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Two large clinical studies have found that the arthritis drug upadacitinib helps about half of people with severe alopecia areata regrow most of their scalp hair within 24 weeks. The drug works by blocking immune system signals that attack hair follicles, improving hair growth and quality of life for many patients.
Key Facts
Upadacitinib is an oral drug already approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug was tested in nearly 1,400 people aged 12 to 64 with severe alopecia areata.
Participants took either 15 mg, 30 mg, or a placebo once daily for 24 weeks.
About 45% of those on 15 mg and 54-55% on 30 mg regained at least 80% scalp hair, versus 1-3% on placebo.
Upadacitinib is a JAK inhibitor that blocks immune pathways involved in hair loss.
The studies also showed improvements in eyebrow and eyelash hair growth.
Common side effects included respiratory infections, acne, and elevated enzyme levels.
Serious side effects were rare but occurred slightly more often in treated groups than placebo.
Doctors emphasize the need for long-term safety data and monitoring during treatment.
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is working at Big Bend National Park to add some barriers and improve roads, but it says it is not building a large 30-foot wall there. The agency is also installing technology to detect movement and placing vehicle barriers in certain spots.
Key Facts
CBP is placing limited barriers at Big Bend National Park, not a full 30-foot tall wall.
The work includes building one new access road and improving existing roads in the park.
Detection technology is being installed to monitor the area.
Vehicle barriers are being placed to control vehicle access.
Some members of both political parties have expressed concerns about CBP’s activities in the protected park area.
The area under work is within a national park, which has protections for the environment and wildlife.
CBP emphasizes that the new structures are meant to enhance security and are limited in scope.
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Emily Moreno, the ex-wife of Congressman Max Miller, sued him and his lawyer for sharing a nude photo of their daughter online during their custody dispute. Miller denies accusations of domestic abuse but faces criticism and legal battles as he seeks re-election.
Key Facts
Emily Moreno sued Max Miller and his lawyer for posting a nude image of their infant daughter in a public Dropbox folder.
The photo was included in evidence responding to domestic abuse allegations against Miller, which he denies.
Allegations include Miller holding a gun to Moreno’s head and causing injury to their daughter.
Miller is running for re-election in Ohio despite calls from his party and family members to resign.
President Donald Trump continues to support Miller amid these controversies.
The lawsuit seeks $150,000 for each time the photo was accessed or shared online.
Miller’s lawyer accepted responsibility for accidentally releasing the unredacted image.
The Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, is using these events in his campaign against Miller.
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A Texas judge ruled that some short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and silencers do not need to be registered with the federal government, following a change in law that removed a tax on these firearms. The Justice Department decided not to stop this ruling from taking effect, allowing some Americans to legally own these weapons without federal registration for the first time in nearly 100 years.
Key Facts
A Texas judge ruled on August 5 that certain guns and silencers no longer require federal registration.
The ruling followed Congress removing a $200 tax on the transfer of these firearms.
The National Firearms Act of 1934 required registration and taxes on these weapons to help track their ownership.
The Justice Department chose not to ask for a delay of the judge’s ruling, letting it go into effect.
Gun rights groups and some states sued to stop the old rules, claiming the tax removal made the regulations unconstitutional.
Gun control groups warn deregulation could increase illegal use of these weapons.
The ruling currently applies only to the parties involved in the lawsuits, including certain gun rights organizations.
It is not yet clear if the Justice Department will appeal the decision.
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U.S. mortgage rates fell slightly for the first time in six weeks but remain higher than they were a year ago. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 6.67%, offering slight relief to homebuyers, while 15-year fixed rates also decreased but stayed above last year’s levels.
Key Facts
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.67% from 6.69% last week.
One year ago, the 30-year rate averaged 6.58%.
The 15-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 5.96% from 6.01%, but was 5.71% a year ago.
Sales of previously owned homes slowed in July as rising rates affected buyers.
Mortgage rates are influenced by inflation, Federal Reserve policies, and bond market trends.
The 10-year Treasury yield, which helps set mortgage rates, recently eased to 4.61% after reaching 4.72%.
The U.S. war with Iran and rising oil prices earlier in the year pushed mortgage rates up; though oil prices have cooled, rates remain higher than before the conflict.
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An explosion happened at an ammunition factory near Rome on Thursday. No one was reported injured, and emergency workers responded to the fire that caused the blast.
Key Facts
The explosion occurred at an ammunition plant in Colleferro, near Rome.
The factory was formerly known as Simmel Difesa and is now owned by KNDS Ammo Italy.
The facility makes ammunition and other defense products.
The blast followed a fire at the plant’s powder-pressing section.
Local authorities confirmed there were no injuries.
Emergency responders, including firefighters and police, were on-site during the fire.
Residents nearby heard the explosion.
The regional president said the priority was safety and supporting emergency teams.
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Researchers in Sweden found that a blood-thinning drug called NOAC, used for irregular heartbeat, may slow memory and thinking decline in people with both atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer's disease. The study showed that patients on NOACs had slower cognitive decline and fewer risks like stroke or death compared to those on warfarin or no treatment.
Key Facts
The study was done by Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and published in the European Heart Journal.
It included 7,308 patients diagnosed with both atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and Alzheimer's disease.
Patients were divided into three groups: those taking NOACs (newer blood thinners), warfarin (older blood thinner), or no blood thinners.
Those on NOACs experienced a slower decline in cognitive ability, measured by a memory and thinking test called MMSE.
NOAC patients also had lower rates of death, stroke, blood clots, and fractures than patients without blood thinners.
Warfarin lowered some risks but caused more major bleeding compared to NOACs.
The study was observational, so it cannot prove NOACs directly cause slower decline, and other factors may have influenced results.
Researchers recommend more studies to confirm these findings.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to buy electric shock gloves for officers, which can deliver painful shocks to people resisting arrest. Some Democratic leaders and civil rights groups criticized this plan, saying the gloves could be misused and cause harm.
Key Facts
ICE wants to spend $10 million to $20 million on gloves called G.L.O.V.E. that deliver electric shocks when activated.
The gloves cause pain but do not leave burn marks like Tasers do.
ICE plans to give these gloves to most or all of its officers.
The gloves have mostly been used in jails, not on streets where ICE often uses force for arrests.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said ICE officers misusing the gloves in her state could face legal consequences.
A lawsuit claims a man died after receiving multiple shocks from these gloves and a Taser in a Kentucky jail.
The manufacturer advises against using gloves on vulnerable groups like elderly people, children, pregnant women, and the severely disabled.
Some Congress members said ICE does not need more weapons and worry the gloves will be misused.
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National weather experts say there is more than a 90% chance that this year's El Niño will become a "super" El Niño, which means it will be very strong. This weather event affects global weather patterns, including in the United States.
Key Facts
Forecasters updated their prediction on Thursday.
The chance of a "super" El Niño this year is now over 90%.
A "super" El Niño is the strongest kind of El Niño.
El Niño is a weather pattern that warms the Pacific Ocean near the equator.
It can cause unusual weather around the world, including in the US.
The last strong "super" El Niño occurred in 1950 or later.
Experts are monitoring when it will reach its peak strength.
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A US judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Harvard University. The lawsuit claimed Harvard did not protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment after the Gaza war, but the judge said the evidence did not show ongoing civil rights violations.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed in March 2025 by the Trump administration.
It alleged Harvard failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment.
The incidents mentioned happened mostly in March 2025.
Judge Richard Stearns ruled the events described were isolated and not ongoing.
The judge said the lawsuit did not meet the legal standard to prove continued civil rights violations on campus.
The case was heard in a federal court in Boston.
The decision means the lawsuit is dismissed and Harvard is not legally found responsible.
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Singer Becky G talks about how her new album combines her music with her support for social causes, like immigration. She shares her journey from a young singer helping her family to a global music star collaborating with top artists.
Key Facts
Becky G is a multi-platinum singer from Inglewood, California.
She started singing at age 9 and became the main financial supporter of her family as a teen.
Her new album "Baraja Bendita" mixes different sides of her personality and means "a blessed deck of cards."
Becky G’s music has been streamed over 28 billion times worldwide.
She is currently touring with Latin music star Karol G.
One of her early hits, "Shower," recently reached over 1 billion streams on Spotify.
She openly discusses her past relationship challenges and believes relationships require ongoing effort.
In her song "EPA," she uses visuals to address issues like immigration raids.
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Romania has stopped using its only nuclear power plant because very low water levels in the Danube River, caused by hot weather, make it unsafe to cool the reactors. This shutdown will last at least 10 days, and the low water levels also affect hydroelectric power and river traffic in Europe.
Key Facts
Romania’s Cernavodă nuclear plant, producing about 20% of the country’s electricity, was shut down due to low Danube River levels.
The second reactor was disconnected just before midday on Thursday; the first reactor was shut down earlier in July.
The Danube’s water level is at its lowest in 30 years in some countries.
Low water prevents the plant’s cooling system from working properly because the intake can’t reach enough water.
Romania is using solar, wind, coal, gas power, and imports to cover the electricity shortfall.
Hungary’s nuclear plant on the Danube has not shut down yet but faces similar risks.
Europe’s rivers, including the Rhine, have very low water, impacting transport and power generation.
Climate change is causing hotter temperatures and more heatwaves in Europe, adding pressure on water resources and agriculture.
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Health systems are using a clinical AI platform called PatientGPT to help patients get accurate health information based on their medical records and connect them directly with doctors. This AI tool supports patients by giving personalized advice and helping them book appointments, improving the way patients navigate their care.
Key Facts
Many patients start their health questions with AI chatbots or call centers but face gaps in personalized care.
Consumer AI platforms provide quick answers but do not have access to patients’ medical records or the ability to book appointments.
Health call centers lack clinical details, making it hard to prioritize urgent or routine care.
PatientGPT is an AI platform integrated with health systems that uses a patient’s medical records to give personalized clinical information.
It helps patients with chronic, acute, and urgent health needs and guides them to the right doctor at the right time.
Patients can book appointments online or in person anytime via the AI platform.
The AI flags emergencies and can direct patients immediately to the emergency room.
Examples show PatientGPT improving patient intake and care by providing tailored advice and preparing doctors with structured patient information before visits.
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are working to stop a new kind of drone used by Hezbollah in Lebanon. These drones are hard to detect because they use fiber-optic cables to send real-time video, making it easier for Hezbollah to attack Israeli troops from a safe distance.
Key Facts
Hezbollah has started using fiber-optic first-person view (FPV) drones since March, which are small, cheap, and hard to detect.
These drones do not emit electronic signals, making them difficult for Israel’s usual defense systems like Iron Dome to stop.
The IDF is trying new methods to fight these drones, including remote weapons systems like the SMASH Hopper and the Arbel system.
Israeli soldiers have also been given shotguns and special fragmenting bullets to better hit these drones.
The IDF uses large amounts of netting to physically catch the drones before they can reach soldiers.
Each Israeli squad now includes a soldier tasked with watching for drone attacks from the sky.
The IDF is looking at solutions other countries have used to handle this new drone threat.
This new tactic from Hezbollah marks the first time they have a better chance against Israeli soldiers in battle.
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A passenger train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex in the afternoon, causing several rail routes to close. Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, helping passengers and advising people to avoid the area.
Key Facts
A passenger train derailed near Lewes, East Sussex just before 4 pm.
At least two train carriages tipped over, with passengers seen on top of them.
Several railway routes in the area were closed after the accident.
Emergency services, including paramedics and fire crews, arrived quickly to assist.
Travelers in the area were asked to allow up to 60 extra minutes for their journeys.
Network Rail, Southern Rail, and British Transport Police are involved in the response.
The UK Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, expressed concern and thanked emergency teams.
Further updates were promised as more information becomes available.
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The Justice Department under President Trump has not yet appealed a recent court decision that struck down parts of the 1934 National Firearms Act. This pause has raised concern among gun control supporters and encouragement among gun rights advocates.
Key Facts
A judge recently ruled that certain parts of the National Firearms Act of 1934 are no longer valid.
The Trump administration’s Justice Department has not filed an appeal against this ruling.
Gun control groups are worried that the lack of appeal means weaker gun laws.
Supporters of the Second Amendment (which protects gun ownership rights) hope this shows the government will not challenge gun rights.
The ruling and the department’s delay affect how firearm regulations are enforced in the U.S.
The National Firearms Act originally controlled weapons like machine guns and silencers.
The decision and the DOJ’s response are part of ongoing debates over gun laws in America.
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Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley won the Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor, despite recent polls showing him behind. His win brought national attention because he is a relatively unknown local leader and the youngest person to hold his county executive position.
Key Facts
David Crowley won the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Polls before the primary showed Francesca Hong leading by double digits.
Crowley is 40 years old.
He is from Wisconsin.
He is the youngest person to serve as Milwaukee County Executive.
Crowley’s victory surprised many and raised his profile nationwide.
He aims to be the Democratic candidate for governor in the general election.
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A Yemeni commercial ship was hit by three ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, killing six people and injuring at least nine. The attack caused chaos as a second missile struck while rescue efforts were happening, highlighting rising violence in the region and threats to a key global trade route.
Key Facts
Three ballistic missiles struck the Yemeni cargo ship Tihama near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on August 10, 2026.
Six people were killed and at least nine were injured in the attack.
The attack worsened when a second missile hit during ongoing rescue efforts.
Survivors described intense fire, panic, and severe damage on the ship.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and handles about 12% of world trade.
The Houthis have increased attacks on Yemeni government forces and Saudi oil facilities recently.
The Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked ships in the strait, responding to Saudi actions against Yemen.
The attacks could destabilize the fragile ceasefire and risk expanding conflict in the Middle East.
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Cooluli is recalling about 250,000 small refrigerators because some models can catch fire or overheat. Customers who bought certain 10-liter and 15-liter fridges between 2019 and 2024 should stop using them and get a free repair kit from the company.
Key Facts
Cooluli minifridges from specific older batches are being recalled due to fire and burn risks.
The problem comes from an electric switch that can short circuit and overheat.
There have been at least 19 reports of the fridges sparking, smoking, or catching fire.
Property damage reported from these incidents is more than $80,000.
One person reported smoke inhalation from a recalled fridge.
The recalled models were sold on Cooluli’s website and Amazon for $80 to $120.
Only certain 10-liter and 15-liter models with an internal power supply are affected; newer models are not included.
Customers can check their model online and request a free repair kit by following instructions on Cooluli’s website.
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Separatist fighters in northern Mali have released 82 soldiers, some of whom were captured during attacks in April. The Malian army confirmed the freed soldiers are safe, while separatist leaders said the release was for humanitarian reasons.
Key Facts
82 Malian soldiers were released by separatist groups in northern Mali.
Some of these soldiers had been held captive since as early as 2023.
The soldiers were captured during coordinated attacks on April 25, targeting key locations including Bamako airport and other cities.
The Malian military confirmed the freed soldiers are now safe and receiving care.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane is a spokesperson for the separatist Azawad Liberation Front who confirmed the release.
Mali has faced ongoing violence for over ten years, involving groups linked to al-Qaida and ISIS, plus Tuareg separatists.
The April attacks were carried out by an alliance of JNIM militants and Tuareg separatists.
Despite the release, 118 Malian soldiers remain captive.
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