reported that social determinants of health such as poverty, underinsurance, and transportation barriers, together with limited health literacy, reduce engagement with care, delay diagnosis, and contribute to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and subsequent infection risk, including health care associated infections. Citing her recent publication in Infectious Diseases and Therapy, she described a syndemic relationship between NCDs and multidrug-resistant infections observed in low- and middle-income countries and in parts of the United States. She called for prevention to receive equal priority with treatment and outcomes and highlighted a persistent gap in translation to practice. She recommended linking bench findings with clinical outcomes and patient sociodemographic data, for example mapping isolates and biologic mechanisms to therapeutic response, comorbidities, and population characteristics, to guide prevention and clinical management.
US Measles Update: Lowest Weekly Increase Since January
As of September 9, 2025, the CDC reports 1,454 confirmed U.S. measles cases across 42 jurisdictions, including 37 outbreaks, with approximately three new cases in the most recent week, the lowest weekly increase since early January; 86% of cases are outbreak associated and totals remain preliminary. Among all cases, 1,433 occurred in U.S. residents and 21 in international visitors; hospitalizations were reported in 12% (180 of 1,454) with three deaths. Most patients were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status (92%); by age, 28% were younger than 5 years (404 cases), 38% were 5 to 19 years (554 cases), and 34% were 20 years and older (489 cases), with hospitalization proportions of 21%, 7%, and 11% respectively. Ongoing immunity gaps persist as kindergarten MMR coverage declined to 92.7% in 2023 to 2024 from 95.2% in 2019 to 2020, leaving an estimated 280,000 kindergartners at risk and sustaining vulnerability in underimmunized pockets; clinicians should maintain vigilance, prioritize catch-up vaccination, verify immunity before international travel, and consider measles in febrile rash illness among unvaccinated individuals, travelers, and close contacts.
Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection Lasting Over 750 Days Documented in Person With HIV
At The Lancet Microbe, investigators reported one of the longest documented persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections, exceeding 750 days, in a person with advanced HIV-1 who was not receiving antiretroviral therapy; across eight specimens collected March 2021 to July 2022 from an infection presumed to begin in May 2020, sequences formed a monophyletic B.1 cluster with 68 consensus and 67 subconsensus single nucleotide variants and an intrahost evolutionary rate of 6.74 × 10^−4 substitutions per site per year, similar to community rates. Ten nonsynonymous spike mutations mapped to positions later defining the Omicron lineage, nine detected before November 2021, yet there was no evidence of onward transmission. Coauthor William P. Hanage, PhD, noted that although most persistent infections do not yield highly transmissible variants, they provide opportunities for viral adaptation and warrant surveillance and treatment, underscoring the importance of timely antivirals and HIV care in immunocompromised patients.
Implementation Science Builds Partnerships to Create Better Access to Healthcare
At the University of North Carolina Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Michael Herce, MD, MPH, MSCR, described implementation science as the study of how to integrate evidence-based practices into routine care to improve quality and effectiveness, with a focus on underserved and historically marginalized populations in settings such as Malawi, Zambia, and North Carolina. He emphasized humility and partnership-building with local communities and organizations to align interventions with lived experience and local health systems. Key barriers include limited political will and fragmented care systems that separate clinical teams from community partners. Herce highlighted COVID-19 as an example of successful collaboration in which academic and community stakeholders set shared goals, exchanged reliable information, and jointly troubleshot barriers to expand access and impact.
Technology Demonstrates Ability to Transform Influenza Vaccines Into Universal Formulations
Corner Therapeutics reported preclinical data showing that its lipid based “hyperactivator” adjuvant platform, which engages dendritic cells and stimulates NLRP3, enhanced cross strain antibody responses and durable T cell memory in mice and nonhuman primates, converting the licensed seasonal influenza vaccine Afluria into a universal like formulation in animal models while outperforming aluminum hydroxide adjuvant. The company states that the approach did not kill dendritic cells, maintained favorable safety margins in animals, and may extend to oncology immunotherapies that depend on robust T cell activity. Human data are not yet available and the firm aims to begin clinical trials by 2027.
Her own look for the show also nodded back to the origin spirit of Calvin Klein. The star chose a custom shimmering silver bra top and skirt that called back to sleek ’90s elegance, which Klein helped define during the decade. “It’s a custom version from one of my favorite looks from Veronica’s debut collection,” says Collins. “The crop top and skirt reminded me of the iconic Calvin collections of the ’90s—that cool minimalism that became the unofficial uniform of New York and the decade.” Collins also wanted to bring the look into the now, via the silhouette and dazzle factor. “I wanted to play with proportion and make it feel new, and a bit 2025,” she says. “The low skirt on the hip felt fresh, and a cool proportion to mix with a matching crop top.”
While Collins has experimented with many different looks and vibes on many Hollywood step and repeats, she admits a big part of the fun of attending NYFW, for her, is the opportunity to test out a brand new look. “I love playing around with new shapes and silhouettes,” says Collins. “The material was also so unique, super playful, and chic. A fun nod to the ’90s CK aesthetic while feeling fresh and modern, and very me.”
Photo: Greg Kessler
For now, sadly, that’s a wrap on Collins’s Fashion Month schedule. Though something tells us we may see her in the City of Light later this month. She did, after all, just complete filming the fifth season of Emily in Paris there (and in Italy, too). “I just finished a couple weeks ago, and I’m so proud of what we all accomplished this season,” she teased. “It feels bigger and bolder, and even more adventurous. I’m always so grateful to get to explore more of Emily’s character each year and keep growing. It’s also been so fun to see more of Italy—and of course, get back home to Paris.”
Sumiyoshi Rion snatched victory in the ISU Challenger Series Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo, Italy on Saturday (13 September) with overnight leader Alysa Liu slipping to fourth place.
The 22-year-old Japanese, lying third after the short program, scored 140.72 in her free skate to vault to the top of the scoresheets with a total of 209.59.
Liu carried a lead of less than half a point over U.S. compatriot Sarah Everhardt from Friday’s short program. Afterwards, the reigning world champion admitted to wearing one new boot and one old one, and vowed there would be more to come from her in the jumping department – including a triple Axel – once the issue was resolved.
With her program and costume still works in progress, the 20-year-old’s jumping in her routine to a Lady Gaga medley was safe rather than spectacular. A popped triple Lutz late on was the only major error which was greeted by a rueful grimace.
Nakai Ami, fifth overnight, moved up to second place with a fine free skate. Her total of 206.04 was just over three and a half points down on her compatriot.
Everhardt took third with a total of 199.91 after scoring 130.75 for her free skate. Home skater Lara Naki Gutmann was behind Liu in fifth with 195.95.
While this was far from an ideal start to Liu’s season, with the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games five months away, she will hope to resolve her boot issue before she makes her 2025-26 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating bow in the Cup of China in late October.
The Lombardia Trophy ends on Sunday with men’s world champion Ilia Malinin holding a big lead over Kagiyama Yuma into the free skate.
Apple’s latest iPhones and wearables refresh the lineup, but the higher-margin services business is doing the real heavy lifting.
Services now account for close to one-third of the tech giant’s revenue, with materially higher margins than hardware.
The stock’s premium valuation means the investment case hinges more on services compounding than on any single product cycle.
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Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares have been choppy around this week’s product event as investors parse what the iPhone 17 family, a new ultra-thin iPhone Air, and updated wearables mean for demand this holiday season. The Cupertino, California-based tech company refreshed its flagship devices with faster chips, display and camera upgrades, and new AirPods and Apple Watch devices.
While keeping its lineup fresh is vital, the more important driver for the company (and the stock) going into fiscal 2026 is Apple’s services business, home to the company’s App Store, subscriptions, payments, advertising, iCloud, and more. It is growing faster than hardware, carries far higher margins, and is steadily representing a bigger slice of Apple’s profit. Yes, product cycles may sway the stock day to day, but the steady drumbeat of services growth is what can sustain earnings growth and support the stock’s premium valuation over time.
Image source: Getty Images.
Apple closed fiscal Q3 (the quarter ended June 28) with $94.0 billion in revenue, up 10% year over year, and earnings per share of $1.57, up 12%. Management highlighted a record for total revenue in the quarter ending in June, as well as an all-time high for services revenue.
“Today Apple is proud to report a June quarter revenue record with double-digit growth in iPhone, Mac and Services,” CEO Tim Cook said in the earnings release, adding that Apple Intelligence features continue to roll out across its platforms. The company also noted its installed base reached a new all-time high across every product category.
But services did the heavy lifting. The important segment’s revenue rose to $27.42 billion, up about 13% year over year, and represented roughly 29% of total sales for the period. More importantly for investors, Apple’s services carry structurally higher profitability. To this end, Apple’s services gross margin was about 76% in the quarter, versus roughly 35% for products. That spread explains why steady services growth can move overall earnings even when device cycles ebb and flow.
Over the longer haul, services have clearly become a bigger piece of the pie. For the nine months ended June 28, 2025, services made up roughly a quarter of Apple’s total revenue — up significantly from fiscal 2019, when the segment accounted for less than 18% of sales.
This rising contribution highlights how much more important recurring, high-margin services have become to the overall business. This trend should persist over the long haul. Sure, the mix will not move up in a straight line (blockbuster product launches can periodically push product revenue growth ahead of services), but the overall trend of services gradually taking a larger share of the company’s sales should persist.
Investors are also watching closely to see whether Apple’s investments in artificial intelligence (AI) can become a catalyst for faster services growth. Features like Apple Intelligence and on-device AI enhancements, as well as tighter integration across iCloud, subscriptions, and the App Store, could deepen engagement and create new revenue streams.
Apple has already signaled this push. Management said in its July earnings call that the company is significantly growing its investments in artificial intelligence. In addition, management said it’s making good progress on the development of a more personalized Siri, which is expected in 2026, underscoring how central AI is becoming to Apple’s long-term strategy.
If successful, these initiatives may not only sustain services expansion but even accelerate its growth rate over time.
This week’s event was certainly important for the stock. Such a robust suite of new products should help drive upgrades. Apple introduced the iPhone 17 Pro, starting at $1,099 — featuring the A19 Pro chip, design changes, and camera improvements — alongside the iPhone 17 lineup and the thin iPhone 17 Air. Additionally, AirPods Pro gained live translation and health-sensing features, and Apple updated its Watch models ahead of the holidays. These are meaningful refinements that keep the ecosystem fresh and even have the potential to nudge average selling prices higher.
Ultimately, though, fiscal 2026’s story is likely to be written in services. The recurring, subscription-heavy nature of this segment, combined with Apple’s record installed base, creates a durable runway for growth. With services already accounting for close to a third of revenue and the majority of gross profit, incremental gains here can offset variability in hardware cycles and support continued earnings expansion.
That is especially relevant given where the stock trades today. At a price-to-earnings multiple in the 30s, investors are paying for steady, high-margin earnings compounding — powered more by services than by any single iPhone feature.
A key risk for the stock, of course, is tariff uncertainty. Additionally, competition in streaming, cloud storage, and advertising is intense. And if hardware demand underwhelms for multiple cycles, the knock-on effects to services growth could slow. But Apple’s financial position remains strong, with ample cash generation to invest in new services, support the ecosystem, and continue sizable buybacks and dividends. These dynamics — rising services revenue and significantly higher services margins — are the parts of the Apple story that matter most as investors look toward fiscal 2026.
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Apple’s New Products May Help the Stock, but Services Matter Most Heading Into Fiscal 2026 was originally published by The Motley Fool
Nepal’s major political parties have demanded the country’s president reinstates the parliament he dissolved following deadly anti-corruption protests.
In a statement, eight parties – including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Maoist Centre – said President Ram Chandra Poudel acted unconstitutionally.
Poudel dissolved the House of Representatives on Friday upon the recommendation of newly appointed interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki – it was also a key demand from the protest movement.
More than 50 people were killed in clashes with riot police during this week’s mass protests sparked by a ban on social media platforms. Karki was appointed after a deal was reached with protest leaders.
Saturday’s statement demanding the reinstatement of the parliament was signed by the chief whips of the eight political parties.
They argued the step taken by the president was unconstitutional and against the precedents set by Nepal’s judiciary.
The dissolution of the parliament was a major demand by student leaders from the so-called “Gen Z” protest movement.
But the eight parties say the protesters’ demands – including new elections announced for 5 March next year – should be addressed through an institution voted by the people.
Later on Saturday, President Poudel urged all sides to show restraint and help conduct the elections.
In a statement, he said a peaceful resolution was being achieved in a “very… difficult and scary situation”.
“The constitution is alive, the parliamentary system is alive and the federal democratic republic still exists. People have an opportunity to move forward in the path of a more efficient democracy by conducting elections within six months,” the president said.
Karki, a 73-year-old former Supreme Court chief justice and the first woman to lead the impoverished Himalayan nation, was sworn in during a brief ceremony in the capital Kathmandu.
She is expected to appoint ministers to her cabinet within a few days.
She is widely regarded as having a clean image, and her leadership of the interim government is being supported by student leaders from the “Gen Z” movement.
But her cabinet will face multiple challenges, including restoring law and order, reconstructing parliament and the other key buildings that were attacked, reassuring the Gen Z protesters who want change – and others in Nepal who are fearful its young democracy and constitutional order could be derailed.
Another key task will be to bring those responsible for violence to justice.
Nepal is gradually returning back to normalcy after the worst unrest in decades.
Nepal’s soldiers – who had been deployed to patrol the streets of Kathmandu – returned to their bases after Karki took the oath of office.
The protests were triggered by the government’s decision last week to ban 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook – but they soon widened to embody much deeper discontent with Nepal’s political elite.
In the weeks before the ban, a “nepo kid” campaign – spotlighting the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children and allegations of corruption – had taken off on social media.
And while the social media ban was hastily lifted on Monday night, the protests had by that stage gained unstoppable momentum.
For curious onlookers hoping to get in on the fashion week hullabaloo, Christian Siriano was almost the miracle on 34th Street.
As the new creative director of Macy’s’ private label I.N.C., his show was supposed to parade outside of its flagship at Herald Square but was moved inside at the last minute — so goes public event planning in New York City. “But you know what?” offered an ebullient Siriano. “This is exactly what I really wanted.”
What he really wanted was something “salon-style,” and he delivered. Plush bone carpeting blanketed the lower accessories level, with mounds of white hydrangeas trellising the matching drapes. “When you walk in, you feel like you’re in a dream world, somewhere else for 20 minutes.”
That’s the magic of Macy’s and all department stores and, for under half an hour, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah and Lizzo were whisked into an Old Hollywood film noir starring Marlene Dietrich reimagined through Siriano’s ‘80s arch glamour lens.
Coco Rocha hammed it up in the opener, looking like career Barbie with her flying saucer hat and an exaggerated skirt suit in clashing stripes and polka dots. The latter is shaping up to be a major trend in New York and velvet ones decorated enormous loofa-like taffeta poufs, erupting from just about every part of the human anatomy. “It’s a lot of shapes,” quipped Siriano.
Sinuous gowns in laminated lace and metallized silk were more Oscar-worthy, especially one in white chiffon with crystals lining the boned corset. For the guys, a corseted tuxedo jacket with tails that swept the floor was equally winning.
Corsetry also inspired Siriano’s take on I.N.C.’s signature black blazer, celebrating 40 years. Spliced into pieces and with oversize shoe laces tying it together, it was modeled by Ava Claire and will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the CFDA.
Apart from I.N.C., Siriano tied up with Capri Sun for a silver clutch bag with beaded orange and cherry fringe and the newly minted Humane World for Animals on a maxi coat look printed with an entire zoo.
While these felt gimmicky, bursting the fantasy bubble, what brought you back to the land of Oz were jolts of teal, lavender and hot pink after 51 turns in black-and-white. Siriano said: “The whole thing ends as if somebody turned on the color.”
Juventus snatched a dramatic 4-3 win at home to Inter, with Vasilije Adzic netting a stunning added-time winner in a game in which a Thuram brother scored for each side, but Napoli stayed top with a 3-1 win at Fiorentina.
In Turin, Juventus took the lead in the 14th minute through Lloyd Kelly. Inter equalised on the half-hour mark with Hakan Calhanoglu’s strike but Juventus were back in front thanks to Kenan Yildiz eight minutes later.
Calhanoglu scored another in the 65th minute to draw Inter level again and 11 minutes later Marcus Thuram’s header from a corner put the away side in front, but his brother, Khéphren, headed in from a free-kick eight minutes from the end to pull Juve level.
With the game heading for a draw, the substitute Adzic smashed home the winner from distance to put Juventus on nine points, three ahead of Napoli, Cremonese and Roma who all have a game in hand. Inter remain on three points.
Khéphren Thuram heads Juventus level after his brother Marcus had given Inter a 3-2 lead. Photograph: Alberto Lingria/Reuters
Napoli strolled to a comfortable win in Florence, with Rasmus Højlund scoring on his debut as the defending champions continued their perfect start to the season.
The visitors went ahead in the sixth minute, with Kevin De Bruyne converting from the spot, and Højlund’s debut goal doubled Napoli’s lead eight minutes later. Sam Beukema tapped in from close range six minutes after the break to make it 3-0. Napoli concede a first goal of the season when Luca Ranieri pulled one back for Fiorentina with 11 minutes left.
Højlund, on loan from Manchester United, told Sky Sport Italia: “I’m very happy with the goal. Today we won an important match, and I’m really glad I scored and to be part of this incredible team.”
In Spain, Kylian Mbappé scored and provided the assist for Arda Guler as Real Madrid weathered a second-half storm to beat Real Sociedad 2-1, maintaining their perfect La Liga start despite playing most of the match with 10 men.
The visitors got off to a flying start with Mbappé opening the scoring from a quick counter in the 12th minute, but their task became significantly harder when Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red card after the half-hour mark for hauling down last man Mikel Oyarzabal.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Real Madrid doubled their lead just before half-time when Guler scored from close range following a great run by Mbappé who brilliantly put the ball on a plate for the Turkish midfielder inside a crowded box.
Real Sociedad pulled one back through Oyarzabal from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after a handball by Dani Carvajal, but the visitors held on for a hard-fought victory that keeps them top of La Liga with 12 points from four matches three ahead of Athletic Bilbao, who lost 1-0 at home to Alavés, and Getafe, who beat Oviedo 2-0. The defeat leaves winless Real Sociedad in 17th place with two points, one spot above the relegation zone.
Atlético Madrid finally got their season up and running, with Pablo Barrios and Nico González on target in a 2-0 home victory over Villarreal that delivered a first win of the campaign.
Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich dismantled promoted Hamburg 5-0, to make it three wins from three Bundesliga games to stay top.
The champions, who host Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, scored four times in the opening 29 minutes to put the game to bed. Hamburg have now conceded 55 goals in their last nine trips to the Bavarian capital.
Harry Kane fires home his second goal to seal a 5-0 win for Bayern Munich. Photograph: Angelika Warmuth/Reuters
Hamburg, back in the Bundesliga after a seven-season spell in 2. Bundesliga, were behind after three minutes when Serge Gnabry drilled in from a tight angle. Aleksandar Pavlović doubled their lead six minutes later before a 26th-minute Kane penalty made it 3-0. Luis Díaz also got on the scoresheet with a deflected effort another three minutes later.
Bayern, who host Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, took their foot off the gas after the break but still scored again, with Kane bagging his fifth league goal just after the hour mark before Michael Olise hit the woodwork late in the game.
Vincent Kompany, Bayern’s coach: said: “There are no easy matches. You have to carve out that momentum. We have played ourselves into a good position, not only against Hamburg, and we are going into the next game which is again at home, with a lot of confidence.
“It worked well in the first half and in the second half we controlled the game and scored another goal. I am happy with the result. Clean sheet, five goals scored, a great feeling, great atmosphere.”
Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 2-0 win away to a Heidenheim side who played most of the game with 10 men.
Heidenheim had Leart Paqarada taken off with a knee injury after seven minutes. To make matters worse Budu Zivzivadze was dismissed in the 21 minute for a late tackle on Felix Nmecha.
It was only a matter of time until Dortmund scored and Serhou Guirassy put them in the lead, heading in at the far post in the 33rd minute to score in his eighth consecutive league game. Dortmund made sure they went into the break with a two-goal cushion after Maximilian Beier tapped in a Karim Adeyemi cutback in first-half stoppage time.
