“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.” – Serena Williams
There is something very honest about this line. Fitness journeys often begin quietly. No applause, no audience, just one decision to start. For many women, especially those balancing work, family, and health, the biggest hurdle is not ability. It is doubt. This quote speaks directly to that moment. The first push-up, the first walk, the first attempt, they all count. A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that self-confidence strongly predicts exercise adherence, especially in women
Spending on AI subscriptions is starting to become a part of some households’ budgets as users choose to upgrade to more powerful versions of publicly available generative AI tools, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The share of U.S. households that now pays for a generative AI subscription is up roughly 155% compared to last year, according to new data from PNC Bank.
However, only about 2% of all U.S. households, many of them upper-income, spend money on such tools.
Not a lot of churn
Consumers who pay to use AI tools appear to be satisfied with the products they’re spending money on, according to PNC data, which found that subscriptions are “getting stickier.”
In other words, once users sign up, they tend to remain subscribers for a long period as opposed to dropping the plans. The average length of a subscription is seven months, according to PNC.
“That suggests many users are finding ongoing value in these services rather than simply trying them out for a month or two,” the report’s authors said.
How much does Gen AI cost?
Among households that pay for generative AI subscriptions, the vast majority are shelling out $20 a month, which is roughly the going rate for most consumer-facing tools, according to PNC.
A much smaller share of households opt for more expensive “pro” plans.
OpenAI’s most basic ChatGPT offering is free, but comes with limitations. An $8 per month “Go” offering lets users send more messages than the free model, while a $20 “Plus” plan is faster and gives users early access to new features. ChatGPT “Pro,” the most expensive offering, costs $100 a month.
Similarly, Anthropic’s AI assistant, called Claude, has a free version that can analyze text and images and write basic code. A “Pro” version, at $17 per month, has more memory and gives subscribers more usage. Claude also has a $100 “Max” plan.
Real revenue stream?
The 2% of households that subscribe to generative AI services is far lower than the roughly 25% of U.S. consumers who pay for monthly streaming subscriptions, according to Brian LeBlanc, senior economist at PNC.
“We are growing quite rapidly, but we are still nowhere near streaming,” he said. “AI capital expenditure if fueling growth in the economy and a lot of investment is predicated on it eventually being profitable.”
A greater share of consumers spend money gambling online than they do paying for AI tools. PNC found that 5% of U.S. households spend money on sports betting apps.
LeBlanc said the big AI players are vying for market share and expects free offerings to remain on the market for now. Ultimately, though, the firms behind generative AI tools will have to find a way to make up the cost of providing such services.
“We’re living in a time where it’s cheapest to use these services,” LeBlanc said. “I’m curious, as time goes on, whether they’ll start increasing prices, and what that will do to adoption rates.”
Nearly one-fifth of all adults 65 and older are working or looking for work, which is the highest amount in decades. Many say it isn’t a choice, but a necessity as they face rising costs. Kelly O’Grady reports.
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – In her makeshift canvas tent, Inaam al-Dahdouh sits with her six grandchildren, turning over a photograph of her three sons, detained two years ago in the first few months of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
As Palestinian Prisoners’ Day is marked on Friday, the 62-year-old mother finds herself living a different kind of pain this year.
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It is no longer only the anguish of imprisonment and separation, but a looming fear shaped by new and uncertain scenarios following the approval of an Israeli law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners in late March 2026.
Palestinians mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day annually on April 17. This year, it comes amid an unprecedented surge in the number of detainees and worsening conditions.
According to prisoners’ advocacy groups, more than 9,600 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons as of early April 2026, compared with about 5,250 before the war – an increase of nearly 83 percent. They include 350 children, and more than 3,530 administrative detainees held without charge.
More than 100 prisoners have also died in custody since the war began in October 2023, amid reports of a severe deterioration in detention conditions.
But now the fear is that Israel will attempt to execute Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli parliament passed a law on March 30 allowing the death penalty to be implemented, but only against those convicted in a military court of killing Israelis.
In practice, that means West Bank Palestinians, as Israelis are tried in civilian courts, but there is also discussion of a separate tribunal for Palestinians from Gaza, for which the Israeli right-wing is likely to push the use of the death penalty.
Israeli legislators, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, celebrated the death penalty ruling, while Israel was internationally condemned for what critics perceive to be yet another example of Israeli apartheid against Palestinians.
Inaam sits with her six grandchildren, the children of her son Mahmoud, who has been held in Israeli prisons for two years [Omar Ashtawy/Al Jazeera]
Detention
Three of Inaam’s sons, 30-year-old Mahmoud, 27-year-old Alaa, and 24-year-old Diaa, were detained on December 15, 2023, after a days-long Israeli attack on al-Shifa Hospital, which was near the house they had been living in.
The family had endured a five-day-long siege before Israeli forces stormed their house amid heavy gunfire.
“There was no time to think,” Inaam says. “They were firing bullets at our feet, and the children were screaming around me … I just wanted to hide them behind me.”
Mahmoud, Alaa, and Diaa were bound and blindfolded before being taken away by the Israeli soldiers. Inaam fled south with the other women and the children of the family, but her husband, Naeem, who was 65 at the time, refused to run away.
Ten days later, his body was found nearby.
Inaam tries to occupy her time by caring for and raising her six grandchildren, hoping for the soon release of their father and uncles from prison [Omar Ashtawy/Al Jazeera]
Civilians
Inaam explains that her children are civilians. Mahmoud is a father of six children, his youngest born during the war. Alaa had completed his law degree, while Diaa was preparing to start life after high school.
Both Alaa and Diaa were engaged.
“We were planning to marry them in October, the same month the war began … but it never happened,” Inaam says, before adding, “Their fiancees are still waiting.”
“My sons worked with their father at a petrol station we own, and they were living stable lives,” she says. “Why were they arrested?”
Inaam has had little information about her sons since they were arrested, and they were not released as part of any deal. The only way she learns anything about them is through fragments of information carried by released prisoners.
“Every piece of news, no matter how small, is like a thin thread I cling to, to remain certain that my sons are still alive,” Inaam says.
Through these indirect testimonies, Inaam has begun to form an incomplete picture of where her sons are being held.
Alaa and Diaa, the two engaged brothers, were transferred to Negev prison, while Mahmoud was reportedly seen in Ofer prison, although locations often change due to frequent transfers.
“This is the last information I received … but now I don’t know anything about them.”
Inaam feels deep anxiety about the lives of her imprisoned sons amid escalating conditions in the prisons and the approval of a law allowing for the execution of prisoners in Israeli jails [Omar Ashtawy/Al Jazeera]
Fear of death penalty law
The news of the death penalty law passing has worried Inaam further.
Fighting back her emotions, she explains that she could bear the idea of hunger, suffering, or even torture in prison, but not this.
“They can endure hunger … we tell ourselves they can endure it. But execution? Not to that extent.”
Despite reassurances and interpretations suggesting the law targets a specific category of prisoners accused of killing Israelis, she cannot dismiss the possibility that it could affect her sons.
“Even those accused, how can a decision like execution be issued?” she asks.
“Just the fact that such a law exists and is accepted makes any mother in my place unable to feel any peace while her son is in prison.”
In her sons’ absence, Inaam tries to fill the void as best as she can. She takes care of Mahmoud’s children – her grandchildren – and looks for ways to keep their father present in their lives.
“I raise them and teach them the Quran,” she says, explaining that she keeps herself occupied with this as a gift for Mahmoud, who would be happy to see his children memorising the Quran, as he had wished before his detention.
For Inaam, the only solution for her sons and all prisoners is what she describes as a “global stance” to pressure Israel to reverse what she calls unjust decisions against prisoners.
“The whole world should reject this,” she says.
“A prisoner has the right to live, the right to dignity … what is happening to prisoners is something insane … something the human mind cannot comprehend.”
Getting children to wear sunscreen can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle when it triggers irritating temper tantrums, so turning it into a positive, enjoyable habit can make a big difference.
Ahead of Melanoma Awareness Month (May), we spoke to some experts who highlighted the importance of keeping children properly protected from the sun.
“Children’s skin is significantly more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin. The outer barrier isn’t fully developed, which means ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrates more easily and can cause damage at a deeper cellular level,” explains Dr Ross Perry, GP and medical director of Cosmedics. “What many people don’t realise is that a proportion of lifetime sun damage actually occurs before the age of 18.
“Even a handful of serious sunburns in childhood can increase the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, later in life.”
Dr Tina Tian, consultant dermatologist at Stratum Dermatology Clinic Oxford, agrees and reminds parents that sun protection isn’t just for the beach and summer holidays.
“When the UV index is above two, that is when you really want to protect your children against skin cancer,” says Tian. “I ask my Alexa every morning what the UV index is going to be in my local region, but you can also look online or check weather apps.
“Even during some days in March this year we had some days where the UV index was four and above, so I would be checking it from March to October as a minimum.”
However, convincing young children to actually apply sunscreen can be a real challenge, so here are 11 expert-backed hacks on how to make this process easier and more enjoyable.
1. Make it part of their routine
“Make it part of the daily routine rather than something optional,” recommends Perry. “If it’s treated like brushing teeth, it becomes non-negotiable.”
2. Involve them in the process
“Letting children choose their own sunscreen, whether it’s a roll-on, spray, or one with fun packaging gives them a sense of control,” says Perry.
3. Choose non-stinging sunscreen
“When sunscreen gets into children’s eyes, it can really sting so look out for sunscreen that is labelled as non-stinging,” advises Tian. “The P20 one is really good due to the fact that it’s so water-resistant, so it doesn’t really move and won’t migrate into the eyes and make them sting.”
4. Make it into a game
“You can also make it more engaging by turning application into a game, using songs,” recommends Perry.
Tian agrees: “I often ask my daughter what kind of face she wants me to paint with the sunscreen to try to make it more fun.”
5. Explain why it’s important using age-appropriate language
“I think it’s important to tell your child why sunscreen is important by using age-appropriate language,” says Tian. “When they’re younger, you can get children’s books that talk about moles, and when they’re older you can use more grown-up educational resources.”
Perry agrees and adds: “For younger children, explaining that sunscreen is like an ‘invisible shield’ that protects their skin can make the concept more relatable and less of a chore.”
6. Make it a reciprocal process
“With my son I find it really helpful to get him to put some sunscreen on me first to make it a bit of a reciprocal thing,” says Tian. “So, he does it on me first, and then I’m allowed to do it on him.”
7. Allow extra time for application
“Make sure you leave enough time to put on sunscreen before you leave the house,” advises Tian. “If you do it in a rush and accidentally get it into their eyes, they might become really traumatised by it and won’t want to do it next time.
“Set aside five minutes before you go out of the house to put sunscreen on so you’re not rushing and can do it slowly.”
8. Let them play with the lids
“A lot of sun creams have lids and you can draw funny faces on the lid and let your kids play with it while you’re doing the cream,” suggests Tian.
9. Warm it up in your hand beforehand
“Sun cream often feels very cold, so it can help to warm it up in your hands a bit before you start putting it on your child so it’s not too much of a shock for them,” advises Tian.
10. Choose a lighter texture
“Many children dislike thick or sticky formulations, so opting for lightweight, quick-absorbing sunscreens designed specifically for sensitive or paediatric skin can make a big difference,” says Perry.
11. Be a role model
“Children are far more likely to accept sunscreen if they see parents applying it consistently themselves,” says Perry. “For children it really is about building lifelong habits that protect their skin for decades to come.”
Even without the obvious emotional attachment, Steve McNamara feels like an excellent appointment for Hull FC; after all there are few coaches on the market who have his calibre, his experience, his list of achievements.
Hull is a notoriously intense place to be involved in rugby league, a goldfish bowl of passion and expectation that McNamara as much as anyone will be aware of and ready for, but also who understands and feels that passion himself.
It is an acquisition for the Black and Whites that makes total sense. John Cartwright has established a good culture at Hull since taking over, but you sense McNamara can take them even further.
He went into Catalans and changed the club from a stop-off point for expensively recruited flawed yet gifted imports into a proper ‘team’. The Dragons won a Challenge Cup and made two Grand Finals, despite all of the trials and tribulations faced by the Perpignan club in terms of travel and financial costs.
After being thrust into the Bradford job as a young coach, taking on England equally in the relative infancy of his career and having developed his coaching as a highly-rated assistant in the NRL with Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors before his Catalans adventure, McNamara has armed himself with a variety of skills and experiences.
McNamara is likely to be backed by co-owner Andrew Thirkill and director of rugby Richie Myler, overhauling the squad in his own manner, but he is also a coach that should instill confidence in Hull’s homegrown talent – Lewis Martin, Davy Litten, Harvey Barron – all players who would find themselves a key part of the future vision.
You only have to look at the improvement at Warrington in 2026, McNamara has bolstered Sam Burgess’ staff, his fingerprints are all over the upturn in fortunes, and the results are tangible.
Importantly, you feel McNamara will have time and tremendous goodwill from the fanbase. Time to build, time to implement and time to get it right.
Of course, that brings extra pressure, being that ‘hometown’ appointment with the expectation he can drive Hull towards becoming a genuine force. McNamara is in the career arc you feel will give him the ability to cope.
As for Cartwright, his immediate stepping down from day to day duties but remaining as an employee comes after his public dismay at the manner of his exit being announced last week.
The 60-year-old is a proud man, whose affection within the club was evident at Thursday’s loss to St Helens from both fans and players.
However, he will now step aside and an equally Hull-embedded figure in Andy Last will take the interim reins. Last is steeped in the club and while he might well be a temporary measure, this is not his first cameo of this nature with the Airlie Birds.
Ford Motor Company is recalling nearly 1.4 million F-150 pickup trucks due to a gearshift issue that can increase the risk of a crash, according to a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Federal regulators said a loss in signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module transmission can cause certain F-150 trucks to unexpectedly downshift into second gear, which could result in a loss of vehicle control.
The recall affects F-150 vehicles equipped with six-speed automatic transmission produced between March 12, 2014, and Aug. 18, 2017.
In its recall report, NHTSA said some vehicle owners may notice an illuminated malfunction indicator light or wrench light on the vehicle’s dashboard if there’s an issue with the transmission range sensor.
Ford is aware of two injuries and one accident potentially related to the gearshift issue, according to NHTSA.
The Michigan-based carmaker plans to send letters to vehicle owners beginning April 27. Owners can take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have affected components of their F-150 updated or replaced.
![Ina’am feels deep anxiety about the lives of her imprisoned sons amid escalating conditions in the prisons and the approval of a law enabling the execution of prisoners in Israeli jails [Omar Ashtawy/ Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC4839-1776374413.jpeg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Ina’am feels deep anxiety about the lives of her imprisoned sons amid escalating conditions in the prisons and the approval of a law enabling the execution of prisoners in Israeli jails [Omar Ashtawy/ Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC07513-1776374465.jpeg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
