Amid growing discussions about the involvement of transgender athletes in women’s basketball, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has taken a step to address the issue. In a memo circulated to WNBA teams, she tackled this sensitive topic head-on, aiming to guide how conversations on this matter should unfold.

“Many of you have faced inquiries recently concerning the participation of transgender athletes in women’s basketball,” Engelbert mentioned in her Friday afternoon memo, obtained by The Associated Press. “This subject is likely to garner more attention, and I’m reaching out to outline our league’s approach to these discussions and to appreciate those who have handled media questions with grace and professionalism.”

The communication highlighted that a dedicated task force of team presidents and general managers will delve deeper into the matter during a scheduled meeting next week.

The conversation around this subject intensified recently after Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever expressed her opinion in an ESPN article last month. She advocated for the exclusion of transgender girls and women from female sports divisions. Her statement led to a series of small-scale rallies and protests in Seattle and Portland during the Fever’s recent travel schedule.

At the Fever’s home game against Las Vegas on Thursday night, a solitary protester appeared. As the team gears up to face Chicago on Saturday, supporters of Cunningham, comprising members from two conservative groups, are organizing a rally to show solidarity with her stance.

The league hasn’t made any public comments on the issue.

Engelbert wrote that the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league. Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”

The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. On Friday, two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.

“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert said in the memo. “We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”

The WNBA players’ association released a statement on social media Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group “will not be used as political pawns.”

“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the statement read. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”

Some WNBA players and coaches have come out in support of transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.

“We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve said on Aug. 1. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”

President Donald Trump’s social media crew threw some shade at Taylor Swift after her track “august” was reportedly pulled from his campaign’s TikTok profile.

In response, they uploaded another clip featuring Swift’s 2012 hit “Red,” taken from her album that shares the same name.

Accompanying the video was a playful reimagining of the album cover. Instead of Swift’s well-known image donning her iconic red lipstick, viewers saw Trump sporting his trademark red MAGA hat with a spoof titled ‘Red (Donald Trump’s Version)’ playlist.

A cheeky caption teased, ‘Did you know Taylor Swift wrote a whole album about the color of the Republican Party?’

However, by midday Saturday, the song “Red” had also vanished from Trump’s TikTok account, potentially removed by Swift, 36, or her team, leaving behind a notice stating, ‘This sound isn’t available.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to a representative for Swift and the White House for comment but has not yet received a response. 

The latest musical tug-of-war comes after Swift, whose new husband was slammed for his ‘dad bod,’ allegedly disabled a Team Trump video on TikTok featuring her song august.

The trolling White House clip that was posted four days ago showed the backs of Trump, 80, who said he ‘hates’ Swift, and First Lady Melania Trump, 56, as they watched fireworks light up the night sky.

The text appearing on the image read: ‘Mood because it’s August and Donald Trump is your president.’

Swift’s song august initially played on the soundtrack, and at the bottom of the post was a message from Team Trump saying: ‘I’m sure @Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song!’ along with the hashtags #taylorswift #maga #august.

By Friday night, the audio was gone and replaced with a message that said: ‘The copyright owner hasn’t made this sound available in your country,’ and which just shouted Swift, whose ‘fairytale’ wedding left some guests ‘weirded out.’

The song august is from the singer–songwriter’s 2020 Folklore album. It’s a bittersweet track about a delicate and fleeting summer romance told from the perspective of a fictional teenage girl named Augustine. 

Swift’s fans rejoiced in the comments with one writing: ‘TAYLOR REMOVING THE AUDIO QUEEEEEEN.’ Another echoed: ‘TAYLOR QUEEN SWIFT.’

A third applauded the singer’s actions by saying: ‘TAYLOR REMOVED THE SOUND HAHAHA,’ and a fourth chimed in: ‘She removed it, clocked you guys.’

And yet another Swiftie couldn’t resist teasing: ‘Hahahahaha you messed with the wrong successful woman,’ followed by the taunting words of another fan: ‘I hope taylor swift sues you and wins.’

Swift now owns the copyright of all her songs and recordings, including august and Red. 

She officially regained ownership of her original master recordings in May 2025 after a six-year battle.

This isn’t the first time Team Trump has borrowed a Swift track for its TikTok account. In November of last year, a video included the singer’s song Father Figure, which was also removed.

But another clip added in November plugging the president still includes Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia on its audio track. 

Friction between Trump and Swift began in October 2018 when the pop star endorsed Democratic candidates in Tennessee, prompting Trump to remark he liked her music ’25 percent less.’

But their hostile feud really erupted in September 2024 after Swift publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president. 

‘I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,’ she wrote on Instagram.

Trump swiftly retaliated on his Truth Social account, posting: ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!’

The POTUS took a softer stance when responding to news of Swift’s engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August 2025. 

He stated that he wished them ‘a lot of luck,’ calling Kelce a ‘great player’ and Swift a ‘terrific person,’ despite their ongoing political discord.

But last month, minutes after Madison Square Garden’s billboard lit up with ‘JUST&T MARRIED,’ announcing Swift and Kelce had tied the knot, the official White House social media accounts on X and Instagram shared an AI-generated image with ‘TRUMP IS YOUR PRESIDENT’ alongside the caption: ‘IT’S HAPPENED!!!’

In an unprecedented event, approximately 72,000 Moroccan migrants surged into the Spanish city of Ceuta over a span of just 24 hours. This massive influx draws attention to Europe’s significant challenges with both illegal and legal migration, as well as the looming menace of rising Islamic extremism.

Experts and commentators from the Middle East and Europe, who closely analyze Islamic extremism’s impact across the continent, emphasize the urgent need for European politicians to address the root causes of radical Islamism to effectively combat terrorism.

A Europol report from July highlights that Spain documented the highest number of arrests for “jihadist terrorism-related offenses” within the European Union in 2025, totaling 117 arrests.

Spanish news sources reported that the Spanish Civil Guard and police have identified “about a dozen” individuals among the recent Ceuta arrivals who had previously been deported from Spain over suspicions of terror-related activities. Nonetheless, Euro News indicated that Spain’s interior ministry has yet to confirm these reports.

Quoting the ministry, it stated that “The Spanish public and the people of Ceuta can be confident that the arrivals on 30 July do not pose a threat to public security.” The report also cited the interior ministry as saying that so far this year 82 people had been arrested for offenses related to jihadist terrorism.

Lorenzo Vidino, Director of the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University, and expert on Islamism in Europe and North America, told News Media, “This is Europe. This is the way it has been for the last 15 years, with some ebbs and flows.” He said about the new Europol report that “It is more in line with the last 10 years. Europe has sadly learned to live with this reality.”

British political commentator and Mideast expert, Tom Gross, told News Media: “Europe’s ruling classes need to be honest. It is not racist to point out the obvious: that most terrorism in Western Europe today is being fueled by radical Islamic mosques and teachers.”

He added, “Leaders in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Egypt acknowledge this. Why can’t Western leaders?”

Gross said, “Politicians such as new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, need to stop fueling the propaganda of radical Muslims by implying that there has been some kind of genocide against Muslims in Gaza, when there has been nothing of the sort.”

He continued, “If they really want to help push back radical Islam, European leaders should be assisting, not criticizing, those in Washington and elsewhere calling for the downfall of Iran’s Islamic dictatorship.”

In April, the U.K. raised its national terror threat level to “severe” following an antisemitic attack in London when a Somali immigrant stabbed two men. A “Severe” warning, according to authorities means another terrorist attack is considered “highly likely” in the next six months.

A spokesperson for London’s Mayor Khan told News Media that “The Mayor has invested £16 million (approxmiately $21.5 million) – more than any other Mayor – to support grassroots community groups to stand up to hate and intolerance. This includes £6 million (approximately $8 million) through his Shared Endeavour Fund to give Londoners the tools and skills to tackle extremism.”

Late last month, the alleged Islamist State terrorist, the 21-year-old German-Lebanese man, Abdul Ballout, drove a van into the Berlin Pride Parade event, murdering one woman and injuring nearly 30 people. The German authorities had released Ballout despite his recent conviction related to supporting the Islamic State.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told public broadcaster ZDF during an interview that in light of the 21-year-old suspect’s conviction and record of backing the Islamic State, it did not make sense that the man was roaming free.

“You can assume that it certainly would have made sense to put this person in custody,” he noted.

Khan’s spokesperson also cited an X Post from the Mayor following the Berlin Pride attack: “My thoughts are with everyone affected by the horrific attack in Berlin and their families. This appalling act of violence has no place in our society. London stands in solidarity with Berlin’s LGBTQ+ community. This is why Pride matters. Those who seek to spread hatred and division will never win.”

A new report by Germany’s federal intelligence that documents threats to the constitutional order estimates that there are roughly about 28,000 members of Germany’s Islamist scene. Approximately 9,110 are currently assessed to have an “orientation to violence. “The type of violence is defined as jihadi violence.”

Germany’s federal interior ministry, which publishes the annual domestic intelligence threat report, notes that crimes attributed to “religious ideology” have climbed from 134 in 2022 to 998 last year. Radical Islamist crimes are reportedly understood to make up the main portion of the “religious ideology” category.

Germany’s neighbor, France, experienced another stabbing just days after the attack in Germany. A suspect reportedly stabbed three women in Paris and declared as people captured him after the attack, “it is Allah who commanded me.”

Vidino said, “The incident in Paris it seems one of the cases” regarding the how an attack is classified: “Is it terrorism? Is it a crazy guy? Often times, Europeans play down the ideological motive and cite mental health. Some countries tend to do it more than others. Most Europeans go for downplaying of the ideological component.”

Austria’s intelligence agency announced in May on its website that it arrested a group of suspected Islamist terrorists, which included five males aged between 14 and 45 and one 16-year-old female. “The individuals concerned are suspected of having committed offenses related to Islamist extremism and terrorism in Austria, for example through membership of a terrorist organization, incitement to terrorist offenses, dissemination of IS [Islamic State] propaganda, and approval of terrorist offenses,” wrote the Austrian agency.

In June, Swedish authorities arrested a teenage boy who pledged allegiance to the Islamist State and idolized suicide bombers, according to Swedish media. He issued death threats to students at school and showed pictures of beheaded people.

Nervana Mahmoud, a British-Egyptian medical doctor who has written extensively about Islamist terrorism and indoctrination, told News Media that “The current challenge facing Europe is, in many ways, a battle over Islamist extremism and its place within Western societies. To address the threat at its source, European governments need to focus on preventing radicalization and disrupting foreign funding and ideological networks that fuel extremist movements. Without tackling these root causes, the risk of future terrorist attacks will remain.”

Mahmoud said, “The United States should learn from Europe’s experience rather than simply criticize it. It has an opportunity to strengthen prevention efforts early by fostering a shared American identity within immigrant communities, disrupting foreign funding that may promote extremist influence through universities and think tanks, and working with Muslim Americans who reject Islamism and uphold democratic values. Long-term success will require not only strong security measures but also sustained efforts to prevent radicalization before it takes hold.”

The United Kingdom’s judicial system recorded a series of convictions of Islamist terrorists in July. Abdullah Bin Yasir was imprisoned for two and a half years after admitting he had bomb-making guides linked to an Islamic State-aligned entity. The construction of bomb material was designed to carry out a terrorist attack.

Late last month, in Wigston, Britain, the authorities arrested a 27-year-old man for supporting the Islamic State.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the 31-year-old Mohammad Bashir “pleaded guilty to preparing an act of terrorism” against a British defense target.

A spokesperson for the British Home Office told News Media, “The United Kingdom has one of the most robust counter-terrorism systems in the world. We remain committed to ensuring our Police and Security Services have the tools and powers they need to prevent the spread of violent ideologies and keep the country safe.”

The spokesperson added, “This includes a wide range of terrorist offenses and specialized powers designed to risk, support prosecution, and strengthen management of terrorist offenders. Islamist terrorism remains the primary domestic threat to the United Kingdom, accounting for roughly three quarters of the Security Service’s casework.”

Northern continental Europe is also facing a serious Jihadi terrorist threat. According to a late May Danish Security and Intelligence Service statement, the “CTA [Center for Terror Analysis in Denmark] assesses that the terrorist threat from militant Islamists remains at the level of significant.”

Vidino said there has been a silver lining since the outbreak of the Islamic State terrorist attacks in Europe. “I would say I do think most European law enforcement agencies and security forces have gotten better over the years. When the big ISIS radicalization took place, small countries were completely unprepared to deal with it.” He cited Switzerland, Austria and the Scandinavian countries.

“They did not have legal capabilities and mindset. That has changed and it is not perfect.”

News Media sent multiple press queries to the Spanish government.

If you’re in Los Angeles and seeking a delightful spot to enjoy some sunshine with a drink in hand, consider heading south to Long Beach.

This Southern California gem has topped the charts as one of America’s best cities for outdoor socializing, thanks to its vibrant beer gardens, breweries, and relaxing patios.

Long Beach claimed the number one spot on a new list by Maxwell Social, a private club and event venue, while Los Angeles ended up at the bottom of the list.

Maxwell Social examined 45 major U.S. cities, evaluating their patios, rooftop bars, beer gardens, and breweries per capita. They also considered the level of public interest in these outdoor venues.

Oakland earned the second spot, closely matching Long Beach in several categories. Meanwhile, Atlanta secured third place due to its popular rooftop bars and the high interest of its residents in socializing outdoors.

Phoenix and Houston landed at the bottom of the ranking along with the City of Angels.

To identify the best cities for outdoor socializing, Maxwell Social analyzed the 45 most populous U.S. cities, using population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates.

For each city, the company also measured five metrics, all expressed per 100,000 residents: patios (via Google Maps), rooftop bars (via Google Maps), beer gardens (via Yelp), breweries (via Yelp), and search volume for the following outdoor-venue terms from 2025–2026 (via Google): “patios near me,” “outdoor bars,” “rooftop bars,” “beer gardens,” and “outdoor restaurants.”

Together, these metrics highlighted which cities offered popular venues for socializing. 

Virginia Beach, Va., Mesa, Ariz., and Colorado Springs did well when it came to patios, while Mesa and Detroit led for rooftop bars, with 21.6 and 17.2 per 100,000 residents, respectively.

The site also surveyed 1,000 Americans in the cities it reviewed about how, where and why they gather outside.

The survey found Americans are looking for more places to gather, socialize, and spend time outdoors, but many say their cities aren’t meeting that need.

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (18%) have wanted to hang out outside with friends but couldn’t find a place that was good, legal or comfortable, while 19% say they’ve been asked to leave or quiet down while socializing outdoors in the past year.

Another 15% believe their city simply doesn’t have enough outdoor gathering spaces.

New York City leads the nation as the perceived outdoor social capital, with 16% naming it the best city for casual outdoor gatherings, ahead of LA, Miami, and San Diego at 11% each.

The demand to socialize is especially strong among younger Americans, with 41% of Gen Z saying they would go out more often if their city offered better outdoor social spaces.

The survey also found that when people don’t find what they want at home, they travel elsewhere. More than 1 in 4 Americans (28%) have traveled somewhere just because outdoor social drinking felt easier than it was at home, and New Orleans and Las Vegas topped the list of destinations.

Savannah James, the wife of basketball legend LeBron James, has shared a surprising experience where she was denied entry at a Hermès store in Italy, despite having a scheduled appointment.

The 39-year-old businesswoman, who tied the knot with the NBA superstar in 2013, encountered this situation with her friend and business partner, April McDaniel. They recounted that the incident reportedly led to the firing of a saleswoman from the luxury fashion retailer.

Their account of the event came to light during an appearance on Danielle Robay’s Question Everything podcast earlier this week. McDaniel, while sharing stories of their shopping adventures across various destinations, highlighted this particular blunder at Hermès.

“We be hustling,” McDaniel recounted, describing how they were met with disrespect during their visit to the Italian boutique, where staff allegedly treated them poorly.

Following their complaints to the company’s upper management, McDaniel revealed, “They closed down that whole motherf*****g store,” underscoring the gravity of their grievance and the resulting action taken by Hermès.

‘They did,’ Savannah corroborated before McDaniel added that the fashion house ‘fired the lady,’ after she told the woman, ‘We’ll be back for you. I’ll be right back.’

‘We had an appointment,’ Savannah cut in, adding, ‘And they tried to act like it was…’

A visibly worked up McDaniel then interjected, ‘I said, baby, you caught the wrong one today.’

She noted that her friend was ‘very nice,’ but she was not as patient with the staff regarding the slight, and her frustration led to a full-on shopping spree.

‘We’ll be back here. The whole store is closing down. We’re bringing out [crocodile leather] and everything,’ she said she demanded.

She joked, ‘You want some smoke? You done caught one. I am crazy like that.’

Later, McDaniel shared, ‘We [were] in the private room with champagne and macarons.’

‘They brought out everything,’ Savannah confirmed about the wild occurrence. 

‘I said I’ll take bathing suits, I’m buying silverware,’ McDaniel trailed on. ‘I was living my best life.’

Savannah’s podcast appearance comes weeks after her husband announced he has signed an $8 million, two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The sports icon, 41, previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight seasons.

In a lengthy statement on X, he said he strongly considered retiring but believes he still has ‘more to give.’

Savannah and LeBron share sons Bronny, 21, Bryce, 19, and daughter Zhuri, 11.

Asked by Robay what advice the mom of three would give other wives and girlfriends of athletes, she answered: ‘Pay attention to yourself as much as you’re paying attention to your partner.’

She added, ‘Don’t lose yourself in the babies, if they come. Don’t lose yourself in the facade of what all of this looks like. Try to stay grounded, try to stay authentic to who you are, and what this connection was from the very beginning.’

WASHINGTON — In an unexpected move late Saturday, the Senate passed a temporary funding measure to keep federal operations running through early December. This decisive action, occurring in the midst of the campaign season, averts what could have been a disruptive government shutdown.

Taking action well in advance of the September 30 fiscal deadline sets this move apart from the usual last-minute rush to pass stopgap measures. Typically, congressional lawmakers deliberate until the final moments to settle on short-term funding. This time, however, senators acted nearly two months ahead of schedule, marking a significant departure from tradition.

With a 90-6 vote, the Senate demonstrated its eagerness to steer clear of another shutdown debacle. Recent history shows two challenging shutdowns over the past year, and lawmakers are keen to sidestep such disruptions just as voters prepare to cast their ballots.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the importance of addressing funding before lawmakers head home for a five-week break to campaign and attend to other priorities. Despite the bill getting tangled with other pressing issues, it ultimately secured strong bipartisan backing. The spotlight now shifts to the House, which must approve the bill after its August recess, allowing it to reach President Donald Trump for his signature.

While the legislation primarily extends existing federal funding through December 11, it also incorporates several negotiated exceptions between senators and the White House. These adjustments ensure government continuity while accommodating specific needs agreed upon during discussions.

Democrats secured language to ensure no money could be transferred to the Border Patrol. They also rejected the White House’s request of $1 billion for early work on a new “Trump-class” battleship that the administration announced on Dec. 22.

“The only person who wants these golden ships is Donald Trump so he can slap his name on them,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.

Hemp provision became a point of contention

The bill also includes language delaying a national ban on most intoxicating hemp products. That one-month delay prompted outrage from some Senate Republicans who say that too many such products are falling into the hands of often unsuspecting children. The packaging of the products often relies on bright colors and intentionally mimics popular snack brands to attract consumers.

Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said that since 2017 there has been nearly a 10-fold increase in cannabis-related emergency room visits by minors in his home state.

“This is a public health crisis that deserves this Senate’s immediate attention,” Budd said. “Our children should never be the testing ground for an industry willing to exploit a loophole in federal law for profit.”

But the hemp industry said the delay buys time for Congress to craft legislation that protects hemp farmers and businesses while also putting in place safeguards to protect children.

Trump himself has called Budd to discuss the issue, though the president did not specifically ask the senator to drop his effort, Budd’s spokesman said.

“Senator Budd had a friendly phone call with President Trump discussing the legislative efforts regarding THC,” said spokesman Christian McMullen. He said the senator outlined his concerns about “any delay to closing the hemp loophole.”

Budd tried to strip the hemp delay from the bill, but the Senate turned aside his effort.

The bill delays a Trump administration rule on grants

Democratic lawmakers, along with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, also got language in the bill that would block, for the duration of the funding patch, new regulations on federal grants. The regulations would require a senior political appointee to review grants before they are awarded to ensure, among other things, that they advance the president’s policy priorities. Democrats worry it’s an effort to kill grants destined for Democratic-leaning states.

“They are not interested in making our tax dollars work better – they just want them to work for Donald Trump,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The White House Office of Management and Budget says its effort is about improving accountability to ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted or misused. The issue is sure to be a topic of future negotiations on a full-year spending measure.

But Collins said the vast majority of the nearly 500,000 people and groups weighing in on the rule are opposed to it.

“I don’t think in my time that I’ve been privileged to serve in the Senate that I have ever seen a proposed rule generate that many negative comments,” Collins said.