By MARK LEWIS, Associated Press

STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid to win the Nobel Peace Prize has drawn added attention to the annual guessing game over who its next laureate will be.

Longtime Nobel watchers say Trump’s prospects remain remote despite a flurry of high-profile nominations and some notable foreign policy interventions for which he has taken personal credit.

Experts say the Norwegian Nobel Committee typically focuses on the durability of peace, the promotion of international fraternity and the quiet work of institutions that strengthen those goals. Trump’s own record might even work against him, they said, citing his apparent disdain for multilateral institutions and his disregard for global climate change concerns.

Still, the U.S. leader has repeatedly sought the Nobel spotlight since his first term, most recently telling United Nations delegates late last month “everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize.”

A person cannot nominate themselves.

Public lobbying campaigns but a private committee decision

Trump’s boasts and previous high-profile nominations make him the blockbuster name on the list of bookmakers’ favorites. But it’s unclear whether his name comes up in conversation when the five-member Nobel committee, appointed by Norway’s parliament, meets behind closed doors.

FILE – Activists carry signs during a protest against President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of policing of the District of Columbia, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump has been nominated several times by people within the U.S. as well as politicians abroad since 2018. His name also was put forth in December by U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), her office said in a statement, for his brokering of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states in 2020.

Nominations made this year from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pakistan’s government occurred after the Feb. 1 deadline for the 2025 award.

Trump has said repeatedly that he “deserves” the prize and claims to have “ended seven wars.” On Tuesday, he teased the possibility of ending an eighth war if Israel and Hamas agree to his peace plan aimed at concluding the nearly two-year war in Gaza.

“Nobody’s ever done that,” he told a gathering of military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. “Will you get the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They’ll give it to some guy that didn’t do a damn thing.”

Sustained peace efforts prioritized over quick wins

Nobel veterans say the committee prioritizes sustained, multilateral efforts over quick diplomatic wins. Theo Zenou, a historian and research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said Trump’s efforts have not yet been proven to be long-lasting.

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“There’s a huge difference between getting fighting to stop in the short-term and resolving the root causes of the conflict,” Zenou said.

Zenou also highlighted Trump’s dismissive stance on climate change as out-of-step with what many, including the Nobel committee, see as the planet’s greatest long-term peace challenge.

“I don’t think they would award the most prestigious prize in the world to someone who does not believe in climate change,” Zenou said. “When you look at previous winners who have been bridge-builders, embodied international cooperation and reconciliation: These are not words we associate with Donald Trump.”

Avoiding political pressure

The Nobel committee was met with fierce criticism in 2009 for giving then-U.S. President Barack Obama the prize barely nine months into his first term. Many argued Obama had not been in office long enough to have an impact worthy of the Nobel.

And Trump’s own outspokenness about possibly winning the award might work against him: The committee won’t want to be seen as caving in to political pressure, said Nina Græger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo.

Trump’s prospects for the prize this year are “a long shot,” she said. “His rhetoric does not point in a peaceful perspective.”

The Nobel announcements begin Monday with the medicine prize. They continue with the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Oct. 13.

Stefanie Dazio in Berlin and Darlene Superville in Quantico, Virginia, contributed.

By Sarah Kuta, TravelPulse

It was a cool, clear night as the National Geographic Endurance sailed out of Storefjord, one of the many jaw-droppingly beautiful fjords along the eastern coast of Greenland.

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We were just a few days into National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ “Iceland’s Wild West Coast to East Greenland” voyage but, already, I was eager to leave my stateroom behind. While other guests were getting cozy in their beds after the day’s adventures, I headed up to the ship’s top deck—with a small overnight bag in tow. I was going to spend the night in an igloo.

Built in 2021, the National Geographic Endurance has many of the amenities and spaces you’d expect to find on a modern, purpose-built expedition ship—a cozy library, an X-shaped bow that can easily slice through sea ice, a garage full of flat-bottomed Zodiaks and inflatable kayaks for exploring. But the vessel (along with sister ship National Geographic Resolution) also has an unexpected feature: a pair of geodesic glass igloos that guests can reserve for a unique overnight stay during their sailing.

I’d heard and read plenty about the igloos in the months leading up to my trip. So, when I had the opportunity to spend the night in one, I gleefully jumped at the chance. Here’s what it was like to sleep in an igloo on an expedition cruise in the Arctic.

National Geographic Endurance Igloos: History and Details

But first, a little history. The igloo on National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution are the brainchild of Sven-Olof Lindblad, the founder and co-chairman of the board for Lindblad Expeditions.

Lindblad has “always been fascinated by igloos,” he explained in a post on Instagram. The fact that people figured out how to build structures from blocks of ice, he added, is “amazing.” When he heard about igloos made of clear materials being used for Northern Lights viewing in Finland, he was even more intrigued. He decided to add a couple to each of the line’s new polar ships.

National Geographic Endurance cruise. (National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions/TNS)

The igloos are located on the back corners of the ship near the two infinity-style hot tubs. Roughly a third of each structure is cantilevered over the edge of the ship, which adds a bit of dramatic flair.

They are made up of a series of interconnected, triangle-shaped windows. Those that face outward are transparent, while those that face inward—toward the areas accessible to other guests—have frosted panes for privacy. A sign on the door instructs other guests not to enter whenever the igloos are in use.

These novel, glamping-style accommodations—which can each comfortably accommodate up to two guests at a time—are available at no extra cost to travelers booked on one of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ cruises. You can’t reserve them in advance, however, only once you’re actually onboard the ship. They’re available for one night of your voyage on a first-come, first-served basis, but guests staying in suites get priority booking.

As soon as I stepped foot on the ship in Reykjavík, I headed straight to reception to reserve my igloo stay. A few days later, I found a letter in my stateroom inviting me to meet the receptionist, Marija, on Deck 8 near the spa for a quick rundown.

National Geographic Endurance cruise. (National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions/TNS)

When we met at the appointed time, Marija confirmed I’d be staying in the igloo on the ship’s starboard side. She showed me around the small but comfortable space, pointing out the thick sleeping mask I’d need to wear if I wanted to get any sleep (the sun doesn’t really set this far above the Arctic Circle in August) and the hot water bottle I could use to stay warm in the unheated, uninsulated space.

There was also a bath robe and a fleece-lined cape I could throw on if I needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night (located several steps away inside the spa), a pair of slippers, a water bottle and some tissues. She also showed me how to change the color of the lights, which only further enhanced the already Instagrammable vibes.

Sleeping in an Igloo Above the Arctic Circle

The igloo was mine from after dinner that night until breakfast the next morning. Marija even arranged to have a cup of coffee sent up bright and early, which was a thoughtful touch.

So, after enjoying yet another of executive chef Sara Henstam’s delicious meals, I headed to my cabin to get ready for bed—sort of. I brushed my teeth, swapped my contact lenses for glasses and packed a small overnight bag with a few essentials.

When I arrived at my igloo, I changed into my pajamas and snuggled beneath the crisp, white duvet atop the queen-sized bed. I kept my eyes open as long as I could, gazing at the rugged fjord scenery outside the windows. But, eventually, I donned my eye mask and drifted off to sleep. Even with outside temperatures in the high 30s Fahrenheit, the igloo was plenty warm—at one point, I even ditched the hot water bottle.

In the morning, as promised, a waiter knocked on the door and delivered a steaming mug. It was around 6 a.m.—still about an hour before breakfast in the ship’s main restaurant, Two Seven Zero—so I decided to take advantage of the igloo’s prime location. I changed into my swimsuit, donned my robe and stepped outside to enjoy a quiet moment of solitude in one of the hot tubs, watching the northern fulmars that soared behind the ship wherever it went. Afterward, I tip-toed to the spa and spent a few more blissful minutes in the sauna.

A Bucket List-Worthy Experience

Eventually, my magical time in the igloo came to an end. I headed back to my stateroom and freshened up for the day’s adventures—a long hike on Clavering Island. At breakfast, my fellow guests were eager to hear all the details about my night, curious as to whether they should try to reserve one of the igloos themselves.

I endorsed the stay wholeheartedly. Like diving into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic during the polar plunge or kayaking among crackling, bright blue icebergs, it’s a bucket list experience on a bucket list trip. After all, when else would they ever have the chance to sleep under the stars while sailing among polar bears and narwhals at the top of the world?

©2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings (2-2) make their picks for this week’s game against the 1-3 Cleveland Browns:

DANE MIZUTANI

Vikings 17, Browns 6: It’s not going to be pretty, but if the Vikings can’t beat rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, well, then it’s going to be a very long season.

JACE FREDERICK

Vikings 13, Browns 10: A must-win in Week 5? Minnesota’s pre-bye target record had to be 4-1. If the Vikings are 2-3 after this one, it’s probably over.

JOHN SHIPLEY

Vikings 17, Browns 10: Who knows with these guys: Are they competent (ceiling) or just plain lousy (floor)? With the offensive line in shambles, Minnesota will struggle to move the ball, but Cleveland is minus-46 in point differential.

CHARLEY WALTERS

Vikings 17, Browns 10: If some 63,000 NFL fans in London are hoping to witness two mundane offenses, they’ll be happy.

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By Céline Gounder, KFF Health News

Caroline Connor’s concerns about her son’s development began around his first birthday, when she noticed he wasn’t talking or using any words. Their pediatrician didn’t seem worried, but the speech delay persisted. At 2½, Mason was diagnosed with autism.

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The Connors went on a mission, searching for anything that would help.

“We just started researching on our own. And that’s when my husband Joe came across Dr. Frye in a research study he was doing,” Caroline said.

Richard Frye, a pediatric neurologist, is one of many doctors searching for treatments that can help kids with autism. He’s studying leucovorin, an inexpensive, generic drug derived from folic acid, also known as folate or vitamin B9. Leucovorin is currently prescribed to ease the side effects of cancer chemotherapy. Pregnant women are prescribed multivitamins with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. The neural tube develops into the brain and spinal cord.

Leucovorin isn’t a cure for autism, but “it could really have a substantial impact on a very good percentage of children with autism,” Frye said.

This week, the FDA began the process of approving leucovorin as a treatment for autism, despite a lack of any large, phase 3 clinical trials.

“We do have some good preliminary evidence that leucovorin helps,” Frye said. “But normally, the FDA would want to see at least a couple of large phase 3, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials. Right now, we only have phase 2B studies, and more research is needed to answer key questions, like how to dose it correctly, when to start, and which children will benefit most.”

The theory behind the drug’s use for autism postulates that some children have a blockage in the transport of folic acid into the brain that potentially contributes to some of the neurological problems associated with the disorder. Leucovorin bypasses that blockage and can help some autistic kids improve their ability to speak. Three randomized controlled trials of leucovorin to treat autism have shown positive effects on speech.

Frye cited five blinded controlled studies to date, all positive, although at different doses and in different populations. Still, he said, “the evidence isn’t yet where it would normally be for a drug.”

Frye said he was “disappointed” that his group had not received funding from the National Institutes of Health’s new Autism Data Science Initiative and that he was not consulted on the design of upcoming leucovorin trials. “It’s strange, because I’ve been leading this work for decades,” he noted.

The Science of Cerebral Folate Deficiency

Cerebral folate deficiency, or a deficiency of folate in the brain, was first described by physician-researcher Vincent Ramaekers. Ramaekers found that some kids with neurodevelopmental disorders had normal levels of folic acid in the blood, but low levels in their spinal fluid. He then teamed up with researcher Edward Quadros, who had been studying how an autoimmune disorder might lead to a blockage of folic acid transport into the brain. Ramaekers and Quadros found that autoantibodies against the folate receptor alpha (FR⍺), which transports folic acid from the blood into the brain and the placenta, might cause abnormal fetal brain development and some autism spectrum disorders.

One study found that over 75% of children with autism spectrum disorder had FR⍺ autoantibodies, compared with 10%-15% of healthy kids. There is evidence of a familial or genetic predisposition for developing FR⍺ autoantibodies. While environmental and immune system dysregulation may also play a role, there’s no evidence to suggest that vaccines cause the development of FR⍺ autoantibodies.

The brain has a backup system to the FR⍺ known as the reduced folate carrier, or RFC. The RFC isn’t as efficient a transporter as the FR⍺, but it can transport leucovorin, also known as folinic acid, into the brain. Enzymes in the brain convert leucovorin into the active form of folate.

Treatment with leucovorin increases brain levels of folate in kids with cerebral folate deficiency, or CFD. In one study led by Frye, one-third of such kids experienced improvement in their speech and other behavior when treated with leucovorin. Two randomized trials conducted in France and India showed similar results. A folate receptor autoantibody test (FRAT) is available to help identify which children may most likely respond to leucovorin treatment.

Frye’s team has also identified new potential biomarkers, such as the soluble folate receptor protein, that could predict which children require higher doses.

Frye noted that there are many nuances to treating CFD with leucovorin, including the addition of adjunctive treatments to optimize mitochondrial function.

The side effects associated with leucovorin are mild. Some children experience hyperactivity during the first few weeks of treatment, but that typically subsides within a month or two. A similar pattern is seen with other B vitamins.

Mason’s ‘Little Bottle of Hope’

Mason Connor’s first words came just three days after he started taking leucovorin at age 3, his parents say.

Doctors can currently prescribe the drug only for autism off-label, which means repurposing a drug approved for one condition to treat another.

“We’ve done the science, and the next step is that we want to get more funding so we can actually get it FDA-approved,” Frye said.

He welcomed the FDA’s recent interest but cautioned that it “may have been a little premature,” given the gaps in knowledge and the need for physician education on how to prescribe leucovorin correctly in autism.

There’s one big problem. “Leucovorin’s an old drug, and you can get it for a very low price. So nobody is going to make a lot of money on it. So there’s no reason for them to invest,” Frye said.

Compounding the challenge: supply and quality vary. “Leucovorin is a generic, and different manufacturers use different additives,” Frye explained. “Some formulations children with autism don’t tolerate well.”

Frye used to recommend that patients use the generic form of leucovorin manufactured by West-Ward Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. subsidiary of Hikma, but, he said, “it ran out early this year. Right now, the only reliable source is through a high-quality compounding pharmacy that knows how to make it for kids with autism.” Frye is in the process of establishing a for-profit company to manufacture the right form of leucovorin for kids with autism.

An estimated 20%-30% of all prescriptions in the U.S. are off-label, according to the nonprofit Every Cure. This is often done as there are more than 14,000 known human diseases with no FDA-approved drugs to treat them. Drugs like leucovorin are frequently used off-label because doctors believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. However, there is often limited awareness about these treatments, so they may go unused.

David Fajgenbaum, Every Cure’s co-founder and president, said he’s “literally alive today from a repurposed drug” after he was diagnosed with a rare cancer-like disease that almost killed him. His research into his disease led to a drug meant for another condition.

“It’s heartbreaking to think about drugs being on the pharmacy shelf while someone suffers from a disease,” Fajgenbaum said.

Every Cure uses AI to scour available medical data on diseases and treatments to uncover potential matches. Every Cure brought to light the work of Frye, Ramaekers, Quadros, and others on leucovorin in the treatment of autism.

“I think our system is just flawed and there’s this major gap where drug companies are great at developing new drugs for new diseases, and we as a system are really lousy at looking for new diseases for old drugs. That’s why we started Every Cure — to unlock these hidden cures,” Fajgenbaum said.

Mason is now 5, and the plan is for him to start mainstream kindergarten this fall — helped toward a new path by an old medicine.

©2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.