The European Commission’s NIS Cooperation Group has opened a public consultation to gather feedback on its recently published roadmap for building a quantum-safe European digital infrastructure. The consultation is aimed at providers of critical infrastructure, industry stakeholders, academia, and the wider public. The consultation is open until Sept. 29. Feedback received will play a direct role in shaping the next steps toward a secure, quantum-resistant European digital infrastructure.
Participants are encouraged to suggest improvements to the roadmap, including sector-specific challenges, additional text, or concrete proposals that could strengthen the transition to quantum-resistant systems. References to open-source tools that may benefit the wider community are also welcome. Submissions will be reviewed by the Work Stream, and selected contributors may be invited to provide further detail. Commercial product advertising will not be considered.
Following the publication of the ‘Coordinated Implementation Roadmap for the Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC),’ the Work Stream on PQC of the NIS Cooperation Group is now working on the next steps to support the PQC migration. Quantum computing is set to radically transform cryptography, creating new threats to data security, with the Commission committed to engaging with stakeholders to prepare for a post-quantum cryptography world. These steps include the collection of feedback on the already published roadmap and the publication of an updated/additional roadmap.
The Quantum Strategy includes launching the Quantum Europe Research and Innovation Initiative, a joint EU and Member States’ effort to support foundational research and develop applications in key public and industrial sectors. It also establishes a quantum design facility and six quantum chips pilot lines, backed by up to €50 million in public funding, to transform scientific prototypes into manufacturable products.
The effort also includes the launch of a pilot facility for the European Quantum Internet; expansion of the network of Quantum Competence Clusters across the EU and establishing the European Quantum Skills Academy in 2026; and developing a Quantum Technology Roadmap in Space with the European Space Agency and contributing to the European Armament Technological Roadmap.
Aug. 19, 2025 — In a move to advance stroke care and accelerate critical decision-making, Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) has implemented RapidAI’s deep clinical AI platform, bringing faster insights and improved coordination to stroke response teams. The technology is now live across TRMC’s stroke program and is already helping clinicians deliver more timely and informed care.
RapidAI, whose platform has helped shape the modern stroke treatment window, uses clinically validated AI to analyze brain images in real time. The solution helps physicians identify blood clots, brain bleeds and changes in brain tissue to support urgent treatment decisions.
“When it comes to stroke, every minute matters,” said Jeff Robbins, Director of Neurodiagnostics/Telehealth. “RapidAI gives our physicians fast, accurate data that helps clarify stroke severity and support collaborative decisions in the most critical moments. That level of insight can truly make a difference in patient outcomes.”
The introduction of RapidAI is part of TRMC’s broader effort to integrate the most advanced technology into care pathways. The platform supports stroke care by:
Delivering instant mobile and desktop alerts to stroke teams;
Enabling seamless coordination across departments or facilities; and
Providing clear, actionable imaging insights from the first scan.
“At Tift Regional Medical Center, we’re committed to leading with innovation that serves patients,” said Chris Dorman, president and CEO of Southwell. “By integrating RapidAI as a foundational part of our stroke program, we’re equipping our teams with advanced clinical tools that not only enhance care today but also position us to expand our use of AI across other critical areas over time.”
This deployment reflects a growing trend toward responsible AI adoption in clinical environments. With more than 300 stroke cases treated annually at TRMC, the potential impact of RapidAI is significant, supporting better-informed care, faster intervention, and more consistent outcomes.
“Clinicians need a deep clinical AI platform they can trust — one that delivers accuracy, speed, and reliability,” said David Stoffel, CBO of RapidAI. “That’s exactly what we’ve built.”
To learn more about stroke care at Tift Regional Medical Center, visit mysouthwell.com.
More information on RapidAI is available at www.rapidai.com.
The Sindh government has declared a public holiday on Wednesday in Karachi following heavy rainfall lashing the metropolis.
In a separate notification, the Sindh government’s school department has ordered all private and public educational institutions under its purview in the city to remain closed today due to the heavy rainfall.
With citizens experiencing extended power failures, traffic jams and general mayhem as heavy rain on Tuesday, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab declared a rain emergency amid warnings of more showers to come.
According to the Met Office, as of 8pm Tuesday, Gulshan-i-Hadeed had recorded the highest level of rain at 170 millimetres, followed by Airport Old Area at 158.5mm, Jinnah Terminal 153mm, Nazimabad 149.6mm, Surjani Town 145.2mm, Keamari 140mm, Saadi Town 140.2mm, Defence Housing Authority Phase VII 134mm, University Road 133mm, PAF Base Faisal 128mm, North Karachi 108.4mm, Korangi 132.2mm, Gulshan-i-Maymar 98mm, PAF Masroor Base 87mm, Orangi Town 66.2mm and Bahria Town 4.8mm.
It continued to pour intermittently over large parts of the city late into Tuesday night, with prayers the only resort for citizens facing prolonged electricity breakdowns with no end in sight.
According to a notification issued by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the mayor “cancelled all types of leave, including weekly holidays” for the essential services departments, directing them to remain available.
He also directed the municipal services, the fire brigade and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) departments of KMC to establish a Rain Emergency Cell in coordination with all essential services departments.
On the instructions of the Karachi East Zone’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Farrukh Ali, the East Zone police is on high alert to deal with the possible effects of rains, the DIG’s Media Cell said in a statement.
“Clear orders have been issued to all SDPOs (sub-divisional police officers) and SHOs (station house officers) to remain present in their respective areas, ensure drainage, traffic flow and take immediate steps to deal with any emergency,” the statement said.
It added that the DIG had instructed that the protection of life and property of citizens should be ensured at all costs, paying special attention to low-lying areas. Rescue teams and helplines should be kept active, and timely guidance and assistance should be provided to the public.
The DIG statement also appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary movement during bad weather, advising them to contact 15 or the nearest police station immediately in case of any emergency.
“Police are with the public at all times in all weathers,” it added.
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani contacted various town chairmen, municipal committee chairmen and municipal commissioners over the phone to seek details regarding the situation after the rains.
The chairmen of all towns and union councils and the municipal commissioners should immediately use all resources to drain water from the roads on an emergency basis.
“In the first phase, all important highways should be cleared so that the delivery of machinery or other equipment to the affected areas can be ensured,” he said in a statement from his office, adding that small highways and roads should be tackled next.
He urged citizens to limit their movement due to water on the roads to avoid any accidents, and also urged them to stay away from power poles and other electrical installations.
“In some areas, due to the power outage by K-Electric, sewage pumping stations are facing difficulties. As an alternative, these pumping stations are being operated with emergency generators,” he said.
A rain emergency cell was also established at the Governor’s House, with citizens impacted by the rain and traffic directed to immediately reach out for help at 1366.
The cell will remain active around the clock and provide timely aid to victims.
“Citizens will not be left alone in difficult times; all possible facilities will be provided,” Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori was quoted as saying in a statement.
Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies. However, heavy downpours also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas.
On Monday, Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani had said that arrangements were in place to deal with the upcoming monsoon spell as parts of Karachi received light rain on Monday.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had chaired an emergency meeting to oversee preparations for the monsoon rains expected to impact Karachi and other parts of the province.
A press release from his office said CM Shah put all the local bodies, administration and traffic police on high alert, and directed them to strengthen coordination between the relevant departments and organisations.
Update: “We are currently facing data connectivity challenge on our PTCL and Ufone services. Our Teams are diligently working to restore the services as quickly as possible. We regret any inconvenience caused,” a PTCL spokesperson officially informed ProPakistani.
Internet users across Pakistan are experiencing widespread connectivity issues following an outage at an upstream service provider. The disruption, likely due to flooding across the nation, has affected several major internet service providers, including PTCL, Ufone and Nayatel, all of which have confirmed service interruptions.
According to an official statement from Nayatel, the disruption stems from a technical fault in the network of an upstream provider responsible for carrying internet traffic into the country. As a result, end users in various regions are facing slow browsing speeds, increased latency, and in some cases, complete loss of connectivity.
Users have reported difficulties accessing websites and online services throughout the day. Outage tracking platform DownDetector has also registered a significant spike in complaints related to internet access across multiple regions.
While service providers have acknowledged the issue, there is currently no official timeline for full restoration. Technical teams are working with upstream partners to resolve the problem and restore stable internet access.
“I love the idea of ‘official’ super heroes, ones who work within the system,” Zdarsky told ComicBook.com. “It felt like there would be some sort of United Nations representatives from the Security Council member countries to deal with situations like Latveria. So, the United Captains came from that idea, a team that isn’t a team, that may have their own agendas.”
Schiti’s work on the X-MEN titles and G.O.D.S. have made him one of the Marvel’s premier character designers. Now, he brings his skills to CAPTAIN AMERICA, modernizing Cap’s suit and creating fantastic, instantly iconic costumes for the four new United Captains, each of which will be spotlighted on design variant covers for CAPTAIN AMERICA #6-9.
“One of the things I like most about my job is designing new characters,” Schiti said. “It has always been a great hobby of mine, even before becoming a professional! I tried to incorporate some traditional symbols from the countries of origin of the new Captains into their uniforms, which are also practical and suitable for combat.”
Pick up CAPTAIN AMERICA #6 on December 17 and preorder the rest of the series at your local comic shop today!
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Kevin Spacey’s comeback bid rolls on with another cameo at a high-profile international film festival.
The actor is set to appear at a gala event during the Venice Film Festival in Italy, where he will present a trailer for his sci-fi thriller, Holiguards Saga — The Portal of Force. The film, intended to launch a franchise, also stars Spacey alongside Dolph Lundgren, Tyrese Gibson, Brianna Hildebrand, Disha Patani, Eric Roberts, Harry Goodwins and Lado Okhotnikov.
The story centers on the conflict between two ancient supernatural factions, the Holiguards and the Statiguards, as they wage a secret war for control of humanity. Amid the conflict, a woman discovers she’s the daughter of two rival leaders, giving her the power to end the conflict. Meanwhile, a Statiguard strategist prepares a catastrophic attack in Paris using a nuclear device and an army of mind-controlled civilians, channeling energy from a cosmic portal to awaken an ancient force known as the Prime.
The event is set for Aug. 29 and is being presented in partnership with Elledgy Media Group, which confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. Expected to attend are members of the film team, including actor Goodwins and Elledgy Media Group founder Elvira Paterson-Gavrilova. The gala program also touts an appearance by an opera singer and the Georgian dance ensemble Holiguard Fire, which created a series of dance performances for the film.
“This project was both a challenge and an inspiration for us. Holiguards is a story about choice, strength, and inner conflict, told through the language of cinema,” Paterson-Gavrilova said. “As a producer, it was important for me to support an ambitious production that is not afraid to be new, complex, and honest. The entire film crew is proud that we are bringing this vision to life step by step.”
The film marks Spacey’s first directing effort in 20 years, and the subject matter seems a far cry from earlier work like 2004’s Beyond the Sea, which found him starring as “Mack the Knife” singer Bobby Darin opposite Kate Bosworth, and the 1996 crime thriller Albino Alligator starring Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway and Gary Sinise. Filming on the $10 million project Holiguards took place in Mexico in 2023-24, with post-production provided by Elledgy Media Group and Lado Film. It was developed and produced by Paterson-Gavrilova from a script by Lado Okhotnikov and Sergey Torchilin.
Spacey has been on somewhat of an international tour these past few months. In May, he touched down in Cannes, France, during the film festival to pick up an award at a gala dinner presented by the Better World Fund for excellence in film and television. The trophy was the latest in a series of awards the actor picked up as he attempts to regain a foothold in his career, which took a blow — including a 2017 firing from Netflix’s House of Cards — due to sexual misconduct allegations and legal battles. Spacey always denied all criminal charges and was found not guilty in sexual assault trials in the U.S. and the U.K.
“Who would have ever thought that honoring someone who has been exonerated in every single courtroom he’s ever walked into would be thought of as a brave idea,” Spacey said in his acceptance speech, during which he also praised his manager and “best friend,” Evan Lowenstein. He credited him with helping the actor “come out the other side of these last few challenging years not angry, not bitter, not resentful, but more present, more loving, more understanding and more forgiving than I ever have been in my life.”
Last year, he was honored with a trophy for a voice role in the 2023 U.K. action thriller Control by the Folkestone Independent Film Awards in addition to receiving Italy’s Nations Award for Lifetime Achievement at a special gala in the historic southern Sicilian town of Taormina. More recently, and after the Cannes showing that also included a stop at amfAR’s Cannes gala, Spacey has appeared at the Italian Global Series Festival and at Andrea Bocelli’s Notti Toscane event.
So far, Oasis have let the music do the talking. Liam and Noel Gallagher have just wound up the first round of UK and Irish dates on their sold-out Live ’25 tour and in a testament to the breathless enthusiasm that’s greeted their first round of shows in more than 16 years they’ve hardly had to talk up the dates at all.
In fact, until Tuesday (Aug. 19) neither brother had sat down for a proper interview about the shows at all. But Noel, who like his younger sibling singer Liam, is simply mad about football, called in to his favorite drive-time sports chat show, talkSPORT with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent, to chat about Man City, and, of course, how things are going with the formerly battling brothers.
Saying he was feeling “a bit shaky” after the band’s two-night run at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday (Aug. 16) and Sunday (Aug. 17), Gallagher summed up the weekend by saying, “there was a lot of singing, a lot of drinking and a lot of talking nonsense… it was quite a night.”
Noel said he’s on “top of the world” at the moment, professing to be “completely blown away” by how the gigs the reunited band have played so far have been received. “It’s difficult to put into words, actually,” said the band’s lyricist. “Every night is the crowd’s first night, so every night’s got that same kind of energy. It’s been truly amazing… I’m not usually short for words, but I can’t really articulate it at the minute.”
Asked how he was feeling on July 4 in Cardiff, Wales, when the band were gearing up to take the stage for the first show of a tour pretty much nobody thought would ever happen, Noel said Oasis have never been one of those bands who have a prayerful “huddle” before they go on. That said, speaking just for himself, Noel admitted he, “grossly underestimated what I was getting into… After about five minutes I was like, ‘All right, can I just go back to the dressing room and start this again?’ I’ve done stadiums before and all but, but I don’t mind telling you my legs are turned to jelly after about halfway through the second song.”
Summing it up, Noel said simply, “it’s been an amazing thing.” Reflecting on the emotional hug the brothers shared at the end of the first reunion show in July, Noel said, “we’re not those kind of guys, really… It’s great just to be back with [guitarist] Bonehead and Liam and just be doing it again. I guess when it’s all said and done we’ll sit and reflect on it, but it’s great being back in a band with Liam. I forgot how funny he was.”
Giving his former sibling rival props for sounding great at the shows, Noel said, “Liam’s smashing it. I’m proud of him.” After fronting his own band for the 16 years they were apart — the High Flying Birds — Noel said he knows the pressures of being the lead singer and admitted, “I couldn’t do the stadium thing like he does it…. I kind of look around and I think, ‘You know, good for you, mate.’ He’s been amazing.”
Also, in case you were wondering, yes, he’s still getting hit up all the time by mates looking to score the hard-to-get tickets. “When it all started, the ticket sales and all that, there was a few people who I would have expected to [be] looking for tickets who didn’t,” he said. “But after the first gig my phone just exploded.” Saying he feels bad for those who are left outside on the streets singing the band’s songs at top volume after getting shut out on getting tickets, Noel said the showering of love is “mental… it’s more than the band. It’s more than the songs. There’s something else going on that we’ve not quite been able to our fingers on yet.
Looking forward, Noel said he’s really looking forward to playing one of the band’s last shows, at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 15 and 16. “We’ve played there a couple of times and the Argentinians are without doubt in the top five places for us to play in the world.”
When Goldstein brought up persistent rumors that the band might be playing the Knebworth Festival next year on the 30th anniversary of their legendary 1996 headlining slot for 250,000 fans over two nights at that event, Noel politely moved right past that query and insisted they get on with the football talk.
Gears of War is one of the most iconic Xbox series, spawning sequels, spinoffs and books. I fell in love with the series almost 20 years ago when the original landed on the Xbox 360. So I can’t wait to play the remastered edition of the game, called Gears of War: Reloaded, when it launches on Xbox Game Pass on Aug. 26.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gives you access to a large library of games, with new ones, like Doom: The Dark Ages, added monthly, plus other benefits such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.
Here are the games Microsoft is adding to Game Pass soon. You can also check out other games the company added to the service recently, like Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
Blacksmith Master (game preview)
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.
Adventuring in a medieval world can be fun and challenging but it can also be difficult work. If you’d rather run and manage a shop in a medieval setting, give Blacksmith Master a try. You run your own forge and have to manage resource acquisition, production and sale of goods. You’ll build your own forge, craft everything from utensils to weapons and become one of the most skilled craftsmen in the kingdom — all without fighting dragons or other dangerous creatures.
Void/Breaker (PC)
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.
You’re trapped by a ruthless AI in an endless loop where you’re forced to fight hostile enemies, die and then repeat. In this roguelite game, each time you die, you’ll face new challenges. Fast gunplay, quick movements and all-out destruction are your friends in this adrenaline-filled adventure. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get out one day.
Goat Simulator Remastered
New for Game Pass Standard subscribers on Aug. 20.
Chaos. That’s the best way to describe this game. You play as a goat and your mission is the total destruction of everything in sight. Can’t stand the look of that car? Run it off the road. Don’t like the town hall’s placement? Demolish it. Want that kid’s ice cream? Eat it. Do what you want in this sandbox-style game where anything is possible.
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers got access to this game in November and Game Pass Standard subscribers can get in on the fun soon, too.
Persona 4 Golden
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play on Aug. 20.
A string of serial murders set this game in motion, where you’ll travel between the real world and the world within TVs as you try and find out who — or what — is behind the murders. You’ll explore your town and carry on daily activities, as well as travel to the TV World to explore different dungeons and battle monsters in this RPG.
Herdling
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 21.
Get ready for a grand alpine adventure as you shepherd some giant Calicorns — which look like Appa from Avatar: The Last Airbender — up into a mountain pass. You’ll encounter eerie dangers, puzzles and more on your adventure. And before you ask, yes, you can pet these wonderful creatures.
Gears of War: Reloaded
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 26.
The iconic Gears series is back with a new, remastered edition of the original game. This game maintains the original story of Marcus Fenix and his squad as they take on the alien Locust hordes and it includes a bonus campaign act, every multiplayer map and mode, plus characters and cosmetics unlocked through progression.
This game is also coming to PlayStation 5 and PC, and thanks to cross-play functionality, you’ll be able to play with and against your friends on those platforms.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 28.
Step into the enchanted world of Thedas, a land full of untamed wilderness, glittering cities and strife. A pair of corrupt ancient gods has broken out of their hold and is wreaking havoc across the globe. It’s up to you to gather a team and stop them, but that’s just the main quest. You can also embark on side quests and companion quests that shed light on who they are and how the world is changing around you. Veilguard changes the Dragon Age formula with a more action-oriented approach, though it retains familiar aspects like branching dialog choices and skill trees. So get ready to dive into a wild adventure, make new friends and become a legend.
Games leaving Game Pass on Aug. 31
While Microsoft is adding those games to Game Pass soon, the company is also removing five others from the service on Aug. 31. So you still have some time to finish up your campaign or any side quests before you have to buy these games separately.
Ben 10: Power Trip
Borderlands 3 Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay Sea of Stars This War of Mine: Final Cut
For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you. You can also check out what to know about upcoming Xbox game price hikes.
Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis claimed the men’s pole vault crown Tuesday (19 August) at the 2025 Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.
The Paris 2024 bronze medal winner cleared 6.02m for the win, ahead of two Frenchmen, Renaud Lavillenie and Thibaut Collet, who tied for second place at 5.91m. Lavillenie is the London 2012 Olympic champion in the event.
Karalis sat out of the two opening heights – 5.42m and 5.62m – before clearing 5.72m in his opening attempt. He passed again on 5.82m and returned to clear 5.92m in one try. He was safely over 6.02m in his third try before calling it a day.
2023 world bronze medallist Kurtis Marschall of Australia had a shock early exit, failing to clear 5.62m – the first height that he attempted.
Competition continues Wednesday (20 August) with stars like Noah Lyles and Dina Asher-Smith set to take centre stage.
