It’s time to pay closer attention to our gut health.

Alarmingly, cases of colorectal cancer are increasing, positioning it ahead of breast and brain cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among adults under the age of 50.

However, there is a silver lining. Early diagnosis and intervention may soon improve, thanks to this recent discovery, which also highlights how a single dietary choice can significantly alter your risk profile. Scientists are optimistic that these insights could pave the way for more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

For quite some time, researchers have believed that there is a close connection between our gut microbiomes and colorectal cancer. This belief has now gained substantial backing from recent scientific findings.

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, scientists have identified a significant microbial signature linked to colorectal cancer. This microbial pattern appears to be consistent not only across different populations but also among various age groups.

Researchers found that microbes — tiny organisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi that are too small for the naked eye to see — detected in poop samples reflect those found directly within colorectal tumors. Those cancer-associated could already be detected in early-stage tumors.

This suggest that microbial changes linked to cancer may appear early on, raising new questions about whether tumors alter the microbiome or whether microbiome changes help drive cancer development.

The study also found a connection between diet and the cancer-associated microbiome pattern.

Lower dietary fiber intake was linked to a stronger cancer-associated microbiome pattern, while higher fiber intake was associated with a reduction in that pattern.

While diet is not the only factor involved, it plays an important role in colorectal cancer risk, with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods linked to the rise in diagnoses among younger adults.

“Everything that we eat touches our colon, good or bad,” Dr. Christine Molmenti, an associate professor and cancer epidemiologist at Northwell Health, previously told The Post.

“Junk foods and ultra-processed foods can disrupt the microbiome,” Molmenti added. “They can lead to inflammation.”

Previous research has shown differences between the gut health of people with colorectal cancer and those without the disease, but these studies were much smaller, making it difficult to determine if the findings applied broadly.

This study analyzed 27 studies — comprising 6,779 publicly available gut microbiome sequencing profiles — to obtain more comprehensive data.

Another feature that advances the research was the use of machine learning algorithms to distinguish cancer from non-cancer microbiomes at a large scale.

This allowed the researchers to identify a gut microbiome signature that was reproduced across multiple people with both early- and late-onset colorectal cancer.

The findings could pave the way for future research into the gut microbiome-colorectal cancer connection, as well as microbiome-based detection and prevention strategies.

However, the researchers emphasized that the findings are not a diagnostic test yet, but rather a step toward better understanding how organisms in the gut may help advance cancer research and detection.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has conceded that Ukraine’s long-range attacks are causing significant disruptions in Russia’s fuel supply as News Media reveals footage of extensive queues, frustrated drivers, and altercations at gas stations in various Russian regions.

At a recent meeting with government officials following a series of Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian oil infrastructure, Putin addressed the impact on Sunday, citing that assaults on “critical infrastructure” and energy resources are creating challenges. These include shortages affecting not only motorists but also businesses and agricultural producers. Despite these issues, Putin assured that efforts are underway to manage the situation, according to Reuters.

This acknowledgment from the Kremlin is a rare admission that Ukraine’s long-range operations are exerting influence beyond the immediate combat zones.

For Ukraine, the prevailing fuel shortages in Russia are a testament to the effectiveness of its long-range strike strategy. By compelling Moscow to address conspicuous internal problems, these strikes underscore vulnerabilities within a nation that has traditionally leveraged its energy sector for global prowess.

Ukraine increasingly has used long-range drones to target Russian oil refineries, depots and supply routes hundreds of miles from its border. Ukraine hit two Russian oil refineries overnight, Reuters reported Sunday, including one in Krasnodar, Russia, and another in Yaroslavl, Russia, as Kyiv continues targeting infrastructure linked to Moscow’s war effort.

Fuel shortages have spread across Russia, including occupied Crimea, southern Russia, Siberia and Moscow. Moscow also is weighing emergency measures, including temporarily allowing the production and import of lower-quality fuel, according to a draft government document reported by the Kommersant daily newspaper.

Maxim Katz, a Russian opposition figure and former Moscow municipal deputy, told News Media that the fuel shortages are real and increasingly difficult for Russians to ignore.

“There are fuel problems in Russia right now — real ones,” Katz told News Media. “I’m getting a lot of reports, and I can see it too: It’s hard. You can’t find fuel, or you have to stand in line. In some cities, you have to spend half a day looking for fuel, and then they give you only a little, and you have to get back in line again.”

Katz said the shortages appear tied directly to Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refining capacity.

“They are bombing the refineries very effectively,” he said. “Putin doesn’t have a way to defend them. Right now, it looks like there is no way to defend them, and that is a major pressure point on Putin.”

Videos obtained by News Media from East2West news agency show scenes of frustration at Russian filling stations, where drivers are seen waiting in long queues and arguing as shortages bite. In one video, two women appear to argue over a place in line, with one insisting, “I was in the queue,” before the confrontation escalates into shouting and threats.

In Serov, Russia, police were called after a male driver was seen shouting obscenities at several women before punching one of them, according to a video. 

In Ryazan, Russia, video shows a fight breaking out near a forecourt as drivers waited for fuel. In Irkutsk, Russia, a man is seen leaning into the open window of a hatchback and repeatedly hitting another motorist.

One woman, identified only as Tanya, 29, told east2west she waited 13 hours in Siberia to get half a tank of fuel and blamed Putin’s war for the chaos.

“He should stop this senseless conflict and let us live normally,” she told the outlet. 

Katz said the fuel disruption comes alongside deeper economic pressure caused by the Russia–Ukraine war, including high domestic borrowing, steep interest rates and a budget increasingly built around military spending.

“The whole economy is now built on war,” Katz said. “War does not produce anything. Nothing comes back from it. So what remains is a big hole.”

He said Russia is not yet on the verge of collapse, but the strain is “growing and growing,” with economic officials warning that spending may need to be cut as the budget deficit becomes harder to close.

This assessment was also confirmed to News Media by a European intelligence source, who said the economic pressure is effectively working.

News Media reached out to Russian and Ukrainian spokespeople for comment. 

Reuters contributed to this story.

Posted: Jun 30, 2026 / 11:13 AM CDT

Updated: Jun 30, 2026 / 11:13 AM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is poised to delve into a pivotal decision regarding the Second Amendment as it prepares to evaluate the legality of banning semiautomatic rifles, commonly referred to as assault weapons, in the United States.

On Tuesday, the justices announced their intention to examine appeals urging the court to invalidate restrictions on AR-15 and similar semiautomatic guns in regions such as the Chicago area and the state of Connecticut.

Legislation akin to these bans exists in roughly a dozen states across the nation, affecting key urban centers like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. While a national prohibition on assault weapons lapsed in 2004, largely due to Congress’s inaction, Democratic lawmakers have been advocating for its reinstatement amid recurring incidents of mass shootings. Consequently, individual states continue to implement their own regulations.

The cases are the latest high-profile disputes over guns to reach the court since its conservative majority handed down a landmark ruling in 2022 that expanded Second Amendment rights and spawned challenges to firearm laws around the country.

The case is expected to be heard in the fall.

A Minneapolis legislator has announced her intention to take a sudden break due to the detrimental impact of the city’s issues on her mental well-being.

On Monday, City Council Member Aisha Chughtai, aged 28, informed her supporters that she will be stepping back for the next month to participate in an intensive outpatient program aimed at addressing clinical depression and anxiety.

Notably, Chughtai is the third lawmaker in Minneapolis in just one week to publicly disclose similar mental health challenges, following Ward 12’s Aurin Chowdhury.

In her statement, the representative of Ward 10 in south Minneapolis reflected on how the past year presented ‘unique difficulties impacting everyone within our communities.’

Chughtai highlighted the turbulence of a ‘high-stakes’ election along with the distressing occurrences of mass shootings and federal intervention.

‘Like 23 percent of American adults, I also work every day to manage my mental health. I have ignored my own need for more help for too long,’ the lawmaker wrote.

‘I love representing the people of this Ward. It’s the greatest honor of my life. And that’s why I feel obligated to do so to the best of my abilities,’ she continued. 

‘Because of the current state of my mental health, I fear falling short of that obligation. That’s why I’m briefly stepping back.’

Chughtai made history in Minneapolis after she was elected in 2021, marking the council’s first Muslim woman and the youngest person ever appointed. 

She said she would miss one council meeting on July 16 during her leave, and in her absence her office is set to remain open, the outlet reported. 

‘I fully expect to return energized and ready to give more than ever for the people of Ward 10 and everyone in the city,’ she said of her return. 

‘Everyone deserves to feel that they have the space, resources, and support to care for their own basic health, and that includes mental health. 

‘I want to thank everyone who has shown me grace and support across my tenure on the Council, including my colleagues. I wanted to be honest, and fully transparent, with all of you about my absence, because you deserve nothing less.

‘I know that when I return, I’ll be back stronger, ready to form deeper partnerships, and ready to fight even harder for our neighbors.’

Chughtai represents neighborhoods within Ward 10, including Whittier, Lowry Hill East, East Bde Maka Ska, South Uptown and East Harriet. 

The lawmaker received many messages of support from constituents, and was also encouraged by colleagues and friends.

Minneapolis Ward 2 Representative Robin Wonsley, 34, said Chughtai ‘works tirelessly serving her constituents, keeping our neighbors safe and fighting for our values.’

‘I’m proud of my colleague and friend for taking a step away to care for her mental health,’ Wonsley wrote on social media. 

‘Aisha embodies what leadership looks like. Too many people struggle with their mental health in silence. I hope Aisha’s courage helps someone else along the way.’

She concluded her supportive message by sending Chughtai ‘best wishes during her leave,’ and added: ‘I look forward to continuing to fight alongside her for a more equitable Minneapolis when she returns.’

Hennepin County Commissioner of District 2 Irene Fernando also bolstered her colleague and said residents of the city have ‘endured and persevered through so much’ in the last year. 

‘Just as we care for our neighbors, we must prioritize care for ourselves,’ Fernando said. 

‘Councilmember Aisha Chughtai is a dedicated public servant and dear friend. She’s governed with compassion, care, and courage for the people. What Aisha’s doing takes courage: she shared her truth of needing time to care for mental health – and I support her wholeheartedly.’

Fernando added that ‘everyone deserves the space, resources and support to care for their health,’ and concluded her message: ‘We love you, Aisha, go take care of yourself – see you soon.’

Ward 9’s Jason Chavez thanked Chughtai for her ‘bravery in normalizing mental health support’ in a message of support on social media, and wrote: ‘We love you and can’t wait to keep fighting the good fight with you for years to come.’

Chowdhury, 29, said she was proud of her colleague’s announcement following her own last week, where she revealed her struggle with PTSD and acute stress disorder. 

‘Last week, I shared on my newsletter the diagnosis I received in the past months for PTSD and acute stress disorder – as a result of the impact of being frontline to all that has transpired from the federal occupation by ICE on our city, gun violence, and loss,’ Chowdhury wrote. 

‘Public service is something we love, and the impacts unfortunately can come at a personal cost. I’m on my own healing journey and I thank my loved ones, community, and constituents who have been a great support.’

‘There are many lessons from this season of life, but one that has remained at the front of my mind is that life is too short, and we deserve to live fully and be happy. It is done in responsibility to our constituents and frankly we owe it to ourselves,’ Chowdury wrote. 

‘It is okay to make the effort to create that for oneself; it is also what makes the hard work of making a better world possible. Healing isn’t linear; it can be painful, and we are each worthy of it.’

Another former employee of the Minneapolis council offices revealed how, eight years ago, she took a similar leave of absence ‘only to be let go just a couple weeks later.’

‘I was afraid that would happen because I was encouraged to resign over taking a leave for my health and I contacted an attorney prior. Unfortunately once it actually happened I was so rushed to figure out new income and get healthcare for my ongoing mental health treatment that I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth for detailing everything for the lawsuit, and it’s one of my biggest regrets,’ Laura Dorle wrote on social media. 

Dorle said she commends Chughtai for her ‘openness about a very difficult experience that far too many people feel forced to stay silent.’

Chughtai also received plenty of support from her constituents on social media. 

‘We all need support to live our best lives. As someone who deals with their own mental health often, I want to thank you for being so open about something often kept private,’ one user wrote. 

‘Thank you for being open and honest with us. You are showing people that these struggles are real and pervasive. We shouldn’t suffer in silence with our mental health struggles,’ another said. ‘Take the time you need for yourself to get better. You’ve done so much for the city and the movement.’

‘I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for you, both for being so open and so dedicated to your work for the people of Minneapolis,’ a third wrote. 

Another comment read: ‘Good for you! I feel this so much. I recently hit that wall hard. I have hit it many times before but oh my… I finally had to say out loud.. “I just can’t.” So weird and freeing to say it out loud. I also am doing what I need to do to get back… “I can.” The very best of wishes to your mental health.’

The Daily Mail reached out to the Minneapolis City Council and Chughtai for comment.  

After relocating to Florida, Peta Murgatroyd and Maks Chmerkovskiy have put their Los Angeles rental property on the market, asking for a monthly rate of $18,000.

As reported by apartments.com, the spacious 4,300-square-foot abode that these “Dancing With the Stars” veterans called home for two years boasts four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

This “Napa-inspired” home, crafted by a celebrated builder and designer, showcases exquisite details such as stunning herringbone oak flooring, solid Alder wood doors, and elegant oak ceilings and entryways. It also includes distinctive raw-finished fixtures made from hand-forged bronze and brass, complemented by natural grasses.

The lower level of the residence features 10-foot high ceilings that grace the living room, dining area, family room, ensuite, and a powder room, enhancing the spacious feel.

In the beautifully designed kitchen, you’ll find unstained cherry wood cabinets, a marble-topped island, and a discreet “secret pantry” complete with an additional refrigerator and ample storage space.

The second floor of the dwelling has three bedrooms with walk-in closets, a second laundry room and a primary bedroom that features a huge closet, a fireplace, a balcony and a spacious bathroom that includes a soaking tub, a double vanity, a steam shower and a Toto toilet.

Three French doors lead to the sprawling backyard, which includes a rectangular-shaped pool, turf yard, a covered patio with a built-in BBQ grill and a speaker system for entertaining.

The listing comes after Chmerkovskiy, 46, and Murgatroyd, 39, revealed they made the heartbreaking decision to move to Florida with their kids: Shai, 9, Rio, 3, and Milan, 1.

Taking to Instagram Monday, the couple shared a snippet from their vlog, which showed them crying in a car with their moving boxes in the backseat.

“There are tears you don’t expect, goodbyes that hit harder than you imagined and moments where you wonder if you’re making the right decision,” they captioned the post.

“But sometimes you have to leave what’s comfortable to find what’s meant for you.”

The pro dancers said they made “the best decision” for their family.

“Our boys are so happy, our hearts are full, and we’re incredibly grateful for this new chapter,” they wrote. “Goodbye LA. Hello Florida. 🌴❤️.”

Chmerkovskiy and Murgatroyd tied the knot in 2017.

They welcomed their first child, son Shai, in January 2017, their second son, Rio, in June 2023 and their third son, Milan, in July 2024.

NEW YORK — Pop sensation Taylor Swift is set to wed three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce in a spectacular event that will unfold over several days. This high-profile wedding will involve road closures, a dedicated police presence, and security measures funded by taxpayers, as shared by an insider familiar with the plans.

The New York Police Department is gearing up to secure an entire city block near Madison Square Garden, right in the vibrant center of Manhattan.

The insider explained that the wedding will be a multi-day affair, featuring setup, celebrations, and teardown activities, with an anticipated attendance of 1,000 guests. While this is considered a modest number for the venue’s capacity and the stature of the couple, the police categorize many attendees as “high profile” and “VIP.”

Despite the secrecy surrounding the guest list, it has been anticipated that massive crowds and paparazzi will congregate outside the venue, as noted by the source.

Guests have reportedly received individual watermarked invitations in an effort to discourage leaks, TMZ reported previously. There has even been a mystery surrounding the wedding’s location for weeks.

About 100 people were invited to a rehearsal dinner that will also take place at the Garden an evening before the big day, the source said.

New York authorities will shut down West 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues all day on July 3 — less restrictive than the shutdowns for the NBA Finals, which the New York Knicks won earlier this month. Those closures extended for multiple blocks surrounding MSG.

On the wedding day, guests will arrive at a secure reception tent as the cocktail hour kicks off, so they can enter away from prying eyes.

The ceremony is scheduled for the evening with the reception running into the early morning of July 4, according to the source, and reports suggest there will be A-list performances along the way.

Roughly 10 blocks to the north, revelers will be ringing in the United States’ 250th birthday in Times Square, according to the organizers of America 250 — with a ball dropping eight times, marking midnight in every time zone where the country has territory.

The days-long festivities have been sponsored and approved by New York City’s Street Activity Permit Office, which is part of the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management.

The NYPD is expected to provide taxpayer-funded security and traffic control.

The New York Post’s Page Six has reported that the wedding bash will feature performances from Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw and be “bigger than the Met Gala.”

The annual Metropolitan Museum of Art fundraiser generates tens of millions of dollars for the organization and also receives security assistance from the NYPD and New York City’s Sanitation Department.

In a photo obtained by News Media Monday, a large truck was seen backing into a loading bay at the MSG, where workers took out large items concealed by black plastic sheets.

The NYPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The venue falls within the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Manhattan South, whose commanding officer was reassigned last week amid an internal affairs corruption probe.