Table of contents for September 5-12, 2025 in Newsweek

When Hamas invaded Israel on the morning of October 7, 2023, the country was unprepared for the onslaught. Before the Israeli military could regain control, Hamas fighters had killed around 1,200 people and took about 250 more hostage—approximately 50 of whom are still being held, 20 of which are still thought to be alive in captivity almost two years later. For a country on constant alert to threats from its neighbors on all sides, how was Israel’s military caught by surprise? That’s the question former editor-in-chief of THE JERUSALEM POST Yaakov Katz and military and defense journalist Amir Bohbot interrogate in their new book, WHILE ISRAEL SLEPT: HOW HAMAS SURPRISED THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Their book offers an analysis of the massive failure, with the goal…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders address Ukraine’s conflict with Russia on August 18 at the White House. The “Coalition of the Willing” included (left to right) NATO’s Mark Rutte, U.K.’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Finland’s Alexander Stubb Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and the European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen.…

AMERICA’S GAME DOESN’T JUST belong to the United States anymore. In the 105 years since the National Football League was founded, the game has grown beyond the border to reach a global fan base. In recent years, fan sentiment has only strengthened, a 2025 QuestBrand by The Harris Poll survey found, driven by the momentum of its active fan base, which has increased by 10 million since 2021. “The NFL has done so many smart things to engage fans worldwide,” former ABC, CBS, NBC and ESPN sideline reporter Michele Tafoya told Newsweek. “Changing up the jersey designs has kept fans intrigued about what their favorite teams might be wearing next. Limiting the number of games per week has kept fans hungry. Testing the international waters has brought more eyeballs to…

PHYSICAL REHABILITATION CAN BE NECESSARY for a wide range of reasons, from an accident or sudden illness to a chronic condition. Its benefits for patients are clear, especially at inpatient rehabilitation facilities, which have intensive protocols. Their longer therapy appointments with more specialists than outpatient care facilities contribute to higher success rates and improved long-term outcomes. Data on the effectiveness of physical therapy has been consistently positive, with success rates ranging between 68 percent and 72 percent. These effects continue over time, with 79 percent of patients reporting substantial pain reduction after completing physical therapy treatment. That is why Newsweek and Statista are proud to present America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2025, highlighting 320 inpatient physical rehabilitation centers across the U.S. that are providing the best care for patients, an…

IN A CITY WHERE MEMORY IS AS LAYERED AS the soil beneath its streets, where culture rises defiantly through rhythm, ritual and resilience, the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina arrives as both a milestone and a meditation. For Brandan “BMike” Odums, the celebrated New Orleans-based visual artist and founder of Studio BE, it is also a moment of generational hand-off—a time to center the voices of youth who didn’t live through the storm but still carry its legacy in their bones. This summer, Odums led a new cohort of students through his Eternal Seeds program, an annual art and mentorship initiative housed at Studio BE. The young artists, all born after the devastation of August 29, 2005, spent six weeks studying Katrina through oral history, documentary footage, poetry and community…

THE OUTSTANDING AND OUTRA-GEOUS gathered on California’s Monterey Peninsula to celebrate the past, present and future of the automotive industry during Monterey Car Week. During the event from August 8 to 17, there was something for everyone, from vintage car races and new vehicle reveals to branded houses offering luxury perks to their devotees. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering proved it is turning into the industry’s answer to the shuttered Geneva International Motor Show with another full day of vehicle debuts including the Bugatti Brouillard, Rivian R1S Quad Pebble Beach, Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo, Lamborghini Fenomeno and Infiniti QX65 Monograph, among others. Hot off the heels of announcing his company’s new electric vehicle plans, Ford CEO Jim Farley raced at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on the…

WE’VE ALL SEEN THE HEADLINES. DURING July 2025 alone, T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs and Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets all inked record-setting contracts. Smith’s deal, the cheapest of the three, is reported to be worth $94 million. At the same time, less positive headlines also appear, shattering the idea that pro sports are universally a golden ticket. While it’s tough to nail down actual figures, a large percentage of players file for bankruptcy or face serious financial hardships in retirement. We’ve heard about questionable athlete purchases—from exotic pets to supercars, mansions and all that bling—with Super Bowl rings having to be auctioned off down the line when the money runs out. That’s where The Players Company, an organization founded…