Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have been banned from Villa Park for their Europa League game against Aston Villa. But who decides when away fans are banned and what constitutes a high-risk game? Samantha Johnson looks at the reasons and the politics behind banning orders in European football.
The mystery donor who offered $130 million to pay troops during the government shutdown is Timothy Mellon, sources told The New York Timeson Saturday.
The extremely private billionaire is a top Republican backer and contributed $125 million to the Make America Great Again super PAC that supported Donald Trump during his presidential bid last year.
Trump announced the anonymous donation on Thursday, declining to name the benefactor, only saying that the individual was a “patriot” and a friend.
When asked about Mellon on Friday, Trump declined to identify him as the donor while speaking to reporters. He said the individual was “a great American citizen” and a “substantial man.”
“He doesn’t want publicity,” Trump said, according to The Times. “He prefer that his name not be mentioned which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.”
The Pentagon told The Times it accepted the donation under the “general gift acceptance authority.”
But the donation may be in violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prevents federal agencies from spending more money than Congress allows or from using unpaid help that Congress hasn’t approved.
The Mellon family foundation did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment, and attempts by the Times to reach Mellon were unsuccessful.
Mellon’s fortune
Mellon founded the now-defunct railroad company Guilford Transportation Industries in 1981, but much of his wealth is from his grandfather, Andrew, who was Treasury secretary from 1921 to 1932. During this time, Andrew successfully campaigned to remove estate taxes so he could leave his fortune to his heirs.
Prior to working for the Treasury, Andrew accumulated his wealth in banking, industrials and investing in the early stages of companies.
The Mellon family was named one of America’s richest families by Forbes last year and has a combined net worth of just over $14 billion.
Although Timothy Mellon’s share of this wealth isn’t well understood, he said his net worth was about $700 million in 2014. The LondonTimes estimated it to be about $1 billion last year, and a relative toldVanity Fair it was closer to $4.2 billion, adding that Mellon didn’t want people to know his true net worth.
Between 1996 and 2018, Mellon donated about $350,000 to political causes, according to the Wall Street Journal. But during the 2020 election, his political spending exploded, donating $60 million to Republican candidates, including $20 million to Trump.
In the 2024 cycle, Mellon donated a total of $165 million, according to campaign finance tracker OpenSecrets. This included $25 million to the political action committee American Values 2024 that supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign.
In Mellon’s self-published autobiography panam.captain from 2015, Kennedy is quoted as saying, “Tim Mellon is a maverick entrepreneur who embodies the most admirable qualities of what FDR called ‘American Industrial genius.’”
Government shutdown
Mellon’s donation comes as Trump has promised to pay military service members, immigration agents and law enforcement officials despite not having approval by lawmakers for money for their wages.
He signed an executive order this month ordering the Pentagon to use portions of research and development funds to cover troops’ salaries.
About 670,000 workers have been furloughed, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank. And about 730,000 are working without pay.
As the shutdown drags on for its third week, thousands of federal workers have also experienced missing their first paycheck this week.
It was, as everyone knew it would be, all about US President Donald Trump.
He literally towered over everyone else at the ceremony in Kuala Lumpur where Cambodia and Thailand signed their agreement. He gave the longest speech – and made the biggest claims.
It was all superlatives.
“This is a momentous day for South East Asia,” Trump said. “A monumental step.”
Describing the two slightly sheepish-looking prime ministers who were about to sign the deal as “historic figures”, Trump recalled at length how he got involved in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict while he was visiting his Turnberry golf course in Scotland in July.
“And I said this is much more important than a round of golf… I could have had a lot of fun, but this is much more fun… saving people and saving countries.”
Trump had asked for this special ceremony as a condition for coming to the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit – a gathering US presidents have attended at times in the past, but not always. And he used it to press his campaign to be recognised as a great peacemaker.
“The eight wars that my administration has ended in eight months – there’s never been anything like that,” he said. “We’re averaging one a month… It’s like, I shouldn’t say it’s a hobby, because it’s so much more serious, but something I’m good at and something I love to do.”
But what does the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord”, as Trump has renamed it, actually amount to?
Remember, both countries signed a ceasefire back in July.
That, too, was helped – or at least accelerated – by pressure from Trump.
Looking at the details of the latest deal, though, it isn’t much of leap forward.
The two countries have agreed to withdraw their heavy weapons from the disputed border and to establish an interim observer team to monitor it.
They have a new procedure for clearing landmines, and will set up what they call a joint taskforce to address the proliferation of scam centres.
They will replace missing border markers with temporary ones.
This is progress – and Thai diplomats have told me they do feel Trump’s involvement may help these agreements stick.
After the ceremony, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow refused to call it a peace agreement – sticking instead to their own preferred title “Joint Declaration by the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia on the outcomes of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur”, which doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue.
“I would call it a pathway to peace,” was as far as Sihasak was willing to go – a far cry from Trump’s expansive claims for it.
“It’s an extremely slight agreement for the president of the United States to be presiding over,” posted Sebastian Strangio, author and South East Asia Editor for the Diplomat magazine.
Cambodia has been a lot more enthusiastic, but then it has always sought to internationalise its dispute with Thailand – referring it to the International Court of Justice – something Thailand does not agree with.
At the ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Manet gushed with praise for the US president – reminding him that his government had nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charvirakul was more circumspect – mindful of nationalist pressure back home not to be giving too much away to Cambodia, a problem the authoritarian government in Cambodia does not have to worry about.
Thailand has always insisted the dispute should be resolved bilaterally, with no outside mediation.
It says it appreciates Trump’s support, and describes the US and Malaysia as only “facilitating” this agreement.
Neither country – nor the rest of Asean – could afford to spurn Trump’s request for this ceremony.
South East Asia is the most export-dependant region in the world, far more reliant on the US market than China.
It has had a difficult year living under the existential threat posed by Trump’s initial tariffs – up to 48% – and going through the nail-biting negotiations to bring them down to a more manageable 19-20%.
Trump is not even staying for most of the Asean summit.
After a couple of bilateral meetings and a dinner, he’s off the Japan, and then to a Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) meeting – another multilateral grouping at odds with his brutally transactional style, but where he hopes to reset relations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
But just having had the US president here in Kuala Lumpur for 24 hours will, Asean hopes, help restore some stability to their relationship.
Warner Chappell Music has signed a worldwide administration agreement with Victor Le Masne, an award-winning French composer, producer and music director.
The deal with Le Masne includes all works produced through his label, Multiman Records, and will be handled by Warner Chappell Music’s teams in France and the US
He has worked on a range of projects with artists including Lady Gaga, Gojira, Aya Nakamura and Jean-Michel Jarre.
In 2024, he served as the composer and Music Director for the Ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games – writing the original music for the ceremonies and composing the Games’ official anthem, Parade.
He has also been the Musical Director of the French stage production Starmania since 2022.
Le Masne first broke through in the late 2000s as one half of the electro-pop duo Housse de Racket. The group released three albums and toured internationally before he moved into solo work.
Since then, he has collaborated with Kavinsky, Juliette Armanet and Gaspard Augé of Justice.
Most recently, his work on the Olympic Games earned him a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, as well as a Victoire de la Musique for Best Concert.
“I’M TRULY PROUD TO TAKE THIS NEXT STEP BY SIGNING WITH THE AMAZING TEAMS AT WARNER CHAPPELL.”
VICTOR LE MASNE
Victor Le Masne said: “After the incredible challenge of serving as composer and musical director for the last Olympics, I’m truly proud to take this next step by signing with amazing teams at Warner Chappell.
“I’m honored to join such a legendary music house. Huge thanks to Guy, Carianne, Matthieu, Rachel, Rich, Alex, and the entire team – I’m really looking forward to working with you all.”
“VICTOR IS AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED COMPOSER, A GIFTED MUSICIAN, AND A REMARKABLE ARRANGER.”
MATTHIEU TESSIER, WANER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Matthieu Tessier, Managing Director, Warner Chappell Music France, added: “It’s a true honor for the teams at Warner Chappell Music France and for me personally to begin this collaboration with him – to share his works with the world, and to support him in building artistic connections and creating new music together.
“Victor is an incredibly talented composer, a gifted musician, and a remarkable arranger.”
“HIS WORK ON THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC CEREMONIES SHOWCASED HIS INCREDIBLE SKILLS TO THE WORLD STAGE.”
Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO, and Carianne Marshall, Co-Chair and COO, Warner Chappell Music, said: “Victor is an exceptional visionary and holds the rare ability to blend classical styles with innovation.
“His work on the Paris 2024 Olympic ceremonies showcased his incredible skills to the world stage. We’re delighted to welcome him to Warner Chappell and look forward to working with the Multiman Records team.”
Elsewhere at Warner Chappell Music, the company recently signed Eagles founding member and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bernie Leadon to a long-term, worldwide publishing agreement.Music Business Worldwide
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao hails membership as beginning of an ‘inspiring new chapter’ for Asia’s youngest nation.
East Timor has joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bloc’s 11th member state in a move Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao hailed as a “dream realised”.
The flag of East Timor, which is also known as Timor-Leste, was added to ASEAN’s other 10 on Sunday at a formal ceremony at the bloc’s annual summit at the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, drawing loud applause.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
An emotional Gusmao said it was a historic moment for his country, with a new beginning that would bring “immense opportunities” for trade and investment.
“For the people of Timor-Leste, this is not only a dream realised, but a powerful affirmation of our journey – one marked by resilience, determination and hope,” Gusmao said.
“Our accession is a testament to the spirit of our people, a young democracy, born from our struggle,” he said.
“This is not the end of a journey. This is the beginning of an inspiring new chapter.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently chairs ASEAN, said that East Timor’s accession “completes the ASEAN family – reaffirming our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship”.
The country’s admission follows a 14-year wait, and is seen as one of the crowning achievements of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship.
East Timor was ruled for three centuries by Portugal, which abruptly pulled out of its colony in 1975, paving the way for annexation and an at-times bloody occupation by neighbouring Indonesia before East Timor won full independence in 2002.
East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta, who also witnessed the event on Sunday, has long campaigned for ASEAN membership. An application was first submitted in 2011, during his first term.
Ramos-Horta, 75, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, had raised the idea of East Timor joining ASEAN way back in the 1970s, to secure his country’s future through regional integration.
East Timor was granted observer status to the regional body in 2022, but its full membership was delayed by various challenges.
The country of 1.4 million people is among Asia’s poorest and hopes to see gains from integrating its fledgling economy, which at about $2bn represents only a tiny fraction of ASEAN’s collective $3.8 trillion gross domestic product (GDP).
Some 42 percent of East Timor’s population lives below the national poverty line, while nearly two-thirds of its citizens are under 30 years old.
Its major source of government revenue comes from the oil and gas industry, but with resources quickly becoming depleted, it is looking to diversify.
ASEAN membership gives East Timor access to the bloc’s free trade deals, investment opportunities and a broader regional market.
In an interview with Singapore-based Channel News Asia in September, Ramos-Horta said that his country must maintain stability and not burden ASEAN, adding that East Timor could contribute its experience on conflict, including for disputes over borders and the South China Sea.
“If we can in the future contribute towards strengthening ASEAN mechanisms such as conflict mechanisms, that is key. In each country in ASEAN, we put emphasis on dialogue,” Ramos-Horta said.
ASEAN began as a five-member bloc in 1967 and has gradually expanded, with Cambodia previously the most recent addition in 1999.
A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser
extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your
connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.
Shaine Casas of the US swam to a new World Cup Record to kick off the night. In only his 3rd time ever swimming the race, Casas became the #3 performer ever only behind Daiya Seto and Ryan Lochte. He also only sits 0.63 seconds off of Lochte’s American Record of a 3:55.50.
Casas swam a 4:03.10 for 3rd in Carmel and a 3:57.41 last weekend in Westmont. He led from start to finish.
Women’s 800 Freestyle — Final Heat (Timed Finals)
World Record: 7:57.42 — Katie Ledecky, United States (2022)
World Junior Record: 7:59.44 — Wang Jianjiahe, China (2018)
World Cup Record: 7:57.42 — Katie Ledecky, United States (2022)
Australia’s Lani Pallister set the first of five World Records tonight, dropping a 7:54.00 in the 800 free. That broke Katie Ledecky’s record of a 7:57.42 that stood since 2022. Pallister won the event in a 8:02.02 in Carmel. This marks her first individual World Record.
Women’s 100 Butterfly — Final
World Record: 52.71 — Gretchen Walsh, United States (2024)
World Junior Record: 55.10 — Mizuki Hirai, Japan (2025)
World Cup Record: 53.69 — Gretchen Walsh, United States (2025)
Gretchen Walsh won the women’s 100 fly in a new World Cup record, and the 3rd fastest swim in history, touching in 53.10 to win the Triple Crown. She now holds the seven fastest performances all-time in the 100 butterfly. She broke her own World Cup Series record that stood at a 53.69 set in Carmel.
Women’s 200 Backstroke — Final
World Record: 1:57.87 — Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2025)
World Junior Record: 1:59.96 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
World Cup Record: 1:57.87 — Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2025)
Kaylee McKeown of Australia and Regan Smith of the US battled it out, and McKeown used a strong back half to earn the win in another World Record. McKeown broke her own record of a 1:57.87 that she swam just last week and was behind Smith at the 100 mark.
Smith was out fast and swam the 2nd fastest swim in history with a 1:57.86, breaking her own American Record of a 1:51.91 that she swam last week for 2nd behind McKeown.
Men’s 100 Backstroke — Final
World Record: 48.33 — Coleman Stewart, United States (2021)
World Junior Record: 48.76 — Miron Lifintsev, Russia (2024)
World Cup Record: 48.78 — Hubert Kos, Hungary (2025)
Hubert Kos swam the 3rd World Record of the night with a 48.16 in the 100 backstroke. That broke Coleman Stewart’s record of a 48.33 set back in 2021. Kos earned the triple crown with his win, earning a $10,000 bonus for that as well as another $10,000 for the World Record. He also set a World Record in the 200 backstroke while in Toronto.
Men’s 200 Breaststroke — Final
World Record: 2:00.16 — Kirill Prigoda, Russia (2018)
World Junior Record: 2:03.23 — Akihiro Yamaguchi, Japan (2012)
World Cup Record: 2:00.48 — Daniel Gyurta, Hungary (2014)
Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands became the first man to break the 2:00 barrier in the 200 breast posting a World Record 1:59.52. That marked the first World Record of his career. He broke Kirill Prigoda’s World Record of a 2:00.16 set in 2018.
Japan’s Shin Ohashi swam to a World Junior Record with a 2:02.03 for 2nd at the age of 16. He broke the previous record of a 2:03.23 set by Japan’s Akihiro Yamaguchi in 2012.
Women’s 100 Freestyle — Final
World Record: 50.19 — Kate Douglass, United States (2025)
World Junior Record: 51.45 — Kayla Sanchez, Canada (2018)
World Cup Record: 50.19 — Kate Douglass, United States (2025)
Another record, another barrier broke. Kate Douglass swam to the final World Record of the night with a 49.93 100 free, breaking her own World Record of a 50.19 from a week ago. She won the triple crown as well, earning $10,000 for the triple crown and another for the World Record. The swim also earned her the top spot in the overall World Cup Series standings.
Men’s 200 Freestyle — Final
World Record: 1:38.61 — Luke Hobson, United States (2024)
World Junior Record: 1:40.65 — Matthew Sates, South Africa (2021)
World Cup Record: 1:39.37 — Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
World Record holder in the event Luke Hobson won the men’s 200 free in a 1:39.94, his fastest time of the series. He won the triple crown in the event for a $10,000 bonus. Fellow countryman and training partner at Texas Chris Guiliano was 2nd in a 1:40.39.
Women’s 200 IM — Final
World Record: 2:01.63 — Kate Douglass, United States (2024)
World Junior Record: 2:04.48 — Yu Yiting, China (2021)
World Cup Record: 2:02.13 — Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2014)
Closing out the World Cup Series with a win was Alex Walsh who won the 200 IM in a 2:04.01. That was her fastest time in the event in the three stop series as she earned the triple crown $10,000 bonus as well. Ireland’s Ellen Walshe swam to a new Irish record for 2nd in a 2:04.75.
Donald Trump arrives in Kuala Lumpur as he kicks off a tour of Asia.
US President Donald Trump has arrived in Asia for a whirlwind week of diplomacy, which includes a much-anticipated meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
Top of the agenda will be trade – an area where tensions between the world’s two biggest economies have once again been ramping up.
Trump landed in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, as a summit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, begins on Sunday. He will then visit Japan and finally South Korea, where the White House says he will meet Xi.
So what are the wins Trump and other leaders are hoping for, and what are the pitfalls?
Our correspondents explain what you should know about the week ahead.
For Trump, China is the key
By Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
Inking new trade deals that provide opportunities to American businesses while keeping the tariff revenue flowing into the US Treasury is sure to be a central focus of Trump’s Asia trip.
While there are multiple players in the global trade dance, the key to Trump’s success or failure is China. And Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of Apec – the first since 2019 – could set the course for US-China relations for the rest of Trump’s second term in office.
As the US president has acknowledged, draconian tariffs on Chinese imports are unsustainable. And while he has not explicitly said so, an escalating economic war with America’s largest trading partner would have devastating consequences – for the US, for China and for the rest of the world.
The steep tumbles in the major US stock indexes every time China and the US appear at an impasse underlines this reality.
When he heads back to America next week, Trump is sure to be pleased if he is able to finalise a deal with South Korea and secure new Japanese investment in US manufacturing.
But his top priority is sure to be convincing Xi to resume purchases of American agricultural exports, loosen recent restrictions on foreign access to Chinese rare earth materials, give US companies greater access to the Chinese market and avoid a full-blown trade war.
For Trump, as the saying goes, that’s the whole ballgame.
Xi’s long game
By Laura Bicker, China correspondent
When Chinese leader Xi Jinping meets Trump on 30 October in South Korea, he wants to be the tougher negotiator.
That is why he has been leveraging China’s stranglehold on rare earths, the minerals without which you cannot make semiconductors, weapons systems, cars or even smartphones. It’s a US weakness, and China is exploiting it – just like it is hurting American farmers, and Trump’s rural vote base, by not buying their soybeans.
Xi has also learned lessons from Trump 1.0 and this time, Beijing, it appears, is willing to embrace the pain of tariffs. For one, the US, which once took in a fifth of Chinese exports, is no longer such a crucial market.
Getty Images
Trump’s tariffs on imports to the US will be at the top of the agenda in every meeting this week
Still Xi has a balance to strike, between an economic battle with the US, and his struggle with domestic challenges. And Washington knows about Xi’s troubles: high youth unemployment, a real estate crisis, mounting local government debt and a population unwilling to spend.
Analysts believe China may offer to do a deal if Trump agrees to start exporting advanced AI chips or pull back on more military support for Taiwan.
But getting there won’t be easy. One big difference is that it often seems like Trump is willing to roll a dice and gamble – but Xi is playing a much longer game.
So the question may be: can Trump wait it out?
A starring role in ‘peace’
By Jonathan Head, South East Asia correspondent
The US president appears interested in one thing only during his visit to Malaysia: playing the starring role in a ceremony arranged specially for him, at which Thailand and Cambodia will sign some kind of peace accord.
Differences between the two countries over their border remain unresolved, but, under pressure to come up with something, they have made progress in agreeing to demilitarise the border.
Neither can afford to disappoint President Trump. Back in July, when they were still bombing and shelling each other, his threat to end tariff talks forced them into an immediate ceasefire.
Other Asean member states will hope for Trump’s mere presence, brief though it is, to normalise relations with the US.
They have had a tumultuous year in which their export-dependent economies were badly shaken by his tariff war. Exports from the region to the US have doubled since Trump’s last visit to the Asean summit in 2017.
Once Trump leaves, the other leaders can settle down to normal business – the quiet, incremental diplomacy which advances the plodding progress of integration among them.
Also on the agenda is a conflict that doesn’t have Trump’s attention – the civil war in Myanmar, which has haunted every Asean gathering since it was triggered by a brutal coup in 2021.
Ink on paper, please
By Suranjana Tewari, Asia business correspondent
Asia’s manufacturing powerhouses, which make up much of the world’s output, will be looking for respite from Trump’s tariffs.
Some have agreed deals, while others are still stuck in talks – but none have signed an agreement.
So ink on paper, or at least promising talks, would be welcome.
AFP via Getty Images
Trump and Xi during the latter’s visit to the US in 2017
Take China. The meeting between Trump and Xi signals progress, but the two leaders have a lot to unpick, from levies and export controls, to the source of it all: rivalry between the world’s two biggest economies as they compete for an edge in AI and advanced tech.
Any ease in those tensions would bring relief to other countries in the region who have been caught in the middle. South East Asia may be the most trapped – it is deeply woven into US supply chains in electronics, for example, yet heavily reliant on Chinese demand.
Exports to the US have doubled over the past decade, but tariffs of 10% to 40% would pummel manufacturers in Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
It could also hurt US chipmakers like Micron Technology, which operates plants in Malaysia. The country exported around $10bn worth of semiconductors to the US last year, roughly a fifth of total US chip imports.
Wealthy economies like Japan and South Korea face a different dilemma.
Although close allies of the US, they are in for an unpredictable time – and will want to lock in tariff terms and investments. Automakers in both countries, which see the US as a key market, are already struggling to navigate the chaos.
An early test for Japan’s new PM
By Shaimaa Khalil, Japan correspondent
Trump has described Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, as a woman with great “strength and wisdom”.
This week, her ability to forge a stable, working relationship with him will be an early test of her leadership – and of Japan’s place in a shifting world order.
In her first speech in parliament, she pledged to raise Japan’s defence budget, signalling her intent to shoulder more of the security burden with Washington.
Trump has spoken of this before and is expected to press Tokyo to contribute more to US troop deployments – Japan hosts the largest number of American forces abroad, about 53,000 personnel.
AFP via Getty Images
Japan’s new PM Sanae Takaichi
Both sides also want to finalise a tariff deal negotiated by her predecessor.
Particularly beneficial to Japan’s auto giants – Toyota, Honda and Nissan – it cuts US import duties on Japanese cars from 27.5% to 15%, potentially making them more competitive against Chinese rivals.
By retaining Ryosei Akazawa as chief tariff negotiator, Takaichi is betting on continuity.
In return, Japan has pledged to invest $550bn in the US to strengthen supply chains in pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
Trump has also said Japan will increase purchases of US farm products, including rice, a move welcomed in Washington but unsettling for Japanese farmers.
Takaichi’s ties to the late former PM Shinzo Abe, who shared a close rapport with Trump, could also work in her favour.
Abe famously used rounds of golf at Mar-a-Lago to earn Trump’s trust – it’s the kind of personal diplomacy Takaichi may seek to emulate.
Talking tariffs as Kim Jong Un looms
By Jake Kwon, Seoul correspondent
For South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, the pressing issue is Trump’s tariffs.
But that thunder was briefly stolen by rampant speculation that Trump might visit the border to see North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Back in August, Lee dedicated most of his time in the Oval Office to flatter Trump as a “peacemaker”. Trump responded with enthusiasm to the prospect of sitting down with Kim, who he hasn’t seen since 2019. Kim said last month that he still remembers Trump “fondly”.
Analysts believe Kim is hoping to legitimise his nuclear weapons programme with another summit with the US president. There is no indication that a meeting is in the works.
Either way, Lee has a trade deal to negotiate. Talks to lower US duties on South Korean exports from 25% to 15% have stalled, despite multiple trips by Seoul officials to Washington. The sticking point is Trump’s insistence that Seoul invest $350bn upfront in the US – roughly a fifth of South Korea’s economy, such a huge investment could create a financial crisis, Seoul fears.
But in recent days, Korean officials have voiced hope, speaking of tangible progress. And they will be hoping for a signed deal by the end of Wednesday’s summit between Trump and Lee.
Not all concussions are created equal. A new study has revealed nine early warning signs that a mild head injury might linger longer than expected, and why spotting them within hours could change recovery outcomes.
Mild concussion, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is one of the most common reasons people present to the emergency department. Most patients’ symptoms resolve within 30 days. However, for some, they last longer. It can be difficult for health professionals to discern who’ll be affected for longer. Of course, the longer the condition lasts, the more disabling it is for patients.
In a new study led by the Baylor College of Medicine, researchers looked at existing data to identify the factors that patients presented with soon after a mTBI that could be used to predict who was likely to still have symptoms 30 days later.
The researchers analyzed data from HeadSMART II, a large, ongoing, multicenter study designed to find better diagnostic tools for head injury. The data were from 803 adults who came to emergency departments within about 1.5 hours after a mild concussion. Each participant completed the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) at 30 days post-TBI. The RPQ covers physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms, and the total score can range from zero to 64, with higher scores indicating greater severity. Patients who reported moderate or worse problems (a score >11) were classified as having persistent symptoms. Using logistic regression, the researchers identified factors that increased the odds of persistent symptoms.
Overall, about 29% of patients still had symptoms after 30 days. The study identified nine key factors significantly linked with lingering concussion symptoms:
Female sex. Women were twice as likely to have persistent symptoms.
Higher body mass index (BMI). Each increase in BMI slightly raised the risk of persistent symptoms.
Mechanism of injury. Traumatic brain injuries caused by falls, vehicular crashes, and abuse/assault all carried more than double the risk compared with sports injuries.
History of headache or migraines.
History of depression.
History of anxiety.
Presence of focal neurological deficits. The patient presented with localized problems with brain or nerve function, such as weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, or loss of coordination in a specific part of the body, rather than a general symptom like headache or dizziness.
Presence of headache at intake.
Having multiple CT scans performed during the initial evaluation. Having multiple CTs was a marker of greater injury severity or diagnostic uncertainty, meaning doctors suspected more significant trauma and ordered extra imaging to rule out hidden damage. Needing repeated imaging may reflect a more complex or widespread brain injury, even when scans appear normal.
The researchers highlighted some caveats with the study. There was only a 30-day follow-up period; longer-term outcomes weren’t analyzed. They were reliant on patient questionnaires, which may introduce bias. The study didn’t examine treatments or prevention strategies. Although data came from a prospective study, this analysis looked back at existing data. And, the analysis focused on single factors, not complex multivariable or machine learning models (that is planned for future work).
Nonetheless, the findings show that early timing matters. Most patients presented within 90 minutes of injury, and this rapid assessment made it easier to identify early predictors before symptoms evolved. Using these factors can help clinicians flag higher-risk patients early, even before symptoms worsen. Patients with risk factors may improve their recovery outcomes with a specialist referral, education, or early rehabilitation.
Reuters
Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
