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The country’s largest wildfire this year has burned over 95,740 acres, fire officials in central Oregon said Sunday, as ground crews made progress to partially contain a blaze that could still intensify to become a so-called megafire. The size of the Cram Fire was adjusted slightly downward from Saturday after “more accurate mapping” was completed, officials said. They added that the massive blaze — which has drawn more than 900 fire personnel, destroyed a handful of homes and prompted evacuations in two counties — was 49% contained after crews struggled to keep back the flames last week. “Yesterday was another favorable day with us with the weather, and so a lot of good work was done,” Scott Stutzman, operations section chief of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, said Sunday in a Facebook video. “We’ll have those crews out there continuing to maintain a presence mopping up, and also assisting our wildland partners on the perimeter.” Crews attempt to quell the wildfire.Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Cooler temperatures and higher humidity over the weekend are expected to continue early this week, potentially aiding firefighting efforts, but the sheer size of the fire has been staggering: If it grows to at least 100,000 acres, it would be classified as a megafire, becoming the first one in the U.S. in 2025, said Stanton Florea, a spokesman with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, which coordinates the country’s wildland firefighting operations. Oregon saw six wildfires reach megafire status last year, federal data shows. The phenomenon is considered rare, but it has grown in frequency as wildfires in general become more widespread and intense. Megafires “are more common now,” Florea said. “We’re having longer fire seasons — what we’re calling, the ‘fire year.’ And more intense fires that are lasting longer.” So far this year, there have been 40,934 wildfires, the highest year-to-date total in at least a decade, according to National Interagency Fire Center data. But of the 1.6 million wildfires that have occurred since 2000, just 254 exceeded 100,000 acres burned, and only 16 were at least 500,000 acres, a Congressional Research Service report said in 2023. “A small fraction of wildfires become catastrophic, and a small percentage of fires accounts for the vast majority of acres burned,” the service said. “For example, about 1% of wildfires become conflagrations — raging, destructive fires — but predicting which fires will ‘blow up’ into conflagrations is challenging and depends on a multitude of factors, such as weather and geography.” The higher chance of extreme weather conditions, such as prolonged drought and strong winds, is being fueled by human-caused global warming, recent reports indicate. That means wildfires may not only ignite suddenly, but also strengthen in magnitude at a furious pace. The Cram Fire, which led to evacuations in parts of Jefferson and Wasco counties, began a week ago, exploding amid extremely hot, dry and windy conditions in the West. The cause remains under investigation. Florea said the Pacific Northwest is the highest-priority area in the country at the moment, with the country’s wildland firefighting resources being directed there, including to help battle at least nine large fires burning in Oregon. The country’s largest wildfire this year has burned over 95,740 acres.Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Such heavy demand means officials must prioritize how resources are used. An increase in the number of wildfires strains the system and the fatigued crews who work around-the-clock shifts, Florea added. While 88 engines and eight helicopters continue to be deployed to prevent the Cram Fire from spreading, the Oregon State Fire Marshal said Sunday it would begin modifying its response as containment improves. At least four homes and two other structures have been destroyed so far. The fire is no longer threatening residences to the same degree, officials said. Kyle Butler, whose home in rural Jefferson County was nearly burned in the blaze, said one neighbor fled the flames with her life, but returned to find her home severely damaged. “Everything’s gone,” Butler told NBC affiliate KGW in Portland. “Her house is pretty much in shambles.” Erik Ortiz Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. Read More

By Adeola Adeosun is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news, politics and trends. Adeola joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked for CNN, Bossip, and The Messenger. You can get in touch with Adeola by emailing a.adeosun@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Adeola Adeosun Weekend Night Editor 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed an immediate clinical hold on Sarepta Therapeutics’ investigational gene therapy trials for limb girdle muscular dystrophy following three patient deaths potentially linked to the company’s treatments. The agency announced the action on Friday, citing serious safety concerns and “unreasonable and significant risk” to study participants. The FDA also revoked the company’s platform technology designation and requested Sarepta voluntarily halt shipments of its approved drug Elevidys, which the company refused to do. Newsweek reached out to Sarepta Therapeutics via email on Sunday after normal business hours for comment. Why It Matters This regulatory intervention represents a significant safety measure in the gene therapy field, affecting both ongoing clinical trials and an already approved treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The decision could impact treatment options for families dealing with these devastating muscle-wasting diseases. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare and serious genetic condition that worsens over time, leading to weakness and wasting away of the body’s muscles. What To Know The three deaths resulted from acute liver failure in patients treated with either Elevidys or investigational therapies using the same AAVrh74 viral vector technology. One fatality occurred during a clinical trial for limb girdle muscular dystrophy treatment. Elevidys is an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy designed to deliver a gene that leads to production of a shortened protein that contains selected domains of the dystrophin protein present in normal muscle cells. The disease occurs due to a defective gene that results in abnormalities in, or absence of, dystrophin, a protein that helps keep the body’s muscle cells intact. The drug received traditional approval for ambulatory DMD patients aged 4 and older on June 20, 2024, while maintaining accelerated approval for non-ambulatory patients since June 22, 2023. Under accelerated approval, companies must conduct confirmatory studies to verify clinical benefit. Given the new safety concerns, the FDA has notified Sarepta that the drug’s indication should be restricted to ambulatory patients only. The FDA revoked the platform technology designation for Sarepta’s AAVrh74 Platform Technology because the preliminary evidence is insufficient to demonstrate that the technology has the potential to be incorporated in multiple drugs without adverse safety effects. What People Are Saying FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H.: “Today, we’ve shown that this FDA takes swift action when patient safety is at risk. We believe in access to drugs for unmet medical needs but are not afraid to take immediate action when a serious safety signal emerges.” Dr. Vinay Prasad, Director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research: “Protecting patient safety is our highest priority, and the FDA will not allow products whose harms are greater than benefits. The FDA will halt any clinical trial of an investigational product if clinical trial participants would be exposed to an unreasonable and significant risk of illness or injury.” FILE – The Food and Drug Administration seal is seen at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File What Happens Next The FDA will continue investigating the risk of acute liver failure and other serious outcomes following gene therapies using Sarepta’s AAVrh74 platform technology. The agency has committed to taking additional regulatory actions as needed to protect patients. For current Elevidys patients, the FDA is focusing its safety investigation on ambulatory patients while restricting the drug’s use in non-ambulatory patients. Is This Article Trustworthy? Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Slide Circle to Vote No Moderately Yes VOTE Top stories About the writer Adeola Adeosun is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news, politics and trends. Adeola joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked for CNN, Bossip, and The Messenger. You can get in touch with Adeola by emailing a.adeosun@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Adeola Adeosun Adeola Adeosun is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news, … Read more Read More

🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. Could the reunion between the New York Giants and Odell Beckham Jr. actually happen? So far, there hasn’t been any real steam regarding that scenario outside of Beckham’s consistent teasing of the idea. Once again, Beckham left many Giants fans hoping for a potential reunion as he revealed on social media that he recently worked out in Giants gear. The No. 13 helmet was present for one of his recent sessions. With training camps across the league beginning this week, Beckham remains an NFL free agent. He last played for the Miami Dolphins last season. When the star wideout sat on a stage at Fanatics Fest recently, a fan shouted out to Beckham, suggesting he should reunite with the Giants. Beckham made it clear he was open to that idea by simply responding: “I got you.” Not even two days later, Beckham posted a photo on his Instagram with MetLife Stadium as the backdrop. In the photo, Beckham is with his son, facing the stadium he once played in. The caption read as a player who was looking back on his most fond memories as a member of the Giants, but also left the story open. “Mannn yo daddy did some Krazy [expletive] here,” Beckham said via Instagram. “We changed the game [and] inspired a generation who came behind us. We still got more to do.” Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants warms up prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images When Beckham left LSU in 2013, he was a projected first-round pick. During the 2014 NFL Draft, the Giants called on the star wide receiver with their 12th overall selection. Beckham would spend five seasons with the Giants. In 59 games, the wide receiver caught 390 passes for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns. He established himself as one of the biggest stars in the game, collecting three Pro Bowl appearances and multiple All-Pro awards. In 2019, the Giants-Beckham pairing ended. Beckham was sent to join the Cleveland Browns for a few seasons. During the 2021 NFL season, Beckham was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. While he didn’t have a major impact in LA, Beckham was a part of the Super Bowl-winning squad. He suffered an injury during the big game, which sidelined him for the entire 2022 NFL season. Beckham played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He caught 35 passes for 565 yards and three scores. During his nine-game showing in Miami, Beckham caught nine passes for 55 yards and zero touchdowns. As Beckham searches for his next team, the Giants seem to be on his radar. However, recent reports have suggested that the organization doesn’t seem to see a fit at this time. For more New York Giants and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports. Read More

By Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. Evan Massey Contributing Sports Writer 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield are looking to continue their success from the last two years. In each of the last two seasons, the Buccaneers have made the playoffs. Led by Mayfield, who has been playing at a very high level since joining Tampa Bay, the team has looked the part of a sleeper Super Bowl contender. Over the last four years, the Buccaneers have retained the NFC South division crown. They’re looking for another division win and a deep playoff run this year. Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates during an NFL Wild Card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Mayfield has found his path after a rocky start to his NFL career. He is finally starting to show why he was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. Read more: Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Sends Strong Message to NFL Recently, former NFL star quarterback Cam Newton revealed his top-10 signal callers in the league. He placed Mayfield on his list at No. 10, but also revealed a bluntly honest take about the Tampa Bay star. “He’s too erratic,” Newton said. “When he’s good man, he’s good. But man, when he’s bad, it’s like ‘Bake, why’d you throw that pick?’” He has had his fair share of turnover problems. Even last season in what was one of his best career years, Mayfield threw 16 interceptions. Speaking of his 2024 season, Mayfield played in all 17 games. He completed 71.4 percent of his pass attempts for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions, while also running for 378 yards and three more touchdowns. At 30 years old, Mayfield is in his prime. In his last two seasons with the Buccaneers, he has been playing the best football of his career by far. He has shown no signs of slowing down. Read more: Steelers Legend Reveals Brutal Prediction for Aaron Rodgers’ NFL Conclusion Newton clearly has his issues with Mayfield’s game, but he still placed him as the No. 10 overall quarterback in the NFL. That alone speaks volumes about just how good Mayfield has been to overcome 16 interceptions and still earn that kind of ranking. It will be interesting to see what the 2025 season has in store for Tampa Bay and Mayfield. Chris Godwin returned in free agency and Mike Evans is back for more. The Buccaneers also brought in former Ohio State standout wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the 2025 NFL Draft. All signs point to yet another big-time season for Mayfield and the Tampa Bay offense. For more Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports. Top stories About the writer Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and … Read more Read More

By Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek. He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series. His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_. Michael Gallagher Contributing Sports Writer 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. It’s no secret that WNBA players are hoping to leverage the league (and Caitlin Clark’s) popularity to negotiate higher salaries in their next collective bargaining agreement. The message was also sent loud and clear during Saturday’s All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana when players wore black shirts with a simple message printed across the front: “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” Fans also chanted “pay them” during warmups and when WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert presented Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier with the game’s MVP award as well. “That was a powerful moment,” Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum said, via ESPN. “We didn’t, at least as players, we didn’t know that was going to happen. So it was a genuine surprise. Those chants tonight, those signs, it just shows that as players, we are united, but the fans are united in believing what we’re seeking.” Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty wears a shirt saying “Pay us what you owe us” prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at… Steph Chambers/Getty Images More WNBA: Chicago Sky Send Clear Message to Angel Reese After All-Star Game This all happened two days after a group of players met with league officials in the latest round of CBA negotiations, which several players agree didn’t yield the kind of progress they’d like to have seen regarding the salary range they are hoping to get into. The Team Collier and Team Clark (Caitlin Clark’s team) All-Stars agreed hours before tipoff on Saturday that a statement needed to be made, and they decided that during one of, if not the league’s most-watched games of the year with a sold-out capacity crowd of 16,988 fans was the place to do it. And while an increase to the WNBA wage scale has been a hotly debated topic since Clark entered the league last season as the No. 1 overall pick, sports media pundits haven’t been afraid to weight in. ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale has been an outspoken supporter of Clark, and on Sunday morning he took to social media to make his stance on the situation known. “Since the arrival of @CaitlinClark22 the @WNBA’s growth has been fantastic (Ticket sales – TV ratings) – the players are so UNDERPAID ! They DESERVE a big increase!” Vitale wrote on X. More WNBA: Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History During 2025 All-Star Game This isn’t the first time Vitale has drawn attention to Clark’s impact on the WNBA. He told Front Office Sports nearly three weeks ago that he believes Clark is responsible “What she has done to help the WNBA has been unbelievable,” Vitale said. “Think about it. PR excitement. Ticket sales. TV Ratings and interest. Salary increases. More charter flights than the past. Plus, she is so exciting to watch.” Vitale has called Clark “the best thing to happen to the WNBA,” pointing to the surge in the league’s television ratings, merchandise sales, and public recognition since Clark’s arrival. For more WNBA news, check out Newsweek Sports. Is This Article Trustworthy? Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Slide Circle to Vote No Moderately Yes VOTE Top stories About the writer Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek. He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series. His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_. Michael Gallagher Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek. He brings over … Read more Read More

By Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. Evan Massey Contributing Sports Writer 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. The Indiana Pacers and point guard T.J. McConnell are fresh off of a run to the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, they came up just short against the Oklahoma City Thunder and lost Game 7 of the series following star point guard Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles injury. During the Finals, McConnell became a household name. Everyone in Indiana had already come to love him, but he hadn’t been a name talked about much around the league. With fans getting to see him on the biggest stage in basketball, McConnell stepped up and played at an incredibly high level. T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images Throughout the course of the series against the Thunder, McConnell averaged 12 points per game off of the bench to go along with 4.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. Read more: Lakers Linked to Potential Trade for 2-Time All-Star Guard Now that his name has grown, McConnell is being much more active in the media. Recently, he spoke out with a strong opinion about who the toughest player in the NBA is to guard. Of course, McConnell is known as a tenacious defender. He wreaks havoc on many opposing guards. However, there is one guard that he has difficulty with in particular. That guard is none other than Dallas Mavericks’ superstar point guard Kyrie Irving. During an appearance on the “Christian Kuntz Podcast,” McConnell spoke out with a strong message about Irving. “Who’s the hardest guy I’ve had to guard? Kyrie Irving,” McConnell said. “The ball’s on a string. You’re on an island, and you just don’t know what he’s gonna do. You could force him one way, but he still ends up getting the way you don’t want him. His handle is impeccable. It’s impeccable. “He’s got the greatest handle I’ve seen. He could really shoot it like, he’s fast, it’s just, it’s a tough place to be mentally when you’re when you’re guarding Kyrie.” Read more: Warriors’ Stephen Curry Doesn’t Hold Back About Ja Morant Irving is currently working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered. There is no concrete timetable for his return to the court, but the Mavericks are hoping that he’ll be playing during the 2025-26 season. All of that being said, McConnell showering Irving with this kind of praise is telling. Irving has been a lethal scorer and ball-handler his entire career. McConnell and the Pacers will have their work cut out for them during the 2025-26 campaign. Without Haliburton on the court, they’ll have a steep hill to climb to remain as one of the top teams in the NBA. For more on the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports. Is This Article Trustworthy? Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Slide Circle to Vote No Moderately Yes VOTE Top stories About the writer Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and … Read more Read More

🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. As the Dallas Cowboys are expected to eventually work out a new contract with the veteran star, Micah Parsons, many are wondering whether the organization will soon have to discuss an extension with the star offensive lineman, Tyler Smith. On Sunday, most of the Cowboys’ 2025 roster reported to California for training camp. Smith was among the group, and addressed reporters ahead of the team’s first practice. Smith was asked about his current contract situation, which doesn’t seem to have any steam on extension talks just yet. Whether he’s searching for an early extension or not, Smith makes it clear that the ball isn’t in his court at this time. “That’s not up to me,” the star lineman told reporters. “I can only control what I can control, and that’s coming in and working.” Cowboys LG Tyler Smith when asked if he’d like to get contract talks started: “That’s not up to me. I can only control what I can control, and that’s coming in and working.” pic.twitter.com/SaN4IFgO5o — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 20, 2025 Smith, a Texas native, attended Tulsa for his college run from 2019 to 2021. Entering the 2022 NFL Draft, Smith was a projected first-round pick. The Cowboys made those predictions a reality. With the 24th overall pick, the Cowboys called on Smith to become a key member of the offensive front. From the jump, Smith was a full-time starter for Dallas, appearing in 17 games, playing 99 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Tyler Smith #73 of the Dallas Cowboys drops back to block during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Perry Knotts/Getty Images Although he dealt with some setbacks during year two, Smith still appeared in 14 games, collecting 941 snaps of action, which accounted for 97 percent of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps when he was healthy. Last year, Smith started the 16 games he played. For the second time in his career, he appeared in over 1,000 snaps. He was whistled for just one holding call and one false start throughout the entire season, which is a career-high for the third-year veteran. At this stage in his career, Smith is a two-time Pro Bowler. He was named Second-Team All-Pro during the 2023 NFL season. If the Cowboys aren’t going to be willing to pay Smith, some other team surely will. This year, Smith will have a base salary of $2.5 million, carrying a cap hit of $4.6 million. There is a team option available for Dallas in 2026, but an established player like Smith might want long-term security at this stage of his career. The Cowboys have already proven they aren’t going to rush to get deals done. Currently, the star pass rusher Micah Parsons is in a position where he wanted an extension early on, but he’s still waiting. Although Parsons was viewed as a potential holdout candidate ahead of training camp this season, the veteran pass rusher is reportedly making his way to camp this upcoming week. Dallas doesn’t have any high-profile holdouts this year. However, they have multiple players to keep an eye on as the stars typically want to get paid earlier. For more Dallas Cowboys and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports Read More

By Adeola Adeosun is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news, politics and trends. Adeola joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked for CNN, Bossip, and The Messenger. You can get in touch with Adeola by emailing a.adeosun@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Adeola Adeosun and Hannah Parry is a Newsweek Live Blog Editor based in New York. Her focus is reporting on U.S. politics and society. She has covered politics, tech and crime extensively.Hannah joined Newsweek in 2024 and previously worked as an assistant editor at The U.S. Sun and as a senior reporter and assistant news editor at The Daily Mail. She is a graduate of the University of Nottingham. You can get in touch with Hannah by emailing h.parry@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Hannah Parry Weekend Night Editor 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. Microsoft has issued an urgent security alert warning of “active attacks” targeting SharePoint servers used by government agencies and businesses worldwide. The attacks, discovered over the weekend, exploit a previously unknown vulnerability in the document-sharing software, prompting immediate action from both Microsoft and federal investigators. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) told Newsweek on Sunday that it is aware of the incidents and working with federal and private-sector partners to address the threat. The Washington Post first reported the hacks, citing unidentified actors who exploited the flaw to target U.S. and international agencies and businesses over the past few days. Newsweek reached out to Microsoft and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Sunday via email for comment. Why It Matters This zero-day attack represents a significant cybersecurity threat to organizations relying on SharePoint for internal document management and collaboration. The vulnerability affects government agencies, schools, healthcare systems including hospitals, and large enterprise companies, with attackers bypassing multi-factor authentication and single sign-on protections to gain privileged access. What To Know The vulnerability affects only on-premises SharePoint servers used within organizations, not Microsoft’s cloud-based SharePoint Online service. Michael Sikorski, CTO and Head of Threat Intelligence for Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, told Newsweek in an email statement that “attackers are bypassing identity controls, including MFA and SSO, to gain privileged access. Once inside, they’re exfiltrating sensitive data, deploying persistent backdoors, and stealing cryptographic keys.” According to Sikorski, the attackers have already established footholds in compromised systems, making patching alone insufficient to fully remove the threat. The compromise extends beyond SharePoint due to its deep integration with Microsoft’s platform, including Office, Teams, OneDrive and Outlook. “What makes this especially concerning is SharePoint’s deep integration with Microsoft’s platform,” Sikorski said. “A compromise doesn’t stay contained—it opens the door to the entire network.” Microsoft has released a security update for SharePoint Subscription Edition and is developing patches for 2016 and 2019 versions. The company recommends organizations that cannot immediately apply protective measures should disconnect their servers from the internet until updates become available. FILE – A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company’s headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond, File What People Are Saying Microsoft Security Team in a statement: “We recommend security updates that customers should apply immediately.” Michael Sikorski, CTO and Head of Threat Intelligence for Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, told Newsweek: “If you have SharePoint on-prem exposed to the internet, you should assume that you have been compromised at this point. This is a high-severity, high-urgency threat. We are urging organizations who are running on-prem SharePoint to take action immediately and apply all relevant patches now and as they become available, rotate all cryptographic material, and engage professional incident response.” The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said on Sunday: “CISA is aware of active exploitation of a new remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability enabling unauthorized access to on-premise SharePoint servers. While the scope and impact continue to be assessed, the new Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE), CVE-2025-53770, is a variant of the existing vulnerability CVE-2025-49706 and poses a risk to organizations. This exploitation activity, publicly reported as “ToolShell,” provides unauthenticated access to systems and enables malicious actors to fully access SharePoint content, including file systems and internal configurations, and execute code over the network.” The FBI told Newsweek in an email response that they are: “Aware of the attacks and working closely with federal and private-sector partners,” though they declined to provide additional operational details. What Happens Next Organizations using affected SharePoint versions face immediate decisions about disconnecting servers from the internet until patches become available. Palo Alto Networks is actively notifying affected customers and working closely with Microsoft’s Security Response Center to provide updated threat intelligence. Microsoft continues developing patches for older SharePoint versions, with timeline details yet to be announced. fairness meter fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that’s factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsweek is committed to journalism that’s factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Click On Meter To Rate This Article Top stories About the writer Adeola Adeosun is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news, politics and trends. Adeola joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked for CNN, Bossip, and The Messenger. You can get in touch with Adeola by emailing a.adeosun@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Adeola Adeosun and Hannah Parry is a Newsweek Live Blog Editor based in New York. Her focus is reporting on U.S. politics and society. She has covered politics, tech and crime extensively.Hannah joined Newsweek in 2024 and previously worked as an assistant editor at The U.S. Sun and as a senior reporter and assistant news editor at The Daily Mail. She is a graduate of the University of Nottingham. You can get in touch with Hannah by emailing h.parry@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Hannah Parry Adeola Adeosun is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news,

By Saajan Jogia is a motorsport and automotive writer with over ten years of experience. His passion for cars and motorcycles has been a driving force behind his evolution as a writer. He has extensively covered Formula 1, MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, WEC, and technology for publications including Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Newsweek, and Men’s Journal. Saajan Jogia Sports Contributing Writer 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. Former Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya has revealed the consequences Red Bull Racing could face if Max Verstappen decides to part ways with the team. This comes amid rumors of the four-time world champion’s strong links to the Mercedes F1 team. Mercedes driver George Russell admitted that his contract extension discussions were on hold due to his team’s ongoing talks with Verstappen. Russell’s contract expires at the end of 2025, and the Briton pledged his loyalty to Mercedes, admitting he wasn’t in talks with any of the teams on the grid. Verstappen’s struggles with Red Bull’s RB21 have been going on for a while, which has cost him the championship lead in the season so far. The recent ousting of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has reportedly contributed to the uncertainty about the team’s future, especially given the beginning of a new era of regulations in 2026, when Red Bull will introduce its own power units, developed in collaboration with Ford. Verstappen’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is finding it challenging to adapt to the RB21 following his promotion to Red Bull in March. He has scored 10 points in the 12 races that have gone by, and is 17th in the Drivers’ Standings. Verstappen, on the other hand, is in third place with a tally of 165 points, 69 adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 04, 2025 in Northampton, England. Mark Thompson/Getty Images Montoya believes Red Bull is scoring a significant number of points because of Verstappen. But when he is gone, the team will need two strong drivers to fill the gap. Speaking to AS Colombia, as quoted by Planet F1, he said: “We don’t know what’s going on at Red Bull. Max will now say, ‘It’s going to be interesting.’ We don’t know. “Max is worth as much as half to two-thirds of the entire grid, because at the moment Red Bull is a team that only scores points thanks to Max. “If they lose Max, they will really need to invest in two drivers and try to get the same number of points with those two that Max gets on his own. I think this is what they will try.” As well as Tsunoda and Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson, Montoya opened up about Red Bull’s junior drivers who are being trained for a future Red Bull seat. However, he claimed that none are ready to take Verstappen’s place. Starting with Arvid Lindblad, he said: “For Lindblad, who is now driving in Formula 2, the next step is a switch to Racing Bulls. I don’t know if he’s the solution. He should first drive for a season with Racing Bulls.” Isack Hadjar, who made his F1 debut this year with Racing Bulls, probably needs another year, according to Montoya. He added: “I wouldn’t give Hadjar a seat either. He needs to gain more confidence first. He is doing very well in his first season, but I think he needs at least one more year at Racing Bulls. A driver needs confidence and stability. At the moment his career is going well, but how many careers have we seen lost?” With no driver capable enough to replace Verstappen yet, Red Bull could face serious consequences if he chose to part ways. Is This Article Trustworthy? Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Slide Circle to Vote No Moderately Yes VOTE Top stories About the writer Saajan Jogia is a motorsport and automotive writer with over ten years of experience. His passion for cars and motorcycles has been a driving force behind his evolution as a writer. He has extensively covered Formula 1, MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, WEC, and technology for publications including Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Newsweek, and Men’s Journal. Saajan Jogia Saajan Jogia is a motorsport and automotive writer with over ten years of experience. His passion for cars and motorcycles … Read more Read More

The Brazilian government says it has offered accommodation for COP30 costing no more than $220 a night to representatives of some of the world’s poorest countries after African and Pacific delegations aired big concerns over the lack of affordable lodgings in the city of Belém. Many of the rooms are offered on two cruise ships that will be docked in the Port of Outeiro – a 30-minute ride from the venue of the climate summit – providing 3,900 cabins and 6,000 beds. “These two large ships are part of a variety of lodging options designed to accommodate all COP30 attendees,” said Valter Correia, the special secretary for COP30 overseeing logistics for the summit. In a statement, Brazil’s COP30 presidency team said that these lodgings would first be offered to 98 of the “smallest developing countries and island nations”, with delegates from other countries able to book accommodation costing up to $600 a night at an unspecified time in the future. Climate Home spoke to four climate negotiators from African and Pacific nations. None were satisfied with the COP30 presidency’s statement, saying that it came too late and the price caps were still too high and would price some developing countries out of participating. A fifth negotiator – Adão Soares Barbosa from the Southeast Asian country of Timor-Leste – told Climate Home that his room has not been booked and $220 a night is “still too much for developing countries”. Brazil’s Belém races to make room for COP30 influx A spokesperson for the COP30 presidency told Climate Home the accommodation platform is “operational”, but it can only be accessed by those specifically invited to submit their information. Anne Rasmussen, lead climate negotiator for the small island group AOSIS, told Climate Home that she had “seen the reports” on this offer and welcomed this initiative but was awaiting “formal communication” from the COP30 presidency. Asked by email if only cruise ship cabins are listed on the platform, the COP30 presidency did not answer directly, saying only that “available accommodation will include all modalities such as hotels, vacation rentals and ships among others”. Response to backlash The COP30 presidency statement comes three weeks after African and Pacific island nations said publicly that they were concerned that the cost of rooms could prevent them from joining in negotiations at COP30, where issues like adapting to climate change and transitioning away from fossil fuels will be discussed. The United Nations subsidises the costs of up to three people from some developing countries – least developed countries and small island developing states – to attend COP talks. But the payment, known as a daily subsistence allowance (DSA), is capped based on living costs. For the city of Belém, UN guidelines – which are not specific to COP – say the DSA should be $149 a day. The UN’s climate arm – which has a severely limited budget – has not said if this limit will be raised for the COP. An increase would involve the International Civil Service Commission, which sets the rates. Because of the DSA rate, one negotiator representing one of the 98 governments offered the $220 cap said that “even with this supposed $220 price point, it’s still far beyond what most delegates can reasonably cover”. “That doesn’t even account for the high cost of food and drinks at the venue”, they said, adding that if delegates are spending all of their DSA on accomodation then “they’re essentially being forced to pay out of pocket for everything else.” “An exclusive COP” “This is increasingly shaping up to be an exclusive COP where only those with big budgets can attend,” they said. “Civil society and media participation seem like an afterthought, and that’s incredibly worrying.” Another negotiator from one of the 98 governments offered the cap agreed, saying that “wealthy countries are always OK” and “the rich developing countries will send limitless delegates” but “the poor will send however many are paid for”. Negotiators from the 57 developing countries who were not offered the $220 a night cap were also dissatisfied. “$600 is way above the limit we have for our per person costs,”said one official from an African state, “it’s going to be really hard for us to participate if the accommodation situation is not resolved.” “None of our delegation has booked as of yet and we’re urgently trying to resolve it but it’s just really expensive as of now,” they added. Another from this group of 57 said the process for choosing which countries were offered the $220 a night cap was “opaque”. They pointed out that some countries whose governments were offered the cap have higher per person incomes than some of those who were not. Kenya, which has been offered the cap, has a gross domestic product (GDP) per person nearly three times higher than that of Nigeria, which has not been offered the cap. Asked about the criteria for choosing the 98 nations, the COP30 presidency said it is “made up primarily of nations with lower development indices and small island developing states, as defined by the United Nations’ technical categories of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)”. They did not explain why countries like Kenya, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua – which are not LDCs or SIDS – were chosen. While rooms in Belém are listed on Airbnb for the COP30 dates for less than $100 a night, most governments and many companies and NGOs have rules against booking Airbnbs due to safety and other concerns. Cruise ship emissions Green shipping campaigners also criticised the pollution involved in using cruise ships to host COP30 delegates. The two ships – MSC Seaview and Costa Diadema – will rely on their onboard generators to power their air conditioners, televisions and other equipment, a COP30 spokesperson said, adding that “these generators use different types of fuel, ranging from conventional diesel to biodiesel.” A view of the cruise ship MSC Seaview leaving Marseille on 31 October 2021 (Photo