Who organizes the trip

The organization is Peace Boat, a Japanese NGO founded in 1983 that organizes world cruises with a focus on peace, human rights, and cultural exchange. Each voyage visits numerous ports on different continents and generally lasts about three months.

The way to travel for free is its educational program GET (Global English/Spanish Training), which recruits volunteer English and Spanish teachers to give classes to passengers during the voyage.

The Japanese NGO: how long it lasts and where it goes

The organization’s next major cruise is the 125th Global Voyage, a trip around the world that also reaches Antarctica. These are its main details:

• Duration: around 106 days (about three and a half months)
• Departure: December 15, 2026 from Yokohama (Japan)
• Return: March 30, 2027, back to Japan
• Stops: around 20 ports on different continents
• Ship: the Pacific World, described as the largest ship in Peace Boat’s history

What expenses does the Japanese NGO cover?

In exchange for teaching on board, GET volunteers receive:

• Full passage on the trip
• Cabin (accommodation)
• All meals
• Visa costs and pre-boarding orientation

The only costs borne by the traveler are the flights to the embarkation port and back from the disembarkation port, travel insurance (mandatory), and vaccinations.

What requirements must meet the interested parties

To apply for the program, it is generally required:

• At least 18 months of full-time teaching experience teaching English and/or Spanish
• Being a very advanced speaker of the language (being a “native” speaker is not mandatory)
• A teaching certification (TEFL, CELTA, teaching degree, etc.) is valued, although not always mandatory
• Ability to design classes, work in a team, and handle several weeks of life on board

In addition, the selection is competitive: it includes several stages of evaluation and interviews.

The amount does not constitute an automatic payment for all families, since the ACTC depends on the taxpayer and the children meeting the requirements set by the IRS and on the calculation made in the tax return.

To access the benefit, taxpayers must claim the credit when filing their federal return for tax year 2026. In this regard, the IRS establishes that the CTC and the ACTC are calculated using Schedule 8812 (Form 1040), which must be filed together with the return when applicable.

Who can receive up to US$3,400 from the IRS in 2027?

The benefit is aimed at taxpayers who have children who meet the conditions to be considered qualifying children. According to the IRS instructions for 2026, the requirements are:

• Have an eligible child: the child must be under 17 at the end of 2026 and meet the conditions to be considered a dependent.
• Relationship to the taxpayer: this may be a son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of them, among other relationships recognized by the IRS.
• Residence: In general, the child must have lived with the taxpayer for more than half of 2026, although there are exceptions.
• Support: The child may not have provided more than half of their own support during the year.
• Social Security number: The child must have a valid SSN to work in the United States.
• Taxpayer income: the credit begins to phase out when modified adjusted gross income exceeds US$200.00 for most taxpayers or US$400,000 for those filing jointly,
• Taxpayer status: to claim the ACTC, the taxpayer must meet the citizenship, nationality, or immigration status conditions established by the IRS.

The refund may be received by direct deposit into a bank account, but to use that option, the taxpayer must provide the IRS with the account number and routing number when filing their return. The deposit can be directed to a bank account in the taxpayer’s name, their spouse’s name, or both in the case of a joint return.

What documentation must be submitted to claim the benefit?

The taxpayer must include the eligible children on their Form 1040 and complete Schedule 8812, which is the credit for other dependents. The IRS also requires identification information for the taxpayer and the children; to claim the CTC or ACTC on a 2026 return, the taxpayer must have a valid SSN, and each child generating the credit must also have one.

On a joint return, only one of the spouses needs to have a valid SSN to access the CTC or ACTC; the other must have an SSN or an ITIN issued before the tax-filing deadline, including extensions. If the taxpayer previously had a CTC, ACTC, or other related credit rejected or reduced for certain reasons, the IRS may also require Form 8862 to claim it again.

When will the IRS refund for the ACTC be received?

The return corresponding to tax year 2026 will be filed in 2027, and the IRS has already indicated in the draft instructions for Schedule 8812 for 2026 that it will not be able to issue refunds before mid-February 2027, when the return correctly claims the ACTC. It should be noted that this delay applies to the full refund, not just the portion corresponding to the credit.

The final amount and the specific date on which each taxpayer will receive the money will depend on their return and the processing carried out by the IRS.

Latino voters helped power Trump’s 2024 win. He took nearly half of their vote that year, up from about a third in 2020, according to Pew Research Center.

Trump’s overall approval rating, the share of Americans who say they approve of how he is handling the job, held at 32%. That matches September’s reading, the lowest of his political career so far.

Ipsos surveyed 4,506 U.S. adults online from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5. The margin of error, or how far results could differ from the views of all Americans, is plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

Could Latino voters help cost Republicans control of Congress in the midterms?

Yes, if the shift holds through Election Day. Among Latino registered voters, meaning people signed up to cast a ballot, Democrats lead by 26 points. That is the widest gap the Reuters/Ipsos poll has measured since Trump took office.

Latinos made up about 1 in 10 voters in 2024, according to Pew Research Center. A group that size breaking 2-to-1 for one party can tip close House and Senate races.

The midterms, held halfway through a president’s four-year term, will decide which party controls each chamber for Trump’s last two years. Republicans hold both now, so losing either would end their full control of Congress.

Many analysts expect Democrats to win the House. The Senate is increasingly seen as within reach for either party.

The poll tracks which party people favor nationally, not individual races. It was conducted in English only, and results for smaller groups such as Latinos carry a wider margin of error.

What else is hurting Trump and Republicans before the US midterms?

Cost of living is voters’ top concern heading into the election, the poll found. Prices have climbed since gasoline and diesel costs surged after the U.S. war with Iran began in February.

Gasoline cost 27.4% more in August than a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Among all registered voters, Democrats lead 44% to 37%. Independents are voters who don’t identify with either party. Among independent registered voters, Democrats lead 37% to 21%, and 28% are still undecided.

Republicans have also lost ground with voters 50 and older, who typically make up a large share of midterm turnout. Their edge with that group shrank to 44% to 42%, down from 8 percentage points in December 2025.

Voters under 50 favor Democrats by 18 points.

The purpose of this competition is to offer opportunities for anyone with an interest in space and science. According to the official website, all ages, skill levels, and professional backgrounds are welcome.

How to be part of the 2026 NASA Hackathon

NASA specialists are encouraging young people and space enthusiasts of all ages to participate in the competition, share their knowledge, and learn from others along the way.

These are the steps you must follow to register:

• Create an account: The first step to be part of this hackathon is to create a NASA Space Apps account, or log in if you already have one.
• Register for the hackathon: After creating your account, you have to register in the category of the 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge. You can register up until the hackathon closes on November 15.
• Choose a local event: Choose an in-person or virtual Local Event near you, or the virtual Universal Event if none is available. You can change your selection until November 15.
• Join or form a team: Join an existing team or create your own to participate in the hackathon.
• Submit a project: Upload and submit your team’s project through the Project Tab before the November 15 deadline.
• Complete the participant survey: Share your feedback about your hackathon experience by November 30.

This year’s theme is “The Next Frontier”

The 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge will focus on “The Next Frontier,” encouraging participants to explore how space science and technology can help address challenges on Earth and beyond. The theme invites teams to use NASA’s open data to develop innovative ideas and solutions.

Participants can work on projects connected to the exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond, while tackling challenges that bring together science, technology, creativity, and problem-solving. The goal is to turn space data into ideas that can have an impact on communities around the world.

What can participants win at the NASA Space Apps Challenge?

The NASA Space Apps Challenge recognizes outstanding projects through its Global Awards, giving winning teams the opportunity to receive international recognition for their work. Participants in the Sakhir event can also connect with other space and technology enthusiasts while developing projects based on NASA data and resources.

However, the sponge can remain wet between one wash and the next, a condition that favors the survival of certain microorganisms.

A study by scientists at the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (Nofima) compared the presence of bacteria in sponges and brushes and concluded that the second option may be a more hygienic alternative.

Kitchen sponges: what the researchers found

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, analyzed sponges and brushes used by people in Norway and Portugal. The researchers’ idea was to identify the quantity and diversity of bacteria present in these items and study how long Salmonella could survive under different conditions.

The results showed a curious difference: the used brushes had lower levels of bacteria than the sponges.

What bacteria were found in kitchen sponges?

The study identified a group of bacteria that appeared regularly in both sponges and brushes.

Among the most frequent were Acinetobacter, Chryseobacterium, Enhydrobacter, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas. The scientists clarified that they were, mostly, non-pathogenic bacteria.

So, why did the finding draw attention? Because these bacteria show that the sponge does not remain completely clean after washing dishes. On the contrary, it can become a place where different microorganisms remain and accumulate, because it retains moisture and organic matter residue.

The researchers indicated that some of these bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, are widespread in the environment and can be found in water, soil and food.

What happens with Salmonella and sponges

Beyond analyzing the bacteria present in utensils used by people, the researchers carried out specific experiments with Salmonella, a bacterium that can indeed cause foodborne illness.

In those tests, the amount of Salmonella did not decrease in the sponges, regardless of how they were stored. In contrast, when the contaminated brushes were left to dry overnight, the amount of bacteria decreased.

Why it is not advisable to leave the sponge wet, according to the researchers

The sponge retains water and can remain wet for a long time, while the brush drains more easily and dries faster.

One of the scientists explained that everyday sponges practically never dry out, and that is why bacteria survive better in them.

One of the study’s main conclusions was that brushes can be a more hygienic alternative than sponges for washing dishes.

While the sponge absorbs water and can remain wet for quite some time, the brush allows the liquid to drain more easily and dries faster.

The practices they recommend adopting to prevent microorganisms from remaining on utensils

A previous study by the same Nofima team, with laboratory experiments and a survey of nearly 10,000 consumers from ten European countries, evaluated different ways of cleaning sponges and brushes.

The study determined that washing them with bleach, boiling them, or cleaning them in the dishwasher produced more efficient results in reducing Salmonella.

The scientists also recommended replacing or cleaning those that may have been in contact with pathogenic microorganisms, for example after washing utensils that touched raw meat.

Harvard’s short course that teaches programming from scratch

It is CS50: Introduction to Computer Science, the introductory programming course at the University of Harvard. It is one of the most popular and recognized courses of its kind in the world, with millions of enrollments over the years.

It is designed to start from scratch: it does not require prior experience and guides the student through their first steps in computational thinking and coding.

CS50 tops the ranking of the most popular online courses in history compiled by the specialized site Class Central, which places it in first place by number of enrollments. That is why it is often cited as one of the best and most influential programming courses in the world.

How long it lasts and how much it costs

According to Harvard itself, the course lasts about 5 weeks, with an estimated commitment of 10 to 20 hours per week. It is also self-paced. In other words, you can start at any time and progress according to your own schedule.

As for the cost, the course is free. It offers a free completion certificate through the CS50 platform for those who complete the assignments and final project. There is also a paid verified version of the certificate (Harvard lists it at around $219), for those who want that additional credential.

What you learn

CS50 covers the fundamentals of computing and programming with several languages and topics, including:

• Languages: C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript, as well as HTML and CSS for web development.
• Concepts: algorithms, data structures, abstraction, resource management, security, and software engineering.

The course combines classes, programming exercises, and a final project in which the student applies what they have learned.

How the certificate is obtained

To access the certificate, you must complete the programming assignments and the final project satisfactorily. The free version of the certificate does not require identity verification. The verified one (paid), however, does and is usually used to add to a résumé or a professional profile.

Beyond Harvard’s prestige, CS50 has become a classic entry point into programming because of the quality of its teaching and because it opens the possibility of learning one of the most in-demand skills in the job market at no cost and from anywhere in the world.

The immediate reaction is usually panic, followed by desperate attempts to check whether the screen turns on or to look for quick solutions on the internet.

However, acting without knowledge can sentence the device’s electronics to death.

Understanding the destructive processes triggered by the liquid and applying an immediate action guide based on laboratory tests are essential steps to save the device’s memory and components.

What happens to the cellphone when it falls into water?

When a cellphone falls into water, the main risk is that moisture reaches the internal electronic components while the device still has power. The liquid can enter through the charging port, speakers, microphone, slots, and other openings, and reach the logic board.

If the water reaches certain areas of the board, it can create electrical connections where none should exist and cause failures or short circuits. The risk increases if the phone remains on or is turned on after getting wet.

In addition, the problem does not end when the cellphone appears dry. Water contains minerals and impurities that can leave residues on the components and promote corrosion of the traces, connectors, and solder joints. That is why a phone may work normally after getting wet and begin to show faults hours or even days later.

The device’s architecture also affects how much liquid can enter and which components it reaches. Cellphones with a certain degree of water resistance have seals and protections designed to limit moisture entry, although that protection does not mean they are completely waterproof or that it remains intact throughout the device’s useful life.

Myths that do not work: the ineffectiveness of rice and false remedies

The habit of burying the cellphone in a container with raw rice traditionally is the most widespread urban belief for saving a wet device.

However, conventional rice is the least absorbent method of all available household alternatives, being unable to extract the moisture trapped in the deeper layers of the device.

Worse still, the dust and starch released by the grains can enter through the charging ports and speakers, forming a paste that clogs and further damages the internal connectors. Leaving the phone enclosed in a container with rice limits air circulation, slowing the natural drying process.

Tests show that simply exposing the device to open air far outperforms the absorption capacity of conventional dry rice. Far from being mere theoretical speculation, the ineffectiveness of these homemade methods and the vulnerability of each type of device were exposed in a rigorous laboratory analysis.

Gazelle’s investigation into behavior in response to liquid absorption attempts

To verify the real effectiveness of popular remedies, specialist Scott S. Lyman and the team at the technology refurbishing company Gazelle carried out an experiment with nine smartphones destined for recycling.

During the test, they submerged five Samsung Galaxy S III models, three iPhone 4s, and one iPhone 3GS to analyze their behavior and recovery rate.

The results showed drastic differences according to each brand’s design:

• All Samsung Galaxy S III devices managed to turn on and work without aftereffects after the drying process, thanks to the fact that their removable battery cut the power in time and the open structure of their chassis allowed the water to drain out.
• Most iPhones suffered irreversible damage from corrosion and moisture buildup around the non-removable battery.

In a second test, the study compared the water absorption capacity over 24 hours among seven common materials: cat litter, couscous, traditional oats, instant oats, instant rice, silica gel, and conventional raw rice.

Raw rice turned out to be the worst option of all. However, the experiment showed that leaving the test object in the open air was more effective than any of the desiccants. Based on the data obtained in these tests with real devices, the experts were able to design a rapid-action protocol that maximizes the chances of survival.

Step by step: the emergency guide to rescue your device and how to dry it properly

After a fall into water, the speed of response in the first few minutes is crucial to save the phone’s memory and components. The emergency procedure recommended by specialists is divided into the following consecutive stages:

1. Immediate shutdown and removal of components: Turn off the phone instantly without trying to press unnecessary buttons or check whether the screen works. Remove the case, SIM card, MicroSD memory card, and battery if the model is removable.
2. Mechanical evacuation of the liquid: Dry the surface with absorbent paper towels. Shake the device firmly while keeping the ports facing downward, blow on it, or use a low-power vacuum over the openings to suck out as much surface water as possible.
3. Opening the chassis (if you have tools): If possible, remove the chassis screws (using specific screwdrivers such as Pentalobe for iPhone or Phillips for Android) to expose the logic board directly to the air.
4. Airflow drying or high-absorption desiccants: Place the device in a ventilated area in front of the continuous airflow of a fan. If choosing a drying agent, use only silica gel or instant rice in large quantities (at least 4 cups in a 1- to 2-liter container) for 24 to 48 hours.

Following this strict protocol and discarding myths without scientific basis makes it possible to minimize the risk of short circuits, protecting the logic board and extending the device’s useful life after a water accident.

The federal prosecutors have accused her of secretly working for Beijing to spy on relatives of Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te.

Wanying Zhang, a 34-year-old real estate agent from Irvine who also went by Heather, was charged with acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government, according to the announcement made by the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California Attorney Bill Essayli on X.

The allegations presented by the FBI against the California woman

Federal authorities allege that Zhang watched the home of the president’s son and sent photos, videos, and the license plate numbers of his vehicles to a Chinese government official.

Zhang appeared Monday in federal court in downtown Los Angeles for an initial hearing. She has not been formally indicted, and it was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney.

According to Essayli, Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 and, following instructions from Beijing, surveilled a “close relative” of a “high-ranking official” in the Taiwanese government and sent Chinese officials photographs, videos, and vehicle license plate information.

Zhang coordinated the trip with an associate and used “tradecraft” to avoid detection, the prosecutor said. He added that Zhang “never notified” the U.S. government that she was acting on behalf of a foreign government, which constitutes a federal offense.

“Foreign adversaries, take note: America is no longer a safe place to run your espionage operations.” FBI Director Kash Patel said on X. “This FBI is hunting threats to our national security wherever they hide and bringing them to justice.”

The official response of Taiwan’s government

Taiwan’s Presidential Office confirmed that relatives of President Lai were the targets, without specifying who, and called it “a classic case of transnational repression.”

“Taiwan condemns in the strongest terms such barbaric acts, which disregard human rights and national sovereignty and aim to suppress, threaten, or even harm individuals advocating for freedom and democracy or their families,” spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement.

The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The dispute over Taiwan

Taiwan and China split after a civil war in 1949. Lai Ching-te, elected in 2024, has said that the People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan, and Beijing considers him a separatist. Since taking office, he has pledged to raise defense spending from 3% to 5% of GDP.

From now, the charges are allegations, and Zhang is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

To Secretary Jake Doe, “Renter protections are a critical component of a healthy, equitable housing market for all. The Moore-Miller administration continues to prioritize renter rights and protections to decrease evictions, keep tenants in their homes, and stabilize and improve communities.”

The update to the 2027 bill provides both tenants and landlords with the most current information about their rights under the law to ensure better housing outcomes.

New 2027 Maryland tenants’ bill aims to improve the rental experience

This package of policies responds to Governor Wes Moore’s 2024 Housing plan to make Maryland more affordable. This Act, which took effect on October 1, 2024, would protect Maryland renters facing housing instability, reduce required security deposits, and create new paths to homeownership by giving tenants the opportunity to purchase their rental homes.

According to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, since the Act went into effect, Maryland authorities have seen “a 14% decrease in eviction filing rates and a 16% decrease in the number of households who are evicted.”

Maryland requires the Tenants’ Bill of Rights to be included in every residential lease. The document is updated each year to reflect changes in federal and state rental laws, as well as feedback from tenants and housing organizations.

New rules limit how landlords can use criminal history

The Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act establishes new rules for housing providers that screen prospective tenants based on their criminal history. The law sets limits on when landlords can request information about an applicant’s criminal record, what convictions can be considered, and when that history can be used to deny a housing application.

The measure also prohibits landlords from requiring prospective tenants to undergo drug or alcohol testing. These provisions are part of the changes incorporated into the 2027 Tenants’ Bill of Rights.

New protections for subsidized renters and rental history

Housing providers cannot refuse to rent to tenants using an income-based housing subsidy because of their income, credit score, or lack of a credit score, or certain adverse credit history. They must also give tenants the option to have their positive rental payment history reported to consumer reporting agencies.

This is the Saver’s Match, a program through which the federal government may contribute up to $1000 per person per year directly to a retirement account. The amount each taxpayer receives will depend both on their income and on the amount they have set aside for this type of savings.

How will the IRS benefit with up to $1000 work?

The Saver’s Match will begin to apply to retirement contributions made during fiscal year 2027.

According to the IRS, the federal government may match 50% of the money a person contributes, with a maximum of $1000 per year per taxpayer.

In this way, a person who contributes $2000 and meets the conditions to receive the maximum 50% rate could obtain another $1000 for their retirement savings.

The money will not be delivered as a check with unrestricted access. In general, the federal contribution will be deposited directly into the retirement account designated by the beneficiary and will be earmarked for that savings.

In the case of married couples who file jointly, the benefit is calculated individually for each spouse. Therefore, if both make contributions and meet the requirements, each could access their own Saver’s Match.

Who will be eligible for the Saver’s Match?

Certain requirements are needed to access the program:

• Make contributions to a retirement plan or an individual retirement account (IRA).
• Be at least 18 years old at the end of the fiscal year.
• Not be a student as defined by tax law.
• Not be listed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.
• Be a U.S. resident for tax purposes.

It will not be necessary to owe federal taxes to access the program. According to the IRS, a person may qualify even if they owe little or no federal income tax.

In addition, the percentage the government contributes will depend on the modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and the marital status used to file the return.

Saver’s Match: What will the income limits be

To receive the maximum contribution, equivalent to 50% of contributions, during 2027 the income limits will be:

• Single or married filing separately: up to $20.500
• Head of household: up to $30.750
• Married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouses: up to $41.000

Those who exceed those amounts will still be able to access a partial contribution within certain ranges.

When can the $1000 of the Saver’s Match be claimed?

Although the program will begin with contributions made during 2027, eligible taxpayers will have to claim the benefit when filing their corresponding federal return for that year in 2028.

To do so, they will have to file the new Form 8880-A together with their annual tax return.

The IRS clarifies that during 2026 no procedure is necessary to request the new program. Starting in 2027, those who want to access it will have to make or continue making contributions to an eligible plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), a government 457(b) plan, or a traditional or Roth IRA, and keep the records of those contributions.

The Saver’s Match will replace the current Saver’s Credit for eligible contributions intended for retirement plans or IRAs starting in fiscal year 2027.

The reflection was recorded by journalist Covadonga O’Shea in her book Así es Amancio Ortega, el hombre que creó Zara, published in 2008 and based on her conversations with the founder of Inditex. Later, the statement was also reproduced by Luis Lara and Jorge Mas in Por qué unas tiendas venden y otras no.

Since these quotes came to light, they have become a philosophy that links product and innovation as the engine of growth. Something undeniable, since Inditex’s own documentation confirms Ortega’s weight in the company’s history: he began his business activity in textile manufacturing in 1963, founded Confecciones Goa in 1972 and three years later founded Zara España, the group’s first distribution and retail company.

What was Amancio Ortega’s philosophy for growing Zara?

Ortega’s business vision starts from one idea: financial results should be the consequence of building a company capable of continuous improvement, and not the sole objective of its activity.

Hence one of his best-known phrases: “It is not worth being an entrepreneur just to be rich”. The statement has been included for years in publications about his career and appears linked to the book Así es Amancio Ortega, el hombre que creó Zara, by Covadonga O’Shea. A review published by Cinco Días in 2008 already attributed that idea to Ortega. Cinco Días

That way of understanding the company fits with another of the statements provided: “Results are not so important, I never look at them. If anything, after three or four months, Pablo (Isla, then CEO) shows them to me. What we do is innovate and not look at the results”.

The central element, therefore, would not be ignoring profitability, but preventing short-term results from replacing product and the ability to innovate as management priorities.

From textile manufacturing to Zara: this is how Amancio Ortega began

Ortega’s business history began well before Zara’s international expansion. According to Inditex corporate records, he started his activity in the textile manufacturing sector in 1963.

In 1972 he created Confecciones Goa, considered by Inditex to be the group’s first garment factory. Three years later, in 1975, he founded Zara España, the first company dedicated to the distribution and retail sale of what would later become Inditex.

Ortega later became chairman of Inditex and remained at the head of the chairmanship until 2011. The corporate documentation also identifies him as the company’s founder and controlling shareholder.

The phrase “If I have made so much money, it has been because my goal has never been to make money or be rich” focuses precisely on the difference between money as a result and as a purpose.

Ortega also explained that he did not review the results immediately and preferred to focus on innovation. This is not a recent statement made in 2026, but earlier reflections that have resurfaced in different media during this year.

One of them appears attributed in publications to journalist Covadonga O’Shea, author of Así es Amancio Ortega, el hombre que creó Zara. Other later compilations also reproduce the idea that Ortega understood money as a consequence of business growth and not as the ultimate end. Xataka

What relationship does Amancio Ortega have with Inditex?

In addition to being its founder, Ortega retains a majority stake in Inditex through his investment companies.

The company’s available corporate documentation puts that stake at 59.294% of the capital, channeled through Pontegadea Inversiones and Partler Participaciones.

That link makes it possible to distinguish between two issues that often get mixed together when talking about his wealth: one is his stake in Inditex and the other, different, is the set of investments managed through his asset-holding companies.

For this reason, it is not necessary to state that Ortega has a certain amount of money “in the bank”. Estimates of the wealth of major billionaires usually calculate the value of shares, companies, real estate, and other investments, and can fluctuate according to market valuations.

This volunteering opportunity in Mexico is ideal for those who wish to combine a long stay with remote work or adventure, as the offer provides free accommodation and multiple benefits in exchange for a commitment of 28 hours per week.

What does the job involve and what are the requirements?

According to the Worldpackers platform, the main activities total 28 hours of help per week and include cleaning and preparing studios, tidying common areas, household tasks, gardening, and support with minor maintenance or repairs.

The usual schedule is set from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 1 pm, which leaves the afternoons free. In return, volunteers receive lodging, high-speed internet connection, free use of laundry, a fully equipped kitchen, and discounts on tours.

It is worth noting that the vacancy is aimed exclusively at couples or duos with an intermediate level of Spanish or English.

What is the accommodation like and where is the experience located?

The exchange takes place in an equipped condominium that has attractive amenities such as a pool, terraces, gym, laundry, and hot tubs. As for the rooms, there is the possibility of having a bed in a private room or shared rooms with other travelers.

Likewise, it is necessary to take into account that flights, local transportation, and travel insurance are the volunteer’s own responsibility.

Why is Tulum one of the most attractive destinations in Mexico?

According to the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), Tulum is one of the most beautiful destinations in Mexico because of its enormous historical and natural richness. Among its great attractions is its famous archaeological zone located on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the beautiful Playa Paraíso.

In addition, it is the gateway to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and has iconic cenotes such as the Gran Cenote, ideal for diving and adventure.

Following expert recommendations when these foods are kept in the refrigerator is necessary to ensure they are fit for consumption. However, if they are stored in the freezer, the advice will only help ensure product quality, but safety will not be a problem if they are kept at an adequate temperature.

Meat, pork, fish, and deli meats: how long can they be stored in the refrigerator

The official website of the United States Government dedicated to food safety states that, in a refrigerator at 4 °C or lower and a freezer at -18 °C or lower, the recommendation is:

Meat, pork, and chicken

• When it is hamburger meat, ground meat, or chicken, 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer are recommended.
• If it is fresh beef, lamb, or pork, the advice is 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 4 to 12 months in the freezer.

Fish and other seafood products

• Fatty fish: 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator and 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
• Lean fish: 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator and 6 to 8 months in the freezer.
• Fish such as trout or rockfish: 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator and 4 to 8 months in the freezer.
• Crab or lobster: 1 day in the refrigerator, it is not recommended to put them in the freezer.
• Clams, mussels, and oysters in the shell: 5 to 10 days in the refrigerator; it is not recommended to put them in the freezer.
• Crayfish: 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 8 to 18 months in the freezer.
• Clams, mussels, and oysters without the shell: 3 to 10 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
• Squid: 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator and 6 to 18 months in the freezer.

Deli meats

• Opened packages: 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, 1 to 2 months in the freezer.
• Unopened packages: they can remain two weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer.

Essential information about food refrigeration that everyone should know

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that it is essential to keep the refrigerator regularly clean and to clean up any spill as soon as possible to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria.

In addition, it advises always storing refrigerated foods covered and eggs in their carton inside the refrigerator, rather than in the door.

Although it is not a toxic product, there are several people with allergies and intolerances who could be harmed by this type of error, so the decision was made to withdraw it from the market with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA withdraws popular bread sold in five states

According to what the FDA confirmed, these products would have been in:

• Arkansas.
• Louisiana.
• New Mexico.
• Oklahoma.
• Texas.

Although the company is based in Thomasville, Georgia, it distributes to 44 bakeries in 19 states. Some of its better-known brands are:

• Nature’s Own.
• Dave’s Killer Bread.
• Canyon Bakehouse.
• Simple Mills.
• Wonder.
• Tastykake.

The withdrawn products: How to recognize them and what to do with them?

The products that were withdrawn from the market due to the presence of undeclared ingredients are:

Nature’s Own® Hawaiian Bread 20 oz:

• UPC code: 0 72250 91662 2.
• Product codes:
• 0188 265 09:20 - 0188 265 10:30.
• 0188 267 04:50 - 0188 267 06:00.
• 0188 270 04:15 - 0188 270 06:05.
• 0188 272 17:15 - 0188 272 19:25.
• Use by recommended before:
• 8 de octubre de 2026.
• 18 de octubre de 2026.

Nature´s Own® Hawaiian Bread 2-pack 40 oz:

• UPC code: 0 72250 00683 5.
• Product codes: not available.
• Use by recommended before: not available.

Effects of consuming milk in people with allergies or intolerances

An intolerance differs from an allergy in the symptoms it produces in the affected person.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people who are lactose intolerant usually experience symptoms a few hours after consuming these products, which often include:

• Bloating or abdominal distension.
• Diarrhea.
• Gas.
• Nausea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Stomach rumbling or noises.
• Vomiting.

The condition is caused by the small intestine producing low concentrations of lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down the lactose consumed. Because it is not digested, it passes into the colon, and bacteria are responsible for breaking it down, producing fluids and gases.

On the other hand, according to Mayo Clinic milk allergy is an immune system response, and symptoms appear immediately after consuming milk. They may include:

• Vomiting.
• Hives.
• Digestive problems.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Wheezing in the chest.

Some beneficiaries may receive up to three payments during the month because they receive both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and another Social Security benefit.

The unusual payment pattern is the result of the way the SSA handles SSI payments when the first day of a month falls on a weekend or federal holiday. Because November 1, 2026, falls on a Sunday, the SSI payment for November will be sent early, on Friday, October 30.

Who can receive three payments in October

Beneficiaries who receive both SSI and another Social Security benefit, such as retirement, disability or survivor benefits, are the ones who may receive three deposits during October.

The first payment is their October SSI benefit, scheduled for Thursday, October 1. The second is their regular Social Security payment, scheduled for Friday, October 2 for beneficiaries in this category.

The third payment will arrive on Friday, October 30. However, this is not an extra benefit or bonus. It is the November SSI payment being issued early because November 1 falls on a Sunday.

As a result, beneficiaries who receive the October 30 payment should know that they will not receive another SSI payment in November. The next SSI payment is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1.

Social Security payment schedule for October 2026

The SSA’s official 2026 calendar divides Social Security payments according to the type of benefit and, for most beneficiaries, their date of birth.

The SSA generally distributes Social Security payments on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on the beneficiary’s date of birth.

Why some beneficiaries receive more than one payment

Receiving two or three deposits in the same month does not mean that the SSA has increased the beneficiary’s monthly benefit. It is simply a result of the agency’s payment calendar and the need to move payments forward when a scheduled date falls on a weekend or federal holiday.

In October 2026, the adjustment is particularly noticeable because the SSI payment for November is being issued on October 30. This means someone who receives both SSI and another Social Security benefit can see three deposits in their account during October, even though one of those payments technically belongs to the following month.

The generic ballot is a poll question that asks voters which party they plan to support for Congress, without naming specific candidates. The figures come from RealClearPolitics, a website that averages recent polls to smooth out differences between individual surveys.

Every poll in the average, conducted between Sept. 16 and Oct. 5, shows Democrats ahead, by margins ranging from 2 to 15 points.

Midterm elections take place halfway through a president’s four-year term. This year, all 435 House seats and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are on the ballot. Republicans currently control both chambers.

How big is Democrats’ lead in the generic ballot?

Democrats’ share of the average sat near 48% for much of the summer before climbing above 50% in late September.

A party needs 218 of the 435 House seats for a majority. Republicans hold 218 and Democrats 214, with one independent and two vacant seats, according to the House Press Gallery’s official count. Democrats need four more seats to take control.

The generic ballot has a strong track record in House races. Except for 2016, the party leading the final RealClearPolitics average on Election Day has won the House in every election since 2002.

Why may the generic ballot lead not be enough to win the US Senate?

A national lead doesn’t translate directly into Senate seats. Every state elects two senators regardless of population, so control comes down to a handful of competitive states rather than the national vote.

Republicans won 53 Senate seats in 2024. Democrats need to flip a net four seats, meaning win them away from Republicans, to reach 51. A 50-50 split isn’t enough, because Vice President JD Vance, who presides over the Senate, would cast the tie-breaking vote.

Democrats must also hold on to seats they already control. They lead in the three Democratic-held races RealClearPolitics lists as key battlegrounds: Michigan by 3.6 points, New Hampshire by 5.6 and Georgia by 7.8.

The harder task is flipping Republican seats. RealClearPolitics averages show Democrats ahead in six:

• North Carolina: Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley 49.8% to 40.8%.
• Ohio: Former Sen. Sherrod Brown leads Sen. Jon Husted 47.1% to 44%.
• Texas: James Talarico leads Ken Paxton 48.2% to 45.4%.
• Alaska: Mary Peltola leads Sen. Dan Sullivan 48.8% to 47%.
• Maine: Troy Jackson leads Sen. Susan Collins 48.1% to 47.4%.
• Iowa: Josh Turek leads Ashley Hinson 46% to 45.3%.

Only North Carolina shows a comfortable lead. In the other five, Democrats are ahead by about 3 points or less. That’s close enough that a modest polling miss, meaning a gap between what polls show and how people actually vote, could change the result.

President Donald Trump won Texas, Alaska and Iowa by more than 13 points in 2024. To win the Senate, Democrats would need North Carolina plus three of those five close races.

The star protagonist of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Godfather Part II, a two-time Academy Award winner, was asked by Reader’s Digest what advice he would tell to his younger self: “I have a lot of advice to give to my younger self.”

The advice Robert De Niro would give to his younger self

“I remember I met a guy when I was a kid, maybe in my teens, and he was a salesman at a store, and he said, ‘If I only knew then what I know now.’ So I have a lot to tell my younger self,” he recalled, referring to a moment that he now understands as the years went by.

The actor made clear that his message isn’t about avoiding risks or regretting choices: “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do certain things, but be aware of the consequences. You have to learn through those experiences.”. What he means is that mistakes are part of the process, as long as one understands what is at stake.

The importance of staying humble at all times

It is not the first time De Niro has shared that kind of wisdom. During an Actors Roundtable organized by The Hollywood Reporter, where he sat alongside some of the most famous actors in Hollywood, he was asked a similar question and answered with something he had recently told his grandson.

“Just be calm. When things are going well, be calm. Don’t think you’re on top of the world, in a sense, you always have to be wary,” he said. “I’ve seen people come, I’ve seen people go.”, added.

For De Niro, controlling the ego is essential to surviving in an industry as unpredictable as Hollywood. “Take what’s good in your life and move forward cautiously and carefully, and thank God that you have that. It’s very, very important not to overextend yourself when you think you’ve got it… there’s no such thing. Everybody’s dispensable,” he added.

De Niro has also spoken about the value of learning from those who came before. In 2015, while promoting The Intern, he said younger actors should not hesitate to seek guidance from veterans.

“There’s no downside in asking somebody who’s been around a lot longer than you, especially if they’ve done things that you’ve done,” he said, referring to the process he made when he was starting out.

However, to make the most of its benefits, it is important to choose a suitable space so that it can grow and develop. In that sense, Architectural Digest explains which are the most recommended places to put it and which are those where, according to Feng Shui, it is advisable to avoid placing it.

What does the snake plant mean according to Feng Shui?

The snake plant, whose scientific name is Sansevieria, is one of the plants that Feng Shui associates with protection and energetic balance in the home. According to this tradition, the elongated and pointed shape of its leaves is linked to a protective energy, while the plant is also valued for its ability to purify the air.

The 3 places in the house to put the snake plant to attract good luck

According to Feng Shui, there are three locations that can be especially favorable for the snake plant. One of them is near the front door, although it is recommended to avoid placing it directly opposite the entrance.

It can also be placed in the southeast area of the home, associated in this tradition with abundance, prosperity, and money. On the other hand, those who want to prioritize well-being and health can place it in the east area of the home.

Beyond Feng Shui beliefs, to keep the plant healthy it is important to choose a place with good lighting, preferably indirect light, and avoid excess water.

However, not all spaces are considered suitable. Tradition recommends avoiding certain locations in order to maintain a balance between the different elements that make up the environment.

The places where it is not advisable to place the snake plant

One of the spaces that Feng Shui discourages for this plant is the kitchen. According to this tradition, the fire element predominates there and the presence of a plant with pointed leaves could create an energetic imbalance.

It is also recommended not to place the Sansevieria directly in front of the front door. The explanation within Feng Shui is that its placement could interfere with the flow of energy entering the home.

Why they recommend avoiding the snake plant in the living room

Although the living room is usually one of the spaces chosen for placing plants, Feng Shui raises certain reservations about the snake plant. The explanation is related to the presence of the wood element: plants represent this element and, by adding too much wood presence in the same environment, the balance between the different energies could be lost.

In addition, its rigid and pointed leaves are considered a characteristic that can generate a more intense energy. For this reason, some Feng Shui recommendations suggest choosing other rooms for this species.

From a practical perspective, however, Sansevieria can grow in different areas of the home as long as it has the necessary conditions to develop.

Can the snake plant be placed in the bathroom?

The bathroom also does not appear among the most recommended places for Sansevieria. Beyond Feng Shui beliefs, there are reasons related to plant care that may explain this recommendation.

The snake plant needs little water and tolerates dry periods better than excess moisture. For that reason, a bathroom with constant humidity and little ventilation can favor problems in its roots and leaves if the substrate remains too wet.

Lighting is also important. Although Sansevieria can survive with little light, to grow in better conditions it needs light, preferably indirect. A dark bathroom with poor ventilation, therefore, does not always offer the most favorable environment.

Why don’t they recommend the snake plant in the workplace?

According to Feng Shui, it would also not be convenient to place this plant on a desk or workspace. The reason is once again related to the shape of its leaves, which are rigid, vertical, and pointed and can be associated with an energy considered too intense.

Within this tradition, that characteristic could generate tension, doubts, or a feeling of stagnation in an environment intended for working and developing creativity. Some interpretations even relate pointed leaves to conflicts or arguments.

These are interpretations specific to Feng Shui and not scientifically proven effects. From the point of view of plant care, the essential thing is that it receives adequate lighting, has good drainage, and is not overwatered.

It is important to consider that the status of refunds can be checked through several channels and, in this way, keep track of the agency’s processing until finally receiving the payment.

IRS refund: who gets paid faster

According to the official website of the tax agency, the time frame varies depending on the format in which the tax return was filed. Although in general, most taxpayers choose to file electronically, there are those who still send in their return on paper.

The time frames for each case are:

• Electronic return: up to 3 weeks from the date it was filed
• Return by mail: 6 weeks or more from the time it was received by the agency

“Tax returns filed electronically are processed faster than paper ones, so refunds arrive more quickly, sometimes within ten days if you request direct deposit,” explains the agency.

Who has to file a paper return?

The authorities specify that the procedure must be carried out this way when:

• You want to claim a dependent who has already been claimed on another tax return.
• It is filed outside the period in which electronic returns are allowed, which is from the beginning of tax season until mid-October.

Causes that can delay the issuance of a refund

There are errors or circumstances that cause delays in processing the refund, such as:

• Not signing or having incorrect mathematical calculations
• Claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Filing an amended return
• Claiming injured taxpayer relief

How to check the refund status and when it is available

According to what is indicated, this information can be known:

• 24 hours after filing a current-year electronic return.
• 3 days after filing a return for prior years.
• 4 weeks after a paper return is filed.

By accessing the IRS online account you can follow the status of the process and, if you are not signed in, by knowing the amount to receive, the SSN or ITIN, marital status and tax year you can check it by clicking here.

Which one is the most visited city in the world

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is the most visited city in the world in 2026, with around 30.3 million international tourists.

With that figure, it remains in first place for the second consecutive year, driven by its huge volume of visitors and its accessibility as a major gateway to Southeast Asia.

Who conducts the study and how is it measured?

The data comes from the Top 100 City Destinations Index, an annual report produced by the consultancy Euromonitor International, one of the world’s most recognized market analysis firms.

The study analyzes 100 cities and evaluates them according to several pillars, such as economic and business performance, tourism infrastructure, policies and tourism appeal, health and safety, and sustainability.

For the ranking of the most visited in particular, the key indicator is international tourist arrivals: how many travelers from other countries each city received in the year. That is the number that defines the table that follows.

The ranking of the world’s most visited cities

According to Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index, the top 10 cities that receive the most international tourists were as follows:

1. Bangkok (Thailand): 30.3 million
2. Hong Kong (China): 23.2 million
3. London (United Kingdom): 22.7 million
4. Macao (China): 20.4 million
5. Istanbul (Turkey): 19.7 million
6. Dubai (United Arab Emirates): 19.5 million
7. Mecca (Saudi Arabia): 18.7 million
8. Antalya (Turkey): 18.6 million
9. Paris (France): 18.3 million
10. Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia): 17.3 million

Why Asian cities dominate

Asia dominates the top, with Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macao and Kuala Lumpur among the top ten. But that leadership is not explained by population size but by a set of factors in the tourism industry:

• Air connectivity: the region expanded its flight networks, and its airports operate as major connection hubs, making it easier for travelers from around the world to arrive.
• More flexible visas: more open entry policies reduce barriers to visiting these destinations.
• Affordable costs: cities like Bangkok combine low prices with a highly attractive cultural and culinary offering.
• Investment in infrastructure: expansion of airports, urban transport, and digital entry systems that streamline the tourist experience.
• Growth in tourism within Asia: the Asia-Pacific region experienced the world’s greatest expansion, with international arrivals growing by nearly 10% and surpassing 350 million trips, largely due to tourist movement between countries in the region itself.

Added to that is the weight of the Middle East (Dubai, Mecca) and of Turkey, which places two cities in the top 10 (Istanbul and Antalya). In contrast, the major classic European capitals, such as London and Paris, remain among the most chosen but no longer top the visitor volume table.

Among them, Mexico as a whole is Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution. But it also includes other areas at levels 1, 3 and 4.

“Exercise greater caution in Mexico, due to terrorism, crime and kidnappings, the risk is high in some areas. Read the full travel advisory”, the official Travel.State.Gov website says.

What does Alert Level 4 mean?

According to Travel.State.Gov., “Alert Level 4 - Do Not Travel” is the highest warning because of “life-threatening risks”, which are described in the Travel Advisory.

“The U.S. government may have very limited or no ability to provide assistance, even in an emergency”, the official page explains.

The DOS recommends that U.S. citizens “do not travel to the country or leave as soon as it is safe to do so”.

The United States advises against traveling to six states in Mexico: which are they?

The DOS advises against traveling to the following specific areas:

• Colima
• Guerrero
• Michoacán
• Sinaloa
• Tamaulipas
• Zacatecas

What risks exist in each state of Mexico?

The highest alert level, “Level 4 - Do Not Travel”, applies because of risks linked to terrorism, crime, kidnappings and violence by criminal groups.

In the six states, U.S. authorities describe specific restrictions and warn about homicides, shootings, extortion, robberies, disappearances and kidnappings:

• Colima: risk of violence by criminal groups, terrorism and kidnappings. Only certain tourist and port areas of Manzanillo and some specific routes are authorized.
• Guerrero: armed groups are warned about, which may set up checkpoints on roads and resort to violence. The restriction covers the entire state, including Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Taxco and Ixtapa.
• Michoacán: crime and violence are widespread. There are restrictions on travel throughout the state, with specific exceptions for transit routes, Morelia and Lázaro Cárdenas.
• Sinaloa: there is a risk from terrorism and crime. Authorized travel for U.S. employees is concentrated in specific areas of Mazatlán, Los Mochis and Topolobampo, with restrictions on access and movement.
• Tamaulipas: the warning includes shootings, murders, armed robberies, vehicle theft, kidnappings, disappearances, extortion and sexual assaults. Criminal group activity is also noted on the border, especially between Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo.
• Zacatecas: violent crime, extortion and gang activity are widespread. U.S. Government employees may travel only to the city of Zacatecas under specific conditions and mainly by air.

Levels 1, 2 and 3: what other states are under alert?

Level 3 - Reconsider Travel

The Department of State advises reconsidering travel due to the “serious risks” to safety.

• Baja California
• Chiapas
• Chihuahua
• Guanajuato
• Jalisco
• Morelos
• Sonora

Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution

DOS states that “there are increased safety risks”, which are described in the travel advisory:

• Aguascalientes
• Baja California Sur
• Coahuila
• Durango
• Hidalgo
• Mexico City
• Mexico
• Nayarit
• Nuevo León
• Oaxaca
• Puebla
• Querétaro
• Quintana Roo
• San Luis Potosí
• Tabasco
• Tlaxcala
• Veracruz

Level 1 - Take normal precautions

This is the lowest alert level in terms of safety risks.

• Campeche
• Yucatán

Authorities determined that it was not necessary to focus on age alone, but rather on a person’s capability to drive safely.

Now, drivers between the ages of 79 and 86 no longer need to take a new driving test while renewing their licenses.

What changed for Illinois drivers between 79 and 86

From July 1 onward, drivers between 79 and 86 will not need to take a driving test when renewing their licenses because of an important modification to the Illinois Road Safety and Fairness Act. State authorities made this change based on data showing that older Illinois drivers are among the safest on the road.

The law recognizes that age alone is not a reliable measure of driving ability. Lawmakers decided to maintain more restrictions on drivers who are 87 or older. These drivers must take a driving test, among other evaluations, to renew their licenses.

It is important for all drivers to remember that, until they turn 87, drivers between 79 and 80 must renew their licenses every four years, while those between 81 and 86 must renew every two years. After turning 87, the renewal process must be completed every year.

What happens if a license expired before July 1?

The new rules do not apply retroactively to licenses that expired before the Road Safety and Fairness Act took effect. Drivers between 79 and 86 who had an expired license before July 1, 2026, must still take a driving test when they renew it, even if the renewal takes place after the new law went into effect.

This means the expiration date of the license matters for drivers in this age group. A person who was required to take a road test under the previous rules cannot avoid that requirement simply by waiting until after July 1 to complete the renewal.

CDL holders will continue to follow different rules

The Road Safety and Fairness Act does not change the renewal requirements for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders. Drivers with a CDL must continue to complete a road test when they are 75 or older, including at subsequent renewals.

Illinois also requires a vision screening and the applicable renewal fee at every CDL renewal. Written testing may be required depending on the driver’s record, while CDL holders with a Hazardous Materials endorsement (H or X) must pass the applicable hazardous materials test and, in most cases, complete a new TSA security threat assessment.

For more information about CDL requirements, drivers should check with the motor vehicle agency in the state where they live, as requirements may vary from one state to another.

The promotion applies to the new version of the AirPods 4 and, according to Walmart’s listing, the product is sold and shipped directly by Walmart.com. In addition, shipping appears free of charge and the store allows free returns within the period indicated in the offer.

How much do the AirPods 4 cost at Walmart?

The AirPods 4 currently cost $79 at Walmart, according to the shared offer. The regular price listed for the product is US$129.99, so the discount reaches $50.99.

The store also shows an open-box alternative for $71, although the $79 offer corresponds to a new product.

The offer also includes free shipping and, according to the conditions shown by the store, free returns until January 31.

Are the AirPods 4 water-resistant?

Yes. The AirPods 4 have IP54 certification for resistance to dust, sweat, and water, a feature that makes them suitable for situations such as intense workouts or exposure to rain.

The product sheet specifies that both the headphones and the charging case have this rating. This does not mean they are completely waterproof, but rather that they offer protection against certain conditions involving dust, sweat, and water.

How long does the AirPods 4 battery last?

The AirPods 4 offer up to 5 hours of playback on a single charge. When using the charging case, total battery life can reach up to 30 hours of listening.

The included case uses a USB-C connection, so it allows the headphones to be charged using this standard. In addition, Walmart indicates that the box is more than 10% smaller in volume than the previous generation.

What features do the AirPods 4 have?

The AirPods 4 incorporate the Apple H2 chip, which makes it possible to take advantage of different audio and call features. Among them is Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, designed to create an immersive sound experience.

According to the product description, this feature places sound around the user and can be used with music, movies, TV shows, and video games.

The headphones also include Voice Isolation, a feature that uses audio processing to reduce background noise and make the voice sound clearer during calls.

What does the purchase of Walmart’s AirPods 4 include?

The listing includes the AirPods 4 and their Charging Case with USB-C connection. The product has a built-in microphone and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.

Walmart also offers additional protection plans, although these have a separate cost. Among the options are AppleCare+ for two years at US$29 and Walmart protection plans with prices starting at US$12.

The offer also shows additional benefits linked to Apple Music, with up to two months free according to the terms of the promotion.

In an interview with People, the founder of Rare Beauty explained that she is currently looking to simplify her makeup and detailed the products that are part of her daily routine.

Selena Gomez revealed which products she uses every day

When asked by People about what her daily makeup is like, Selena said that her routine is quite simple.

The artist explained that she starts with two applications of foundation, which she spreads across her face. She then uses eyebrow gel and continues with Bouncy Blush, one of the blushes from her own brand, Rare Beauty.

To complete her makeup, she adds mascara and lip oil.

In this way, her daily routine is made up of five products: foundation, eyebrow gel, blush, mascara, and lip oil.

The choice responds to the style the singer is currently seeking. In the same interview, Gomez pointed out that some people may not prefer the natural beauty look, but said that style has become part of her identity.

Selena Gomez’s change in her relationship with makeup

During the interview, the singer also recalled how her relationship with beauty changed over time. Selena, who launched Rare Beauty in 2020, said that she was surrounded by makeup since she was a child because of her work in front of the cameras.

When talking about the products she would have liked to have when she was younger, she especially highlighted Bouncy Blush and eyebrow gel.

Selena recalled that during her childhood, very thin eyebrows were in fashion, while she had thick eyebrows, something that made her insecure at the time. Today, however, she said that she enjoys laminating them and using gel to enhance them.

The singer also referred to the smoky eye looks she used in 2016, which still circulate on social media. Faced with that more produced image from previous years, Gomez explained that she is currently going through a different stage and leans toward a more relaxed style.

In addition to her daily routine, she revealed another trick she uses when she wants to wear an even lighter makeup look. After curling her lashes, she applies dark brown eyebrow gel to the tips, instead of using a full coat of mascara.

The decision was confirmed Monday on the X account of Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had recommended execution by firing squad and that Trump had given his approval.

“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recommended — and President Donald J. Trump has approved — execution by a U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan, the jihadist who opened fire on unarmed American soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009,” Parnell posted on X.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended — and President Donald J. Trump has approved — death by U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan, the jihadist who opened fire on unarmed American soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009. He killed 13 people and wounded 32 others while shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. The Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution. Judgement day for Hasan has finally come.

— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) October 5, 2026

Hasan opened fire on U.S. soldiers at a Fort Hood personnel processing center on Nov. 5, 2009, shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the attack.

According to Parnell, the Secretary of the Army will now be responsible for setting the date and location of the execution.

Hasan, who was sentenced to death in 2013 on 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder, is being held at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The massacre took place when Hasan, then an Army psychiatrist holding the rank of major, opened fire inside Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Center, where service members were waiting to deploy or return from missions overseas.

The attack also left 32 people wounded and was considered the deadliest shooting ever to occur at a U.S. military installation.

The subsequent investigation found that Hasan had been in contact with radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who later became a prominent figure in al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Hasan was tried by a military court and pleaded not guilty, though he acted as his own attorney during the proceedings.

On Aug. 28, 2013, he was unanimously sentenced to death by the members of the court.

Source: EFE.

In 2022 Nguyen, 46, launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to open her dream business. With that goal in mind, she put up her life savings, about $27.000, to set up The Sports Bra, a Portland, Oregon-based sports bar that only plays women’s sports.

Despite its niche premise, the bar promptly brought in nearly $1 million in revenue and achieved profitability in its first eight months. It has brought in more than $1 million annually since then, Nguyen says in an interview with CNBC.

“Folks were doubtful of the concept”

The idea came from a frustration many fans share: Nguyen couldn’t find a bar willing to put the 2018 NCAA women’s basketball championship on its televisions. When she finally opened her own, not everyone believed in it.

“When we came onto the market in 2022, folks were doubtful of the concept,” Nguyen told The Athletic. “Trolls saying nobody cared about women’s sports, that we’d last two months because we weren’t showing men’s sports.”

She admits she had her own doubts. “Me, personally, I thought the idea was brilliant and that [it was] what the world needs. But I had no idea that the world would want it. I just wanted to give it a shot,” she said.

Its audience has also grown beyond its original crowd: “Honestly, cis men are sometimes the most vocal about why they love women’s sports,”.

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Una publicación compartida por The Sports Bra (@thesportsbrapdx)

The crowdfunding of fans that raised more than 1.2 million dollars

On May 18, The Sports Bra launched a crowdfunding campaign called “Own a Piece of the Bra”, allowing anyone to buy equity in the company for as little as $250. The goal was $1.2 million. In roughly two months, it raised nearly $1.24 million from more than 1,400 people.

Nguyen, who worked as a chef before becoming an entrepreneur, knows restaurants and bars remain difficult businesses to scale up. But the fundraising push and planned expansion are her bet to continue the growth of women’s sports.

Competition is growing too: the number of women’s sports bars in the U.S. has risen to 27, according to Front Office Sports. Nguyen knows the first openings will be decisive. “Everybody’s watching, and if [the first five] don’t launch well, then we can kind of kiss the 40 [locations] in four years goodbye,” she said.

Still, the bar that skeptics gave two months to survive is now betting on a nationwide future, this time backed by the community that made it possible.

In that sense, the price of the process can change depending on the type of document and the age of the applicant. In addition, there are additional charges for expedited processing or for missing documentation.

How much it costs to process the American passport in 2026

When carrying out the process, it is necessary to pay two separate costs, one to the Department of State and another to the passport acceptance office.

According to the information available on the official website, in 2026 the costs of processing this international identification are:

Adult passport (16 years or older)

For these cases, the following are considered:

• Passport booklet: $ 130 application fee and $ 35 acceptance fee
• Passport card: $ 30 application fee and $ 35 acceptance fee
• Passport booklet and card: $ 160 application fee and $ 35 acceptance fee

When proof of U.S. citizenship cannot be presented, an additional payment of $ 150 may be required for a records search. In addition, those who opt for an expedited process will add $ 60 to the total cost of the process.

If renewing, only the application fee is paid.

Minor passport (16 years old or younger)

The specified costs are:

• Passport booklet: $ 100 application fee and $ 35 acceptance fee
• Passport card: $ 15 application fee and $ 35 acceptance fee
• Passport booklet and card: $ 115 application fee and $ 35 acceptance fee

If you need to correct the name on a valid passport, the cost may vary depending on the case. When the correction is due to a data error, the process is free.

Differences between passport booklet and passport card: information everyone should know

It is important to note that the only passport valid for international travel is the booklet. The card is used for identification purposes and for border crossings by sea or land to Canada, Mexico and certain Caribbean destinations.

Both documents are valid for a maximum of 10 years for adults and 5 years for those who apply for them while under 16 years old.

Those who want to know how to complete the process in full can consult the steps by clicking here.

The feet contain around 250,000 sweat glands, and excessive moisture can create an environment where bacteria thrive. According to Rowland, bacteria feed on sweat and produce an acidic byproduct that can create the characteristic sour smell.

Why vinegar may help

The explanation is linked to acetic acid, a component of vinegar. Rowland says white vinegar can help kill bacteria and recommends it as one of several at-home measures for people dealing with persistent foot odor.

The podiatrist recommends soaking the feet in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar for 10 to 20 minutes. Her suggested ratio is 1 to 2 cups of white vinegar per gallon of warm water, or about 3.8 liters.

The recommendation is primarily aimed at reducing foot odor associated with sweat and bacteria. It does not mean vinegar is a universal treatment for foot conditions or infections.

How to keep feet dry after washing

Daily hygiene is another key part of Rowland’s advice. She recommends washing the feet every day and, importantly, drying them thoroughly between the toes, where sweat and moisture can accumulate.

She also recommends measures that can help control moisture, including foot powder and antiperspirant, as well as changing socks when they become damp. Footwear also matters: shoes made with breathable materials can help reduce moisture buildup.

The law does not require Social Security to open a bank account

Federal law does not require a Social Security number (SSN) to open a bank account in the United States. This is stated by agencies such as the FDIC (the agency that insures deposits) and the CFPB (the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).

What banks are required to do is verify the customer’s identity. That is why they ask for documentation, but that identification does not have to be the SSN: it can be proven in other ways.

What documents do banks accept?

Instead of a Social Security number, institutions usually accept a combination of these documents:

• ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), is issued by the IRS for those who cannot have an SSN. Most banks accept it.
• Valid passport
• Consular registration card or consular ID issued by the consulate of the country of origin
• Driver’s license (U.S. or, in some cases, foreign)
• Proof of address, such as a utility bill or a rental agreement

Each bank defines exactly which combination it asks for, but in general, a passport plus proof of address (and, when they have it, the ITIN) is enough to move forward.

How to do it, step by step

1. Choose the bank and confirm its requirements for customers without an SSN (it is advisable to call or check its website before going)
2. Gather the documentation: valid identification (passport, consular registration card, or ITIN) and proof of address
3. Go to the branch or start the process online, depending on what the institution allows
4. Complete the application and make the initial deposit, if the bank requires it

A useful tip: compare institutions

Not all banks have the same policy. Some are more flexible than others, and credit unions usually show greater openness with customers without an SSN. Therefore, the recommendation is to compare requirements, costs, and fees before deciding.

In an interview with Vogue published in 2025, Hailey recalled the process she went through during pregnancy, labor and postpartum, where she said motherhood brought a profound transformation, both physical and emotional, and led her to discover a new version of herself.

Amid the speculation that circulated for months about the couple, Hailey explained that Jack’s arrival changed the dynamics of her marriage and the way she began to see Justin. According to her, becoming parents allowed them to discover a new side of her husband and view their relationship from a different perspective.

Hailey Bieber revealed how her relationship with Justin changed after becoming a mother

For the entrepreneur, motherhood became an experience that also transformed her marriage.

“It has been my greatest teacher so far,” Hailey said about this new chapter of her life, before describing the impact it specifically had on her relationship: “You see your partner in a completely different way” and added that Justin has a natural ability to play that role because “he is an incredible father”.

Hailey herself said the change began even before the birth of her first child because during pregnancy she understood that her life would no longer be the same: “It’s not going to be just you and your partner,” she recalled about one of the major warnings she received during the process.

Motherhood also changed Hailey Bieber: her body and a new version of herself

Pregnancy and postpartum also changed Hailey’s relationship with her own body; the entrepreneur said that during that stage she went through moments of great difficulty and came to experience postpartum body dysmorphia and self-criticism that, as she explained, she had never felt before.

“Every day I have to talk to myself, like: ‘Hailey, you had a baby. You created a human being. You gave birth to a human being. It’s okay. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself time,’” she said. She also explained that her body did not return to exactly what it was after pregnancy, her hips were wider and her breasts had changed: “It’s not the same body that it was before”, she said.

The model came to the conclusion that she also applied to her identity; it was not about getting back who she was before, but about accepting who she had become after becoming a mother: “You are no longer the same person you were before. You change from head to toe,” she said. At the same time, she said she felt proud of this new version of herself: “I like who I am much more than ever before” since for Hailey, making Jack her priority also changed her worries and gave her a greater sense of security and confidence.

Hailey Bieber spoke about Rhode’s success and how her place within the couple changed

While her family life was going through a transformation, Rhode also became a central part of Hailey’s journey. The beauty and skincare brand she founded in 2022 grew to make her a businesswoman recognized in her own right, beyond her marriage to one of the world’s most famous pop stars.

Hailey acknowledged that the company’s growth exceeded her expectations: “I never thought it would get to this point,” she said about Rhode and added: “In my wildest dreams, it has far surpassed all my expectations.” The brand’s expansion also changed the couple’s public dynamic; after Justin paused his performances and tours in 2022, Rhode came to occupy an increasingly important place in both of their public exposure.

Rhode’s president, Lauren Ratner, attributed much of the success to Hailey herself and highlighted her connection with consumers: “The main reason for Rhode’s success is Hailey,” she said. In this way, while Hailey goes through her new stage as a mother alongside Justin, she also continues to establish herself as a business figure independent of her marriage.

It all started in December 2021, when the 33-year-old man posted the video of the plane crash, and he implied it was an accident. ejected from the plane, with a selfie stick in hand, and parachuted down to land.

The video called “I Crashed My Plane” was a hit, and it amassed more than five million views. The original video is no longer available. But Federal Investigators later determined that the plane never malfunctioned and that Jacob had staged the crash, hoping for online fame.

The trick eroded his life and led to a federal prison sentence. In an interview made by The New York Times, the man said he regrets what he did: “It completely decimated my entire life,” he said. “I was homeless. I lost all my money. It’s been a hell of a climb out of hell.”

The instant regret he felt after jumping

In an interview with Good Morning America aired in 2024, Jacob said he “had no idea” that he was breaking the law when he jumped out of the plane.

“When I jumped out of the plane, I jumped and I’m like, ‘You just made the biggest mistake of your life’” recalled Jacob.

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Una publicación compartida por Trevor Jacob (@trevorjacob)

The fake crash accident that decimated Trevor Jacob’s life

At first, Jacob claimed the plane’s engine really failed, but federal investigators said the crash was intentional. In 2023 he pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction and concealment with intent to obstruct a federal investigation.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said, “He did not intend to reach his destination but instead planned to eject from his aircraft during the flight and video himself parachuting to the ground and his airplane as it descended and crashed.”

His pilot’s license was revoked by the FAA, and a judge sentenced him to six months in federal prison. With good behavior, Jacob served four and a half months at Lompoc Federal Prison.

The new chapter of Jacob’s life after the sentence

Jacob was released on June 12, 2024. He then started working as a skydiving instructor, construction worker and also trains in jiu-jitsu.

“Don’t try to chase attention and don’t try to chase fame and glory because it’ll leave you empty… just trying to be a good person to your neighbor and your friends and the local community.”, said to California’s Central Coast in february.

What is Form W-9

Form W-9 (its official name is Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) document used so that a person or business can give their tax information to the person who pays them.

The W-9 is not sent to the IRS. It is completed and given to the company or person who will make the respective tax payments, who keeps it in their records and uses it to report those payments to the tax authorities.

Who must complete it

In general, it is completed by whoever receives payment without being an employee. The most common cases are:

• Independent workers and freelancers
• Contractors who provide services to a company
• Vendors of goods or services
• People who receive certain income such as interest, dividends, or rent

What it is used for

The W-9 has a specific purpose: to allow the payer to report those payments to the IRS, generally through a Form 1099 at the end of the year. With the W-9 data, the company knows in whose name and with which tax identification number it must report what it paid you.

For that reason, the W-9 is usually the step before the 1099: first you provide your data with the W-9 and, later, you receive the 1099 that summarizes what was paid.

What information the W-9 includes

The form is brief and basically asks for:

• Name and, if applicable, the business name
• The tax classification (for example, individual/self-employed worker, partnership, etc.)
• The address
• The taxpayer identification number (TIN), which can be the Social Security number (SSN) or the employer identification number (EIN)
• A signed certification that the information is correct

Attention: be careful who you give your personal information to

Because the W-9 contains sensitive information (including the tax identification number), it is best to give it only to someone who has a legitimate reason to request it: a real client, a company you are going to work with. If the request is suspicious or comes from strangers, it is advisable to verify before sharing that data.

In fact, the agency needs to be informed immediately if you or anyone in your family is sent to jail, prison, or another form of legal confinement.

What happens to Social Security benefits during incarceration?

For people receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, payments stop when they are convicted and spend more than 30 consecutive days in jail or prison. However, the suspension does not necessarily affect other eligible family members: monthly payments may continue for a spouse or children, as long as they are eligible and receive benefits based on the incarcerated person’s record.

An arrest alone does not automatically stop Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits. According to the SSA, benefits are not suspended until a court or parole board cancels parole or probation and the person is confined in a correctional institution for more than 30 consecutive days.

How does incarceration affect SSI payments?

The rules are different for people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The SSA says recipients will not receive SSI payments for any full calendar month they spend in jail or prison.

If an SSI recipient remains incarcerated for 12 consecutive months or longer, their eligibility is terminated, and they must file a new application and be approved again to receive SSI after their release.

How can benefits be restarted after release?

Being released from jail or prison does not mean beneficiaries should simply wait for their payments to resume. The SSA says benefits may be restarted after release, and recipients will need to provide proof that they have been released, such as official release papers.

The agency also has a prerelease procedure that can allow eligible people to apply for or have their benefits reinstated before their expected release. This process is designed to help benefits begin as soon as possible after a person returns to the community.

Unlike the spring change, when clocks move forward, the November adjustment gives people an extra hour. At 2:00 a.m. on November 1, clocks will move back to 1:00 a.m. As a result, the hour between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. will occur twice in areas that observe the change.

Which states will turn their clocks back

The change applies to most of the United States, including states such as California, Texas, Florida, New York and Michigan. It also applies to Washington, D.C., Alaska and the other states that observe Daylight Saving Time.

There are important exceptions. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe Daylight Saving Time, so residents there will not need to change their clocks on November 1. The Navajo Nation, which extends into parts of Arizona, does observe Daylight Saving Time and is an exception within the state.

Several U.S. territories also do not observe the seasonal clock change, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Which clocks will change automatically

Most smartphones, computers and other internet-connected devices should update automatically as long as their date, time and time-zone settings are correct. The National Institute of Standards and Technology recommends keeping operating systems updated so devices can apply the current Daylight Saving Time rules correctly.

However, analog clocks, some alarm clocks, vehicle clocks and certain household appliances may need to be adjusted manually. A practical option is to set them back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, October 31.

What the time change means for daylight

The change will bring an additional hour of daylight to the morning, but it will also mean that sunset will occur about one hour earlier. In practical terms, there will be more natural light earlier in the day and less in the evening.

The change follows the federal schedule under which Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. In 2026, those dates were March 8 and November 1.

Could the U.S. stop changing its clocks?

The November 2026 time change remains in effect. At the same time, lawmakers continue to debate whether the United States should make Daylight Saving Time permanent. A bill passed by the House of Representatives remains stalled in the Senate, so it does not change the November 2026 schedule.

Among the main requirements are a valid passport, the DS-160 confirmation page, and, when applicable, proof of payment of the application fee. These documents allow the application to be identified and verify that the basic steps of the process have been completed.

However, presenting this documentation does not guarantee visa approval since the consular officer may request additional information or documents to determine the purpose of the trip, the applicant’s intention to return to their country, and their ability to cover expenses during their stay in the United States.

What are the 3 documents you need to bring for the B1/B2 visa interview?

The United States Department of State sets out the 3 basic documents that applicants for a B-1/B-2 visa, intended for temporary business travel or tourism, must present:

• Valid passport: it must be valid for travel to the United States and, in general, have at least six months’ validity beyond the intended period of stay in the country, unless there is a specific exception for citizens of certain countries.
• DS-160 confirmation page: After completing the nonimmigrant visa application form, the applicant must print and bring the confirmation page. The Department of State warns that the information on the DS-160 is used during the processing of the application and that it is necessary to have the confirmation page for the interview.
• Proof of payment of the application fee: it must be presented when payment of the corresponding fee must be made before the interview. Payment instructions may vary depending on the country where the visa is processed, so applicants must follow the instructions of the corresponding United States Embassy or Consulate.

These are the basic documents indicated by the Department of State for the interview, but the consular authorities may request additional documentation depending on the circumstances of each applicant.

What other documents may be requested during the interview?

In addition to the basic documentation, the consular officer may request items that help demonstrate the reason for the trip, the intention to leave the United States after the visit, and the financial ability to cover expenses.

The Department of State makes it clear that applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements to obtain a visitor visa. It also notes that ties to the country of residence may be relevant to demonstrating the intention to return after the trip.

For this reason, although the passport, the DS-160, and the proof of payment constitute the basic documentation for the process, the applicant must be prepared to present additional information if the consular officer considers it necessary.

Do you need to bring a photo for the interview?

Not all applicants need to bring an additional printed photograph. The photograph is included in the DS-160 form during the application process and must meet the requirements established by the Department of State.

If uploading the photograph in the DS-160 form does not work properly, the applicant must bring a printed photograph that meets the official specifications. Therefore, the need to present a physical photo depends on how the process was completed.

In all cases, it is advisable to review the specific instructions of the United States Embassy or Consulate where the interview will take place, since there may be additional instructions related to the local procedure.

The model has a 1.85-inch AMOLED screen, Bluetooth calling, physical activity tracking, and notifications from apps such as WhatsApp and SMS. In addition, it incorporates AI control, according to the description published by Walmart, and a battery that can last up to 7 days.

The package includes the smartwatch, the seven straps, a magnetic charging cable, and the user manual, so it is ready to use as soon as it is set up and connected to the phone. The device also has IP68 certification, a one-year warranty, and free returns for 30 days, according to the information published on Walmart.

Walmart smartwatch that comes with 7 interchangeable straps

One of the watch’s main features is that it includes seven interchangeable straps in different colors and styles, allowing the same device to be adapted to different outfits and occasions without needing to buy additional watches.

In this sense, the product also allows you to customize the watch face, so the user can change the look of the watch along with the strap change.

AMOLED screen and more than 100 sports modes

The device incorporates a 1.85-inch AMOLED screen, designed to offer vivid colors and deep blacks, as well as different options for customizable watch faces. Among its functions are step, heart rate, and sleep tracking.

The smartwatch also offers more than 100 sports modes and allows receiving WhatsApp notifications, text messages, and social media directly on the screen. Added to this is the possibility of making and receiving calls via Bluetooth when the watch is connected to the phone.

It is compatible with iPhone and Android and has a 7-day battery

The smartwatch is compatible with iPhones with iOS 9.0 or higher and Android phones with Android 5.0 or higher, so it can be used with different mobile devices, according to the listing, which also indicates an AI control function, although it does not specify in detail which artificial intelligence tools it includes.

As for battery life, Walmart says the battery can last up to 7 days on a single charge, while the IP68 certification allows the device to be used in sweat and rain.

The discovery has been announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture and confirmed this Thursday by Angelikí Kottaridi, the archaeologist who leads the excavations in the region of Emathia.

Researchers have located the site in the ancient Macedonian city of Mieza, a complex of about three hectares that preserves teaching classrooms, banquet halls, a sports pavilion, an athletics stadium and a 200-meter covered running track. In this context, excavations in Mieza began in 2024 and this year will continue focused on the area of the sports pavilion and the teaching classrooms.

This is what the school where Aristotle educated Alexander the Great was like

“We are absolutely sure that this is the school founded by Philip II”, king of Macedonia from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC, the year in which his son, Alexander the Great, at the age of twenty, succeeded him on the throne, Angelikí Kottaridi tells EFE.

Among the ruins, coins, ceramics and four styli that ancient students used for writing have been found. These objects could provide new clues about the people who received training at the site.

In his work ‘Parallel Lives’, the Roman historian Plutarch recounts that Alexander the Great was a disciple of Aristotle between the ages of 13 and 16. During that period, the philosopher taught him ethics, politics, literature and natural sciences.

Two years later, the young man was already prepared to rule and to take command, in 338 BC, of the cavalry in the decisive Battle of Chaeronea, in which Philip defeated the combined forces of the Athenians and Thebans.

An elite school with classrooms and banquet rooms

Kottaridi stresses that Philip also founded other schools (gymnasia) in Amphipolis and in Aigai, the capital of the Macedonian kingdom, although the one in Mieza was “what today would be described as an elite school”, where the sons of the most illustrious Macedonians were trained for war with classes in tactics, strategy and physical training.

This year a complex of rooms adjoining the classrooms was discovered, including an antechamber and two banquet rooms. They preserve mosaic floors and raised platforms for placing couches that allowed for up to 20 diners.

The school also had a covered running track (xystós) of 200 meters, along which 64 Doric columns were erected. The space was used for physical training during days of extreme cold or heat.

In this structure and in other parts of the site, architectural and decorative elements similar to those of the Macedonian royal palace at Aigai (present-day Vergina), where Philip and Alexander lived, have been recovered, the archaeologist notes.

The education that accompanied Alexander in his conquests

According to Kottaridi, the “most impressive” thing about the discovery is that it shows that the “history of state concern for comprehensive and organized education” did not begin in democratic city-states like Athens, where only private schools existed in which philosophers such as Socrates or Plato taught, but in Philip II’s Macedonia.

“These gymnasiums, where letters, the art of war, culture and the Greek language were learned, will accompany Alexander on his military campaign and become the cornerstone of the Hellenistic period”, which spans from the conqueror’s death in 323 BC. until Cleopatra’s death in 30 BC and the subsequent Roman rule, she explains.

In 334 BC, Alexander the Great began the military campaign with which he defeated Persians, Egyptians and Phoenicians, consolidating in just one decade a vast empire that stretched from Greece to the Indus River valley and from Egypt to Central Asia.

Throughout that territory he founded dozens of cities, among them Alexandria in Egypt, whose most characteristic feature was precisely these schools, which helped spread Greek culture and language to “the peoples of the world of that time”, the researcher points out.

Installations of this type have even been found in places as far away as Afghanistan, in the ancient Hellenistic city of Ai-Khanoum, east of present-day Kabul.

Unless they qualify for an exemption, the applicant must take an exam consisting of two parts. The first is on the English language and the second on civics.

What must be demonstrated in the USCIS exam?

Since it consists of two parts, the purpose of the exam is broad and aims to demonstrate both skills and knowledge.

The English exam seeks to demonstrate understanding of the language in areas such as reading, writing and speaking at least at a basic level.

The civics exam seeks to demonstrate knowledge about the history, government of the United States, and their rights and obligations as a citizen

How should you prepare for the USCIS exam?

USCIS makes study materials available to the public so that the applicant can prepare before having the interview to become a citizen.

It is necessary to clarify that the materials corresponding to the 2025 exam must be used, since the old 2008 version is no longer valid for new applications.

Who is exempt from the USCIS exam?

Not all exceptions mean being exempt from the entire exam. In certain cases, the applicant may avoid the English exam, but must still pass the civics portion.

IS establishes the following exceptions by age and time as a permanent resident:

• 50/20 exception: people 50 years old or older who have lived in the United States as permanent residents for at least 20 years. They do not have to take the English exam, but they must take the civics exam, which they may take in their language.
• 55/15 exception: people 55 years old or older who have been permanent residents for at least 15 years. They are also exempt from the English requirement, although they must pass civics in the language of their choice.
• Special 65/20 consideration: those who are 65 years old or older and have been permanent residents for at least 20 years can take civics in their language and receive special consideration, since they study a reduced selection of questions identified especially by USCIS.

A person with a physical, developmental, or mental disability that prevents them from meeting the English, civics, or both requirements may request a medical exemption through Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.

What happens if you do not pass the USCIS exam to become naturalized?

Failing one part of the exam during the first interview does not mean that USCIS will reject your application.

If a person does not pass English, civics, or either one, USCIS schedules a second opportunity to take it between 60 and 90 days after the initial interview. At that time, they must take whatever was not passed the first time. If they fail again, USCIS may deny naturalization.

Among the recovered artifacts, a arrow with a slate tip stands out and is between 5,000 and 6,000 years old. This phenomenon shows how global warming is altering the natural landscape, transforming the northern peaks and exposing a fragile time capsule buried under the ice for millennia.

How did this historic archaeological discovery come about?

The discovery was made due to the accelerated retreat and fracturing of the ice layers driven by climate change, a phenomenon that is melting the deepest areas of the Norwegian peaks.

The official information was revealed by the prestigious research program Secrets of the Ice (under the Innlandet County Council and the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo).

According to what they detailed in their official publication (The Year of the Arrows - Now the Stone Age Emerges from the Ice), the specialists worked for three intense weeks in the mountainous area of Kvitingskjølen, specifically in the Langfonne, Storfonne and Handklefonne glaciers, located in the Norwegian region of Jotunheimen.

The objects found in the Norwegian glaciers

The campaign inventory includes 48 prehistoric arrows, bows, clothing, leather footwear and organic remains left behind by ancient Stone Age and Bronze Age reindeer hunters.

In addition to the millennia-old slate arrow, the experts found a projectile point made from freshwater bivalve shell that is 3,600 years old, bone antlers and fragments of wood reinforced with animal tendons and birch bark.

Thanks to the freezing effect of the ice, excellent organic preservation was possible, so perishable materials such as wood and hides were naturally protected.

A unique discovery for the project in Norway

Throughout its 20 years of experience, the project has recorded 73 sites and more than 5,000 objects. However, there is a radical change in pattern: in 2006, the vast majority of finds belonged to the Viking Age (less than 2,000 years old).

Today, due to the fracture of the Langfonne glacier, the oldest ice is melting, releasing artifacts from much more remote periods of human prehistory.

In that sense, Kristin Kirkpatrick, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic, offered recommendations in an institution article for properly cleaning these products, which can be implemented when washing lettuce or potatoes before using them in cooking.

How lettuce and potatoes should be cleaned, according to a food specialist

The technique recommended by the expert is very easy to put into practice: it consists of placing the fruits and vegetables that are going to be used under cold water and washing them using only this. In addition, she detailed the importance of removing any damaged or bruised area because they can harbor bacteria.

The University of Maryland advises implementing the same practice, especially for leafy greens such as lettuce, and indicates separating the leaves when doing so, as well as rinsing between the folds to remove any hidden dirt.

In the case of firm foods like potatoes or apples, Kirkpatrick’s advice is to rub with your hands to ensure that all exterior dirt has been removed.

As an additional trick for this food, Harvard advises never storing potatoes in the refrigerator because moisture can speed up their deterioration. “Store them in a dark, dry, and cool place,” it says.

When is the best time to clean vegetables

The Cleveland Clinic expert says that the ideal is to wash fruits and vegetables just before they are used for consumption.

Other important points to consider when cleaning fruits and vegetables

The University of Maine, for its part, lists other key points that should be taken into account when cleaning these foods before consuming them; some of the recommendations are:

• Wash your hands with hot water and soap before and after preparing food
• Clean and sanitize cutting boards and utensils before and after using them.
• Do not use soaps or detergents to wash vegetables.
• Use a vegetable brush when handling products with thick skins.
• Specifically in the case of lettuce, it is recommended to soak it for 1 or 2 minutes when washing it. The same goes for any vegetable with many crevices.
• Drain leafy greens using a colander and dry them with a clean towel or salad spinner.
• If using a salad spinner, it should be cleaned with warm soapy water and left to air dry after each use.

The discovery was made using MeerKAT, a network of radio telescopes in South Africa. Researchers detected recurring bursts as well as persistent radio emission from the Beta Pictoris system. The characteristics of the signal, including its strong circular polarization, offered important clues about where the emission originated.

What made the observation particularly significant was the ability to distinguish the planet from its host star. Previous radio detections associated with exoplanet systems had raised the possibility of planetary activity, but scientists could not always rule out the star itself as the source. This time, the radio source was localized directly to Beta Pictoris b, rather than to the star.

The signal is caused by magnetic activity

The discovery does not point to an artificial transmission or evidence of extraterrestrial life. Scientists believe the radio waves are produced by auroral activity generated by the planet’s powerful magnetic field.

A similar process occurs in our own Solar System. Earth’s magnetic field interacts with energetic particles from the Sun, producing the auroras seen near the planet’s poles. The same basic physics can also generate radio emissions, although the environment around Beta Pictoris b is vastly different from Earth’s.

Researchers believe charged particles in the distant planet’s magnetic environment are accelerated and produce radio waves through a process known as the electron cyclotron maser instability.

The resulting emission can travel across interstellar space and eventually be detected by radio telescopes on Earth.

A powerful magnetic field

The frequencies observed by MeerKAT provided another important piece of information. Because the highest frequency of this type of radio emission is related to the magnetic field strength at its source, the researchers were able to estimate the field in the region producing the signal.

The study indicates a magnetic field of at least 1.25 kilogauss at the source on Beta Pictoris b. That makes the observation particularly valuable because magnetic fields are among the most difficult properties of exoplanets to measure directly.

Magnetic fields can influence how planets interact with radiation and charged particles from their stars. They can also provide clues about a planet’s interior and its surrounding magnetosphere.

Beta Pictoris b is an especially interesting target because it is a young, massive gas giant. It belongs to the Beta Pictoris planetary system, located about 63 light-years from Earth, and its youth gives astronomers an opportunity to study planetary magnetic activity at an early stage of evolution.

Why this detection is different

Astronomers have detected radio emission from systems containing exoplanets before. One notable example is YZ Ceti, where researchers observed radio bursts that could be associated with interactions between a planet and its host star.

However, the evidence was not definitive because stellar magnetic activity could not be completely ruled out as the source of the emission.

The Beta Pictoris b observation takes the field a step further. By comparing the radio position with precise astronomical reference points, researchers were able to determine that the emission coincided with Beta Pictoris b and was inconsistent with the location of the host star.

That distinction could have major implications for the study of distant planets. Radio observations may now offer astronomers a new method for investigating exoplanet magnetic fields, allowing them to learn more about planetary interiors, magnetospheres and the interactions between young planets and their stars.

The service is available through a personal my Social Security account and can be accessed at any time. However, not everyone can complete the entire process digitally. Specific requirements determine whether an applicant can receive a replacement card through the online service or needs to visit an SSA office.

The agency also points out that replacing a lost card may not always be necessary. In most situations, employers, financial institutions, government agencies and other organizations only need the person’s Social Security number (SSN) rather than the physical card.

Who can request a replacement online

The fully online replacement option is primarily available to U.S. citizens age 18 or older who have a U.S. mailing address.

Applicants also need a my Social Security account and must be able to complete the agency’s identity verification process. In addition, they generally need a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card from a participating state.

In certain circumstances, the online system can also handle a last-name change following marriage, provided the applicant meets the applicable requirements and lives in a participating jurisdiction.

People who do not qualify for a fully online replacement can still start the application online. The SSA system determines whether the request can be processed digitally or whether the applicant needs to schedule an appointment at a Social Security office or Card Center.

How to replace a Social Security card online

The process begins through the SSA’s online system. Applicants must sign in to or create a my Social Security account and verify their identity before submitting the request.

The basic process is:

1. Sign in to or create a personal my Social Security account.
2. Complete the identity verification process.
3. Submit the replacement request.
4. Wait for the new card to arrive by mail.

The SSA says submitting the request typically takes only a few minutes. If the applicant qualifies for the fully online service, there is no need to visit an office to complete the request.

The agency also stresses that going to an office does not mean receiving the card on the same day. The replacement still has to be processed and mailed. According to the SSA’s latest guidance, cards requested online generally arrive in less than two weeks.

There is no fee for a replacement card

The SSA does not charge a fee for a replacement Social Security card. There are, however, general limits on replacements: people are normally limited to three replacement cards per year and 10 over their lifetime. Certain situations, including legal name changes and some changes in immigration status, do not count toward those limits.

The agency also advises people not to routinely carry their Social Security card. In most cases, organizations that need the information only require the Social Security number, while the physical card should be kept in a secure location.

For people who do need a replacement, the online option can eliminate an unnecessary trip to an SSA office and allows applicants to begin the process at any time, including outside regular office hours.

Through the physical principle of refraction, the system makes it possible to channel sunlight into homes without windows or with little natural light, turning a plastic waste item into a daytime light point equivalent to a 40- to 60-watt bulb.

From a workshop in Uberaba to international expansion in more than 30 nations

The technique was developed in the early 2000s by Alfredo Moser, a mechanic living in the city of Uberaba, Brazil.

The proposal emerged during a critical period of power outages, which led the inventor to seek an inexpensive way to bring daylight into enclosed spaces using recycled PET plastic containers and water.

The project reached global prominence in 2011, when the MyShelter Foundation organization adopted the concept to develop the Liter of Light program in the Philippines.

The initiative promoted the use of easily accessible materials to improve living conditions in low-income sectors, achieving rapid community replication that was highlighted by UNESCO due to its implementation in more than 30 countries.

Solar refraction and maintenance: how the physics of the system works

The device operates as a sunlight diffuser based on the physical principle of refraction.

By drilling the roof and installing a transparent plastic bottle filled with water (leaving the upper half exposed to the sun and the lower half inside the room), the sun’s rays enter the container, change direction as they pass through the liquid, and spread the light in a 360° angle inside the room.

To preserve the system’s transparency and ensure its performance over time, the technique includes key maintenance aspects:

• Water disinfection: Adding a moderate amount of chlorine or bleach inside the container delays the appearance of algae or biological organisms that could dim the light flow.
• Coverage breadth: Water diffraction makes it possible to illuminate a larger area compared with direct light entering through a traditional skylight of the same size.
• Hermetic seal: The container must remain sealed to prevent water from evaporating or dirt from accumulating inside.

Precautions and limitations: the importance of safe installation on the roof

Despite the simplicity of the method, specialists in construction emphasize that direct intervention on the roof requires prior structural assessments.

Drilling a roof without checking the material’s strength or without considering the applicable building codes can cause major damage to the property or compromise the safety of its occupants.

The most decisive part during installation is the hermetic sealing of the edges. It is essential to use waterproof products around the entire perimeter of the opening to prevent water leaks and the subsequent formation of moisture during rainy days.

Likewise, technicians remind that the system depends entirely on the solar radiation present, so it acts only as a complement to daytime lighting and does not replace the use of electric power at night.

The official schedule establishes that the payment day depends on the range in which the beneficiary’s birth day falls.

The SSA schedule divides beneficiaries into three groups. In this way, those who were born between the 1st and the 10th will receive the deposit on the second Wednesday of the month; those born between the 11th and the 20th, on the third Wednesday; and those who have birthdays between the 21st and the 31st, on the fourth Wednesday.

SSA payment schedule: when are Social Security benefits paid in October 2026?

For October, the payment dates are organized as follows:

• Wednesday the 14th: beneficiaries born between the 1st and the 10th.
• Wednesday the 21st: beneficiaries born between the 11th and the 20th.
• Wednesday the 28th: beneficiaries born between the 21st and the 31st.

The SSA itself states in its schedule that benefits are paid on those dates according to the corresponding birth date range.

How do you know which day you will receive the SSA payment?

The easiest way to identify the date is to check only the day of the month on which the beneficiary was born. Thus, following the October 2026 schedule, a person born on the 7th of any month will have their payment scheduled for Wednesday the 14th, while someone born on the 18th will have it on Wednesday the 21st. In the case of those born on the 25th, they will have to wait until the last date on the schedule, that is, Wednesday the 28th.

What happens if the SSA payment does not arrive on the corresponding Wednesday?

The Social Security Administration explains what beneficiaries should do when the deposit does not appear on the expected date:

“If you do not receive your payment on the expected date, please wait three additional mailing days before contacting Social Security”.

The story dates back to 1939, when the object was reportedly found on a farm near Edmore, Michigan. According to the account passed down by the property’s owners, the original owner had seen the object fall and later recovered it from the ground. It eventually became part of the farm’s everyday surroundings and was put to a practical use.

The rock went virtually unnoticed for years. It changed hands along with the property and ended up serving as a barn-door stop, despite the unusual story attached to it.

How the rock attracted scientific attention

Interest in the object returned decades later. In 1988, David Mazurek bought a farm in Edmore and acquired the rock along with the property. The previous owner told him that the object had fallen there decades earlier.

Mazurek kept the rock for years and continued to use it as a doorstop. That changed in 2018, when reports about meteorites found in Michigan prompted him to wonder whether the unusual rock he had owned for decades could also have come from space.

He took it to Central Michigan University, where geologist Mona Sirbescu examined it. The initial tests showed that the object was far more unusual than an ordinary terrestrial rock.

The specimen was roughly triangular, measured about 17 by 20 by 23 centimeters and weighed 10.22 kilograms, or more than 22 pounds. Its surface also contained large indentations and areas covered by a light brown fusion crust, a feature associated with material that has passed through Earth’s atmosphere.

From a Michigan barn to a laboratory

To determine its exact identity, a slice of the specimen was sent to the Smithsonian Institution. Researchers examined its chemical composition and internal structure using microscopic and analytical techniques.

The sample contained kamacite, taenite and schreibersite, minerals commonly associated with iron meteorites. Scientists also identified a Widmanstätten pattern, a distinctive structure produced as iron-nickel alloys cool extremely slowly.

Chemical analyses placed the specimen in the IIIAB group of iron meteorites. Its classification was later entered into the official meteorite record, where Edmore has been an approved meteorite name since January 1, 2019.

The specimen was also notable for its size. At 10.22 kilograms, Edmore became one of the largest meteorites recorded in Michigan.

UnitedHealthcare and Humana account for a large share of those affected. UnitedHealthcare confirmed that about 390,000 members are enrolled in plans that will be discontinued, while Humana expects its exits to affect roughly 600,000 members. Together, the changes affect close to 1 million people.

The decisions come ahead of the 2027 enrollment period, as insurers reduce their presence in some markets and reshape the plans they offer. Despite those pullbacks, data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shows that more than 99% of Medicare beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan in 2027, while 97% will have 10 or more options to choose from.

What a non-renewal letter means and what to do

The first warning for affected members will be a non-renewal notice. UnitedHealthcare said notices for members whose plans are being discontinued will be dated October 2, 2026.

Receiving the letter does not mean the beneficiary will suddenly lose health coverage. The notice is intended to explain what will happen to the existing plan and outline the available options for the following year.

One option is to select another Medicare Advantage plan available in the beneficiary’s area. Another is to return to Original Medicare, which consists of Part A and Part B, and then consider separate coverage such as a Part D prescription drug plan or Medicare Supplement insurance, also known as Medigap.

The important step is not to ignore the notice. Available plans can vary significantly depending on the beneficiary’s county, doctors, medications and expected healthcare costs.

When can affected beneficiaries choose new coverage?

For most Medicare beneficiaries, the enrollment window for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Choices made during that period generally take effect on January 1, 2027.

UnitedHealthcare said members whose plans are being discontinued can enroll in another Medicare Advantage plan between October 15 and December 31, with coverage beginning January 1, 2027. If they do not choose another plan, they will automatically return to Original Medicare.

Beneficiaries who return to Original Medicare because their Medicare Advantage plan is ending can also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to select another Medicare Advantage plan. For the affected UnitedHealthcare members described in the company’s notice, that period runs through February 28, 2027.

What to check before choosing a new plan

A discontinued plan does not mean every replacement option will provide the same coverage. Beneficiaries should compare several details before making a decision.

• Doctors and hospitals: Check whether the healthcare providers you use are included in the new plan’s network.
• Prescription drugs: Review the plan’s formulary and the cost of your regular medications.
• Premiums and out-of-pocket costs: Compare premiums, deductibles, copayments and annual out-of-pocket limits.
• Extra benefits: Check whether dental, vision, hearing and other supplemental benefits are included.
• Plan type: Determine whether the plan is an HMO, PPO or another type, since the rules for seeing out-of-network providers can differ.

The reduction in offerings from some insurers does not mean Medicare Advantage itself is disappearing. CMS projects that approximately 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans will be available nationwide in 2027, compared with 5,553 in 2026. The agency also projects that the weighted average monthly premium will fall from $14.37 to $12.nt deadline.

The change is part of the current rules of Daylight Saving Time (DST), also known as daylight saving time. During this year, and following the NIST’s official publications, this period began last March 8 at 2:00 a.m.

When does the time change in the United States in 2026?

The time change in the United States will be on November 1. At 2:00 a.m., the time will go back to 1:00 a.m.

The regulations establish that daylight saving time begins each year on the second Sunday in March (“spring forward”) and ends on the first Sunday in November. When the end of DST arrives, the clocks are set back one hour and the day gains an extra hour.

The recommendation is to set the clocks back one hour before going to sleep on Saturday, October 31.

The change is known as “fall back” and, regarding it, NIST notes that the shift to standard time effectively moves one hour of daylight from the end of the afternoon to the morning.

How do you adjust the clocks?

In most cases, cell phones, computers, and other connected devices should update the time automatically, as long as the time zone is correctly configured and the operating system updates are up to date.

NIST clarifies that its time services transmit Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Then, what relates to the local time zone and daylight saving time is handled by the device’s operating system.

It should be noted that the Internet Time Service mainly uses the Network Time Protocol (NTP), which does not include daylight saving time information on its own, meaning it depends on the operating system.

The official recommendation is to keep the software updated and, in the event of any error, check the date, time, and time zone settings.

What happens with radio-controlled clocks?

Radio-controlled clocks that receive the NIST time signal should make the change automatically. The WWVB signal that each device receives contains information that detects whether one schedule or the other is in effect.

If the clock does not change correctly, the agency advises checking whether it recently received the time signal, as well as reviewing whether the configured time zone is correct.

In which U.S. states does the time not change?

Although most of the United States will undergo a time change, it is worth noting that there are some exceptions.

According to NIST, daylight saving time does not apply in:

• Hawaii
• American Samoa
• Guam
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Arizona (the Navajo Indian Reservation does apply)

Is the end of daylight saving time coming to the United States?

Not yet. The time change once again became a topic of debate in Washington after the House of Representatives approved the Sunshine Protection Act last July, a bill aimed at keeping daylight saving time all 365 days of the year and eliminating the semiannual time changes.

However, since the proposal still requires Senate backing, there is not yet any current change to the rules.

The project is located south of the city and seeks to turn the current secondary airport into Dubai’s main air connection hub and one of the most important in the world.

The plan covers an area of 70 square kilometers and a maximum capacity of 260 million passengers a year. The first works include the new terminals, boarding areas, and automated systems for baggage transfer.

The planned investment reaches 35 billion dollars, making the project one of the most expensive airport developments in history.

What Dubai’s new airport will be like

The final design will include five parallel runways and four large terminals. It will also have commercial spaces and green areas integrated into futuristic-looking architecture.

According to Architectural Digest, the project is led by the London firm Leslie Jones Architecture, which designed a structure with large white canopies and spacious interior areas.

The complex, known as Dubai World Central, will also be connected to the Dubai Metro network and to high-speed rail systems.

The infrastructure will also have sectors for executive and private jets, royal aircraft, and cargo operations. The projected capacity for this last segment will be up to 12 million tons per year.

When will Dubai airport be finished

The first stage of construction will take around ten years and will allow capacity for 150 million passengers a year.

However, the full completion of the megaproject will take several decades. According to the planned schedules, the works could extend until 2057.

The final goal is to progressively move operations from the current Dubai International Airport, known as DXB, to Al Maktoum.

DXB received close to 92 million passengers during 2024. Against that figure, the new infrastructure will have a capacity almost three times greater once it reaches full development.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, explained that keeping two major airport hubs so close to each other is not convenient and anticipated that DXB services will be moved to the new complex when it has the necessary capacity.

Why will it be the airport with the world’s largest passenger capacity?

Al Maktoum International Airport will have a capacity of more than 260 million passengers per year when it reaches its final development stage. The project includes five runways, four large terminals and 400 boarding gates, in addition to automated systems to speed up passenger and baggage movement.

To understand the scale of the project, the busiest airport in the world is currently Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, in the United States. During 2025 it received 106.3 million passengers, while Dubai International Airport came second with 95.2 million.

The comparison also makes it possible to distinguish capacity from area. King Fahd International Airport, in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is the largest in the world by land area. However, in 2025 it received 13.7 million passengers and plans to expand its capacity to 32 million a year, a figure far below the one projected for Al Maktoum.

By contrast, Al Maktoum aims to far exceed those figures: its final capacity will be more than 260 million passengers per year. The first expansion stage will allow it to handle up to 150 million passengers a year and, later, the complex will reach its maximum capacity.

In this way, Al Maktoum will not be the world’s largest airport by area, but the one with the largest projected passenger capacity.

Dubai South: the new urban hub around the airport

The airport construction is also part of a much broader urban development project in the area known as Dubai South.

Authorities expect growth in this area to create new jobs and housing for around one million people.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also highlighted the project on his social networks and presented it as infrastructure designed for future generations.

In addition to expanding air transport capacity, the new airport aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a connection point between Asia, Europe and Australia.

The infrastructure currently operating in Al Maktoum began operating in 2010, mainly for cargo flights, and already has runways prepared to receive large aircraft such as the Airbus A380.

With the incorporation of automated baggage systems and technologies aimed at speeding up immigration checks, the project seeks to completely transform the airport experience and concentrate a large part of Dubai’s air traffic in a single complex.

The recipe takes inspiration from classic cinnamon rolls but gives them a distinctly autumnal twist. A buttery cardamom filling is rolled into a tender yeast dough, then finished with a simple maple glaze.

What makes these maple cardamom buns so soft

The dough uses a simple cooking technique known as tangzhong, in which part of the flour and milk are heated together before being incorporated into the dough. This helps create a soft texture and keeps the buns tender after baking.

The dough is also enriched with eggs and butter, while the filling combines brown sugar with cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. A splash of heavy cream added to the pan before baking helps create an especially rich, gooey result.

An easy maple and cardamom bun recipe

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 1 ¼ cups whole milk.
• ¼ cup water.
• 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour.
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast.
• ¼ cup granulated sugar.
• 2 large eggs.
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt.
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened.

For the filling:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened.
• ¾ cup light brown sugar.
• 1 tablespoon ground cardamom.
• 2 teaspoons of ground ginger.
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt.

For the glaze:

• 4 tablespoons butter.
• ¼ cup maple syrup.
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• ½ cup powdered sugar.
• A pinch of salt.

For baking:

• ½ cup heavy cream.

Preparation

1. Warm the milk until steaming, then combine part of it with the water and a portion of the flour in a saucepan. Cook while whisking until the mixture thickens into a smooth paste. Let it cool slightly.
2. Add the yeast to the remaining warm milk and let it stand for several minutes. Mix in the rest of the flour, sugar, eggs and salt, then incorporate the cooled milk mixture.
3. Knead the dough while gradually adding the softened butter. Continue until it becomes smooth and elastic. Place it in a greased bowl, cover and let it rise until nearly doubled.
4. While the dough rises, mix the softened butter, brown sugar, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, and salt into a smooth filling.
5. Roll the dough into a large rectangle and spread the filling across it. Roll it into a log, chill it briefly to make slicing easier, and cut it into individual buns.
6. Arrange the buns in a greased baking dish, cover, and let them rise again until noticeably puffy. For a make-ahead option, the pan can be refrigerated overnight and finished with a longer second rise the next day.
7. Heat the oven to 350°F. Pour the heavy cream into the spaces between the buns and bake until puffed and golden, about 30 minutes. Let them rest briefly before glazing.
8. For the glaze, warm the butter with the maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Whisk in the powdered sugar until smooth, then pour the glaze over the warm buns and serve.

And even though the presidential election is still two years away, the numbers already favor Vance: A recent poll of Republican likely voters puts him ahead of Cruz for the 2028 nomination, 44% to 3%, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio second at 21%.

The Bowling Green State University/YouGov survey interviewed 1,200 likely voters nationwide from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. Only the 499 respondents who identified as Republicans were asked about the GOP race.

Neither Vance nor Cruz has launched a 2028 campaign. Both say their priority is the Nov. 3 midterm elections, where Republicans are defending their majorities in the House and Senate.

Why did Ted Cruz call JD Vance ‘insecure’?

The exchange played out over three days, in separate interviews the two Republicans gave to national outlets.

What JD Vance said about Ted Cruz

Vance opened the exchange in an interview with NBC News on Oct. 1. “It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,” he said. “At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans.”

Cruz had signaled his interest weeks earlier. In August, he told MS NOW he didn’t consider Vance a lock for the nomination and said, “I’ll certainly be part of the discussion.”

How Ted Cruz responded

Cruz fired back in a phone interview with POLITICO on Oct. 3. “In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” he said, adding that his focus is winning the midterms over the next 30 days.

To make his case, Cruz pointed to campaign stops in several states, with more planned this month, and said no Republican has campaigned for more candidates over the past decade. One of them, he noted, was Vance, whom he joined on the trail during the 2022 Ohio Senate race.

A Vance spokesperson did not immediately respond, POLITICO reported.

Who is in second place behind JD Vance in the 2028 Republican poll?

According to the last BGSU/YouGov poll, Rubio holds second place at 21%, 23 points behind Vance but 18 points ahead of Cruz. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, follows at 8%, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has 7%. Cruz ranks fifth.

Here’s how the full field breaks down among Republican likely voters:

The 9% who picked “someone else” is larger than the combined share of every candidate below DeSantis.

How solid is JD Vance’s 41-point lead over Ted Cruz?

In this poll, the lead is far too large to be explained by sampling error. Vance also leads Rubio by more than 20 points, so his frontrunner status doesn’t depend on Cruz’s weak showing.

Vance’s lead has narrowed since the start of the year, though. In the same pollster’s February survey of registered voters, he had 51% among Republicans and Rubio had 15%.

That means the gap between the top two shrank from 36 points to 23. Because the two surveys used different samples, the comparison shows the direction of the race more reliably than the exact size of the shift.

The Republican sample is smaller than the full poll. The survey doesn’t publish a separate margin for it, but with 499 respondents it is wider than plus or minus 3.3 points. The poll also closed a month before the Vance-Cruz exchange, and the first 2028 nominating contests are more than a year away.

Vance’s standing within the party remains strong. Among Republicans in the survey, 77% view him favorably. Among all 1,200 likely voters, his rating is 37% favorable to 52% unfavorable.

Part of that money is being directed toward one of the world’s most important marine ecosystems. The Earth Fund announced $24.5 million in grants to strengthen the protection of coastal and marine areas across the Eastern Tropical Pacific, covering waters off Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador.

The funding is not simply intended to create more protected areas. It is also designed to help ensure that those areas can be monitored, managed and financed over the long term, with local communities and conservation groups playing a central role.

A region where wildlife crosses borders

The Eastern Tropical Pacific links some of the region’s most important marine ecosystems, including the Galápagos, Cocos, Coiba and Malpelo. Its waters form migration routes for species that travel across enormous distances, including hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, whales and tuna.

Many of these animals begin their lives in mangroves, estuaries and sheltered coastal areas before moving into offshore waters. That makes cooperation between countries particularly important, since protecting a single stretch of ocean may not be enough for species that regularly cross maritime borders.

According to the Earth Fund, the four countries have designated more than 154,000 square miles (400,000 square kilometers) of new marine protected areas since 2021, nearly tripling the amount of protected ocean in the region.

Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia have each protected more than 30% of their national waters, while Ecuador has expanded protections across important coastal and offshore zones. The broader goal is to connect those areas into a coordinated conservation corridor spanning national boundaries.

Where the $24.5 million is going

The new funding is divided among several projects, covering everything from coastal habitat protection to technology designed to improve marine surveillance.

The largest grant, worth $13.85 million, went to Re to support local and regional organizations in Colombia, Panama and Ecuador. The money will help create new coastal reserves, strengthen existing protected areas and develop long-term financing mechanisms to keep those protections in place.

Another $1 million was awarded to MigraMar to expand long-term monitoring of sharks, turtles, whales and tuna. Researchers will use the information to better understand migration routes and identify areas where marine species gather.

Meanwhile, $4 million will go to Global Fishing Watch to give patrol teams access to satellite information and planning tools. The technology is intended to help officers determine where their efforts are most needed and improve safety during operations.

The remaining $5.65 million was awarded to WildAid for equipment and hands-on training for park rangers working in protected waters.

Using technology to track what happens at sea

One of the biggest challenges facing marine protected areas is their remoteness. Patrol teams cannot be everywhere at once, making reliable information critical when deciding where to deploy personnel and resources.

The initiative therefore incorporates satellite data, vessel tracking and ecological monitoring. It will also build on research already underway, including more than 1,200 underwater camera deployments and environmental DNA sampling designed to track changes in biodiversity.

The underlying idea is that declaring an area protected is only the beginning. Effective conservation requires people, technology, scientific information and reliable funding to maintain protection year after year.

Bezos’ climate commitment is expanding

The $24.5 million investment is part of a much broader strategy. According to the Earth Fund, the new grants brought its total investment in the Eastern Tropical Pacific to more than $60 million.

The organization also operates a broader Tropical Pacific Ocean initiative focused on a region it describes as critical to biodiversity, climate regulation and food security. The Earth Fund currently lists 19 grants totaling $93.35 million under that initiative.

The Pacific funding represents only a portion of the $10 billion initially pledged by Bezos, which is intended to support projects protecting and restoring ecosystems around the world.

However, having a visa is not necessary in all cases: the Visa Waiver Program or Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals of member countries to obtain an alternative authorization that costs $40.27 and can be used to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days, as long as the purpose is tourism or business.

Visa Waiver Program: what it is and which countries are members

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) explains that this program is administered in consultation with the Department of State and offers visa-free stays of up to three months for the purposes specified above. In return, participating nations must provide U.S. citizens and nationals with the same ability to travel without a business or tourist visa for a comparable period.

“Eligible people who use the VWP to travel to the United States are thoroughly screened before departing for the United States, upon arrival at U.S. ports of entry, and during any subsequent air travel within the United States,” the authorities state.

Which nations are part of the VWP

According to the official list, there are 42 participating nations:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Chile
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• South Korea
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

To be able to travel, all applicants are required to have processed their ESTA application.

The $40 permit used to travel to the United States: how to apply for it

The official application website, administered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), indicates that those who must apply for this permit are:

• They are citizens of countries in the program
• They do not currently have a valid visa (those who already have a visa may submit this document directly)
• They plan to travel for 90 days or less
• They want to submit a new application for a person or group

To begin the application, you will need to gather the following documentation:

• Valid passport from a VWP member country
• Traveler’s photo
• Valid email address
• Home address and phone number
• Emergency phone and email for travelers
• A method to pay the $40.27 application fee. Payment methods include MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and PayPal.

The process can be started by clicking here.

If necessary and applicable, the authorities may also require:

• Traveler’s aliases or other names
• National document or personal identification number
• Traveler ID number in Global Entry/NEXUS/SENTRI ID
• Traveler’s employer’s address and phone number
• Traveler’s contact name, address, and phone number

“The system will provide you with an automatic response and, before boarding, a carrier will verify electronically with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that you have an approved travel authorization on file,” it states.

This permit is valid for a maximum of two years, during which multiple visits may be made; if the passport of the person applying expires earlier, the authorization ceases to be valid at that moment.

The promotion lets shoppers get the product for less than a quarter of its previous value and represents a savings of US$160. In addition, it has thousands of buyer ratings on the platform.

This is the 15-piece Astercook kitchen knife set, which Walmart is currently offering for US$39.99, compared with the US$199.99 listed as the previous price. In this way, the markdown reaches approximately 80%.

Walmart clears out a knife set for US$40: what features does it have?

The Astercook set is made of German stainless steel and has a coating designed to provide rust resistance, according to the description published by Walmart.

One of its main differentiators is the storage block with a built-in sharpener, which makes it possible to keep the knives organized and restore the edge without needing to use another accessory. In addition, the manufacturer indicates that the pieces are dishwasher-safe.

On the platform, the product has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on more than 13,000 reviews.

How much do you save with Walmart’s offer?

The markdown represents a difference of US$160 compared with the previous price reported by Walmart:

• Previous price: US$199.99.
• Current price: US$39.99.
• Savings: US$160.
• Approximate discount: 80%.

Availability, price and delivery conditions may vary depending on the buyer’s location and may change while the promotion remains active.

The classification matters because employees and independent contractors are subject to different federal tax rules. The IRS looks at several factors to determine whether a worker is an employee or self-employed.

How the IRS classifies remote workers

The IRS says that a remote worker is generally an employee if the company has the right to control what the worker does and how the worker performs the job. This can apply even when the worker has the freedom to work remotely.

The IRS does not determine worker status based on a single factor. Instead, it considers the entire relationship between the worker and the business.

The three factors the IRS considers

The IRS groups the factors it uses into three categories: behavioral control, financial control, and the type of relationship between the parties.

• Behavioral control: This considers whether the business has the right to direct and control how the worker performs the job, including instructions, training, and other aspects of the work.
• Financial control: This looks at the business aspects of the worker’s job, such as how the worker is paid, whether expenses are reimbursed, and whether the worker has an opportunity for profit or loss.
• Type of relationship: The IRS considers factors such as written contracts, employee benefits, the permanency of the relationship, and whether the services performed are a key aspect of the business.

Why worker classification matters for taxes

The classification determines how federal employment taxes are handled. Businesses generally withhold income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes from employees’ wages and pay the employer share of certain employment taxes.

Independent contractors, by contrast, are generally responsible for their own income and self-employment taxes. Businesses typically report payments to independent contractors using Form 1099-NEC when the reporting requirements apply.

The IRS recommends that workers and businesses carefully determine the correct classification rather than relying only on the terms used in a contract. If a worker is unsure about their status, the IRS provides Form SS-8 to request a determination of worker status.

Trump announced the group this Sunday Oct. 4 on Truth Social and said it will report to him and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. The post set no timeline and gave no indication of what authority or oversight duties the group will have.

Tech leaders gathered for a White House lunch on Sept. 29 to talk about AI safety, the industry’s growth and the push to build more data centers. The pledge was signed as the meeting wrapped up.

That same day, Trump signed an executive order telling federal agencies to replace “artificial intelligence” and “AI” with “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in official communications, where the law allows. The order argues the old term no longer reflects what the technology can do.

What will Trump’s ‘Super Intelligence Force’ do?

Trump said the task force will coordinate federal efforts to keep the U.S. ahead in AI while protecting Americans’ interests. It will also handle the government’s dealings with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies.

Clayton has said the group will look at existing law and weigh what Congress could do. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he pointed to finance, where regulators such as the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission worked out risk models together with the industry.

Who is on Trump’s ‘Super Intelligence Force’?

Clayton leads the group, which includes three other senior officials:

• Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission
• Emil Michael, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering
• Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management

Clayton, a former SEC chairman, is also expected to become the White House’s AI czar. He would take over from venture capitalist David Sacks, who left the post once his stint as a special government employee ran out.

What’s in the AI pledge Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and ChatGPT’s maker signed?

Executives from six of the biggest U.S. players in AI put their names on the agreement with Trump:

• Sundar Pichai, Google
• Elon Musk, xAI
• Dario Amodei, Anthropic
• Mark Zuckerberg, Meta
• Jensen Huang, Nvidia
• Greg Brockman, OpenAI

The White House Accord on Super Intelligence, as Trump named it, calls for outside reviews, risk assessments and internal checks on what the companies’ models can do and how they behave. Cyberattacks are among the main risks it targets.

Does Trump’s ‘Super Intelligence Force’ enforce the AI pledge?

Trump tied the two together, saying in his post that he formed the task force following the accord. Still, he had announced plans for an AI task force last month, and nothing released so far gives the group a role in enforcing the pledge.

Signing was voluntary, and the agreement seems to carry no legal force. Trump has framed it as the industry regulating itself.

Trump has also ruled out federal AI regulation, even though some industry leaders have asked Washington for it in recent weeks.

When the Social Security increase for 2027 is announced

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will announce its cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 on October 14, 2026. That day, the official figure is released, calculated from inflation data (the consumer price index) for the period used by the SSA.

How much could the increase be, and who estimates it

Projections before the announcement place the increase for 2027 at around 3.5% or 3.6%. The most cited estimate comes from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a U.S. organization advocating for older adults that closely tracks the benefit and calculates 3.6%. If confirmed in that range, it would be the largest adjustment in three years.

How the COLA is calculated

The figure does not come from a discretionary decision, but from a formula. The Social Security Administration takes the CPI-W (the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers), averages the values for the third quarter of the year (July, August, and September), and compares them with the same period of the previous year. That variation is the COLA.

That is why the official figure can only be known in October: it depends on the September inflation figure, which is published shortly before the announcement. Preliminary estimates, such as TSCL’s, are based on the inflation data available at the time and may differ from the final figure.

What the COLA is and who it affects

The COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) is the annual adjustment intended to keep Social Security payments from losing purchasing power to inflation. It is applied automatically: beneficiaries do not have to complete any procedure to receive it.

The adjustment reaches tens of millions of people in the United States, including retirees and other beneficiaries of the system, as well as those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Why this inflation figure matters so much

For those who depend on this income, every point of the COLA translates into concrete dollars every month. A higher adjustment means relief from the cost of living; a lower one means tighter purchasing power. That is why the October announcement is one of the most anticipated of the year for beneficiaries.

The date coincides with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September inflation report. The increase is based on the average annual change in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers from July through September.

The Senior Citizens League, an advocacy group, projects a 3.5% COLA, up from 2.8% in 2026. The index already registered 3.4% in July and 3.5% in August.

How much of your 2027 Social Security raise will Medicare take?

The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects the standard Part B premium could rise $ 6.60 a month, from $ 202.90. For beneficiaries who have it withheld, that amount comes off the raise before the payment is deposited.

A retiree receiving $ 2,000 a month would gain about $ 70 under a 3.5% COLA. After the projected premium increase, the net gain drops to roughly $ 63.

The figure is not final. The trustees’ previous report had put the 2027 premium at $ 218.60, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services typically confirms the official amount in November.

The annual Part B deductible is also expected to rise, from $ 283 to $ 292. The trustees project the premium will reach $ 224.50 in 2028.

Can the Medicare Part B premium shrink your Social Security check?

A federal hold-harmless rule bars the premium increase from lowering a beneficiary’s net Social Security payment below the previous year’s amount. It covers about 70% of Part B enrollees, though several groups are excluded:

• Beneficiaries who pay an income-related surcharge, which in 2026 applies above $ 109,000 for single filers and $ 218,000 for joint filers
• Beneficiaries new to Medicare or to Social Security payments
• Beneficiaries whose premiums are paid by state Medicaid programs

Beneficiaries outside that protection pay the full premium increase, regardless of how much their benefit rises.

Notices showing each person’s new net payment arrive in December and are also available through a my Social Security account.

Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. It is the window to compare plans before 2027 costs take effect.

These differences are too small to be perceived in everyday life, but they contain information about what happens in the depths of the planet.

Now, a study published in Nature found that one of the keys lies in the interaction between Earth’s inner core and the mantle that surrounds it.

Researchers Huifeng Zhang and Mathieu Dumberry, from the Department of Physics at the University of Alberta, developed a model to analyze how different forces inside Earth can modify its rotation speed.

The work concludes that the main mechanism behind the variations that occur over several decades would be a gravitational torque generated by the inner core, although other forces act in the opposite direction and moderate its effect.

Why a day does not always last exactly 24 hours

The 24 hours are a reference based on the time it takes Earth to complete one rotation on its axis. But the planet does not work like a perfectly uniform clock.

Earth’s rotation speed shows fluctuations caused by different processes. Some occur at the surface, such as the movements of ice masses, the oceans, the atmosphere and large earthquakes. Others originate much deeper, in the interaction between the core and the mantle.

When there is an exchange of angular momentum between these layers, rotation can speed up or slow down slightly. The result is a change of just a few milliseconds in the length of the day, but one that can be detected through high-precision geodetic measurements.

The variations that are of particular interest to this study are those that occur on decadal timescales. The authors point out that these fluctuations were already associated with the exchange of angular momentum between the core and the mantle, but it was still unclear which forces were responsible for the process.

What is at the center of Earth?

Earth’s core is made mainly of iron and is approximately the size of Mars. It is divided into two parts: a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.

The outer core is in constant motion and its liquid metal currents generate Earth’s magnetic field. Inside that fluid layer is the inner core, which can rotate differently from the rest of the planet.

That difference is essential to understanding the new study. The inner core is not a perfectly uniform sphere and contains regions with differences in density. At the same time, the mantle also does not have a homogeneous distribution of materials.

According to the model developed by Zhang and Dumberry, gravity tries to keep certain denser regions of the inner core aligned with density anomalies present in the mantle. When the inner core shifts from that position, gravitational attraction generates a torque that can modify the planet’s rotation.

The inner core maintains a kind of “tug of war”

The research describes a competition of forces. The gravitational torque tends to align the inner core with the mantle, while movements in the outer core generate effects that can oppose it. The researchers incorporated electromagnetic and topographic torques at the boundary between the core and the mantle into the model. By considering these mechanisms, the model better reproduces the observed variations in day length.

What the researchers analyzed

To reach these conclusions, they combined two types of information. On one hand, they used seismic reconstructions of the differential rotation of the inner core, that is, how it moves relative to the rest of the planet. On the other hand, they incorporated models of the outer core flow developed from observed changes in Earth’s magnetic field.

One of the foundations of the work was a study published in 2023 that used seismic waves produced by earthquakes to estimate how the rotation of the inner core had changed since the 1960s. Those data showed that the inner core was spinning slightly faster than the rest of the planet until around 2010 and that later it began to do so more slowly.

With that information, the researchers built a model capable of comparing the contribution of the different forces and reconstructing variations in day length over several decades.

The study was published on September 23, 2026 in Nature, under the title Gravitational torque drives multidecadal variations in length of day.

What they found and why it matters

In simple terms, the main result is that the model better explains changes in day length over several decades when the inner core’s gravitational torque is the dominant factor. Electromagnetic and mechanical effects act as resistance and moderate that movement.

This does not mean that the inner core is the only cause of changes in Earth’s rotation. Other processes that occur on different time scales are also involved.

The study also provides clues about regions of Earth’s interior that cannot be observed directly. The results suggest particular structures in the deepest part of the mantle and a layer rich in iron and highly conductive at its base. They also indicate that the inner core could deform over periods of a few years.

Ultimately, those small millisecond variations in day length make it possible to study processes that occur thousands of kilometers below the surface.

Among them are the requirements linked to mandatory insurance, financial responsibility, and the consequences drivers may face if they drive without the required coverage, such as registration suspension, penalties, and even vehicle impoundment in certain circumstances.

What are the minimum insurance requirements in California?

California requires that all vehicles registered in the state be covered with a type of liability insurance. This compensates the other person when an accident occurs.

According to the DMV, these are:

• Motor vehicle liability insurance policy.
• Cash deposit of $ 75,000 at the DMV.
• Self-insurance certificate issued by the DMV.
• Surety bond worth $ 75,000 issued by a company authorized to operate in California.

As for the minimum requirements that liability insurance must meet, they are:

• $ 30,000 for injury or death of one person.
• $ 60,000 for injury or death of more than one person.
• $ 15,000 for property damage.

What happens if the vehicle is driven without the corresponding coverage?

The California Department of Insurance warns that driving without the required liability coverage can lead to fines, license suspension, and vehicle confiscation.

The agency also states that the insurance company informs the DMV when a user runs out of coverage. If a policy expires, the owner must obtain new coverage and make sure the agency receives the new proof of financial responsibility.

What to do if the policy expires or is canceled?

When the DMV receives the cancellation notice, it notifies the owner, who has up to 45 days from the notice to prove that there is other coverage before the registration is suspended.

If the registration has already been suspended, the vehicle cannot be driven or remain parked on a public road until new proof of insurance is submitted and the process to reinstate the registration is completed.

On the other hand, if it will no longer be used, the owner must file a Non-Use Affidavit (ANU).

How do you get the vehicle back if it is confiscated for this reason?

If the vehicle was confiscated for driving without the required financial responsibility, first it will be necessary to normalize the problem that caused the measure. This may include obtaining valid coverage, submitting the corresponding proof, and reinstating the registration if it had been suspended.

If it is due to other reasons, the DMV should be consulted for the corresponding procedure. On the other hand, the DMV may also impound and directly sell a vehicle to collect certain debts linked to it, such as registration fees, vehicle license fees, transfer fees, parking violations, or unpaid use taxes.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets out a series of recommendations for properly handling fresh produce and warns about a habit that many people may consider more effective for removing dirt and bacteria.

According to the agency, although washing can help reduce the bacteria present on the surface of fruits and vegetables, it does not eliminate them completely. That is why it is essential to do it the right way.

The FDA warns that fruits and vegetables should not be washed with soap or detergent

The FDA advises against using soap, detergent, or commercial products intended for washing fruits and vegetables. The reason is that these foods are porous and can absorb substances even after being carefully rinsed.

According to the agency, residue from soap and household detergents absorbed by food can cause illness. In the case of commercial products specifically intended for washing vegetables, the FDA says that the safety of their residue is unknown and that their effectiveness has not been proven.

The recommendation is important because fresh produce can become contaminated at different stages. Bacteria can come into contact with fruits and vegetables through soil or water during growth, but contamination can also occur after harvest, during storage or preparation.

How should fruits and vegetables be washed properly?

The FDA recommends thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables under running water before preparing or eating them, even when they were grown at home or purchased at supermarkets and farmers’ markets.

To do it safely, the agency advises:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.
• Cut off and discard damaged or bruised parts and throw away products that show signs of rot.
• Wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, preparing, or peeling them.
• Scrub firmer produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean brush intended for fruits and vegetables.
• Then dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce any bacteria that may remain on the surface.

Even if the peel is going to be removed, the FDA recommends washing it first. This reduces the chance of transferring dirt or bacteria from the surface to the inside with the knife or during peeling.

On the other hand, fruits and vegetables that say on their packaging that they were “pre-washed” or are “ready to eat” do not need to be washed again. If one chooses to do so anyway, they should be kept away from dirty surfaces and utensils to avoid cross-contamination.

Zelle can be used through the app of the banks and credit unions that offer it to their customers, and to send money only the recipient’s email or U.S. mobile phone number is needed.

Since the process is quick and requires few steps, the recommendation is always to verify very carefully the details of the person to whom money is being sent because there are specific requirements to request that the transaction be canceled and cases where this simply will not be possible.

When can a Zelle transfer be canceled?

According to official information shared by Zelle, cancellations can only be made when the person to whom the money was sent has not yet enrolled in the service.

How to cancel step by step in these cases

• The person who sent the money must go to the activity page within Zelle
• Choose the payment to cancel
• Finally select “Cancel this payment”

There is time to carry out this action as long as the recipient is not enrolled. At the moment an account is created, the money will be deposited and the transaction cannot be reversed.

In which cases does the money return automatically to the account of the person who sent it?

When money is sent to the account of a person who has not yet enrolled in Zelle, the recipient receives an official notification by email or at the phone number used for the transaction, indicating that funds were sent to them.

With this notice, the steps to register and receive the money are attached. If these instructions are not completed within a 14-day period from the notification, the funds that could not be deposited are automatically returned to the account of the person who sent them.

It is important to note that the permitted sending limits must be checked with each bank or credit union.

Essential information for all people who use Zelle

When using this payment service, it is not only key to verify the recipient’s details, but also that the phone number or email address provided as the user are the ones used to register in the first place.

Those who made a mistake and provided incorrect data that have not yet been used to enroll in Zelle will have to contact their bank so that the registration can be completed.

Knowing them is essential in order to properly comply with what is established by local regulations and avoid fines or even the confiscation of the vehicle.

The list of places where parking is completely prohibited in California

According to what is indicated by Section 6: How to Drive on Streets (Continuation) of the handbook, in California, no vehicle should park in the following places:

• Where there is a sign indicating that parking is prohibited
• In a crosswalk, regardless of whether it is marked or not
• On a sidewalk, blocking a sidewalk, or in front of a driveway
• Within three feet of a disability ramp
• In front of or on a curb that provides access to people in wheelchairs
• In the diagonal cross-hatched area next to a parking placard for persons with disabilities
• In a space designated for the parking or fueling of a zero-emission vehicle, unless the vehicle is zero-emission
• In a tunnel or bridge, unless signs allow it
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or the entrance to a fire station driveway
• Within 20 feet of a crosswalk or within 15 feet when there is a sidewalk extension
• Between a safety zone and the curb
• Double parked
• On the wrong side of a street or highway

Parking exceptions for California streets and highways

The vehicle may stop without complying with the rules when:

• There is an emergency
• A law enforcement officer stops it
• The stop is specifically permitted

If you have to stop on a highway, the instruction is to do so completely off the pavement and remain in the vehicle with the doors closed until the requested help arrives.

“A vehicle that is stopped, parked, or abandoned on a highway for more than four hours may be removed”, authorities indicate.

State motor vehicle agencies use a nationwide data-sharing system to check whether people applying for a driver’s license or identification card already hold a credential in another state. The State-to-State (S2S) Verification Service allows participating states to exchange information during the licensing process.

The system is part of the effort to prevent people from holding multiple active driver’s licenses or identification cards issued by different states. It also plays a role in the verification process for states issuing REAL ID-compliant credentials.

How the State-to-State system works

The S2S Verification Service is an electronic system used by participating state motor vehicle agencies to check an applicant’s licensing information in other states.

The service is supported by the State Pointer Exchange Services (SPEXS), which allows state licensing systems to exchange information when checking for existing credentials. This helps states identify potential duplicate records before issuing a new license or identification card.

What happens when a duplicate license is identified

When a state identifies a possible duplicate credential, the states involved can review the records to determine which credential should remain active. AAMVA’s system allows states to exchange information and resolve potential duplicate records.

The process can also help states identify records that may require additional review. AAMVA provides states with tools to investigate potential duplicates and address records that may involve fraudulent activity.

How is S2S connected to REAL ID?

The S2S system also supports the requirements associated with REAL ID. For states participating in the system, it can help verify whether an applicant already has a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card issued by another state.

However, participation in S2S does not by itself mean that a state is REAL ID compliant. REAL ID compliance involves separate requirements established under federal law, while S2S is a system used by participating states to exchange driver and identification credential information.

What Is Form N-400

Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) is the document with which a permanent resident (green card holder) applies to become a U.S. citizen.

It is filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), online or on paper, and is the formal beginning of the naturalization process.

¿How much does it cost?

The N-400 fee depends on how it is filed:

• USD 710 if filed online
• USD 760 if filed on paper

There is also a reduced fee (USD 380) for those who meet certain income requirements, and exemptions for cases such as members of the Armed Forces.

The main requirements to obtain U.S. citizenship

To apply for citizenship, in general you must meet:

• Be a permanent resident and be 18 years of age or older
• Have lived as a permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen and the conditions are met)
• Meet the continuous residence and physical presence requirements in the country (in general, having been present for half of the required period)
• Have lived for at least 3 months in the state or district where the application is filed
• Demonstrate good moral character
• Pass an English test and a civics test

The test: English and civics

The naturalization test has two parts:

• English: speaking, reading, and writing basic English are assessed
• Civics: questions about the history and government of the United States

For applications filed starting on October 20, 2025, the 2025 version of the civics test applies: a total of 128 questions are studied, of which the officer asks 20 during the interview, and 12 must be answered correctly to pass.

Those who filed their application before that date continue taking the previous version (2008): 100 study questions, 10 in the interview, and 6 correct answers to pass.

What determines which test each person takes is the filing date of the N-400, not the interview date. In addition, there are exceptions based on age and length of residence (such as the rule known as “65/20”) and exemptions for certain conditions.

The steps in the process

Broadly speaking, the naturalization path includes:

1. Confirm that the requirements are met
2. Gather supporting documentation
3. File Form N-400 (online or by mail) and pay the fee
4. Receive the receipt notice
5. Attend the biometrics appointment (photo, fingerprints, and signature)
6. Attend the interview, where the English and civics tests are administered
7. Receive the decision on the application
8. If approved, attend the oath ceremony, the moment when citizenship is officially obtained

The total time varies depending on the office, but it usually falls in the range of several months to around one year.

The son of former President Jair Bolsonaro — who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election — and an ally of President Donald Trump, Flávio fell short of an outright majority, sending the race to an Oct. 25 runoff.

Flávio finished more than 2.2 million votes ahead of Lula, according to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court.

Brazil’s Congress also shifted right. Flávio’s Liberal Party nearly doubled its Senate seats, from 15 to 28, a total no party has reached since 1985, and projections show it with the largest delegation in the lower house.

What would a Flávio Bolsonaro win mean for the US?

Brazil has held direct presidential elections since 1989, and in every runoff since then, the first-round leader has gone on to win. Analysts see Brazil as the biggest prize yet in Trump’s push for U.S. dominance over the Western Hemisphere, an approach dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine” by political analysts.

The policy treats the region as a U.S. sphere of influence. Its priorities include fighting cartels, curbing migration, securing critical minerals and countering China’s economic presence in Latin America.

Markets cheered the result, and the U.S.-listed iShares MSCI Brazil exchange-traded fund jumped as much as 15% in premarket trading in New York on Monday. Beyond Wall Street, a Bolsonaro government could reshape ties with Washington in several areas:

Regional security

Analysts expect Brazil would join the Shield of the Americas, the anti-cartel coalition Trump launched in March. Brazil and Mexico, Latin America’s two largest economies, are its most notable absences.

Organized crime

Flávio’s platform pledges to declare the PCC and Comando Vermelho, Brazil’s two largest gangs, narco-terrorist organizations. The U.S. gave both groups a similar designation in May, a step that could open the door to deeper U.S. involvement.

Trade and minerals

Flávio has floated a free trade agreement with the U.S. and pitched Brazil’s rare earths as a way to cut American dependence on China. His platform also promises to repair relations with Washington, which it says came close to a rupture under Lula.

China

China is Brazil’s largest trading partner and the top buyer of its soybeans, iron ore and oil. Flávio’s platform keeps China among Brazil’s negotiating partners, and analysts say those ties would limit how far Brazil could tilt toward Washington.

A Lula win, by contrast, would keep Brazil as the most prominent holdout to Trump’s regional agenda. Analysts expect Lula would work with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to push back on the Donroe Doctrine.

How have Trump’s clashes with Lula shaped Brazil’s election?

Lula’s Brazil has stood apart as governments aligned with Trump took power in Argentina, Chile and Colombia. The rift with Washington opened in mid-2025, when Trump hit Brazilian imports with 50% tariffs in protest of the coup case against Jair Bolsonaro.

The administration also placed Treasury sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court justice in charge of the trial. Neither move changed the outcome: The former president was found guilty two months later, and Lula gained ground in the polls.

Trump eventually eased duties on a range of Brazilian foods, but tensions flared again this year. He added a 25% tariff in July, the same month Brazil denied entry visas to two senior State Department envoys, saying they planned to interfere in the vote.

The U.S. canceled the visa of Brazil’s ambassador in Washington in August. Lula has framed the dispute as a matter of sovereignty, telling the U.N. General Assembly in September that Brazil “is nobody’s backyard,” a remark widely understood as a jab at Trump.

How close are the Bolsonaros to Trump?

Jair Bolsonaro, known as the “Trump of the Tropics,” questioned Brazil’s voting system and never clearly conceded in 2022. Days after Lula took office, his supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace, in scenes compared to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

His third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, later moved to the U.S. and lobbied the Trump administration for the tariffs and sanctions imposed in 2025. The Bolsonaro camp also pushed Washington to designate Brazil’s two largest gangs as terrorist organizations.

Flávio courted the American right at CPAC in Texas in March, and Trump has hosted him at the White House and praised him publicly. Flávio says his family’s ties to Trump benefit Brazil but insists he is not receiving help from the U.S. president.

Trump has not formally endorsed Flávio. Before the vote, Lula’s allies warned that Washington could refuse to recognize a Lula victory, citing the blocked U.S. observer mission. The State Department has denied trying to influence the election.

Those who received the extension should make sure they complete their return and submit it by the October 15 deadline. Taxpayers who already paid their estimated balance when they requested the extension should account for those payments when completing their return.

What taxpayers need to do before October 15

The IRS allows eligible taxpayers to file electronically, which can help speed up processing and refunds.

Taxpayers can also use their IRS Online Account to access certain tax information, including payment history and documents that may help them prepare their return.

An extension does not delay tax payments

The IRS emphasizes that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. Taxes owed were still due by April 15, even for taxpayers who received an extension to October 15.

Anyone who has an unpaid balance may continue to face interest and applicable penalties. The IRS recommends paying as much as possible to reduce additional charges.

What happens after the October 15 deadline

For most taxpayers with a valid extension, October 15 is the final deadline to file their federal return without a late-filing penalty. Certain taxpayers may qualify for additional time due to specific circumstances, including certain federally declared disasters or qualifying military service.

Taxpayers who are unsure whether they received an extension or still have an outstanding balance can check their information through their IRS Online Account or review the confirmation they received when requesting the extension.

Unlike other federal assistance programs, TANF does not have a national payment schedule for October 2026 since the date on which the money is delivered, the amount, and the requirements to receive it depend on the state or tribal territory where the applicant lives.

Beneficiaries who meet the requirements can use the aid to cover expenses such as food, housing, electricity, child care, and job training. The money may be delivered by debit card, direct deposit, and, in some states, paper checks.

What is TANF?

TANF stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, a program funded by the federal government and administered by the states, which provides assistance to families facing economic hardship.

The goal is to provide help to needy families and, depending on the state program, may also include services intended to support job readiness and job training.

Who can receive TANF?

Each state has the option of administering TANF differently and may even use a different name for its program. For this reason, there is no single national income requirement or monthly amount that all families can receive, since eligibility conditions depend on the state.

However, in general terms, states assess factors such as the household’s income and resources, family composition, and residence in the state where the application is filed.

There may also be conditions related to employment or participation in work activities, according to the rules of each state program.

How much money does TANF provide, and how is it received?

The amount of the assistance is not the same across the United States; each state administers its program and determines the conditions applicable to households that apply for aid.

USAGov explains that if a person qualifies, they can receive a monthly deposit that can be used for expenses such as food, housing, electricity, child care, and job training.

States may deliver benefits electronically through a debit card or via direct deposit, but some also allow payments to be received by paper checks. To check the balance, beneficiaries can review the information available on their card, use the app offered by their state, or contact the local TANF office.

How to apply for TANF in October 2026?

There is no single federal application for all TANF beneficiaries because each state administers its own program; interested people must contact the TANF office corresponding to the place where they live.

In this regard, USAGov has a search tool to locate the state or tribal TANF office and check the specific requirements for submitting the application. There, each person can learn the eligibility conditions, the necessary documentation, and the available ways to begin the process.

For those who already receive the benefit and have problems with a payment, the Government recommends contacting the local TANF office; this includes situations in which the money is late, incorrect, or has not been received.

The new directive limits vehicle chases and establishes that some maneuvers may only be carried out by officers who have specific training, with the aim of reducing risks during immigration procedures.

ICE’s role: What is its mission, and what is it not authorized to do?

The agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for investigating federal crimes and enforcing immigration laws within the United States.

Within this agency, there is a special division of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), which handles identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing people subject to federal immigration laws.

However, these powers have limits. Agents must act within the authority granted to them by the laws and the agency’s policies.

What is the new order for ICE?

ICE issued a new internal guide for ERO agents that prohibits vehicle chases and sets higher requirements for carrying out car stops.

The new directive states that ERO officers are not authorized to initiate high-speed vehicle chases.

This means that if a person flees, they must record data such as the license plate and the vehicle’s features in order to continue the investigation later.

To carry out certain vehicle stops, agents must meet conditions such as:

• Having received prior training.
• Having an operational camera.
• Using official vehicles equipped with visible lights and sirens.

In addition, some maneuvers are reserved exclusively for specially trained personnel. These include techniques to block a vehicle and prevent it from escaping, and the use of spike devices intended to deflate its tires.

Why was this new order given to ICE?

The decision comes after a series of incidents that occurred during ICE vehicle operations that even ended with drivers being injured. According to official reports, at least four people died, and others were injured.

One of the most recent cases is that of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, which occurred on September 20 in Austin, Texas. According to federal prosecutors, the man hit an agent with the side mirror of his vehicle while trying to escape. He was then chased and shot.

The new guide seeks to prevent arrest attempts from turning into high-speed chases and to reduce the possibility of dangerous confrontations during vehicle checks.

What relationship does the new order have with ICE’s mass hiring?

This measure also appears in the context of questions about the rapid growth in the number of ICE agents. In January 2026, the agency reported that it had hired 12,000 new officers in less than a year, after receiving US$75 billion in funding approved by Congress to expand its immigration operations.

A complaint filed by a former agency official claims that, during this hiring campaign, some new employees began to be hired without having first completed basic background checks.

According to The Associated Press, Human Resources even made final job offers before preliminary checks such as fingerprinting, identity verification, and credit checks were completed.

The complainant argued that this situation represented an unprecedented reduction in hiring standards and could increase internal risks for the agency.

The drop will be abrupt, since as recently as Friday, October 2, the Interstate 95 corridor reached temperatures close to 29 °C. However, between Tuesday and Wednesday, a sharp cooling is expected, with lows capable of producing frost and even freezing in some inland areas.

Drastic drop in temperatures: What is expected for Tuesday and Wednesday?

A cold air mass from Canada will cause a sharp drop in temperatures in the Great Lakes region and the northeastern United States.

According to the AccuWeather report, it will be the coldest air recorded in months and will mark an important contrast compared with the temperatures recorded during the first days of October.

During the early hours of Tuesday, October 6, with clear skies and light winds, the first frosts or freezes of the season could occur in the coldest areas of the Great Lakes region.

By Wednesday, October 7, the risk will shift east and reach the Appalachians and the interior Northeast.

Which areas will be at risk of frost and for how long?

The risk of frost will begin during Tuesday morning in parts of the interior Great Lakes region and then shift east between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The areas at highest risk are:

• Northern Pennsylvania, especially the mountainous areas.
• The Adirondacks are in northern New York State.
• The Green Mountains, in Vermont.
• Inland areas of Michigan and Ohio.
• Rural areas in the interior of New York.
• High-elevation areas of New Hampshire, Maine, and West Virginia.

The danger will be greater in rural areas, valleys, and higher-elevation sections, where temperatures can drop more sharply during the night.

What recommendations do meteorologists give to protect yourself during a frost?

The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends paying attention to the so-called “4 P’s”: People, Pets, Pipes and Plants.

Among the main recommendations are:

• Limit time outdoors during the coldest hours and wear several layers of clothing.
• Keep pets in warm, dry places whenever possible.
• Pay special attention to older adults and other people particularly vulnerable to the cold.
• Insulate exposed pipes to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting.
• Cover sensitive plants before the frost arrives.

The episode will last for two consecutive nights and will mark the arrival of temperatures more typical of autumn in much of the Northeast and the Great Lakes region.

In this regard, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a database with the SNAP distribution schedules of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The agency clarifies that, in most states, not all households receive the subsidy on the same day.

The program is federally funded, and households that meet the requirements receive the benefits monthly through an EBT card, which can be used to buy food authorized by SNAP.

What is SNAP and who can receive it?

SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is the main federal food assistance program in the United States, where the states play a central role in its administration and distribution, although it is federally funded.

The eligibility conditions and amount that each American household receives are subject to factors such as income, household size, and applicable deductions, which may include dependent care, housing expenses, certain medical expenses, and, in some states, child support payments, according to the rules for the new fiscal year published by the USDA.

It is worth noting that the program benefits are not cash, but are provided through an electronic EBT card, which can be used like a credit or debit card to buy food in certain supermarkets.

When is SNAP paid in October 2026?

For California, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania, the October distribution windows are:

• California: October 1 to 10.
• Texas: October 1 to 28.
• Florida: October 1 to 28.
• Pennsylvania: October 1 to 15.

These dates correspond to the state’s distribution period; it is not necessarily the exact day on which each SNAP beneficiary receives the amount on the electronic card, since the individual date may be set by the case number or another identifier used by the state administration.

SNAP in California: when deposits are made in October 2026

In California, where the SNAP program operates under the name CalFresh, the Department of Social Services states that the social assistance for households that already receive aid is distributed in stages during the first 10 calendar days of each month.

Therefore, the benefits corresponding to October 2026 are distributed between October 1 and 10, and the exact day depends on the last digit of the household case number; that is, those ending in 1 receive the benefit on day 1, those ending in 2 on day 2, and so on until those ending in 0, who receive it on day 10.

SNAP in Texas: When is the benefit deposited in October 2026

In Texas, SNAP benefits corresponding to October are distributed between the 1st and 28th of that month. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) states that households subject to the current schedule receive their benefits in stages according to the last two digits of the EDG number; for example, those ending between 00 and 03 receive the benefit on day 1, while those ending from 96 to 99 receive it on day 28.

Likewise, the HHSC notes that citizens who were already receiving SNAP before May 2023 may keep their previous issuance schedule.

SNAP in Florida: What is the payment schedule in October

Florida’s system uses certain digits of the case number to establish the benefit availability date; state documentation identifies the eighth and ninth digits of the case number as part of the staggered issuance mechanism.

For example, beneficiaries corresponding to the first group in the distribution table receive the benefit on October 1, while the last group is assigned October 28.

SNAP in Pennsylvania: payment in October 2026

In Pennsylvania, SNAP benefits are distributed from October 1 to 15, when the state’s Department of Human Services administers the program and distributes the benefits in stages.

As of October 1, 2026, new income limits and maximum SNAP amounts corresponding to the new benefit year took effect. Beneficiaries can check whether the payment has already been deposited through ConnectEBT, Pennsylvania’s official EBT card platform, although the state also allows benefit checks through myCOMPASS PA.

Where can SNAP payments be checked in California, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania?

If the benefit does not appear on the date indicated in the schedule, citizens can go to their state’s official portal to check their EBT card balance:

• California: SNAP beneficiaries, called CalFresh in the state, can check their benefits through BenefitsCal, as well as contact the CalFresh line at 1-877-847-3663.
• Texas: beneficiaries can log in to Your Texas Benefits, the official portal that allows users to check benefit status, manage the case, report changes, and renew assistance. SNAP benefits are delivered through the Lone Star Card.
• Florida: The check is made through MyACCESS, the official portal of the Florida Department of Children and Families, where users can manage their SNAP benefits and check their case status. They can also call 850-300-4323.
• Pennsylvania: beneficiaries can check their benefits through myCOMPASS PA and review their EBT card balance and transactions through ConnectEBT.

Knowing how to handle this product safely is essential, given that in the United States chicken is the most chosen type of meat, according to data shared by the Economic Research Service.

Raw chicken: why it is important to prevent risks

Specialists explain that raw chicken can contain pathogens such as Campylobacter, Salmonella or Clostridium perfrings.

In that context, CDC details in an article published in April 2024 that chicken is one of the main sources of illness and that year after year approximately one million people become ill in the United States from consuming contaminated poultry.

Salmonella is one of the main health concerns in this context, with 1 in every 25 packages of chicken contaminated with this bacterium at the time of publication.

For this reason, cooking the chicken is not the only important thing: illnesses can be transmitted through the surfaces that raw chicken or its juices have come into contact with.

Washing chicken is not recommended: what are the risks of doing it anyway

“Raw chicken is ready to cook, so there is no need to wash it before. According to a USDA study, 1 in 7 people who cleaned the sink after washing chicken still had germs on the surface,” explains the federal agency.

The United States Department of Agriculture also discourages this practice and says it is one of the ways pathogens spread, commonly known as “cross-contamination”.

Although washing chicken goes against expert guidance, CDC explains that those who still want to wash it should do so by running water gently over the meat to reduce any chance of splashing, clean the sink as soon as possible with hot soapy water and then disinfect any item used. Finally, handwashing for at least 20 seconds is essential.

To minimize risks, the University of Connecticut also advises that raw poultry be prepared with utensils different from those used to handle other types of food.

“You may want to reserve a cutting board and label it for use only with raw meat, poultry or fish. Do not let poultry remain at room temperature for more than two hours during preparation,” the institution says.

At what temperature should chicken be cooked for its consumption to be safe?

CDC’s advice is to always use a thermometer to ensure that the chicken is being cooked to a temperature no lower than 74 °C.

The legislation provides for cuts of more than US$900 billion in Medicaid through 2034, a program jointly funded by the federal and state governments that provides health coverage mainly to low-income people and certain groups with disabilities.

Who do they want to leave without Medicaid coverage?

Starting this October 1, 2026, the law restricts access to Medicaid and CHIP for several groups of immigrants who are legally in the United States.

Those who may lose coverage include refugees or asylees who have not yet obtained a Green Card, victims of human trafficking, and some immigrants who collaborated with the U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan.

Who has the possibility of accessing coverage?

People who meet the program requirements and are:

• Permanent residents with a Green Card.
• Immigrants of Cuban or Haitian origin.
• People from countries included in the Compacts of Free Association (COFA).
• Children and pregnant women who legally reside in the country, in states that allow it.

What does the One Big Beautiful Bill Act say?

The One Big Beautiful Bill was enacted on July 4, 2025 and introduced a series of changes to Medicaid, intended to reduce the program’s federal spending by more than US$900 billion through 2034.

These are immigration restrictions and, starting in 2027, changes to work requirements for certain adults. As for immigration matters, as of October 1, 2026, eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP is limited and other groups beyond those previously named are excluded from federal funding.

States can still use their own funds to maintain medical assistance for those who lose federal eligibility. California, New York, and other states already have state programs or measures aimed at partially covering that gap.

How many legal immigrants could be left without health insurance?

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), it is estimated that the new restrictions would initially affect at least 100,000 additional people.

On the other hand, the data collected by the states show that the impact is potentially greater. Nine states and the District of Columbia identified more than 281,000 immigrants who could lose Medicaid by October 2026.

Which states are most affected by this measure?

Among the states that have already reported concrete estimates, Florida has the largest number of affected people with about 177,000 immigrants who could cease to qualify for Medicaid.

They are followed by:

• California: around 148,000, although the state allocated US$365 million to maintain alternative coverage through July 2027.
• North Carolina: approximately 29,000.
• Arizona: about 28,000.
• New Jersey: between 15,000 and 25,000.
• Washington: around 11,000.

New York and Pennsylvania also have coverage funded with state funds for some of the immigrants affected by the federal change.

In addition, those who receive this benefit can already check the scheduled dates for the coming months and the current maximum amounts, while anticipation grows for the next Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) that will affect 2027 benefits.

Why will SSI recipients receive two payments in October?

The first payment is scheduled for Thursday, October 1 and corresponds to the installment for the current month, while the second will arrive on Friday, October 30. This other payment corresponds to the November benefit.

This is because SSA sends SSI payments on the first calendar day of each month, and if that date falls on a non-business day, the law requires the deposit to be made on the last preceding business day.

As a result, there are months in which two installments are paid because the payment for the following month is advanced. Therefore, there are no SSI payments scheduled during November.

When are the payments scheduled for the rest of 2026?

According to the official SSA calendar, the remaining dates for SSI-only beneficiaries are as follows: Social Security Administration

• October 1, 2026: payment corresponding to October.
• October 30, 2026: payment corresponding to November, advanced because November 1 falls on a Sunday.
• December 1, 2026: payment corresponding to December.
• December 31, 2026: payment corresponding to January 2027, advanced because January 1 is a federal holiday.

How much is the SSI amount and how much is it expected to increase due to COLA?

During 2026, the maximum federal monthly SSI amount is US$994 for an eligible individual and US$1,491. For a so-called “essential person,” the maximum is US$498. These amounts include the 2.8% COLA that took effect in January 2026.

The adjustment for 2027 has not yet been confirmed, as the official figure is expected to be released on October 14, 2026. However, several estimates place the increase between 3.5% and 3.6%.

A team of physicists, led by Philip Walther of the University of Vienna, created a quantum photonic processor that uses individual particles of light to perform complex operations through compact optical hardware.

What is quantum computing and what is its goal?

Quantum computing is an area of computer science that uses principles of quantum mechanics to process information and solve certain problems that are too complex for traditional computers.

Its main goal is to address certain complex calculations in a much more efficient way than classical computing, particularly those related to:

• The simulation of physical systems.
• The analysis of large spaces of possibilities.
• The identification of patterns.

Among its possible applications are chemistry and drug development, materials science, biology, and finance.

A quantum computer in space: How does it work and what was it used for?

According to the published research, the milestone consists of having successfully operated a programmable photonic quantum processor in space for the first time, installed aboard a nanosatellite in low Earth orbit.

The device was launched on June 23, 2025, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and was tested during its first months in orbit. It differs from other quantum machines by using photons to process information.

The experiment managed to generate, manipulate, and detect quantum light directly in orbit and observed a phenomenon known as two-photon interference, which showed that quantum states can be used as a processing resource even under the extreme conditions of space.

A breakthrough for quantum computing: Why is this advance important and what problem could it solve?

One of the current problems with satellites is the amount of information they generate. Normally, raw data must be sent to ground stations to be analyzed, but transmission capacity is limited and can create bottlenecks due to available bandwidth.

The possibility of incorporating quantum processing inside satellites aims to change this logic. Instead of transmitting all the information, the device could analyze it beforehand, select the relevant data, or perform certain calculations before sending them to Earth.

The challenges posed by quantum computing: What do the experts say?

The experiment also highlighted the obstacles this technology faces. Quantum systems are very sensitive to the external conditions to which they are exposed, and space is a particularly hostile environment.

According to the study, after launch three of the six photon detectors that had originally been installed stopped working. Despite this setback, the planned tests were completed.

To these technical challenges is added the global cybersecurity problem. Quantum computers that reach a sufficient level of development could compromise some algorithms that currently protect web pages, banking operations, passwords, and digital communications.

For this reason, post-quantum cryptography is being developed, which seeks to design algorithms capable of resisting possible attacks carried out using quantum computers.

Each camp is certain it is right. To try to bring the discussion to a close, two specialists presented their arguments.

History favours “over”

Ashley Iredale, a team leader at consumer group CHOICE, whose team tests whitegoods, laundry products and toilet paper, is unequivocal. In his view, the world is split between people who hang it over the top and people who are wrong.

His case is historical. The original 19th-century patent for perforated toilet paper shows the roll with the sheet passing over the top. Its inventor, Seth Wheeler, illustrated it that way in 1891.

What does science say?

The scientific argument comes from Dr Christian Moro, an associate professor of health sciences and medicine at Bond University on Australia’s Gold Coast. He says the key to a hygienic bathroom is minimising contact between people and surfaces.

With the roll hanging over, the paper sits away from the wall. Depending on the holder, this often makes it less likely that someone will brush the wall behind while reaching for a sheet, leaving germs that the next user could pick up.

Moro notes that germs can spread by touching the roll, through the air, and via surfaces around the bathroom. He lists streptococcus, staphylococcus, E. coli and the viruses behind the common cold. He also recommends lowering the lid before flushing and washing and drying your hands thoroughly.

In March 2023, through his personal website Gates Notes, the tycoon made an announcement to the world that did not go unnoticed: “The age of artificial intelligence has begun”. More than three years after that moment, it is not hard to agree that he was right. Today these models are used to work, to be entertained, and there are even those who establish deep emotional bonds with chatbots, available to anyone who can provide a registration email.

From the beginning of the rise of this technology, Gates was one of its greatest defenders, assuring that applied to fields such as health and education it could reduce gaps and maximize workers’ productivity. Although its good uses are still considered, today the tycoon no longer predicts only positive effects: “AI will be either the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice. The challenge is enormous. Even in the best circumstances, the transition to this new era of AI will be one of the most turbulent moments in human history,” he states in a recent post on the same blog.

The “new era” of AI: growth we are not preparing for, according to Bill Gates

The philanthropist does not lose his optimism. He still maintains that the arrival of AI can be “a force for good” if the necessary measures are taken.

However, he does not believe that is what is happening globally at the moment. “I see no evidence that leaders, experts and communities are properly facing the challenges. There are no plans to ease the entry into the age of AI”.

The negative side, the one that is not used for immediate tasks and that in the wrong hands has shown its potential to wreak havoc, is the point that alarms him most. In a recent interview with NBC news, Gates said that “AI is, without a doubt, powerful enough to trigger events that cause a billion deaths”.

Gates’s statements are framed in a context with major security scandals related to AI -which a article in the Financial Times nicely compiles- such as Open AI hacking the website of a public health service in Australia or the Anthropic model, Claude, being attempted to be used by Yemeni militiamen for the control of ballistic missiles.

In addition, on September 8 Jacob Coxon, an artificial intelligence researcher who worked with Anthropic and OpenAI, announced on X that he resigned from his position at the first company because he considered that “neither company acts responsibly”.

In statements to the BBC the researcher’s remarks were even more alarming: “I think that, if we do not slow the current pace of progress, there is a great probability that we will all die in the immediate future”.

Bill Gates says AI has to go against the grain

“As long as I can remember, I have wanted innovation to happen faster. With AI, my feelings are more complicated,” he says and emphasizes that time is needed to prepare for the repercussions it can have socially, politically and economically.

Gates does not always speak about the severity of AI in extreme cases, but explains that its effects can be seen, for example, in job shortages, in the power it can grant certain people or other AIs to cause harm, and in the development of human relationships, if the right policies are not taken.

In fact, he says he would support whoever had a global plan to slow its advance and emphasizes the need to create a national and international framework to deal with AI.

“This unprecedented technology demands an unprecedented global response. If we do it right, the reward for humanity will be phenomenal and the world will be a more equitable place,” he assures.

This update takes effect with the start of fiscal year 2027 and modifies several priority and final action dates. Additionally, it reopens two categories that had temporarily run out of available visas.

How does the Visa Bulletin affect the Permanent Residence Application?

The Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin monthly, which serves to determine when an immigrant visa applicant based on family ties or employment can advance in the process of obtaining permanent residence in the United States.

To organize this process, the Visa Bulletin uses two charts.

One corresponds to the dates for filing applications and, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), establishes when the applicant may begin submitting the necessary documentation to the National Visa Center (NVC).

The other, corresponding to the final action dates, determines when a visa number is available and, therefore, when the Government can make a final decision on the case.

USCIS reports month by month which of the two charts may be used to determine whether the corresponding application may be filed in the case of those applying for adjustment of status.

Two categories reopen: Which are they and how do they apply?

Among the most relevant changes is the reopening of the EB-2 and EB-5 categories, particularly for applicants born in India within these two employment-based immigration categories.

• The EB-2 is intended for professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability.
• The unreserved EB-5 is intended for certain immigrant investors.

How is the new fiscal year related to the Visa Bulletin?

October 1 marks the start of the U.S. fiscal year 2027, which means the availability of a new annual allocation of immigrant visa numbers.

The Department of State confirmed that, cwith the renewal of visa quotas, filing and final action dates also advance in different family and employment categories.

The system establishes an annual minimum of 226,000 family preference visas and at least 140,000 employment-based visas.

Additionally, there is also a per-country limit equivalent to 7% of the combined total of these categories.

Other changes announced in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin

The bulletin also updated the status of different family and employment categories:

• F2A, corresponding to spouses and minor children of permanent residents, appears as available in the filing chart for all countries.
• In the final action chart it maintains cutoff dates: for most countries, including Argentina, the date is September 22, 2026, while for Mexico it is March 22, 2026.
• EB-4 for certain religious workers received an extension of the deadline until December 11, 2026.

The explanation is simple, and so is its limit: this is not a bonus, but an advance made by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The agency’s official 2026 calendar also lays out the rules that determine each payment date.

Who will receive two payments

The double deposit applies to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. It covers everyone who receives SSI, regardless of whether they also collect other Social Security benefits, such as retirement, disability or survivors benefits. SSI is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people with limited income and resources and, unlike regular Social Security, is based on need rather than work history.

The reason is a calendar rule. The SSA moves a payment earlier when its usual date falls on a weekend or a federal holiday. Because November 1, 2026, is a Sunday, the November SSI payment is deposited on Friday, October 30. December works the same way: the second deposit, on Thursday, December 31, is the payment for January 2027.

SSI payment dates

• October: Thursday, October 1 (October payment) and Friday, October 30 (advance November payment).
• December: Tuesday, December 1 (December payment) and Thursday, December 31 (advance January 2027 payment).

For all other beneficiaries, the SSA’s official calendar applies: payment arrives on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month depending on the beneficiary’s birth date (the 1st to 10th, the 11th to 20th and the 21st to 31st, respectively).

In October, those dates are Wednesdays, October 14, 21 and 28. Applying the same rule, the December dates are Wednesdays, December 9, 16 and 23.

There is one exception. People who have received Social Security since before May 1997, and those who receive both SSI and Social Security, are paid on the 3rd of each month, with SSI paid on the 1st. In October, because the 3rd falls on a Saturday, the payment moves up to Friday, October 2. For some people this can mean three deposits in the month: SSI on October 1, Social Security on October 2 and the advance SSI payment on October 30.

How payments are made

The SSA maintains its policy of issuing payments entirely electronically, so it is worth keeping the details of the account where deposits are received up to date.

Nothing is final yet. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is expected to announce the official figure on October 14, 2026, after the September inflation data are released. The calculation uses the average CPI-W for July, August and September, and September is the only month still missing.

2027 Social Security COLA estimates

The data already published points upward. The CPI-W rose 3.5% over the 12 months ending in August, compared with 3.4% in July. Separately, gasoline prices were 27.4% higher than a year earlier in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Forecasters don’t fully agree. AARP estimates 3.6%, while The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) estimates 3.5%. Other analysts have offered lower projections. A 3.5% COLA would increase the average Social Security retirement benefit by roughly $72 a month, based on the SSA’s January 2026 average of $2,071.

Higher benefits won’t necessarily translate into the same increase in retirees’ disposable income. The CPI-W tracks the spending patterns of urban wage earners and clerical workers, rather than retirees specifically. In addition, Medicare Part B premiums are projected to rise to $209.50 a month in 2027, from $202.90 in 2026.

The National Eye Institute (NEI) of the United States explains that more than 150 million Americans have a refractive error and many of them do not know it.

Now, a new technique that was discovered completely by mistake could eventually replace this laser surgery, and the details were presented at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society.

What LASIK surgery is and what it consists of

The NEI explains that LASIK surgery is the most common type for correcting refractive errors.

During the procedure, a laser is used to shape the cornea and make vision clearer. It is usually used for adults with myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, not for presbyopia.

“For LASIK to work properly, your vision must remain stable (that is, the prescription for your glasses or contact lenses stays the same over time),” it is explained. This is why many young people must “wait” to have surgery.

The new method that experts discovered by accident and could help correct vision

The technique is called electromechanical reshaping (EMR) and was presented as a gentler approach to shaping the cornea compared with LASIK surgery, whose procedure reduces corneal strength and carries the risks of a surgical procedure.

This new method was discovered accidentally by Brian Wong, a surgeon-engineer at the University of California, Irvine, who, while working on techniques to shape cartilage tissue, noticed that cartilage could change shape when electricity was applied to it.

The scientist teamed up with Michael Hill, a chemist at Occidental College, and they delved deeper into the effects this technique could have on different tissues.

What the new technique scientists are working on is like

The process, in simplified form, can be explained as follows

1. Small electrical pulses are applied to the cornea, generating a chemical reaction
2. The electricity temporarily alters its pH
3. This change affects collagen and makes the cornea much more moldable, temporarily
4. At that point, a mold, similar to a contact lens, is placed with the curvature that is desired
5. To finish, the pulses are stopped and the cornea’s pH returns to normal, so the tissue adopts the new shape

On January 12, 2023, the scientists published a paper in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering in which rabbit eyes were used to show that the cornea could be shaped without loss of optical transparency.

Hill says this was published to ask whether the method was really possible and, after more than two years of work, he says that the parameters were reviewed and that the technique can be carried out.

Wong, for his part, says this method may be cheaper than surgery because it does not depend on laser machinery. However, experts say there is still a long way to go before their finding can be implemented to correct the vision of human beings.

According to the US Navy’s news release, the exercise brought together units from US Task Forces 65, 67, 68, 69 and 1060, alongside the UK Royal Navy and the US Air Force. The aim was to hone tactics, targeting and live-fire skills against a surface target at sea.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) demonstrated the maximum range and damage of an anti-surface variant of the SM-6 missile. The final blow came from the submarine USS Massachusetts (SSN-798), whose Mk 48 ADCAP torpedo delivered the hit that sank the former frigate.

A British first and a message to potential adversaries

The exercise also let the Royal Navy confirm its newest anti-ship missiles, the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Sea Venom. The NSM was fired from the frigate HMS Portland (F-79), and Lt. Cmdr. Louise Kirkaldy, the ship’s principal warfare officer, called the launch a milestone for Britain’s maritime strike capability. Also taking part were P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from both countries, a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter, US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and personnel from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 (EODMU 8).

Capt. Kelechi Ndukwe, commander of Task Force 65, said the exercise validated the power of both countries’ offensive weapons and sends a message to potential adversaries: the two navies remain a ready allied force.

Before the exercise, Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific placed sensors on the ship to assess damage. The data will help identify system failures, determine repair needs and improve the Navy’s response in real-world situations.

USS Klakring: a frigate with a history and environmental safeguards

USS Klakring belonged to the Oliver Hazard Perry class. She was laid down in February 1982 at Bath Iron Works in Maine, launched that September and commissioned in August 1983. She was named for Rear Adm. Thomas B. Klakring (1904-1975), who earned three Navy Crosses commanding the submarine USS Guardfish in World War II. The ship was decommissioned in March 2013.

Hulks used in these exercises are prepared under US Environmental Protection Agency rules and thoroughly cleaned before being towed out. During Atlantic Thunder 2026, trained personnel also monitored above and below the surface to reduce risk to the marine environment and marine mammals.

The document is issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and serves as an alternative for those who need to prove their identity in elections.

What is the Election Identification Certificate?

The EIC is a photo document issued by the DPS that can be used as identification to vote in person in the state. It is intended for voters who do not have any other photo identification accepted by Texas for voting.

It is valid for six years, and in the case of certificates for people over 70, it has no expiration date.

What are the requirements?

To apply for this document, the following requirements must be met:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be a resident of the county in which registration is requested.
• Be 18 years old or older by Election Day.
• Not be serving a sentence for a felony.
• Not have been declared wholly or partially mentally incompetent to vote by a competent court.

What other documents can be used to vote?

In addition to the Election Identification Certificate, Texas also accepts six other forms of photo identification:

• Texas driver’s license.
• Texas personal identification card.
• Texas license to carry a firearm.
• U.S. military photo identification.
• U.S. citizenship certificate with photo.
• U.S. passport, both in booklet and card format.

For voters between 18 and 69 years old, any of these identifications may be expired for four years, and in the case of those 70 years old or older there is no set amount of time.

If a person does not have one of these identifications and cannot obtain it, they may complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polling place and present a supporting document, such as:

• Voter registration certificate.
• Recent utility bill.
• Bank statement.
• Government check.
• Paycheck.
• Certain official documents with name and address.
• Certified birth certificate or another document accepted as proof of birth.

How long is there to register as a voter?

The next general elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. However, the deadline to register in Texas is next Monday, October 5.

As a general rule, the application must be submitted at least 30 days before the election. Early voting for this election is scheduled between October 19 and 30.

According to the specification, there are circumstances in a beneficiary’s living conditions that can directly affect their eligibility for the benefit and the amount they are receiving.

“By reporting these changes to Social Security as soon as they occur, you help ensure that your payment remains correct and avoid overpayments, underpayments, or penalties,” the statement says.

The list of “life changes” that SSI recipients must report

Any applicant or recipient of SSI must report:

Changes in income

• Wages
• Pensions
• Unemployment benefits

Changes in resources

• Changes related to bank accounts, vehicles, or property

Changes in employment status

• Starting, leaving, or changing jobs

Changes of address

• Moving must be reported so that communications can be maintained

Changes in living arrangements

• Entering a nursing home/correctional institution
• Leaving a nursing home/correctional institution
• Someone moving into or out of the household

Status changes

• Any change in immigration status
• Changes with citizenship

Changes in marital status

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Separation

Other changes

• In eligibility for other benefits or payments
• Entering or leaving another institution
• Changes in school attendance, if under 22 years old
• Trips outside the United States during a full calendar month or 30 consecutive days or more
• Having a pending felony conviction or an arrest warrant for evading justice

Although there are different ways to report these events, one of the simplest when it comes to wages is to use the personal my Social Security account. For changes that are not related to wages, the instruction is to contact the local SSA office or call -800-772-1213.

Important information for people with disabilities who receive SSI

In these cases, the instruction is to report:

• Any improvement in medical condition
• Changes related to work and wages
• Changes in Ticket to Work status
• Changes in expenses under the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

When any of the changes on the list must be reported

The official instruction is to report any of these changes before the tenth day of the month following the month in which they occur. For example, those who move in October must report it before November 10.

When what must be reported is a change in wages, the advice is to report it before the sixth day of the month of payment to avoid overpayments.

Penalties for failing to declare changes on time

The federal agency details that failing to report changes on time has consequences such as:

• Reduced payments and a delay in crediting the correct amount
• Overpayments that must be returned
• Penalties, where the SSI payment is reduced by between 25 and 100 dollars each time a change is not reported or is not reported on time.

Those who intentionally make false statements may face sanctions that involve withholding of payments and, in some cases, criminal penalties.

What do you need to make pumpkin bread?

• ½ cup vegetable oil, plus extra for the pan.
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder.
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
• ¾ teaspoon salt.
• ½ teaspoon baking soda.
• 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin purée.
• 1 cup granulated sugar.
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar.
• 2 large eggs.
• ¼ cup full-fat sour cream or plain yogurt.
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract.

How to make the perfect pumpkin bread

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8½- or 9-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some paper hanging over the sides to make the bread easier to remove later.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
3. In a separate, larger bowl, mix the vegetable oil with the pumpkin purée and both types of sugar. Add the eggs, sour cream or yogurt, and vanilla, then stir until the mixture is smooth.
4. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture. Stir just until everything comes together, without overmixing the batter.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly across the top.
6. Bake for about 60 to 75 minutes. The bread is ready when it has risen, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
7. Let the loaf rest in the pan for about 20 minutes. Then use the parchment paper to carefully lift it onto a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before slicing.

If you would like to enjoy one of these events, here are the dates and the precise times to watch them.

Saturn at opposition

• When to see it: Saturn will be in opposition around 8 a.m. ET on October 4, bringing the planet especially close to Earth. The days leading up to the event will also offer good viewing opportunities.
• Where to look: Around 11 p.m., Saturn will appear in the south-southeastern sky. It will continue rising over the following hours, improving visibility.
• What you need: A small backyard telescope or powerful binoculars can help you see Saturn’s rings, which are made primarily of ice and rock.
• About the rings: Saturn’s rings span roughly 170,000 miles and are highly reflective because of their icy composition.

Moon-planet conjunction

• When to see it: The crescent moon and Mars will meet in the predawn sky.
• When to see it: The crescent moon and Mars will appear close together in the predawn sky on October 5.
• Where to look: Look toward the eastern horizon before sunrise. Jupiter will also be visible later in the morning, positioned diagonally below the moon and Mars.
• What else to see: The Beehive Cluster will appear just below the moon. It contains around 1,000 stars and is about 600 light-years from Earth.
• How to see it: Under dark skies, the cluster may appear as a faint smudge to the naked eye. Binoculars or a small telescope can provide a clearer view.

Draconid meteor shower event

• When to see it: The Draconids will reach their peak overnight from October 8 to 9, with the best viewing conditions about one to two hours after sunset.
• What to expect: The shower can produce around 10 meteors per hour under dark skies away from light pollution.
• Why this year may be easier to watch: The peak will coincide with a thin, waning crescent moon, meaning less moonlight should make fainter meteors easier to spot.
• What else to see: Saturn will also be visible in the southern sky that night.

October’s full moon

• When to see it: The Hunter’s Moon will reach its peak just after midnight on October 26. For the best view, look for it around moonrise or moonset.
• Where to look: The full moon will rise above the eastern horizon around sunset and set in the west around sunrise.
• What to expect: The moon can appear larger than usual near the horizon and may take on an orange hue.
• Why it’s called the Hunter’s Moon: The name is linked to seasonal preparations for winter food.

Data from 8,957 adolescents from 21 centers in the United States who participated in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study were analyzed. One of the findings showed that 12-year-old adolescents who owned a smartphone had a 61% higher prevalence of binge-eating symptoms. In addition, they were more than twice as likely to link their self-esteem to body weight.

What happens during adolescence and how does smartphone use affect it?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), during adolescence the individual goes through numerous physical, hormonal, and social changes, and enters a more complex stage of transformation, in which they may feel confused by bodily changes and experience changes in their relationship with their surroundings, particularly with their family.

The emotional and social changes typical of this stage can increase vulnerability to certain risk situations, including EDs, addictions, or self-harming behaviors.

It is also a period in which the person begins to build their identity and recognize their likes and preferences, a process necessary for the transition to adulthood. However, the constant physical changes can also generate difficulties related to accepting one’s own image.

How is it related to Eating Disorders?

According to the research, due to the vulnerability characteristic of this stage, early access to smartphones and, particularly, to social media may be related to changes in the adolescent’s self-perception and may favor self-esteem being linked to body weight and physical appearance.

Constant comparison with other people’s images, which are often edited, distorted, or adapted to the digital environment, can affect the perception of one’s own image and be related to risk behaviors such as binge eating, compensatory behaviors to avoid weight gain, and excessive concern about body shape.

According to the study, in the United States alone, EDs are estimated to affect between 3.4% and 3.8% of adolescent girls and between 1.2% and 1.5% of adolescent boys.

Additionally, there are digital communities that share content that validates and promotes this type of perceptions and harmful eating behaviors, such as content known as “pro-ana,” “pro-mia,” “thinspo” or “fitspiration.”

In the group studied, it was observed that adolescents who had smartphones at age 12 showed, two years later:

• A 67% higher risk of developing binge-eating symptoms.
• A 50% higher risk of developing inappropriate compensatory behaviors.
• Approximately twice the risk of linking their self-esteem to body weight.

What behaviors did the researchers detect?

The researchers mainly detected four types of symptoms or behaviors related to EDs:

• Binge eating: episodes characterized by excessive food consumption.
• Inappropriate compensatory behaviors: aimed at avoiding weight gain.
• Concern about gaining weight.
• Linking self-esteem to body weight.

Among the adolescents studied who had a smartphone at age 12, 9.2% had binge-eating symptoms, 8.2% compensatory behaviors, 2% concern about gaining weight, and 2.6% linked their self-esteem to body weight. In other words, 16.1% had at least one of these four symptoms.

At age 14, 24.2% of those who had a smartphone at age 12 reported at least one symptom related to an ED.

What other conditions can be associated with early smartphone use?

According to the research and previous studies cited by its authors, early access to or problematic use of smartphones and other electronic devices has been associated with different health problems, including:

• Depressive symptoms.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Suicidal behaviors.
• Compulsive use of electronic devices.

In all these cases it is important to clarify that these are mainly associations observed in different studies and not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Other factors, such as family or social problems, bullying situations, and mental health history, can also significantly influence these behaviors, without ruling out the possible role of the digital environment.

What Eating Disorders exist?

EDs are characterized by presenting persistent disturbances in eating and by an obsessive concern with weight, body image, and food.

Among the best known are:

• Anorexia nervosa: significant restriction of food intake, fear of gaining weight, and distortions of one’s own body.
• Bulimia nervosa: presents recurrent episodes of binge eating along with compensatory behaviors to avoid weight gain such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• Binge-eating disorder: recurrent episodes in which large quantities of food are consumed and there is a feeling of loss of control.
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: limiting the amount or variety of food due to fear of certain consequences not necessarily linked to weight or body image.
• Pica: persistent consumption of non-nutritive substances such as dirt, paper, or similar materials.
• Rumination disorder: occurs when a person repeatedly regurgitates food after eating, possibly chewing it again, swallowing it, or spitting it out.

There are also people who experience significant symptoms but do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis.

Under Trump’s Administration, more than three million people have lost SNAP assistance over the past year because of the signature tax and spending law. Nearly 1 million of these are children.

Every year in October, the government adjusts its monthly SNAP benefits to account for inflation, and these changes apply to all states.

“The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) calculates the cost of a market basket for a family of four. TFP is an estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of how much it costs to provide nutritious, low-cost meals for a household. Maximum allotments are calculated from this cost every June. The calculation takes economies of scale into account. Smaller households get slightly more per person than the four-person household. Households larger than four people get slightly less per person,” according to the Food and Nutrition Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

What are the major SNAP changes from October 2026 to 2027?

Starting October 1, 2026, SNAP benefits and income eligibility limits were adjusted for the new federal fiscal year. The changes include higher maximum monthly benefits, higher income limits, and an increase in the minimum benefit and certain deductions.

• Higher maximum benefits: In the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the maximum monthly benefit rises from $298 to $306 for one person and from $994 to $1,023 for a household of four.
• Higher income limits: The gross monthly income limit increases from $1,696 to $1,729 for a one-person household and from $3,483 to $3,575 for a household of four.
• Higher minimum benefit: The minimum monthly SNAP allotment for households of one or two people in the 48 states and D.C. increases from $24 to $25.
• Higher standard deductions: The standard deduction for a household of one to three people increases from $209 to $217 in the 48 states and D.C.
• Higher shelter deduction: The maximum excess shelter deduction increases from $744 to $789 in the 48 states and D.C.
• Different amounts apply in some areas: Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have separate SNAP maximum allotments and income limits.

Who qualifies for SNAP under the new limits?

At the same time, because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, some eligibility requirements will change. The major changes impact work requirements for most recipients through age 64 and also remove some benefits for noncitizens who don’t have a green card.

One of the main changes affects how SNAP is funded. States will now cover 75% of administrative costs, compared with the previous 50-50 split with the federal government, and could also be required to help pay for benefits based on their error rates.

Starting in October 2027, states with an error rate above 6% could have up to 15% of their total SNAP benefit costs shifted to them. The rate is based on both overpayments and underpayments.

The 3.5-metre animal was first spotted on September 18 in a narrow waterway at North Port. As days passed without it finding its way to the ocean, authorities stepped in.

Two failed rescue attempts

On Tuesday, September 29, authorities tried to steer it toward the sea using vessels fitted with water jets, but the shark swam away from them and stayed in the canal. he Coast Guard and other agencies sprayed water behind the animal to nudge it gently toward open water, to no avail.

The second try came on Friday, October 2. This time authorities used a net 50 metres long and 6.8 metres high to keep the shark from turning back toward the canal, but it stayed put. The animal is now heading into its third week in the waterway.

A celebrity with a name

Meanwhile, the shark has become a star. Media dubbed it “Bukangi,” a nickname blending “Buk Hang,” the Korean name for North Port, with the Korean suffix “-i.” Experts say it could be a bronze whaler, a species typically found in warm temperate waters that has been seen off South Korea’s coasts.

The craze shows in the crowd numbers. During the four-day Chuseok holiday, about 480,000 people visited the waterfront park where it is stranded, compared with a usual weekend average of around 2,000 a day. And on Tuesday Busan named it an honorary public relations ambassador, after an Instagram poll drew 91% approval from about 8,000 participants.

Between affection and concern

Hundreds gathered along the canal to watch the second rescue. Some visitors said they would be sad to see it go, while others said it should be returned to its natural habitat as soon as possible.

Bukangi’s visit has also drawn attention to changes in the waters around South Korea. An analysis by the National Institute of Fisheries Science counted 46 sightings of large sharks along the east coast in the first half of this year, versus 12 in the same period last year.

During the days included in the official schedule, banking institutions stop in-person service, limiting the transactions that can be carried out.

Columbus Day: history of this holiday in the United States

This day commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492, in America. The Library of Congress of the United States explains that the 400th anniversary inspired the first official celebration in the country, and since then, school programs, plays, and festivities have been held to remember the date.

The first state to observe this day as a holiday was Colorado, on April 1, 1907. New York, for its part, declared Columbus Day in 1909, and, finally, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it a federal holiday during his presidency in 1934.

Fuente: Shutterstock

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Since 1971, when it was determined that Columbus Day would be celebrated on the second Monday of October, parades have been part of the tradition of this holiday.

Banks will close their doors on Monday, October 12: what to keep in mind

USA.gov specifies that, during federal holidays, banks across the country remain closed and completely stop in-person service. Although those matters that must be handled in person cannot be carried out, ATMs operate normally during these days for basic transactions.

Banking apps and websites also operate normally, although the recommendation is always to check each institution’s official website in case there is any schedule change that should be known.

Other institutions that close their doors during the October 12 holiday

Nonessential government offices and various private-sector businesses that observe these dates also lower their shutters.

Should those who work on October 12 receive extra pay?

According to the United States Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the answer is no. Employers do not have to pay extra to those who must remain working during:

• Weekends
• Holidays
• Days off

Extra pay only applies if the employment contract provides for that specific arrangement.

Other holidays that will be observed in the United States in 2026

The official calendar also lists:

• Veterans Day: November 11.
• Thanksgiving: November 26.
• Christmas: December 25.

Among the main focuses are the president’s private businesses, cryptocurrency transactions, international deals and possible conflicts of interest. They also said they could review decisions by different federal agencies and do not rule out resorting again to tools such as impeachment.

Why do they allege “illicit enrichment” on the part of Trump and his family?

One of the strongest criticisms is related to the growth in income and businesses linked to Donald Trump and his family since the president returned to power.

However, for now these are accusations and lines of investigation into possible conflicts of interest or corruption, not a judicial determination that “illicit enrichment” exists.

One of the main points raised by the Democratic Party is the cryptocurrency businesses, since Trump’s financial disclosure recorded that he obtained around US$1.2 billion during 2025 through ventures linked to digital assets.

Democrats will have to determine whether these operations and businesses were benefited by decisions adopted by the Government.

What other operations will they investigate?

One of the matters of interest for the investigation is the Government’s handling of the files and everything related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

On the other hand, there are also the operations of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), especially because of allegations of possible civil rights violations.

In turn, the decisions adopted regarding the war with Iran and the intervention in Venezuela will also be analyzed.

Finally, projects promoted by Trump will be investigated, such as modifications to the White House and other federal ventures that they called “vanity projects.”

The history of Trump’s impeachments: What happened on those occasions?

Donald Trump is the only U.S. president who was subjected twice to an impeachment by the House of Representatives. On both occasions, the Senate acquitted him, as the two-thirds majority needed to convict him was not reached.

The first was for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress between 2019 and 2020. On the second occasion, he was accused of incitement to insurrection.

A promise for the future: What happens if Democrats win the November elections?

Democratic leaders said that, if they regain control of the House of Representatives in the November 2026 legislative elections, they will use Congress’s oversight powers to deepen investigations into Trump, his family and various members of this administration.

Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic leader in the House, did not confirm whether they will push for a new impeachment, but it was clarified that it is not ruled out: “We have ruled nothing out and we have confirmed nothing either”.

In addition, during a press conference in Washington on Wednesday, September 23, he warned: “If there are people who have been stealing from the American people, scamming the American people or screwing the American people, we are going to make the criminals accountable”.

So far, no specific batch, code, or production date has been determined, so the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the recall of all the products included in the list in its statement.

What causes the harmful toxin-producing bacterium?

E. coli O26 produces Shiga toxin, which can cause symptoms between 2 and 8 days after ingestion. It usually causes diarrhea, sometimes with bleeding, abdominal cramps, and in some patients, also fever and vomiting.

If the condition worsens, it can cause kidney failure known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which usually mainly affects young children and older adults. This disease is characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and kidney failure. In addition, it can be fatal.

So far, 13 poisoning cases have been identified, and the FDA, together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is already investigating a possible multistate outbreak.

What products were recalled?

According to the FDA statement, the following products were recalled:

• Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack
• • Paquete: cuadrado de 8 oz
  • UPC: 6-87652-16400-9
• Graziers Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack
• • Paquete: cuadrado de 8 oz
  • UPC: 6-87652-16403-0
• Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar
• • Paquete: cuadrado de 8 oz
  • UPC: 6-87652-16506-8
• Graziers Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar
• • Paquete: cuadrado de 8 oz
  • UPC: 6-87652-16507-5
• Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar
• • Paquete: ladrillo de 16 oz
  • UPC: 6-87652-16501-3
• Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack Loaves
• • Paquete: pan de 5 libras
  • Artículo: 6425
• Graziers Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack Loaves
• • Paquete: pan de 5 libras
  • Artículo: 6426
• Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar
• • Paquete: pan de 5 libras
  • Artículo: 6510
• Graziers Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar
• • Paquete: pan de 5 libras
  • Artículo: 6511
• Graziers Raw Milk Cheddar Block
• • Paquete: bloque de 40 libras
  • Artículos: 6515 y 6516

Why was production halted?

According to what the FDA reported, the company halted production of these products in part because the source of contamination has not yet been identified.

When could they return to the market?

Because the batch, code, production date, and source of contamination have still not been determined, it is not yet known when these products could return to the market.

Recommendation for consumers: What should you do if you have any of these products in your home?

The FDA recommends that consumers who have purchased any of the Graziers raw milk cheeses included in the recall not consume or serve them. Instead, they should return them to the place of purchase for a refund or discard them.

Likewise, those with questions can contact Sierra Nevada Cheese Company through its main customer service channels.

Passport application halted by child support debt: what to do in these cases

The State Department explains on its official website that it cannot issue passports when there is a child support debt of more than 2,500 dollars and even in these cases a valid passport could be revoked.

Those who applied and saw their process halted for not having paid child support on time should keep in mind that the steps to resume the process are:

• Pay the outstanding amount to the Child Support Enforcement Agency in all the states where it is owed
• Then the corresponding state has to inform the Office of Child Support Enforcement (HHS) that it has been paid
• HSS then removes the debtor’s name from the records and reports it, a process that can take between 2 and 3 weeks
• The State Department verifies that HHS removed the name from the list
• Once all the above steps have been completed, the process can continue

Passport processing halted by seriously delinquent debt: what to do in these cases

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for its part, explains that by law it must notify the State Department when a taxpayer has what is known as “seriously delinquent debt”.

“In general, the State Department will not issue passports to taxpayers after receiving a delinquent debt certification from the IRS”, it states.

These are pending federal tax obligations that exceed the limit set for that year. In 2026 the maximum amount is 66,000 dollars. They include personal income taxes, trust fund recovery penalties, business taxes for which taxpayers are responsible, and other civil penalties.

When it is determined that a taxpayer has this outstanding debt, IRS will notify them with a CP508C notice. The certification will be revoked if:

• The tax debt is paid in full or is considered legally unenforceable
• The obligation is no longer seriously delinquent
• The certification is erroneous

Once it is revoked, the tax agency notifies the State Department within 30 days from the moment the debt was resolved.

If a passport was requested with this active debt, it is stated that the State Department will notify the taxpayer about the paused process and will keep the application open for 90 days. During that time, they must:

• Make a payment agreement with the IRS
• Pay the tax debt in full
• Resolve any certification issue

If no agreements are made within the established deadline, the passport application will be denied and closed, so a new one will have to be submitted from scratch once the outstanding amount has been resolved.

“America.gov implements modern technology and Super Intelligence (SI) to dramatically improve how the Federal government serves Americans, all while preserving personal privacy.”, as it’s written on a recent White House Fact Sheet.

America.Gov, the new website with more than 25,000 websites with official American information

To simplify Americans’ access to federal information on benefits and other services, the Trump Administration has created “America.gov”. According to the White House, the site “implements modern technology and Super Intelligence (SI) to dramatically improve how the Federal government serves Americans, all while preserving personal privacy.”

The main goal of the website is to give Americans a single place to ask questions about federal services and find information from government agencies. Users can search for guidance on topics such as filing taxes, renewing a passport, applying for benefits, immigration procedures, and other federal services.

The website is designed to connect users with official government information without requiring them to search through different federal agency websites. It includes information from agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security.

How America.gov works

Users can use the website to find official information about federal services, including:

• Taxes: Guidance on how to file a federal tax return and access IRS information.
• Passports: Information on applying for or renewing a U.S. passport.
• Benefits: Resources about federal benefits and assistance programs.
• Immigration: Information on federal immigration procedures and services.
• Social Security: Access to information about Social Security programs and services.
• Other federal services: Links and information from different government agencies.

Do I have to download an App?

For now, users do not need to download an app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to access America.gov. Anyone looking for official government information can simply open the website in a web browser and access its resources.

These heavy rains will be caused by the arrival of a surge of tropical moisture and could cause flash flooding in several of the affected areas, with rain accumulations of between 2.5 and 7.5 cm.

The outlook for the weekend: What is expected for each day?

On Friday, October 2, a cycle of storms will begin that will hit New Mexico and Texas head-on, while the system continues moving east. During the day, eastern Texas will be one of the areas most affected by the heavy rain.

On Saturday, October 3, tropical moisture will continue to favor new rounds of rain and storms over the Southeast. Among the areas with the highest rainfall are:

• Louisiana.
• Florida.
• Mississippi.
• Alabama.
• Tennessee.
• Georgia.
• North Carolina and South Carolina.

On Sunday, October 4, the systems will reach parts of the Mid-Atlantic, and the moisture could move farther north. However, the arrival of drier Canadian air should keep precipitation mostly south of the Interstate 80 corridor.

Which areas could flood over the weekend?

AccuWeather warns of possible flooding, mainly in low-lying areas, urban areas, and places with poor drainage systems, especially when a large amount of rain falls in a short period of time.

Accumulations of between 1 and 3 inches of rain are expected, although higher amounts could be recorded if storms repeatedly affect the same areas.

What about the Northeast?

In much of the Northeast, the passage of the cold front will leave a drier scenario over the weekend. AccuWeather also expects next week to begin with cooler conditions, lower overnight lows, and highs slightly below the historical average.

For this reason, a pause in precipitation is expected in states such as:

• Maine.
• New Hampshire.
• Vermont.
• Massachusetts.
• Rhode Island.
• Connecticut.
• New York.
• New Jersey.
• Pennsylvania.

This practice is officially known as “inner dialogue” and can help us organize thoughts, reduce feelings of stress, and even increase confidence.

Benefits of talking to yourself: what experts say

Cleveland Clinic psychologist Grace Tworek, PsyD, explains in an article from the institution that talking to yourself is “a useful way to check in with yourself and organize thoughts and feelings”.

Among the possible benefits she highlights of this practice are:

• Encouraging critical thinking: for example, by asking yourself questions about how to solve a situation. For the expert, this allows you to make a plan and sustain it in the future.
• Helping concentration: the example she gives is “pay attention to the deer on this street”.
• Regulating emotions: when we tell ourselves that everything is going to be okay
• Motivation: encouraging yourself can increase confidence. In fact, the psychologist notes that there is evidence that athletes can improve their performance thanks to inner dialogue.
• Personal check-in: for example, telling yourself that it is time to take a break from an activity for our own good.

In the same vein, an article published by Harvard University recommends speaking to yourself “as you would to a friend” when negative thoughts become overwhelming: “Positive self-talk can be motivating and reassuring, and keeping it up can drown out the negative filter in your head, easing your anxiety”.

Speak out loud or just think it?

Although both options have their benefits, Tworek explains that speaking out loud -as long as you are aware that it is happening with yourself- is completely normal and even externalizing ideas can be beneficial.

According to the expert, speaking out loud is only concerning when the person believes they are talking to another person who does not actually exist.

How they recommend doing it

One of the key points is always to maintain a positive dialogue and, in any situation, highlight your own strengths rather than your negative traits.

Another piece of advice from Tworek is to use our own name while we keep the conversation going. It is one of the simplest ways to create distance and process ideas.

When it is used to put an end to negative thoughts, affirmations can also help. Harvard recommends:

• I can get through this
• I am safe and in control
• This feeling is only temporary
• My best is enough
• I can get through this difficult moment
• I can handle whatever happens

As long as it is in the proper context, breaking down everyday situations with yourself can then be an easy tool to implement to stay calm and face different challenges in the best possible way.

Borrowers who enroll in autopay by the new deadline, as well as those who are already enrolled, can receive a 1% interest rate reduction in their interest rate through June 30, 2028, as long as they remain enrolled and meet the eligibility requirements. The benefit applies to eligible Federal Direct Loans originated after July 1, 2012, including loans held by student and parent borrowers.

How the 1 percentage point interest rate reduction works

Autopay allows a student loan servicer to automatically withdraw the borrower’s monthly payment from a checking or savings account. Before July 1, 2026, borrowers enrolled in autopay generally received a 0.25% interest rate reduction.

Under the temporary benefit, eligible borrowers can instead receive a 1% interest rate reduction in their interest rate. This means that a loan with a 6% interest rate, for example, would have a 5% rate while the benefit applies. The reduction affects the interest rate, not the amount of the borrower’s outstanding balance.

Borrowers who are not currently enrolled can sign up through their student loan servicer’s website. Those who were already enrolled when the benefit was announced had their rates automatically adjusted, according to the Education Department. Borrowers must remain enrolled in autopay and continue meeting the eligibility requirements to keep the reduction.

What borrowers in default need to know

The Education Department and the Treasury Department also launched a new Defaulted Loans Support Center on StudentAid.gov for borrowers with federal student loans in default.

The online portal allows borrowers to review the consequences of default, compare options for leaving default, apply for loan rehabilitation or consolidation, make payments, and review repayment and loan-discharge options. It also allows borrowers to complete the rehabilitation process online and track their applications.

Borrowers who are in default must first bring their eligible loans back into good standing before they can access the temporary 1% interest rate reduction through autopay. According to the Education Department, they can use the new portal to consolidate eligible loans and then apply for a repayment plan before enrolling in autopay.

The refunds began going out at the end of September, with eligible recipients expected to receive the money during the following weeks. The program covers more than 950,000 people across 30 states, according to information released by the administration.

The payments are different from a new federal stimulus check. They are described by the administration as refunds of excess marketplace user fees rather than a new benefit available to the general population.

Who will receive the $500 Obamacare refund?

The payments are primarily intended for people who purchased ACA coverage through the federal marketplace and paid the full premium without receiving federal premium assistance.

According to the administration, most recipients have incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level. Some people with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level may also qualify if they did not receive premium subsidies.

The refund is issued on a per-person basis, meaning some households could receive more than one $500 payment if multiple members of the family meet the eligibility requirements.

The program is not available to every person enrolled in an Obamacare plan. Eligibility depends on factors including the state where the coverage was purchased, the type of marketplace used and whether the enrollee received premium assistance.

Which states are included in the $500 payments?

The refunds are being sent to eligible enrollees in 30 states that rely on the federal ACA marketplace.

The states are:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

People in states that operate their own ACA exchanges are not included in this refund program.

Texas and Florida are expected to have the largest number of recipients, followed by several other states with large numbers of people enrolled through the federal marketplace.

Why is the government sending the Obamacare refunds?

The Trump administration says the refunds come from excess user fees collected through the federal ACA marketplace.

Those fees are charged to insurance companies that participate in the federal exchange and help fund its operations. The administration argues that the fees collected in previous years exceeded the amount needed to operate the marketplace and that the excess should be returned to consumers who paid the associated costs through their premiums.

The White House announced the program in September and said nearly 1 million Americans would receive $500 per person beginning in October.

The administration has also said it subsequently reduced the marketplace user-fee rate. For 2026, CMS set the user fee for federally facilitated exchanges at 2.5% of monthly premiums, while its final rule for 2027 lowered that rate to 1.9%.

Researchers from Emory University examined whether vitamin D supplement intake was associated with cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and disrupted sleep. The findings were published in the journal Sleep Medicine.

The study focused on 54 adults with diagnosed or suspected MCI who also reported sleep problems. MCI is a condition involving changes in memory and other thinking abilities that are greater than expected with normal aging but do not necessarily interfere significantly with daily activities.

Participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a screening tool commonly used to evaluate cognitive abilities. They also reported whether they took vitamin D supplements and, if so, the type and daily amount.

What the researchers found about vitamin D and cognition

Participants who reported taking 5,000 IU or more of vitamin D per day had higher MoCA scores than those who did not take vitamin D supplements. The association remained after researchers adjusted for factors including age, sex, body mass index, vitamin D type and education.

The researchers also found that the results did not significantly differ between people taking vitamin D2 and those taking vitamin D3. Lower doses of vitamin D were not significantly associated with differences in overall MoCA scores.

The study’s authors described the findings as an indication that higher daily vitamin D intake may be associated with better cognition in people experiencing both sleep disturbances and mild cognitive impairment. They said this population may represent an important stage for studying factors that could potentially be modified as cognitive changes emerge.

Sleep problems are particularly relevant in this population. The researchers noted that sleep disturbances affect a substantial proportion of people with MCI and that sleep problems and cognitive decline may be interconnected.

Scientific research suggests that the answer depends largely on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, the microorganism being targeted and how long the surface remains in contact with the solution.

A study published in the Journal of Food Protection tested several household products against three foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella Typhimurium.

Researchers tested hydrogen peroxide at concentrations of 1.5% and 3%, along with vinegar, baking soda, bleach and other household compounds.

What science says about hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant

The study found that 3% hydrogen peroxide produced a greater than 5-log reduction in both Salmonella Typhimurium and E. coli O157 after one minute at 25°C. A 5-log reduction corresponds to a reduction of 99.999% in the number of microorganisms under the conditions of the test.

However, the results were not identical for all three pathogens. Listeria monocytogenes was more resistant to the tested household compounds, and greater reductions were observed when the hydrogen peroxide treatment lasted 10 minutes at an initial temperature of 55°C.

The researchers compared the effectiveness of the products and found that, among the substances tested, household bleach was more effective than 3% hydrogen peroxide, followed by undiluted vinegar and other acidic compounds. Baking soda showed the lowest effectiveness against the pathogens tested.

The findings therefore suggest that hydrogen peroxide can have meaningful antimicrobial activity, but its effectiveness cannot be generalized to every type of bacteria or every household cleaning situation.

The CDC also recognizes hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists hydrogen peroxide among chemical disinfectants with documented germicidal activity. According to the agency, hydrogen peroxide has bactericidal, virucidal, sporicidal and fungicidal properties and is active against a wide range of microorganisms.

The CDC explains that hydrogen peroxide works by producing destructive hydroxyl free radicals that can damage cell membranes, DNA and other essential components of microorganisms. The agency also notes that commercially available 3% hydrogen peroxide is a stable and effective disinfectant when used on inanimate surfaces.

The concentration and contact time are important. CDC-reviewed research found that a 0.5% accelerated hydrogen peroxide formulation demonstrated bactericidal and virucidal activity within one minute and mycobactericidal and fungicidal activity within five minutes. Other studies cited by the agency found different exposure times depending on the concentration and microorganism involved.

This means that simply applying hydrogen peroxide to a surface and immediately wiping it away may not produce the same disinfecting effect observed in laboratory tests. The product’s concentration and the required contact time matter.

Unlike Earth, however, a year on Mars lasts almost twice as long. The planet needs 687 Earth days to complete one orbit around the Sun, meaning a Martian year lasts about 1.88 Earth years.

Why does Mars have its own calendar?

The Martian calendar is based on the planet’s movement around the Sun and its seasons. The beginning of a new Martian year coincides with the northern spring equinox, when spring begins in Mars’ northern hemisphere, and autumn begins in its southern hemisphere.

The current system for numbering Martian years dates back to 1955. That year was designated as the beginning of the first Martian year after a major global dust storm observed on the planet in 1956.

Mars also has four seasons, like Earth, but they do not all last the same amount of time. Because Mars follows a more elliptical orbit around the Sun, its seasons vary in length.

How long is a day on Mars?

A Martian day, known as a sol, is surprisingly similar to an Earth day. It lasts approximately 24 hours and 39 minutes, just over half an hour longer than a day on Earth.

The difference becomes much larger when measuring a full year. While Earth completes its orbit in about 365 days, Mars needs 687 Earth days. For someone living on Mars, birthdays and other annual events would therefore occur much less frequently than they do on Earth.

The next Martian New Year will not arrive until August 17, 2028, according to ESA’s calendar.