LIC

Senior Republicans are publicly keeping their distance from Donald Trump as opinion polls show weakening support for him and his party. Several lawmakers and candidates facing tough races are avoiding appearances with the former president and toning down his rhetoric on the campaign trail. Commentators see the split as a sign of concern within the party about losing swing voters ahead of upcoming elections.

NBA legend Charles Barkley has said he intends to step back from public life. The Hall of Fame player turned broadcaster announced his plan, though details on his timeline and what it means for his television career remain unclear. Fans and sports media are reacting to news of the retirement of one of basketball's most outspoken personalities.

J.R. Smith, the former NBA champion, was arrested in Texas on a family violence charge, according to police. Details about the incident, including when and where exactly the arrest took place and what led to it, have not been made public. Smith, a two-time NBA champion known for his stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets, has not publicly commented on the arrest.

Qualcomm has renewed its global licensing agreement with Apple, extending the arrangement that allows Apple to use Qualcomm chip technology. The renewed deal is set to take effect on 1 April 2027, ensuring the continuation of the chip licensing partnership between the two companies.

New Hanover County Government has announced a Public Input Session on mental health and substance use disorder scheduled for October 12. The session gives residents a chance to share feedback directly with county officials as local behavioral health services and community needs are reviewed. Details on the venue and how to participate are expected through official county notices.

Boulder County has opened applications for volunteers to serve in behavioral health funding oversight roles. The positions involve helping review how behavioral health funds are allocated and monitored in the county. Officials are recruiting community members to take part in the oversight process, and details on how to apply are available through the county.

Researchers at Stony Brook Medicine have identified a specific brain circuit implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to new research announced by the institution. The finding offers a more precise picture of the neural mechanisms behind OCD, a condition affecting millions worldwide. The announcement has drawn attention in mental health circles, with observers noting that such discoveries could eventually inform more targeted treatments for the disorder.

Police in Mesquite, Texas stopped an armed parent who was suffering a mental health crisis at a school, according to Dallas-Fort Worth news reports. Authorities say no students were harmed and the incident ended without further violence. The case has renewed local discussion about school security procedures and how police respond to mental health emergencies involving weapons on school grounds.

A phase 1 clinical trial is testing a Werner helicase inhibitor in patients with advanced microsatellite instability-high solid tumors, according to a report published in Nature. The approach targets a DNA repair vulnerability in these cancers, which often resist standard therapies. Early-stage results will determine safety, dosing and whether the drug warrants further development.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced expanded free access to state parks, cited record conservation progress, and signed legislation protecting the state's coastline and wildlife. The move is framed as a direct counter to the Trump administration's push to open or reduce federal public lands. It positions California as a leading defender of conservation policy amid federal-state clashes over land use.

The Detroit Lakes school board has moved forward with a new policy amid an ongoing dispute over rainbow stickers in the district. The controversy, reported by MPR News, has drawn local attention as the board debates rules touching on displays of support for LGBTQ students. Details of the policy's contents and next steps were not immediately clear.

Author Michael Adzema, writing under the name sillymickel, is serialising his book 'Psychology of Apocalypse', posting Chapter 1 page by page as threaded excerpts with links to the full e-book and paperback on Amazon. The work blends psychology, ecopsychology and climate themes, arguing that humanity's response to environmental crisis is rooted in deep psychological patterns.

The developers behind Accrescent, a security-focused Android app store, have published a blog post explaining how the application manages its API. The post, titled 'A Tale of Too Many Protocols', describes the API challenges the team encountered and their efforts to build a single source of truth for the project's protocols.

A coalition of environmental and public health groups has filed a lawsuit against the US Environmental Protection Agency over its rollback of regulations on power plant emissions. The groups argue the move weakens protections against air pollution and threatens public health. The legal challenge adds to ongoing battles over the administration's environmental policy reversals.

Maplewood Township, New Jersey, will hold a public meeting on September 30 to discuss its draft Environmental Resource Survey. The document is expected to outline the township's natural assets, such as open space, waterways and habitats, and inform future planning decisions. Residents are invited to attend and weigh in before the survey is finalized.

The Macdonald-Laurier Institute has published a piece by Joe Varner arguing that Canada urgently needs a military space strategy to protect its Arctic interests. The article, appearing in the institute's Inside Policy publication, frames space capabilities as critical to defending Canadian sovereignty in the northern region amid growing strategic competition. It adds to ongoing debate in Canada about defence spending and Arctic security.

The Trump administration has launched a chatbot for government use, with Trump urging an uneasy American public not to be afraid of artificial intelligence. The rollout pairs a new AI tool with a public messaging campaign aimed at building trust in the technology. Coverage, including from The Washington Post, highlights the tension between promoting AI and widespread public wariness about its risks.

The Law Society of Scotland has published a beginner's guide to space law, aimed at helping solicitors understand the legal issues raised by the rapid growth of commercial space activity. The guidance covers what practitioners need to know as satellites, launches and space commerce increasingly generate work touching Scottish clients and businesses.

AST SpaceMobile is drawing attention after reports of a new severance policy at the satellite company, with discussion unfolding alongside SpaceX reaching another orbital milestone. The juxtaposition of the satellite-to-smartphone operator's internal personnel changes against Elon Musk's company's latest achievement has put both firms in market and space-policy conversations.

Researchers behind the MFASS paper explain how three different splice-variant ranking tools compare when it comes to the first 100 results they produce. The piece offers a behind-the-scenes look at the methodology, examining what each ranker prioritises and where their outputs differ. It is aimed at biologists and genomics researchers working on variant interpretation.

The Fermi Paradox — the question of why no alien life has been detected despite the vastness of the universe — is being examined from a religious angle. The creationist group Answers in Genesis has published a piece arguing what the Bible implies about the existence of extraterrestrial life, joining a long-running debate between Christian theology and the scientific search for life beyond Earth.

Physicists in Toronto have announced the discovery of octupolar magnetism, a previously unobserved form of magnetic order. The finding expands understanding of magnetic materials and could inform the development of future quantum technologies, according to reports covering the research. Details on the specific material and experimental method remain limited in early coverage.

Baidu has spent roughly 15 years developing its own artificial intelligence chips in-house, and the effort is now heading into its first major test on the public markets. The move puts the Chinese search giant's semiconductor ambitions under investor scrutiny as demand for AI compute accelerates and competition with US chipmakers intensifies.

Meta has launched Forum, a new app available on Android and iOS that transforms Facebook Groups into a standalone community experience. The move signals Meta's continued push to make Groups a central part of its social ecosystem. Tech outlets are covering the release, though details on features and rollout remain limited in early reports.

Hong Kong police are asking Apple for assistance in stopping a fraud scheme involving iPhone 18 Pro devices that has cost victims an estimated $3.8 million. The scam reportedly involves sales of the smartphones under false pretences, and investigators say Apple's cooperation could help disrupt the operation. Details about the suspects and the exact method of the fraud have not been released.