'We are prey': discovery of seven women's bodies fuels anger over femicide in South Africa String of female murder victims found near Johannesburg's international airport, including five in the past weekThe discovery of the bodies of eight women around Johannesburg's international airport, including five in the past week, has prompted an outpouring of fear, grief and anger over a lack of progress in tackling femicide.When Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo did not return after going for a run on 9 September, her eight-year-old daughter alerted relatives, who contacted police. The 38-year-old's body was found on Saturday and identified by relatives on Monday. The news of her disappearance had gone viral. Continue reading...
US to bar some South Africans over claims of anti-white discrimination Announcement of visa restrictions follows Trump's false claims of 'white genocide' taking place in South AfricaThe US has announced visa restrictions on some South Africans as Donald Trump's administration continues to claim that South Africa's government racially discriminates against white minority Afrikaners.The announcement did not specify individuals who were barred from the US. Trump has spent his second term falsely claiming there is a "white genocide" in South Africa and railing against its affirmative action policies. Continue reading...
Al-Qaida and IS-linked violence in Africa's Sahel belt set to hit record levels this year Twenty-five years after 9/11, figures compiled by conflict monitor underline how Sahel region has become centre of Islamist terrorIslamist extremist violence in Africa's Sahel region is set to reach historic highs after a series of sweeping offensives by groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State, according to new figures compiled by the conflict monitor Acled.As the US marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks launched by al-Qaida against targets in Washington and New York, the statistics underline the continued expansion of the veteran organisation in parts of Africa - in stark contrast with its relative weakness elsewhere. Continue reading...
Slave-trade wealth was embedded in Britain's financial system, research finds Dozens of Bank of England directors and founding subscribers invested in trafficking of enslaved AfricansThe Bank of England and the British financial system were for centuries deeply involved in the enslavement and transatlantic trafficking of millions of African people, according to new research on Britain's slavery history.Research by historians compiling the Register of British Slave Traders has found that the scale of the financial system's involvement in enslavement is greater than previously known or acknowledged. The Bank of England, the central bank owned by the government since nationalisation by Clement Attlee's Labour administration in 1946, had dozens of financiers involved in its foundation who were also significant investors in the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans. Continue reading...
'I believed the hype': the white South Africans denied refugee status in the US Drive to save thousands of Afrikaners from false claims of 'white genocide' appears to show signs of slowingWhen Donald Trump announced in February 2025 that the US would accept Afrikaners from South Africa as refugees, many white South Africans who believed that they were victims of racism in their country thought that their prayers had been answered.However, in the past few months, dozens of applicants to the refugee programme have been rejected, with many left dismayed and confused as to why they would be left to face what Trump has falsely claimed is a "white genocide" in South Africa. Continue reading...
Battle of Chile director Patricio Guzmán dies aged 85 Passionate documentary maker won international acclaim for unsparing but poetic films exploring the impact of the Pinochet regime in Chile Patricio Guzmán, the film-maker who chronicled Chile's bloody 1970s political strife and its subsequent social and political turmoil in films such as The Battle of Chile and Nostalgia for the Light, has died aged 85. According to Chilean news outlet Emol, Guzmán died on Tuesday in Paris after a cardiorespiratory arrest.Guzmán's chief preoccupation throughout his career was the carnage unleashed by Augusto Pinochet's coup in 1973 against Salvador Allende, Chile's elected president. He later told the Guardian: "I'm a film-maker who was very marked by the ways of the dictator. It has remained with me for ever. I cannot leave it behind." However, he resisted the idea that he was an activist, political film-maker, adding: "I'm not a sociologist. Neither am I a politician. I make films that are metaphorical and poetic; I interpret reality through my own personal way of looking." Continue reading...
WASHINGTON (AP) - The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wednesday that he's going to block a proposed sale of $2.8 billion in heavy weaponry to Israel over concerns that the powerful bombs may not be used in line with U.S. and international law.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York said he would withhold approval for the sale because of "grave, unresolved concerns" about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
"The Trump administration has not provided sufficient assurances that these weapons will be used by the Netanyahu government in accordance with U.S. law and with appropriate protections for civilians," Meeks said in a statement. "I therefore will not clear this sale at this time."
Meeks' objections, however, will not likely affect the sale, which was informally notified to lawmakers on Tuesday. Once it is formally notified to Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio can bypass the normal congressional review process by making an emergency determination that the transaction is an urgent national security interest.
The State Department did not respond to requests for comment about either the new proposed sale or Meeks' objection to it.
The $2.8 billion package includes 40,000 powerful 2,000-pound bombs, The Associated Press has reported. The transfer of 2,000-pound bombs had been paused by the Biden administration over concerns about the possibility of mass casualties.
The proposed sale is just the latest in a series of Trump administration steps to improve Israel's military capacity and it comes as Israel is facing increased international isolation over its war in Gaza in response to the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas.
The conflict in Gaza has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and has decimated the enclave. The U.S. brokered a fragile ceasefire, but violence has continued.This article originally appeared on Associated Press at https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/top-democrat-places-hold-trump-204655183.html
House panel votes to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt in Epstein probe House panel votes to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt in Epstein probeA key House panel investigating law enforcement's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case has voted to hold the investor and hedge fund manager Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he did not appear for a deposition or turn over documents.The Republican-led House Oversight Committee took the vote unanimously and across party lines on Sept. 15 as Epstein survivors applauded Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, for his willingness to force the issue."No one is above the law," Comer said. "Mr. Black will be treated the same as anyone else in this investigation, and his actions have consequences." Black founded the hedge fund Apollo Global Management but stepped down in 2021 after it became public that he paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning. He was mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in February. Comer said Black refused to comply with the committee's subpoenas to appear for a deposition, and a second one requiring him to turn over all nondisclosure agreements to which he was a party and ones that mention Epstein or Epstein's convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell."Subpoenas are not suggestions," Comer said before the vote. "They carry the force of law and require full compliance. Mr. Black's testimony is crucial to our investigation because he maintained a close personal relationship with Epstein for years during the time when Epstein was engaged in sex trafficking." Black has said in the past that he had a strictly professional relationship with Epstein. Additionally, Black's lawyer vehemently denied allegations against him after he was mentioned in the Epstein files. USA TODAY reached out separately to Black's lawyer for comment. A group of more than a dozen Epstein survivors including Annie Farmer and Dani Bensky issued a statement praising Comer for "showing real resolve" and "sending a clear message that wealth and influence do not put anyone beyond the reach of congressional oversight." The committee's recommendation to hold Black in contempt will go to the full House for consideration. The House is in recess until after the November elections. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House panel votes to hold Leon Black in contempt over Epstein subpoenasThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY at https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/16/leon-black-epstein-james-comer/91792494007/
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday, marking its first hike in more than three years, in a move that will likely make borrowing more expensive while giving savers a modest boost.
Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh and the Federal Open Market Committee announced a widely expected quarter-point rate increase and indicated another to come.
The stock market's reaction to the Fed's announcement is likely to draw the most headlines, and John Shugar, a partner at Goldman Sachs, leans toward an optimistic scenario.
"You basically have a market where all of the heavy lifting has actually been done on the earnings side," Shugar said in an analysis. He points to "terrific opportunities" in various AI consumer sectors, though "over the next few weeks, we may have a lot more speed bumps."
However, within one year, he says he expects the S&P 500 index to climb above 8,000.
What will a higher rate environment mean for your money? The federal funds rate influences not only the stock market, but also savings rates, interest charges, and, to a lesser degree, mortgage rates. Here's how to prepare for the impact on your deposits, credit, and debt.
How a Fed rate hike affects checking and savings accounts
A series of Fed rate hikes will likely lift deposit earnings, slowly. But deposit accounts are mostly for convenience, not substantial returns, and gains so far in 2026 have been meager.
Checking accounts
Your checking account churns cash flow to pay bills. The liquidity limits your earning power.
The national average interest rate on checking accounts has barely budged this year, remaining at 0.07%. A Fed short-term interest rate increase, whenever it comes, may nudge earnings incrementally higher.
Savings accounts
Interest rates on savings accounts are only marginally better, clinging to 0.38%. But savings accounts are for near-term money.
High-yield savings accounts have been more effective at paying interest. Rates are mostly in the 3% range, with an occasional 4% yield available.
This is one category where rate shopping and subsequent Fed rate increases really pay off.
If you have $10,000 or more that you want to keep on the sidelines but easy to tap when you need it, money market accounts have been convenient - but low-paying, with a national average payout of only 0.63%.
A high-yield money market account is a better option, where you may still find a rate just under 4%, but mostly in the mid-3% range.
CD rates have begun inching higher. The national average on a 12-month CD is 1.71%, but you can find better deals if you're willing to shop around - and move your money to the best offer.
Your minimum deposit and term will affect your rate. Fed rate hikes may ultimately sweeten CD rates.
And then there are mortgage rates, often the largest borrowing expense consumers face. Fed interest rate increases don't usually move mortgage rates directly - the bond market tends to price in hikes before monetary policy moves.
Mortgage rates hit three-year lows at the end of February and into early March. Then the war broke out in the Middle East, and rather than falling further, home loan rates reversed course and edged higher. Home loan rates have recently neared or topped 7% (depending on the rate reporting source), mirroring the higher yields of the 10-year Treasury note.
Housing industry analysts at the Mortgage Bankers Association and Fannie Mae predict that mortgage rates will remain above 6.5% through 2027.
What a rate hike means for personal loans and student loans
Personal loans
Personal loan interest rates have risen slightly to an average of 11.86%. Advertised personal loan rates are now generally in the 7%-8% range.
The Federal Reserve influences consumer loan rates by setting the federal funds rate, which affects how much banks charge each other for overnight lending. That cost typically gets passed on to borrowers through higher or lower rates on personal, auto, and student loans.
The Federal Reserve doesn't set student loan rates directly, but its federal funds rate influences the 10-year Treasury yield (which determines federal loan rates) and the prime rate (which determines private loan rates).
The federal funds rate doesn't directly determine federal student loan interest rates, but it can influence them indirectly. Congress sets the federal student loan rates based on the 10-year Treasury note, adding a fixed margin each year.
But the 10-year Treasury yield moves with investor demand, not the Fed's rate. When investors expect high inflation or strong economic growth, they demand higher yields, which can push federal student loan rates higher.
That said, if the Fed's rate hikes successfully cool inflation, Treasury yields may drop - and the following year's federal student loan rates could be lower.
Private student loans are offered by banks, credit unions, and online lenders, many of which use the prime rate as a basis for setting their interest rates. The prime rate moves alongside the Federal Reserve's rate decisions. So, when the Fed raises rates, new private loan rates usually rise, and when it cuts rates, they tend to fall.
What happens to credit cards when the Fed raises rates
Credit card interest affects everyone - except those who pay off their balance each month. Rates have climbed from around 16% in 2021 to an average of over 22% toda
Michele Raneri, vice president and head of U.S. research at TransUnion, expects consumers to see "minimally higher" borrowing costs as variable-rate credit products reflect the Fed's interest rate hike.
"A consumer carrying the average Q2 2026 credit card balance of $6,610 at a 22% APR could see an increase of $1.38 in minimum monthly payments as those higher rates are passed on," Raneri said in a statement. "While the near-term impact on minimum monthly credit card payments may be relatively small, higher borrowing costs can add up over time, particularly for consumers carrying larger balances or making only minimum payments.
Reducing revolving debt will limit the impact of rising interest rates, she added.
Yahoo Finance tip: The best way to earn a lower credit card interest rate right away is to ask. If you make regular payments and have seen your credit score improving, it's a good time to call your credit card provider and ask for a lower interest rate.
How the Fed's interest rate policy impacts your investments
"There's an old Wall Street adage that says, 'Don't fight the Fed,'" Kevin Gordon, head of macro research and strategy at Schwab, said in an analysis. "The idea behind it was that there's often a lot of turbulence associated with Fed rate-hiking cycles."
He noted that history shows an average maximum loss of more than 10% for the S&P 500 sometime within 12 months after the start of a higher-interest-rate cycle.
"Broadly, though, we would say that the economic backdrop is still relatively favorable for the Fed to be hiking. So even if it is a hiking cycle where they do hike more than once, we think that the economy can probably hold up," he added.
Stock prices often react to the Fed's rate actions, but they are only one of many factors affecting the investing climate and stock prices. AI investments and oil-price-fueled inflation seem to be the most motivating factors for equity markets these days.
If you want to manage your investments for the current environment, monitor broader economic and corporate profit trends, as well as interest rates. If you prefer to stay conservative, fill your portfolio with high-quality stocks that have proven themselves in all economic cycles.
Then, wait patiently for long-term growth.
This article originally appeared on Yahoo Personal Finance at https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/banking/article/what-a-fed-rate-hike-means-for-your-bank-accounts-loans-credit-cards-and-investments-220526102.html
The fate of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour is suddenly uncertain after all of the British singer's remaining opening acts quit in solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was dropped from the remaining North American dates over pro-Palestinian comments.
Hours after Sheeran released a statement saying it was the promoter's decision to remove Macklemore from the tour and not his, the rest of his supporting acts - Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham and songwriter Finneas - as well as Sheeran's house band, Beoga, announced that they were pulling out in protest.
"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, wrote in a note posted to Instagram. "I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."
The Irish artists cited their country's history of oppression in their decisions to drop out.
"I don't take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this," Rowe wrote in his own Instagram post. "But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children."
"We are Irish people who understand colonialism," Beoga said in a statement on Instagram. "As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be." Finneas O'Connell attends the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.
John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Finneas was scheduled to be the supporting act for stops in Chile, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.
Rowe and Lukas Graham had been due to open for Sheeran on his remaining 11 North American tour dates.
As of Wednesday, they were all still listed as supporting acts on Sheeran'sLoop Tour website.
Remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour
Sept. 19: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
Sept. 25-26: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Oct. 3: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Oct. 10: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
Oct. 17: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Oct. 24: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Oct 29-30: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Nov 7: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Nov. 21-22: Estadio Bicentenario De La Florida in Santiago, Chile
Nov. 26: Nueva Olla Stadium in Asunción, Paraguay
Nov. 29: Tomás Adolfo Ducó Stadium (Huracán Stadium) in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dec. 5-6: Nubank Parque in Sao Paulo
Dec. 11: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City
None of the U.S. shows are sold out.
It's unclear whether ticket holders who may also want to protest in solidarity with Macklemore can exchange their tickets or get a refund.
According to Ticketmaster, event organizers determine refund policies, and they are "only allowed in limited circumstances."
Ticketmaster's standard purchase policy states: "Opening Acts are subject to change or cancellation at any time without notice. No refund will be given due to a change in or cancellation of a Participant or Opening Act."
And according to Sheeran's website, all sales are final: "If you change your mind about your ticket purchase, you are not entitled to a refund or exchange on your ticket purchase."
How we got here
Macklemore performs in Dublin in 2025.
Kieran Frost/Redferns via Getty Images
Earlier this month, Macklemore performed as Sheeran's opening act at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he made pro-Palestinian comments and performed his protest song "Hind's Hall."
The song was written after protests in support of Palestine occurred on college campuses across the U.S. in 2024, and is named after Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli troops in Gaza. Last month,Israel's military acknowledged that its troops had opened fire on the car carrying Hind and her family and said it had opened a criminal investigation into the killing.
"A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: 'Free Palestine,'" Macklemore said onstage at MetLife Stadium.
"To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you," the rapper added.
His comments drew criticism from pop singer Pink and pro-Israel groups, including the Israeli-American Council, which started a petition to have the Grammy-winning artist dropped from the tour. Robert Kraft speaks to the media at Tom Brady's induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in Foxborough, Mass., in 2024.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL's New England Patriots, said in a statement on Monday that Macklemore wouldn't be welcome at Gillette Stadium for the tour's scheduled performances at the end of September.
According to Macklemore, Kraft - who in 2024 withdrew funding for Columbia University over its handling of protests against Israel's war in Gaza - had "rallied some of the other stadium owners" to give Sheeran "an ultimatum: If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play."
In his statement, Sheeran said that he had spoken with Kraft and the other venues "to try and build a bridge," but that their "decision was final."
"After Macklemore's performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting," he said on Instagram Tuesday. "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine."
The promoter, Messina Touring Group, said in a statement to Rolling Stone that it had been notified by venues on Sheeran's upcoming U.S. tour that they would "not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans."
The company said that "after discussions with stakeholders," it decided to remove Macklemore.
Representatives for the Messina Touring Group did not immediately return a request for comment.
In his Instagram post, Sheeran also insisted that "I do not use my professional platform for politics."
"My audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds," he said.
"Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum."
"I just wanted to say to all Ukrainians, I love you, I stand with you, and I'm so proud to be playing this fundraising event," he said.
On Wednesday, Macklemore pledged to donate $1 million from the net earnings from Ed Sheeran's tour to organizations that support Palestinians. The rapper then called on Kraft to match his donation.
Within hours, Kraft issued his own statement, saying, "I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis. … In addition, I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships." This article originally appeared on Yahoo News at https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/article/every-act-on-ed-sheerans-tour-has-quit-his-next-show-is-in-3-days-174613425.html
U.S. Postal Service chief reportedly tells confidants he wants out U.S. Postal Service chief reportedly tells confidants he wants outBy Jacob Bogage WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Postal Service has told confidants that he is deeply discouraged by his job and wants to resign, according to four people familiar with his thinking, as the agency comes under scrutiny over financial losses and President Donald Trump's effort to tighten rules on mail-in voting. Postmaster General David Steiner, who took office in July 2025 after the White House forced out his predecessor, has expressed frustration over a lack of help from the White House and Congress in addressing the mail service's long-running financial woes, the people said. At the same time, the Postal Service was thrust to the center of a debate over the federal government's role in voting after Trump directed it in March to serve as a clearinghouse for mail ballots. The Supreme Court on Monday blocked the agency from implementing key elements of the plan, dealing the White House a significant setback. The pressures culminated in a contentious June Senate hearing, where lawmakers from both parties interrogated Steiner over poor delivery service, Trump's ballot restrictions and his compensation. The hearing left Steiner furious, the people said. In conversations afterward, Steiner described the job as thankless, warned that the agency's finances were increasingly dire without federal aid, and said he wanted out, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The message was, this isn't what he signed up for, and he didn't come on board to get beat up like this," one of the people said. The Postal Service disputed the information from the sources, saying it had "absolutely zero validity," but did not comment on specific incidents. The agency did not respond to a request for an interview with Steiner. TRUMP ATTEMPTS TO INTERVENE ON MAIL-IN VOTING The postmaster general, who runs the independent agency of 630,000 employees, is hired and evaluated by a bipartisan board of governors nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The agency's structure was purposefully designed to insulate the mail service from political tinkering. Steiner, a former FedEx board member and former chief executive of Waste Management, told board members during the hiring process he planned to serve for roughly two years, the people said. Since taking office, he has repeatedly told lawmakers that without new funding the Postal Service would be forced to cut delivery days and close unprofitable post offices, mostly in rural, Republican-leaning areas. Lawmakers largely rejected Steiner's proposals to reduce services, and mail and package companies chafed at large rate increases designed to ease losses. Trump, in both of his terms, has been more involved with the Postal Service than his predecessors, pressuring the agency to raise parcel rates, intervening in the selection process for the postmaster general and attempting to implement mail-in voting restrictions. His involvement has at times made the agency - and its leaders - the object of intense congressional scrutiny. SENATE HEARING PUTS STEINER IN SPOTLIGHT At the June hearing, Steiner sparred with Committee Chair Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, over years of agency financial losses, and with Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, who accused Steiner of being a "pawn" in Trump's plans to restrict voting access. Steiner defended Trump's proposal. "I would think the states would want the information to ensure that the ballots that they think they're sending out are the ballots that are actually being sent out," he said at the hearing. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri also called for Steiner to refuse his bonus because of the agency's service issues. Steiner earns an annual salary of $346,780, according to postal financial disclosures, and drew a 2025 relocation bonus worth 50% of his salary. The four people familiar with Steiner's thinking said it was unclear how much congressional inquiries about Trump's ballot rules had contributed to Steiner's frustration. They noted that Steiner had already contemplated stepping down in late 2025 over the Postal Service's difficult financial circumstances. In an effort at that time to bolster Steiner's morale and enlist White House support for his restructuring plans, Trump donors in the mailing industry organized a December 2025 trip for the postmaster general to golf with the president at one of his Florida resorts, the people said. (Reporting by Jacob Bogage in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Edmund Klamann) This article originally appeared on Reuters at https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/us-postal-chief-told-associates-191113566.html
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is "cancer free," she announced on X on Sept. 16, 2026. "Some personal news I'm grateful to share. After a medical appointment at the Mayo Clinic this week, my pathology results came back clear," she explained.
Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March and told the New York Times that her prognosis was "strong." Wiles did not disclose at the time what treatment she would undergo, but said it would last several weeks - during which time she planned to continue working. Noting that one in eight American women develops breast cancer at some point in their lives, Wiles posted on X at the time: "Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks."
A breast cancer diagnosis is life-altering, but Wiles's comments highlighted the progress that's been made in recent years. Breast cancer is now detected at Stage 0 or 1 - before it has spread - in the majority of cases. Survival rates have risen dramatically, but "the treatments we use to treat early-stage breast cancer have become more tailored" and less disruptive to women's lives, Dr. Lynn Dengel, a University of Virginia surgical oncologist, told Yahoo in March.
"Because [Wiles] was taking care of her health [and getting screened], not only will her prognosis be better, but it will probably minimize what treatment she has to go through and will benefit her work-life and overall balance," Dengel said. She added that most of her patients are diagnosed early and can continue to work while undergoing breast cancer treatment, reducing the financial burden and overall disruption to their lives.
Wiles was diagnosed at age 68 - slightly older than the median age (62) when most women learn they have breast cancer. More than380,000 American womenarediagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., except for skin cancers. And rates are rising. But there's good news: More women are surviving the disease. Treatments have also improved, becoming tolerable enough that many women still work, as Wiles intends to do. Here's what to know about the disease, why rates are rising and how women can reduce their risks.
Living and working with breast cancer
Thanks to earlier detection and improved treatments, more women are able to keep working while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. That's beneficial for their financial stability and also for their mental health. According to a Pfizer survey, 77% of women with breast cancer felt that being able to continue working helped their recovery process. Beyond the income, they said they wanted to feel productive, "normal" and fulfilled. Working, as Wiley plans to, can contribute to a sense of purpose and "optimism," says Dengel.
Increasingly, it's doable for women to maintain their jobs while undergoing breast cancer treatment. When breast cancer is caught early, treatment may entail only surgery, or surgery and a hormone blocker, minimizing the downtime needed compared with chemotherapy or radiation, Dengel said. Even for patients who need more intensive treatment, there are now targeted therapies that don't have the same widespread and grueling side effects as systemic ones, such as chemo, she added.
Earlier, more tailored and less intense treatments "have less of a burden on patients from a time, health and financial perspective," Dengel said. That's particularly important when more women under 60 are developing breast cancer, and more women over 50 are still working or have other major responsibilities. "Most of our patients will either be caretakers for young children or taking care of elderly parents and/or also working full-time at the time of their diagnosis," Dengel added.
It's a win for the U.S. economy too, as it allows the growing number of women - including relatively young women - being diagnosed with breast cancer to remain in the workforce.
Breast cancer is common - and becoming more so
For the past several years, the number of new breast cancer cases has been rising by about 1% per year, according to the ACS. The increase is a bit steeper for women under age 50, climbing by 1.4% annually. The exact reasons for this accelerated rise in younger people are hard to pinpoint because "it's probably a little bit of everything that's contributing" to the increase, Dengel said.
Experts say several factors may be driving the rise. More younger women are carrying excess weight, and many are having children later - or not at all. Carrying a full-term pregnancy and breastfeeding can lower breast cancer risk because they cause lasting changes in breast tissue that make cells less likely to become cancerous.
But scientists "have not found that you can explain these [increasing] trends by looking at fertility patterns" alone, Dr. Mary Beth Terry, a professor of epidemiology and environmental sciences at Columbia University and Silent Spring Institute, specializing in breast cancer, previously told Yahoo. Terry, who studies this phenomenon, said that rates are rising even in countries where birth rates remain high and women are not delaying childbirth.
Some researchers suspect that environmental factors, including diets high in ultraprocessed foods and red meat, sedentary lifestyles, hormone exposures (from packaging, food and personal care products), microplastics and air pollution, may also be at play.
Though the increase has been sharper in younger women, those over 50 are still more likely to develop breast cancer overall. Still, there are some promising shifts.
The good news: Breast cancer deaths are declining
More women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. Death rates from the disease have fallen by 44% since 1989, according to the ACS. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is now 90% in the U.S. Of course, survival odds depend on the stage at which breast cancer is diagnosed. But thanks to screenings - including mammograms, ultrasounds and risk assessment tools - about two-thirds of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in the early, more treatable stages, before the disease has spread.
Even so, breast cancer remains a major health threat. It's the leading cause of cancer-related death for women worldwide. In the United States, lung cancer causes more deaths in women than breast cancer, and heart disease kills more women than either cancer.
The progress is encouraging. But there's work to be done, including steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Breast cancer risks - and what you can do about them
Several risk factors are out of women's control. Age is the most significant factor for breast cancer, with diagnoses becoming more common as a woman gets older (hence, 62-63 being the average age when a woman develops the disease). Genetic mutations - particularly those to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes - are highly predictive of breast cancer, but most women who get the disease do not carry these changes. Knowing your family history is also important because breast cancer can run in families, even without BRCA mutations.
The longer the time between when a woman starts menstruating and when she has her first child, the greater the risk of breast cancer. But it's important to note that "[delaying] pregnancy is not a carcinogen," Terry previously told Yahoo. You shouldn't choose when (or whether) to have kids just to try to mitigate potential breast cancer risks; the disease is much too complicated to be prevented by that single change.
However, incorporating a whole suite of healthy habits can collectively reduce your breast cancer risks. A recent study found that lifestyle factors are responsible for about a quarter of the healthy years of life lost to breast cancer worldwide. In other words: Regular exercise, a nutritious diet, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and minimizing how much alcohol you drink can help prevent breast cancer and improve how you fare if you do develop the disease.
Perhaps the most important step you can take is staying up to date on screenings. Knowing when to get a mammogram can be tricky, noted Dengel, because different medical associations have different guidelines. So it's best to speak to your primary care provider about what the optimal schedule is for you. But in general, women at average risk - those who do not have a family history of the disease, BRCA mutations or other high-risk factors - should get mammograms starting at age 40. They can be done either annually (according to the ACS) or every two years (per the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force), through age 74. The best approach is to talk with your primary care doctor about what makes sense for you, Dengel said, "because every patient is different."This article originally appeared on Yahoo Life at https://health.yahoo.com/conditions/cancer/breast-cancer/article/white-house-chief-of-staff-susie-wiles-is-now-cancer-free-she-joined-the-ranks-of-women-who-keep-working-during-breast-cancer-treatment-221605961.html
A group of more than a dozen Epstein survivors including Annie Farmer and Dani Bensky issued a statement praising Comer for "showing real resolve" and "sending a clear message that wealth and influence do not put anyone beyond the reach of congressional oversight." The committee's recommendation to hold Black in contempt will go to the full House for consideration. The House is in recess until after the November elections. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 
