EFI

Ukraine's military says its forces have advanced in a key sector of the eastern front, according to a senior commander. The claim, reported by Reuters, comes as fighting continues to focus on eastern Ukraine, where territorial gains in either direction are closely watched as indicators of momentum in the war with Russia.

Venezuelan gold brought into the United States under President Trump is sitting unsold, as American refiners refuse to process it. Refiners are reportedly wary of handling gold originating from Venezuela, citing concerns tied to its origins and sanctions-related risk. The standoff leaves the imported metal effectively unusable, raising questions about how the administration plans to manage Venezuelan gold shipments going forward.

Biologists have measured call amplitude in 123 bird species across Massachusetts and Brazil, using golf rangefinders paired with sound meters to gauge how loud each species calls. The study provides first-time loudness data for 113 of the species, with volumes spanning 58 decibels — from hummingbirds calling at near-conversational levels up to the loudest birds recorded.

Donald Trump said diesel markets are being hurt less by the Middle East than by events in Russia, where diesel refineries are, in his words, being knocked out at an alarming rate. He argued that without those strikes on Russian refining capacity, there would be no diesel problem. The remarks touch on how Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are feeding into global fuel supply and price concerns.

Tanga in Tanzania, Lamu in Kenya and Hoima in Uganda are competing to become East Africa's main energy hubs. Each port city is tied to major oil infrastructure plans, including refinery and pipeline projects linked to the region's crude exports, as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jostle for a central role in the region's growing petroleum trade.

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider when, if ever, federal district courts may review disputes over veterans' benefits. The case will clarify the limits of judicial oversight of claims decisions affecting former service members, an issue with significant consequences for veterans seeking to challenge benefit determinations in court.

Teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and other public sector employees in France are planning hundreds of strikes, with tens of thousands expected to mobilise in Paris on September 29. Unions including the CGT and FO are behind the call, signalling a major show of force over pay, conditions and government policy toward public services.

The European Union plans to grant candidate countries access to the Single Market before full membership, but with conditions attached. Economic benefits could be withdrawn if countries backslide on democracy or share sensitive technology with unfriendly governments, according to reporting by Politico tied to Ursula von der Leyen.

Attention is on the potential consequences if Manchester City are found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, with a central question being whether the club could be stripped of past Premier League titles and other trophies. Discussion is focused on who would retrospectively 'benefit' from any voided titles — likely the runners-up from those seasons — and how league records, prize money and the club's standing would change if the most severe sanctions were applied.

A study published in Nature establishes fully developed active turbulence through a non-equilibrium phase transition, providing a rigorous framework for the chaotic flows seen in active matter such as bacterial suspensions and cytoskeletal networks. By framing the onset of this turbulence as a phase transition, the work connects a messy biological phenomenon to established statistical physics and should guide future modelling and experiments.

The Ethernet specification was first drafted on this day in 1980 by Digital Equipment Corporation, Intel, and Xerox, establishing the networking standard years before the public internet existed. Commenters are marking the milestone by noting how the technology has endured, with Ethernet ports still considered a desirable feature on desktop PCs alongside long-lasting connectors like the 3.5mm audio jack.

Parents are being warned that this year's most in-demand toy is likely to sell out well ahead of Christmas. Retailers are bracing for a rush as shoppers look to secure the season's hottest item early, with early shortages already predicted before December arrives.

A refinery worker who retired on December 31 closed on the sale of his house two days earlier, meaning the capital gain landed on his final full year's income. Because Medicare premiums are set by prior-year income, the added gain pushed him into a higher income bracket, raising both his Medicare Part B and Part D surcharges. Personal finance commentators are using the case to illustrate how retirement timing decisions can trigger income-related premium increases retirees did not expect.

A Minnesota woman who relocated to Arizona on November 1 faces losing her Medicare Advantage coverage on June 1 because her plan lacks a travel benefit allowing care outside her home service area. Her situation highlights a common trap for retirees who winter or move out of state: many Medicare Advantage plans operate within limited regional networks, leaving enrollees scrambling for new coverage if they relocate.

Attention is turning to DoorDash's strategy to grow past restaurant delivery, focusing on its Brand Center and partnerships with retailers. The question being debated is whether these retail alliances and platform tools can redefine DoorDash as a broader commerce platform rather than a food delivery app, a shift with implications for its growth story and stock outlook.

New research indicates that close to one in six children taking GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes medications develop nutritional deficiencies. The finding raises concerns about the dietary impact of these increasingly prescribed drugs in pediatric care, with experts urging monitoring of vitamins and minerals in young patients on long-term treatment.

Lawmakers in Congress are working on legislation to clarify and refine the tax treatment of digital assets, targeting gray areas that have left crypto investors and businesses uncertain about reporting obligations. The effort reflects ongoing pressure to update US tax law for cryptocurrencies, and legal and industry commentators are weighing what clearer rules would mean for compliance and enforcement.

A new review of CoinLedger breaks down the crypto tax software's pricing tiers, its support for more than 500 exchanges, and its TurboTax integration, while also flagging limitations in how the platform tracks DeFi and NFT transactions. The piece is aimed at taxpayers preparing to file crypto gains and wanting to know where the tool falls short before committing.

College Football Playoff leaders are discussing the logistics of expanding the postseason tournament to 24 teams. 'If we can get a decent deal, we are definitely going to 24,' one leader said, signaling that expansion is increasingly likely provided contract and financial terms can be agreed. Talks center on how a larger field would be structured and compensated, a major potential shift for college football's championship format.

Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church in Adams, Massachusetts, has closed indefinitely. The parish building is no longer holding services, and local coverage offers no immediate explanation for the closure. Residents of the small Berkshire town are left awaiting word on the church's future, whether the shutdown is temporary or the first step toward a permanent closure.