Today's CULTURE story

Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone

What happened
President Donald Trump yesterday announced the latest picks for the Kennedy Center Honors, naming actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, actor-singer Michael Crawford, musician George Strait and the glam-rock band Kiss as this year's inductees. Trump also said he had "agreed to host" the event.

Who said what
Trump has taken a "strong interest" in the Kennedy Center since taking office and appointing himself the institution's chairman, said The New York Times. Historically, a "bipartisan advisory committee selects the recipients," The Associated Press said. But Trump said he "was about 98% involved" in choosing this year's honorees and had rejected a "couple of wokesters." Given the expectations, The Washington Post said, "perhaps the most surprising thing about Trump's class of honorees is how comfortably it fits with those that came before it."

Trump is also trying to "reshape" the decades-old ceremony by "pushing for a glitzier star-studded celebration," said Fox News. And he has "hinted he'd like to see the venue renamed the Trump/Kennedy Center," the AP said. But that "could potentially violate the law that created the center in the first place," said NBC News.

What next?
Done+Dusted, the producers of Kennedy Center ceremonies in recent years, "pulled out of producing this year's honors," said the Post. The ceremony will take place Dec. 7 and will be televised shortly afterwards.

Today's NATURE Story

Rabbits with 'horns' sighted in Colorado

What happened
Rabbits with black, hornlike spikes growing on their heads and other odd or unslightly protuberances are not dangerous and won't infect humans or other species, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said yesterday, following days of social media posts about sightings of "Frankenstein bunnies," "demon rabbits" and "zombie rabbits" in and around Fort Collins.

Who said what
Rabbits with "wart-like growths" protruding from their faces "like metastasizing horns" may "seem straight out of a low-budget horror film," but they are just infected with the "mostly harmless" Shope papillomavirus, The Associated Press said. The "relatively common" virus, discovered in 1930, has "contributed to scientists' knowledge about the connection between viruses and cancer" and also "likely influenced the centuries-old jackalope myth in North America."

Coloradans are "so used to seeing rabbits, so they're like, 'Oh my god, what is that on its face?'" Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told The New York Times. There is no cure, but the growths don't harm the rabbits unless they spread to the eyes or mouth and interfere with eating, she said, and they typically disappear after the infected animal's immune system kicks in.

What next?
People should avoid feeding or interacting with infected rabbits, especially if they have pet bunnies, but they can appreciate them from a distance, Van Hoose said. "Nature is metal," and "this can be kind of cool-looking on different rabbits."

It's not all bad

Biochar, a type of charcoal made from human waste, could be an unlikely triple threat, curtailing pollution and energy use while also helping with fertilizer shortages, according to new research from Cornell University. To create biochar, the waste is treated at a high heat, which allows "nutrient proportions to be adjusted" based on the "needs of individual crops," said The Guardian. The process also reduces waste volume by 90% and avoids contaminants in sewage sludge.

Under the radar

India's fake weddings

Imagine an event with all the fun of a wedding but none of the commitment, stress or family drama. That's the promise of India's latest party craze. At a "fake wedding," people gather to "enjoy a wedding party minus the actual marriage," said the BBC, and the trend is spreading beyond India's shores.

There are "dazzling lights, glittering outfits, Bollywood hits, a lavish spread of food, and an atmosphere soaked in celebration," said the BBC. It all feels "extravagant, emotional and larger than life," but there's no bride or groom, "just the party."

These "judgment-free" ceremonies offer the wedding experience "without drama," said Indian lifestyle website Curly Tales. Fake weddings feed young people's desire to find reasons to celebrate.

And the trend is already evolving. At some fake weddings, organizers divide attendees into a "groom's team" or "bride's team." At others, there's "no alcohol, just a themed celebration," said the BBC. Fake weddings are also "taking over Dubai," said Curly Tales. Here, ticketed parties are "decked out with dhols, DJs, dance-offs and full-blown wedding decor."

In India's big cities — Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru — ticket prices for fake weddings start at about 1,500 rupees ($17), but they can be as high as 15,000 rupees. This is great news for India's $130 billion wedding industry.

And there's real appeal in faking it. Why not swerve the "social minefield" of relatives asking "questions about your career, relationships, or why you are not next in line"? said Curly Tales. The "only thing expected of you" is to "show up, dress well and have fun."

On this day

August 14, 1947

Pakistan gained its independence, ending nine decades of British colonial rule. The country's shift to self-rule followed a movement across newly partitioned Pakistan and India — which celebrated its independence the next day — urging the cutting of ties with Britain. Aug. 14 remains an important national holiday in Pakistan, similar to the U.S. Fourth of July.

TODAY'S newspaperS

'More demand for police than supply'

"In D.C., agents to patrol 24/7," the Chicago Tribune says on Thursday's front page. "Troops, agents surge into D.C.," though a "federal effort to tackle D.C. crime in 1989 shows pitfalls," The Washington Post says. Trump's takeover is also "'a sledgehammer' to rights of homeless people," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says. Across the U.S., "there's more demand for police than supply," says USA Today. "Europe's leaders say Trump backs goals on Ukraine," The New York Times says. "Is Putin laying a U.S. trap?" says the Los Angeles Times. "Record few in U.S. drinking alcohol," raising "concern for the wine industry," says the San Francisco Chronicle.

► See the newspaper front pages

Tall tale

Liquid assets

A German woman is under investigation after allegedly stealing 18 cents worth of rainwater from her neighbor. Police in Konstanz allege that in the wee hours, the suspect made two trips to a house across the street, ultimately absconding with 40 liters of water from the neighbor's rain barrel. It may not be the biggest crime, but the woman must be "held answerable for the theft of low-value items," said the police.

Morning Report was written and edited by Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Chas Newkey-Burden, Rafi Schwartz, Peter Weber and Kari Wilkin, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.