Category: News

While most people blame the poor work-life balance or relationship woes as the source of their stress, trauma, and anxiety, this may not be entirely true. The cause of your poor mental health may be the gift of you coming into this world through genetic makeup. A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry reveals that fathers’ stress experiences leave lasting biochemical markers in their sperm cells, potentially influencing their future children’s development.
The research, analyzing sperm samples from 58 men in their late 30s to early 40s, found distinct epigenetic markers in those who reported high childhood stress levels compared to those with lower stress levels. The study discovered changes in small noncoding RNA molecules, which play crucial roles in gene regulation, particularly those connected to brain development. The research also identified differences in DNA methylation patterns near genes involved in early neurological growth.
These molecular imprints remained present even after accounting for lifestyle factors like smoking and drinking, suggesting childhood experiences leave a lasting biological legacy in sperm.
The findings challenge the traditional understanding of genetic inheritance as fixed and unchangeable. Modern research shows genes can be modified through epigenetics, where environmental factors like diet, trauma, and stress can alter gene function without changing the DNA sequence.

These modifications act as molecular switches, influencing various biological processes from brain development to disease susceptibility. The research indicates that positive experiences can also influence epigenetic patterns. Factors such as mindfulness, therapy, strong social connections, and lifestyle changes like exercise and nutrition can impact gene expression.
Studies on trauma survivors suggest that healing practices can reverse some negative epigenetic changes caused by stress. The body continuously adapts and evolves in response to experiences. The implications extend beyond individual well-being to generational impact. Men, particularly fathers, often endure stress silently, but the research emphasizes that mental health care can influence future generations.

These choices have effects at the molecular level. This highlights the importance of addressing emotional wounds, seeking therapy when needed, building supportive relationships, and practicing stress-reducing habits. The research challenges societal expectations around men’s emotional expression. Traditional conditioning to suppress stress doesn’t eliminate it but may allow it to resurface in unexpected ways.
Let’s emphasize the need for open conversations about mental health and emotional expression to create healthier environments for future generations. The study suggests that while past experiences leave biological imprints, they don’t determine an unchangeable fate. Instead, they offer awareness about the connection between current choices and future generations’ well-being.

The research provides evidence that healing and positive life changes can influence biological patterns just as significantly as stress and trauma. Understanding these biological mechanisms offers hope for breaking cycles of inherited trauma and creating positive change that extends beyond individual lives.
Intentional approaches to mental health and emotional well-being recognize that personal healing efforts can impact future generations at a molecular level. Conscious choices in handling stress and processing emotional experiences is imperative, as these decisions may influence not just current well-being but future generations’ biological patterns.

“Under old boughs hangs the heart-fruit, swollen with hatred. Let it burst forth and flood the streams and burrows.”– Lilith, Blessed Mother

Rise, wanderer, and stand triumphant before your hoard of spoils—Mother’s Blessing has returned under the wrathful eye of the Tree of Whispers!

Blessings Aplenty: Earn Gift of the Tree Caches

The Tree of Whispers’ influence has grown as of late, gnarling its roots in search of the lost Fugitive Heads. From March 18–25, while Mother’s Blessing is active, whenever you return your Grim Favors, you’ll also receive an additional Gift of the Tree cache. Open the cache you receive to find the Gift of the Tree cache inside. The contents within are as unpredictable as their namesake—enjoy the Collection of Chaos items that lie within.

In addition to your bonus Caches—while Mother’s Blessing is active—all players will earn 35% experience and 50% Gold at a (multiplicative) increased rate. Lilith blesses all her children, as this bonus applies to both Seasonal and Eternal Realms, and all World Tiers. This bonus stacks, so pair it with Elixirs and the Urn of Aggression to maximize your experience gains while killing Monsters.

Use this boost to carve through ranks of the Battle Pass, climb to higher Levels and World Tiers with burning swiftness, complete your Season Journey to earn Dorian the Raven, and level multiple characters to their maximum potential. For those curious about where to find this boon, look for the in-game icon above your experience bar that signifies the increased rate of earning Gold and experience.

The Blessed Mother’s cruelty is matched by her generosity, but not for long. Gather round, stoke the fire, and rally your most savvy of companions to decimate demons with renewed fervor. Rise to new heights, revel in the shared generosity of the Blessed Mother and Tree of Whispers!

Stephen Graham has issued a warning to parents of young children following the release of his gritty new Netflix series.

Adolescence, which landed on the streaming service today (13 March), sees Stephen Graham act out every parent’s worst nightmare when his teenage son is arrested on suspicion of murdering a classmate.

To make the series even more impressive, each episode was remarkably shot in one go – just like Boiling Point, which Graham also starred in.

Praise has already been flooding in for young 15-year-old actor Owen Cooper, who was handed the star role in what represents his first-ever acting job.

Given the serious nature of the show, which serves as a social critique on the alarming growth of toxic masculinity in the social media age, particularly fuelled by the likes of Andrew Tate, it is easy to see why some viewers might be disturbed by what they see in the new series.

And Graham, who was left heartbroken by recent stabbings in the UK amongst young teens, has issued a warning to parents about some of the themes explored in the drama, and how they can protect their children from outside negative influences.

The This Is England star told The Independent: “I read an article about a young boy stabbing a young girl. And then maybe a couple of months later, on the news there was [another] young boy who’d stabbed a young girl, and if I’m really honest with you, they hurt my heart.

“It’s just being mindful of the fact that not only we parent our children, and not only the school educates our children.

“But also there’s influences that we have no idea of that are having profound effects on our young culture, profound effects, positive and extremely negative. So it’s having a look at that and seeing that we’re all accountable.”

The 51-year-old actor also talks about how parents need to adapt to kids having ‘the world at their fingertips’ even if they’re sent to their room, which, if you’re as old as I am, simply wasn’t the reality when lots of parents were growing up.

He added: “When we were kids, if you got sent to your room or if Kenny Everett was on the telly, and it got a bit racy, you’d be sent to your room and then you couldn’t watch it.

“But today even within the context of that home, when lads and girls go to their bedrooms, they have the world at their fingertips.”

Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix now.

Michelle Keegan has posted to Instagram for the first time since announcing her daughter’s birth. On Thursday afternoon, Michelle shared some pictures of balloons with ‘baby girl’ written on them, stood in front of a window. The beautiful view from the Essex mansion she shares with husband Mark Wright could be seen, along with a rainbow.

She also re-shared the sweet baby picture of her newborn daughter Palma, as she thanked fans for their well wishes. She wrote: “Thank you to everyone for your lovely messages.” She added sweet pink emojis – ballerina shoes, a bow and some bubbles. The update comes after Michelle and her former TOWIE star husband Mark revealed their little girl was born on 6 March. In a joyous announcement, the new parents wrote on Instagram: “Together we have a new love to share… Our little girl (love heart emoji). Palma Elizabeth Wright 06.03.25.”

The picture of their baby girl showed them interlacing fingers with their newborn’s tiny hand.

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It’s been revealed that the pair are completely smitten and floating in a “perfect love bubble” following the birth of their adorable daughter, as a friend shared details of their joy.

Michelle, 37, and Mark, 38, are said to be fully immersed in family life, having “shut up shop and cleared the diary” to nest with little Palma at their lavish home. Baby Palma, believed to be named after the Majorcan capital, was born on 6 March and the new parents initially kept her arrival under wraps, sharing the joyous news solely with their closest relatives.

A source told The Mirror: “They wanted to keep the news very private and bask in the glory of a new-born without any distractions without the world knowing. They are in a perfect love bubble with no external noises, and it’s been total and utter bliss.”

Actress Michelle is said to have upcoming projects in the works but “much further down the line” so she can enjoy being a mum to Palma, reports the Mirror.

The source added: “It’s such a special time for them both; they are head over heels in love and can’t believe they have created this tiny person. The last week has been utterly wonderful.”

Michelle’s middle name is Elizabeth, like her newborn daughter. She is also thought to have honoured her great-great-grandmother, a suffragette, with the name. It’s understood Our Girl actress Michelle gave birth at London’s Portland Hospital, which is where some members of the Royal Family have welcomed their children.

Mark’s sister Jess was over the moon at the news, gushing on social media: “Most beautiful addition to our family. I finally have a niece and I am so in love.”

The report was published as some of Father Rupnik’s alleged victims shared their stories on an Italian television program.

A media report says the Vatican’s doctrine office could be close to a decision in the case of the ex-Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik.

According to OSV News, a “sentence is expected in the not too distant future” in the canonical trial of the priest-artist accused of the sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse of dozens of religious sisters under his spiritual care.

OSV News also said Father Rupnik would be tried for the crime of “spiritual abuse.” Last November, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, said a Vatican working group was studying the possibility of making “spiritual abuse” a formalized crime in Church law rather than merely an aggravating circumstance of other crimes.

The report was published as some of Father Rupnik’s alleged victims shared their stories on the Italian television program Le Iene (“The Hyenas”), which aired on March 9. In the program, Italian journalist Roberta Rei confronted Father Rupnik at a Rome airport baggage claim but received no response to her questions about whether the abuse claims against him were true.

Bishop Jurij Bizjak, who retired Nov. 29, 2024, from the Diocese of Koper, told OSV News in January that Father Rupnik continues to travel internationally as part of his artistic career. Another recent media report said he is living in a religious convent about an hour’s drive from Rome called the Convent of Montefiolo, with some of his collaborators from the Centro Aletti art and theological center he founded in Rome.

In August 2023, Father Rupnik was accepted for priestly ministry in the Diocese of Koper, in his native Slovenia, after he was expelled from the Jesuit order for disobedience. In an October 2023 press release the Diocese of Koper stated that “as long as Rev. Rupnik has not been found guilty in a public trial in court, he enjoys all the rights and duties of diocesan priests.”

Regarding Father Rupnik’s case in the DDF, Cardinal Fernández said in an interview at the end of January that the dicastery had finished gathering information, had conducted a first review, and was working to put together an independent tribunal for the penal judicial procedure.

CNA contacted officials of the DDF and others close to the case but received no answer by the time of publication.

In October 2024, one year after Pope Francis waived the statute of limitations, thus allowing the Vatican to investigate and try Father Rupnik’s case, a person working inside the disciplinary section of the DDF told CNA that they were examining the procedural steps that could be taken in the Rupnik case and “the mechanism by which justice can be served.” 

Father Rupnik, internationally recognized for his religious artistic works, has been accused of abusing adult women who were under his spiritual care as part of a religious community he helped found in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of these accusations became public through the media in early December 2022, although the priest’s superiors and officials at the Vatican were aware even several years earlier.

Mums and step-mums deserve spoiling – and this Mother’s Day they will have an average of nearly £45 spent on them per child – new research indicates.

Those celebrating Mother’s Day on March 30 plan to spend a generous £44.80 on average on a card and present, with 25 to 34-year-olds splashing out the most, with an average spend of £71.86 on a gift and card.

But it seems mums and step-mums won’t always be receiving their ideal gift. The most-wanted gift for Mother’s Day 2025 is a spa day, according to the survey for MyVoucherCodes, but the most popular present children plan to give is flowers.

In joint second place, mums and step-mums said they would like something homemade or a meal out as a gift this Mother’s Day.

Among children giving gifts, while flowers are the top choice, chocolates and meals out will also be popular, researchers found.

If money was no object, one in eight (12%) of people would treat their mum to a new UK-based home, according to the survey of 2,000 people in January. A holiday home, a cruise and a Caribbean holiday all came together in a joint second, each selected by 8%.

Sarah-Jane Outten, a money saving expert at MyVoucherCodes, says: “It’s lovely to see that the British public still want to spoil their mums on Mother’s Day and the average spend shows people aren’t holding back when it comes to buying a card and gift for their mums or step mums.

“However, it’s always worth remembering that spoiling your mum doesn’t have to leave you out of pocket.”

Here are Outten’s tips to avoid overspending…

Made with love: “Instead of buying an expensive card, consider making one yourself,” says Outten.

She says writing a touching note and creating a design using crafts can be more heartfelt and add a special, personal touch.

She continues: “If you have a minimal budget, try making her breakfast in bed, fill a memory jar with thoughtful messages or simply cuddle up with some popcorn to watch her favourite film.”

Plan ahead: “It’s best not to wait until the last minute to buy a card and gift,” says Outten.

“Deciding to buy in advance gives you the opportunity to compare prices and make thoughtful purchases. You can often find discounts or deals if you start shopping early.

Look for sales and discounts: As well as keeping an eye out for discounts, Outten suggests signing up for store newsletters to get early access to sales or voucher codes.

Set a budget: Outten adds: “Before you start shopping, have a think how much you want to spend on both the card and the gift. Setting a budget will help you avoid impulse purchases and keep you on track. It’s the thought that counts more than the price tag.”

Shop local: Online shopping gives people a huge amount of choice, but don’t forget about browsing your local high street.

Outten says: “Local boutiques, craft markets, or second-hand stores often sell unique and affordable gifts that can be just as meaningful as something pricey from a chain retailer.

“Plus, it supports small businesses.”

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It’s a very blunt way of saying it…

To not beat around the bush too much, Roblox isn’t the “perfect game” that many within the company would like to tell you. Just recently, we talked about how there is some “strife” between the main development team and the “creators” who make the various worlds within the game for players to enjoy. The friction there is over money and whether the main dev team is doing right by creators by giving them more “opportunities to thrive” as they have in the past. However, if you were to look at things at a more “base level,” you know that the game has had some serious allegations against it due to the “activities” that sometimes happen within the title.

Specifically, Roblox as a whole is incredibly popular with gamers 13 and under, which makes a certain level of sense when you think about it. After all, the visuals are rather basic, the games you can play are perfect for kids of many styles and personalities, and it’s free outside of microtransactions, so it’s the perfect game to “jump in and play.”

However, since people KNOW that a bunch of kids play it, things tend to happen within the game that aren’t cool at all. As such, there have been many accusations and allegations thrown against the game regarding bullying, worlds being intentionally made with explicit content, and even grooming young players. It’s…not great.

Enter CEO Dave Baszucki, who talked with BBC about the state of the game and how parents might be able to protect their kids from this kind of “bad influence.” His response was blunt, to say the least:

“My first message would be, if you’re not comfortable, don’t let your kids be on Roblox. That sounds a little counter-intuitive, but I would always trust parents to make their own decisions.”

He went on to note:

“We watch for bullying, we watch for harassment, we filter all of those kinds of things, and I would say behind the scenes, the analysis goes on all the way to, if necessary, reaching out to law enforcement.”

On the surface, that sounds great. However, as both parents and the BBC pointed out, that’s not as reassuring as he would think. First and foremost, the game has tens of millions of players, and the company can’t possibly monitor them all. Second, the BBC actually created fake accounts to show how easy it was to contact minors, and the CEO’s answer wasn’t great.

It’s fine to be confident in one’s team, but when there are a LOT of people out there who will go to great lengths to do certain things? It’s not enough to say “there’s no real risk” because there absolutely is one.

Australia’s Prime Minister has dared an American social media influencer to pick up a baby crocodile, after she sparked outrage for taking a baby wombat from its mother.

Sam Jones, who claimed to be a “wildlife biologist and environmental scientist” shared a video with her 92,000 Instagram followers showing her taking the marsupial and then running across the road dangling the joey, while its mother gave chase.

“I caught a baby wombat!” Jones says in the video, as the baby makes distressed noises.

The incident has now sparked condemnation from the very top of the Australian government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage.

“I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals, take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back, rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother.”

Wombats are a protected native Australian species, and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said his department was examining the conditions of Jones’ visa to see “whether immigration law has been breached”.

“Either way, given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I’ll be surprised if she even bothers,” he said.

“I can’t wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don’t expect she will return.”

The location of the incident within Australia remains unclear.

RSPCA senior scientific officer Di Evans told the Australian Broadcasting Commission that the video showed a “blatant” disrespect towards Australian wildlife.

“The distress caused by the callous act is obvious, with the joey screeching for their mother and the mother being extremely anxious,” Dr Evans said.

An Australian man in the since-deleted video can be heard laughing and says, “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her!”

She later said “OK mama’s right there and she is p***ed, let’s let him go,” before walking across the road to release the baby.

Before Jones deleted the video and made her Instagram account private, she defended her actions, according to News.com.au.

“For everyone that’s worried and unhappy, the baby was carefully held for ONE minute in total and then released back to mum,” she wrote.

Jones could not be reached for comment. Her Instagram remains private and her previous TikTok account has been deleted. It was not clear if she remained in the country.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the video was distressing.

“It looked pretty dreadful, didn’t it?” she said in an interview with Channel Seven on Thursday. “Really, leave the wombat alone.”

CHICAGO: Deporting green-card holder Mahmoud Khalil from the US would fuel widespread persecution and targeting of Arabs and Muslims who “dare to criticize” Israel, a civil rights attorney told Arab News.

David Chami represented 22 of 27 students who were expelled from Arizona State University after being accused of trespassing and damage to property.

But he said neither his 22 clients nor Columbia University student Khalil committed any serious offense that would justify any form of punishment.

“Without a doubt, what ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the government are doing violates the Constitution and the fundamental laws of this country,” Chami added.

Khalil’s case “could open the door to thousands of expulsions if they want to continue targeting and harassing students.

“I mean, if you start alleging that your opinions about Palestine or Israel are enough for me to associate you with supporting terrorism, all of a sudden everyone’s out, right? Because anyone who’s anti-genocide, who’s against Israeli policies, becomes a target.”

The real aim “is to shut everybody up,” Chami said, adding that under US law, Khalil or any green-card holder would have to be convicted of a “serious crime” before being deported.

“They’re just going to try to throw Mahmoud Khalil out of the country extra-judicially,” Chami said. “If that happens, all of a sudden you’ll start to see green-card holders becoming targeted for their speech, things they said online on social media, and not even being at a protest at all.

“What’s next? They might target former green-card holders who are now American citizens, and people who weren’t born here. They might try to undo their citizenship.”

Chami said green-card holders, who are one step away from becoming official citizens, can only be deported after being convicted of very specific crimes under US immigration laws.

“They include crimes of moral turpitude like fraud, theft, violence, or lying on your application,” he added.

“They’d have to commit some sort of aggravated felony like murder, or drug trafficking, or some other drug offense.

“You could be accused of a crime, but that still wouldn’t provide a basis for deportation. You’d have to be convicted first. … But they aren’t trying to prosecute or convict him.”

Khalil, the son of Palestinian refugees, was born in Syria and holds Algerian citizenship. After earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Lebanese American University, he enrolled at Columbia University in 2022, studying in the School of International and Public Affairs. He completed his studies last December and was scheduled to graduate in May.

Khalil was arrested at his home on March 8 by ICE officers. His attempted expulsion has fueled an atmosphere of anti-Arab hate and Islamophobia that is being parroted by American traditional and social media, Chami said.

Although US District Judge Jesse Furman on Wednesday extended an order that temporarily blocks Khalil’s deportation, Chami said he is concerned that ICE could expel him without completing the judicial process. “The question is, where would they expel him to?” Chami asked.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee called Khalil’s arrest “an extreme and blatant act of political retaliation for his First Amendment-protected advocacy.”

Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, said the arrest “is of enormous concern to academic freedom and freedom of speech.”

Princess Anne made a striking appearance at day three of the Cheltenham Festival, standing out in a red double-breasted jacket and black furry hat.

The 74-year-old royal joined her daughter Zara and son-in-law Mike Tindall at the Gloucestershire racecourse.

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Princess Anne complemented her eye-catching outfit with a pink patterned scarf and gold horse brooch.

The former equestrian is renowned for her love of horses and made history as the first member of the British royal family to compete in an Olympics.

She participated in eventing at the 1976 Olympics, demonstrating her lifelong passion for equestrianism.

Her distinctive appearance at Cheltenham reflected her continued enthusiasm for horse racing events.

Zara has a role as a director at the festival, which has attracted numerous royals and celebrities.

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Speaking to Sporting Life, Mike Tindall revealed that both his wife and mother-in-law are passionate about horse racing.

“[Zara] loves it – she loves horses in general, but from the racing side of things it’s always been a massive part of her life,” he said.

“The Princess Royal is also a die-hard horse racing fan.”

Mike added that Zara enjoys her role at Cheltenham, saying: “She’s hosting people every day and she loves it.”

Princess Anne supports several equine organisations including Riding for the Disabled, The Horse Trust and World Horse Welfare.

PA

Zara looked chic at the event in an olive green coat with a blue patterned blouse and Fedora-style hat.

Mike Tindall opted for a tweed three-piece suit for the racing occasion.

Princess Anne supports several equine organisations including Riding for the Disabled, The Horse Trust and World Horse Welfare.

The Cheltenham Festival has attracted numerous royal attendees this year, including Queen Camilla and her children, plus Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.