Defending Formula One champion Max Verstappen emphatically wins the Belgian Grand Prix for an eighth straight win and 10th overall of a crushingly dominant season

Fans questioned 'Selling Sunset' star Heather Rae El Moussa's credentials after she launched a new company called HEM Capital and invited fans to invest in it

A private school in Australia is reportedly supporting a young "non-verbal" student identifying as a cat. The behaviour is often linked to a "furries" subculture being adopted by many teens, where many furries feel a deep connection to a particular animal that they take on their "fursona", according to Gerbasi et al. A source close to the family said: "No one seems to have a protocol for students identifying as animals, but the approach has been that if it doesn’t disrupt the school, everyone is being supportive," "The behaviour is being normalised. Now more and more people are identifying as whatever they want to identify with, including 'furries'." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The Melbourne school's approach to mental health "is always unique to the student and will take into account professional advice and the wellbeing of the student". Many Gen-Zers have taken on the subculture with an interest in anthropomorphised animals. On TikTok alone, the hashtag brings people eccentric costumes called "fursuits." Some wear head-to-toe outfits, while others wear the mask. Sharon Roberts, associate professor of social development studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, told ABC the subculture is becoming increasingly popular because of its safe and non-judgemental community. "They're usually imbued with positive attributes, and they're often idealised versions of the self," she said. "What the research has shown is that these self-created identities have incredible benefits to the person in all kinds of ways." She said, "about 20 to 25 per cent of furries have fur suits." "They might have ears or tails or wear a dog collar, but a lot of furries don't wear anything like that at all," she added. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The Vatican says Pope Francis has emerged after a three-hour abdominal surgery with no complications

Would you like to learn how to play 'Wavelength'? In 2019, a board game was released, but people are playing their own version on TikTok

Actors represented by the Hollywood union SAG-AFTRA voted to authorize a strike if the major studios, streamers and production companies don’t meet their demands for a new contract by June 30

Protesters with hands covered in red paint repeatedly interrupted a congressional hearing on US military aid Tuesday, demanding Washington stop...

President Joe Biden's younger dog, Commander, bit another US Secret Service agent at the White House Monday evening, CNN has learned, the 11th known biting incident involving the 2-year-old German Shepherd.

'Does he have no idea of personal space?' a social media user asked

Former New Hampshire U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte has announced she’s running for governor, days after fellow Republican Chris Sununu said he’s not seeking reelection to a fifth term in 2024

The European Union’s trade commissioner has called for a more balanced relationship with China, noting a trade imbalance of nearly 400 billion euros ($425 billion)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he is engaging with member federations to make sure that the $30,000 payments designated for every player at the Women’s World Cup reach the athletes