We are finally in the fall season, Panthers! The first official day of fall was Monday, September 22. While you are in the fall spirit, cozy up in a sweater and watch the leaves fall and change colors while reading this week’s KICs. This week we have France recognizing a Palestinian state, Trump and RFK Jr. pushing an unproven link between autism and Tylenol, Costco recalling signature ahi tuna due to listeria contamination, and an escalator dilemma for President Trump.
World – France to recognize Palestinian State
President Emmanuel Macron said he will recognize the state of Palestine on Monday, describing it as a “necessity”, making a landmark decision in recognition of the state. Other countries have recently followed suit.
Coming off of a recent decision by the UK, Canada, and Australia, France will recognize the state in hopes that it will be the “beginning of a political process and a peace and security plan for everybody.” Macon has also described a plan to isolate Hamas, and said that an opening of a French embassy would be dependent on the release of the hostages by Hamas. Along with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino are all planning to recognize the state as well.
Many have given support to this decision, including Belgium, Malta, and Luxembourg, although there has been some opposition, namely from the state of Israel, who has recently been warring against Palestine.
National – Trump and RFK Jr. push unproven link between Tylenol and autism
Donald Trump has endorsed Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s unsupported claims between Tylenol and autism at a recent White House briefing. He has also made claims about vaccines harming people.
Trump stated on Monday that women should not take Tylenol during pregnancy because of the supposed link to it and autism, which was recently claimed by Robert Kennedy in search of a “natural toxin” that has caused spikes in autism in recent years. He has also been supporting his anti-vaccine efforts, asking doctors to stop giving hepatitis B shots to newborns and instead give them at age 12, along with stopping combination shots for chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella.
Despite their claims, there is little clinical evidence for any of them, along with ample evidence that goes directly against claims that recent spikes in autism are due to better diagnoses and genetics, and that vaccines of all kinds do not cause harm to the vast majority of the population.
State – Costco recalls their signature ahi tuna for possible listeria contamination
Over 3,300 pounds of Costco’s signature Ahi Tina Wasabi Poke has been recalled for possible listeria contamination. They announced the recall after their green onion supplier reported positive tests for listeria in their products.
No illnesses have been reported so far. Listeria causes serious or fatal infections specifically in people who have weaker immune systems like young or elderly people. People with a higher immune system may suffer symptoms such as high fever, diarrhea, headaches, and nausea.
The infected products were packaged in clear containers with the sale by dates of September 18, 2025 – September 22, 2025. The tuna was sold in 33 states including Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Politics – Trump seeks answers to escalator dilemma
President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump were on an escalator U.N. General Assembly. Moments after they stepped on the escalator, it came to a sudden stop.
Trump was not satisfied when the U.N. told him a White House videographer likely activated a safety switch. He described the escalator stopping as a “stopping on a dime.” Trump and his wife proceeded to walk up the escalator.
Secret Service has now become involved in further investigations. President Trump has made it clear he would like to get to the bottom of the “sabotage.”