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  • Novel alpha particle therapy holds promise in prostate, bladder cancer

    Novel alpha particle therapy holds promise in prostate, bladder cancer

    Alpha particles are highly effective at destroying tumor cells, but their therapeutic use has been limited by the short range in which these particles can travel in tissue. A novel mechanism called Alpha DaRT is exploring the possibility to diffuse atoms that emit alpha particles directly within solid tumors, thus overcoming the short travel distance limitation.1 This opens the door to new therapeutic approaches in radiation therapy beyond conventional modalities that rely on beta or gamma emissions.

    Alpha DaRT is currently being assessed across a broad range of malignancies, including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and skin cancer. In the genitourinary (GU) cancer space, the technology shows particular promise in prostate and bladder cancer, where highly targeted treatments are critical for sparing surrounding organs while maintaining oncologic control.

    Currently, Alpha DaRT is under investigation in a feasibility study (NCT04543903) as a neoadjuvant therapy in patients with prostate cancer. In total, the study plans to enroll 10 adult patients with pathologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma. The primary end points for the study are feasibility and safety, and primary completion is expected in December 2026.2

    In the following interview, Robert B. Den, MD, outlines the exploratory applications of the Alpha DaRT technology across the prostate and bladder cancer landscapes. Den is the Chief Medical Officer at Alpha Tau Medical as well as an associate professor of radiation oncology, cancer biology, and urology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Urology Times®: By way of background, could you explain what Alpha DaRT is for those who don’t know? What is the mechanism of action for this agent?

    Den: Alpha DaRT is a small stainless steel or titanium seed that we coat with a radiopharmaceutical, radium-224. Radium-224 is an unstable element, meaning it has too much energy, and it will release that energy naturally through radioactive decay. That process of radioactive decay releases the radiopharmaceutical radium-224 as it decays to become radon-220 from the physical seed. Therefore, what we’ve done is we’ve used a seed as a scaffold to introduce a radiopharmaceutical locally, intratumorally. Now, radon and the subsequent daughter atoms will continue the decay process, spreading Alpha dose approximately 5 mm from where we place the seeds. What we’ve figured out is a way to deliver the most potent form of radiation, which is alpha particles, and overcome the natural limitation of the alpha particle itself.

    Urology Times: How is this treatment approach being applied in the genitourinary oncology space? What have preclinical data shown?

    Den: We are currently utilizing this technology in the setting of prostate cancer, and we are moving toward utilizing it as well in bladder cancer. One of the main challenges in prostate cancer is that you want to maximize the amount of damage that you cause to the tumor and minimize it to the bladder, rectum, and urethra. The unique aspect of the Alpha DaRT and alpha technology is that the Alpha dose is very conformal, much more so than standard treatments that are available today. What that means is that we can put our sources touching the rectal wall or touching the bladder wall and not see damage to those structures because the dose falls off so quickly.

    We’ve shown in preclinical studies that we can have just as potent, if not a more potent, effect on stalling and reversing tumor growth. We also have the ability to activate an immune response in a much more brisk and robust manner than [with] standard therapy. We think that with the Alpha DaRT technology, we can not only augment the role of immunotherapy in bladder cancer, but we may also be able to trigger it even more in patients who are currently refractory to that type of therapy. There are multiple ways in which we see the Alpha DaRT being utilized for these patients.

    Urology Times: Alpha DaRT is currently being explored in a clinical trial in the prostate cancer space. How is that study designed? What are the key end points?

    Den: That study right now is a pilot study. It’s a feasibility and safety study. We are specifically studying it in the context of patients with recurrent prostate cancer who have had prior radiation to the prostate. We know that this can be a really challenging patient population. Surgical resection is more complicated in these patients, and reirradiation causes an increase in potential [adverse] effects.

    So, we’re doing 2 things in this study. First, we’re ensuring that we are able to safely deliver the Alpha DaRT technology to these patients. Second, we are also evaluating how to optimize the delivery in this patient population. We’ve built out a unique treatment planning software, as well as a new grid format in which we deliver the sources directly into the prostate itself. Of course, secondary end points are efficacy in terms of [prostate-specific antigen] control.

    Urology Times: If the data shows that this approach is feasible and effective, how do you see Alpha DaRT fitting into the current treatment paradigm?

    Den: In truth, Alpha DaRT can fit across the treatment paradigm. We anticipate that we will show the safety of this device in this population where there is a high propensity for adverse events to occur. [The agent could] then be utilized either in combination with current standard therapies or in lieu of certain standard therapies, and we can deliver it in such a way that we can make it a much more attractive option for patients who would otherwise not have as many options available to them. What I would also say is that with the ability to utilize it in combination with immunotherapy, it opens up a huge opportunity for a very diverse patient population, potentially even in the metastatic setting, setting us apart from what current technologies have available.

    Urology Times: We talked about the applications of Alpha DaRT across prostate cancer and bladder cancer. Looking at those 2 avenues, what are the next steps for this agent?

    Den: We plan on opening up US trials in both of these spaces, but prostate space will open up first. This will introduce the technology not only to the patients, but also to the different providers. Our technology is unique in that it can be delivered by urologists directly in conjunction with radiation oncology, and we can do this in multiple different settings. We currently have the product being utilized in the setting of non-GU cancers, as diverse as GBM

    [glioblastoma], pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, and these are being delivered by many different providers, whether it’s neurosurgeons, endoscopists, or dermatologists. We see this as a product that can be utilized across multiple specialties, and it is not only in the domain of one.

    Urology Times: Is there anything else that you wanted to add?

    Den: I think that this technology is unique in that it’s allowing us to access a very potent form of radiation, the alpha technology, which previously had been prohibitory, except in the setting of systemic therapy. We can utilize systemic therapy as precedent. In prostate cancer, we have product Xofigo, which is an alpha radium-223, and we have a similar product called samarium-153 that used to be on the market. One of the unique aspects and differences between samarium and radium is that although samarium showed a progression-free survival advantage, radium ultimately showed a survival advantage later on when there were more drugs available at the time. So, clearly, we see a unique difference between alpha vs beta in the context of prostate cancer and GU cancer. The thought is that we can replicate this as well in the intratumoral and in the localized setting.

    REFERENCES

    1. Alpha DaRT technology. Accessed August 21, 2025. https://www.alphatau.com/alpha-dart-radiotherapy

    2. Neoadjuvant interstitial brachytherapy using diffusing alpha emitters radiation therapy in men with prostate cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov. Last updated February 7, 2025. Accessed August 21, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04543903

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  • Attack on Colombian police helicopter leaves at least 8 dead, president says

    Attack on Colombian police helicopter leaves at least 8 dead, president says

    An attack on a Colombian National Police helicopter Thursday killed at least eight people and injured several others, according to President Gustavo Petro.

    It’s still unclear who is behind the attack in the Antioquia department.

    In his most recent comments Thursday, Petro attributed it to the 36th Front of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a leftist guerrilla group.

    However, earlier, he suggested the powerful criminal syndicate Gulf Clan might be involved, noting the attack came after the seizure of 1.5 tons of cocaine in the Urabá region of Antioquia.

    “We have the unfortunate news of eight police officers dead and eight injured in the helicopter whose mission was to transport personnel to eradicate coca leaf crops in Amalfi,” Petro wrote on his X account.

    National Police Director Carlos Fernando Triana Beltrán described the incident as a “terrorist act” and said police units are in the area treating the wounded.

    The helicopter was supporting the manual eradication of illicit crops when it was allegedly attacked by a drone, Antioquia Gov. Andrés Julián Rendón said, adding two uniformed officers were injured.

    The governor posted a video that appears to show the helicopter crashing into a hill.

    Rendón warned that both the Gulf Clan and dissidents of FARC operate in the area, and noted the national government has been unable to agree on who is responsible for the attack.

    “(We) have always known that these are FARC dissidents in charge of Calarcá: that’s their modus operandi, allied with the ELN,” he said, referring to the leftist guerrilla group National Liberation Army. “Coordination within the national government is urgent. This is a matter of life and death.”

    This is a developing story and will be updated.


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  • US Open 2025: Coco Gauff turns to Aryna Sabalenka’s former biomechanics coach on eve of Grand Slam

    US Open 2025: Coco Gauff turns to Aryna Sabalenka’s former biomechanics coach on eve of Grand Slam

    Tweaking technique heading into a tournament with such frenzied attention and high stakes feels like a risky move, but it might pay off for a player who is often able to recover mentally from technical malfunctions during matches.

    However, hitting 16 double faults in her Cincinnati exit angainst Italy’s Jasmine Paolini was a final straw, and prompted immediate action.

    On Wednesday, Gauff stayed on the practice courts with MacMillan in persistent rain – showing the lengths she is going to in order to fine-tune her game before the singles starts on Sunday.

    MacMillan’s anatomical study of Sabalenka focused on improving her fluidity, weight shift and angles, working intensely on her forehand as well as her serve.

    It led to the Belarusian’s transformation from a top-10 player into a Grand Slam-winning champion who has dominated the WTA Tour for most of the past two years.

    In an interview with Performance-Plus Tennis last year, MacMillan spoke about the difficulties of improving technique with limited practice time during the grind of the WTA Tour.

    The Canadian, who played ice hockey as a teenager before switching to a tennis scholarship, has little time before Gauff begins her US Open campaign.

    Therefore, rebuilding her confidence is likely to be as important as technique before Gauff faces Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic – ranked 84th in the world – in the first round at Flushing Meadows in several days’ time.

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  • Tracking the renewable energy transition

    Tracking the renewable energy transition

    At the last climate summit in 2023, hosted by Dubai, international consensus could not be secured to phase out harmful fossil fuels completely. Instead, over 130 countries signed a pact to boost renewable energy production by 2030. While there has been impressive growth in renewables in the past few years, the world is still off-track to meet the goal of tripling renewable generation capacity in the next five years.

    Producing more renewable energy is vital to enable a desperately needed shift away from fossil fuels, which are a leading cause of global warming. Renewable production is also vital for meeting the demand for electricity. Besides the imperative of providing electricity to more people, the demand for electricity-intensive appliances such as air conditioning is growing across our warming planet. Manufacturing processes have also become more electricity-intensive, and artificial intelligence needs a lot of electric power too.

    Continued reliance on fossil fuels for energy will make the goal of limiting global heating to below 1.5C unattainable. Yet, governments are not keeping up with the UN-endorsed goal of quickly switching over to renewables. A recent report by Ember, an energy-focused thinktank, found only 22 countries to have sufficiently increased their renewable energy capabilities. Countries which have failed to meet their pledged targets include the US, China and Russia, which are amongst the world’s largest energy users, and together emit almost half of the world’s carbon emissions.

    Middle Eastern countries seem caught between the contradictory imperatives of continued production and export of oil and gas and the need to invest in and adopt renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels still accounted for over two-thirds of the increase in power generation in India this past year, but it has set very ambitious energy transition targets for the next few years. While Pakistan is not a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, yet fossil fuels are a significant cause for its local air pollution menace. Pakistan also committed to sourcing 60% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, and it has achieved nearly half that target due to the growth of solar energy production.

    Pakistan has become a huge market for solar panels being imported from China, making it the world’s third-biggest importer of this revolutionary technology. According to experts, the solar boom in Pakistan is not spurred by the installation of big solar farms by the government or the private sector. Instead, it is ordinary people who are spearheading the demand for solar energy. Exorbitant electricity prices due to expensive power generation agreements signed decades ago with private power producers have compelled people to turn to the increasingly economical solar option.

    Besides providing a much-needed energy alternative for middle-class consumers, solar panels offer the prospect of bringing electricity to marginalised communities which still lack access to the national grid. Solar panels are also being used to replace diesel-powered pumps to extract groundwater for agricultural purposes, which is a concerning issue that requires further deliberation given the growing water scarcity in the country.

    Even if Pakistan manages to continue lessening its dependence on fossil fuels, its goal of reducing harmful emissions will need more proactive action. Pakistan had also set itself the target of ensuing that 30% of all new car sales would be comprised of electric vehicles, but little progress has been achieved in this regard. Tangible progress concerning this specific target would have significant domestic benefit, given that vehicular emissions are the most serious cause of recurrent winter smog, especially in the Punjab. Besides promoting the use of electric vehicles, including in the public transport sector, Pakistan needs to hasten efforts to exit its onerous fossil fuel-based power purchase agreements, which will remove existing impediments to further harnessing the power of renewables.

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  • 3D X-ray study reveals how rock grains move and stress builds

    3D X-ray study reveals how rock grains move and stress builds

    By

    Published

    Aug 21, 2025

    A team of Johns Hopkins researchers is using an innovative X-ray imaging approach to reveal how compression reshapes the tiny spaces and stresses within sandstone—findings that could predict how this common rock used for fuel reservoirs behaves under deep subterranean pressure. The results appeared in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth and were selected as an editor’s highlight in Eos.

    Geologists have never been able to see in three dimensions exactly how individual grains move and stress builds up inside of rocks—until now.

    “We want to understand how forces are transmitted through rocks and how that transmission changes as you increase the force and eventually break the rock,” said Ryan Hurley, associate professor of mechanical engineering and a research fellow at the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute. “Why? Because these processes govern everything that happens in the Earth’s crust, from our man-made activities like oil reservoir stimulation to natural events like earthquakes.”

    Key Takeaways
    • Hopkins engineers used medical X-ray imaging techniques to create the first 3D view of how individual rock grains move and stress builds during compression.
    • The team discovered that compressed rocks behave surprisingly like loose materials such as sand and gravel.
    • The findings could predict rock behavior in critical applications, from oil reservoir management to understanding how earthquakes originate in the Earth’s crust.

    In their investigation, Hurley’s team used tools, some of which are used for medical imaging, to peer inside Nugget sandstone, generally found in the American West, examining its complex network of pores, grains, and pockets, which dictate how a break occurs.

    The researchers used a suite of X-ray measurement techniques: X-ray tomography, which provides 3D images of a rock’s structure; 3D X-ray diffraction, which can see stresses in each grain throughout a rock; and near-field high-energy diffraction microscopy, which shows the orientations of the crystals of each grain within a rock. These methods have been used by materials scientists to study metals, but Hurley said his group is among the very few—and firs—to use them all in tandem and specifically to study rocks.

    “Initially, we used these techniques to study simple materials composed of collections of single crystals, but now we’re using all of the techniques together to build a complete picture of a rock’s structure, crystalline texture, and force transmission during mechanical loading,” he said.

    Hurley explained that the largest determining factors that dictate how much stress a rock can take before breaking are texture—the crystal orientation of grains—and structure—where the grains and voids are. The researchers saw what they called the “stress evolution” within the rock, observing that behavioral links existed between rocks and non-cohesive granular materials like sand and gravel, with both having similar reactions to external stresses. Additionally, as the sandstone was compressed, its pores closed in the direction of the force and opened up sideways, which caused the sample to crack but not fully break apart.

    “These studies reveal that rocks under stress may, in certain circumstances, behave like collections of interacting grains, exhibiting similarities with inter-particle force transmission in granular materials,” Hurley said. “This suggests a link that has been proposed for over a decade but not, until now, confirmed.”

    Hurley said this work provides a proof-of-concept for using the same suite of techniques to study the relationship between texture, structure, and mechanics of rocks in exquisite detail.

    “With advances in-situ X-ray capabilities emerging in the next few years, we intend to use these techniques to study larger samples in application-relevant stress conditions, like those present in subsurface reservoirs or near faults,” he said. “We also plan to develop and validate ‘digital twins’ of our samples and study how alterations in structure or texture change mechanics, so that our findings can apply as broadly as possible.”

    This study was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and a Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award.

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  • Anisimova given redemption opportunity after tearful end to Wimbledon hopes – Tennis – Sports

    Anisimova given redemption opportunity after tearful end to Wimbledon hopes – Tennis – Sports

    American tennis sensation Amanda Anisimova could be set for a rematch with Iga Swiatek in the US Open quarterfinals, offering her a shot at redemption after her Wimbledon defeat. Swiatek handed Anisimova a crushing defeat in last month’s Wimbledon final, with the American losing 6-0, 6-0 to the relentless Polish player who clinched her sixth Grand Slam title.

    The loss marked a bitter end to Anisimova’s remarkable journey to the Wimbledon final, which was marred by personal tragedy. The 23-year-old also made history, albeit unwanted, as the first player since before World War I to lose every single game in a Wimbledon women’s final.

    Despite being seen as an underdog in the tournament, Anisimova found moments of joy during her two-week run – spotting her family in the crowd and becoming visibly emotional. She delivered a heartfelt tribute after the final, but now Anisimova has a chance for revenge.

    Anisimova, who is the eighth seed for the US Open starting this Sunday, could face off against second-seeded Swiatek in the quarterfinals.

    Anisimova’s best performance at the US Open was in 2020 when she advanced to the third round. Earlier this week, she partnered with Holger Rune in the mixed doubles tournament but fell to the duo of Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend.

    Anisimova has recently seen a revival in her career after taking a break from tennis in 2023. Her triumphant 2025 season included a contentious Wimbledon semi-final win over Aryna Sabalenka, which left her rival seething.

    After her devastating loss to Swiatek, An emotional Anisimova said: “My mom has put in more work than I have honestly… Guys I’m so sorry.”

    She added: “A few more words… My mom is the most selfless person I know. She’s done everything to get me to this point in my life. Thank you for being here and breaking the superstition of flying in. It’s definitely not why I lost today.

    “I’m so happy I get to share this moment and for you to witness this in person. I know you don’t get to see me live playing that much anymore because you do so much for my sister and I. You always have. I love you so much.”

    DON’T MISS…

    Despite her disappointment, Anisimova graciously congratulated Swiatek on her first Wimbledon victory. The world No. 9 said: “It obviously showed today. You’ve been such an inspiration to me – an unbelievable athlete. You’ve had such an incredible two weeks here.

    “Getting to the final of your first Wimbledon and winning the championship, it’s so special. Congratulations to you and your team.”

    To get another shot at Swiatek in Flushing Meadows, Anisimova must successfully navigate through the tournament. She faces Australian world No. 80 Kimberly Birrell in the opening round.

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  • Europe summer 2025: Headlines galore – RBC Wealth Management

    Europe summer 2025: Headlines galore – RBC Wealth Management

    August 21, 2025

    Frédérique Carrier

    Managing Director, Head of Investment Strategy
    RBC Europe Limited

    Coming in “thick and fast”

    A key pillar of the euro area growth recovery over the next few years is
    Germany’s renewed fiscal drive. According to RBC Capital Markets, recent
    announcements point to not only very sizeable, but also front-loaded,
    spending, in its words, “thick and fast.”

    In a radical shift from many years of fiscal prudence, the German
    government announced in March that it would:

    • Create a 10-year €500 billion infrastructure fund which would not count
      towards the government’s borrowing limit and
    • Stop counting any defense spending above one percent of GDP towards that
      limit.

    The Federal Ministry of Finance announced concrete figures behind these
    pledges in late June.

    The German government is front-loading its special infrastructure fund,
    with around €58 billion by 2026, alongside some €25 billion in annual
    defense spending. Peak stimulus and the deepest fiscal deficit are
    penciled in for 2026.

    Moreover, the details released by the Finance Ministry show that a high
    share of the spending is going to areas which should boost economic
    growth. In 2025 alone, €22 billion, or about 0.5 percent of German GDP, is
    going to rail sector improvements. Furthermore, there is €4 billion per
    year for housing projections, €4 billion for digitalization, and
    €6.5 billion for education and childcare.

    RBC Capital Markets expects this spending to be a substantial stimulus for
    German and, therefore, euro area growth in 2025 and 2026, though the
    stimulus should fade beyond that point. This increases RBC Capital
    Markets’ confidence in its slightly above-consensus growth estimates of
    1.3 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, for this year and next for the
    bloc as a whole.

    Front-loaded spending will deepen Germany’s deficit

    German Finance Ministry’s deficit expectations (% GDP)

    The graph shows the German Finance Ministry’s expectations for the
    country’s deficit as a percentage of GDP at the beginning of the year
    and after the spending announcement. While the ministry previously
    expected the deficit to be 1.5% of GDP for 2025 and 1.2% for 2026 and
    2027, it now expects the deficit to hover between 3% and 4% of GDP for
    the next five years.

    • Deficit expectations before spending announcement

    • Deficit expectations after spending announcement

    Source – German Finance Ministry, Bundesbank, RBC Capital Markets, RBC
    Wealth Management

    The trade deal beyond the headlines

    The U.S. and the European Union (EU) reached a deal in late July that
    introduces 15 percent tariffs on most EU exports, including automobiles,
    pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. Tariffs on steel and aluminum remain
    subject to global tariffs of 50 percent, though discussions are ongoing
    regarding possible reductions.

    Furthermore, the European Commission, which negotiated the terms of the
    deal on behalf of member states, committed to the EU investing
    $600 billion in the U.S. economy and purchasing $750 billion in U.S.
    energy exports over the next three years.

    Initially, the deal was poorly received in Europe. The 15 percent tariffs
    were higher than the 10 percent tariffs which had been in place since
    April 2025, so it seemed the EU had capitulated. This disappointed many
    observers given the EU market of 450 million people with high per-capita
    spending power is a geo-economic force.

    We note, however, that the agreed-upon tariff is lower than the 30 percent
    U.S. President Donald Trump threatened in June. And while the 15 percent
    rate doesn’t compare as favourably with the UK’s 10 percent tariff, the
    torrent of trade deals with other trading partners announced since then
    feature tariffs that are at or above 15 percent, suggesting to us that the
    EU is not in a weaker competitive position after all.

    The concessions made – the promise of higher European investment and energy
    purchases – cannot be fulfilled by the European Commission. While it has the
    authority to negotiate trade deals, it has no power over private
    investment, nor does it have the authority to tell companies where to buy
    energy. The RBC Capital Markets Commodity Strategy team is skeptical that
    $750 billion in U.S. energy can be delivered to the EU in the next three
    years.

    Finally, the EU has not given up regulating U.S. multinationals on
    European soil, nor its power to impose a digital services tax (it still
    holds those valuable cards).

    Meanwhile, it appears that Trump has abandoned the idea of treating the
    value-added tax – a sales tax typically over 20 percent – levied by EU member
    states as an unfair tax barrier to U.S. exports.

    Overall, we believe this deal is not as disadvantageous to Europe as early
    reactions have suggested.

    Buoyed sentiment?

    After a strong start to the year, and a swift recovery from the April 2
    reciprocal tariff announcement correction, European equities have stalled
    this summer, their performance overshadowed by that of the U.S. tech
    sector and currency moves. But overall, the STOXX Europe ex UK Index has
    still returned over 13 percent year to date in local currency terms
    (including dividends), ahead of the S&P 500’s 9.5 percent return in dollar terms. Thanks to the significant U.S. dollar weakening versus the
    euro this year, returns of the STOXX Europe ex UK are around 28 percent in
    U.S. dollar terms.

    Performance has been driven by value stocks including banks (up almost
    60 percent in local currency), with construction and materials, insurance,
    and utilities all gaining more than 20 percent. Most quality stocks have
    underperformed, partly reflecting the market rotation into value but also
    a range of idiosyncratic factors resulting in earnings downgrades.

    Looking forward, we believe a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine
    conflict could act as a positive catalyst for European equities. Hope of
    reconstruction efforts could arise though this would require hostilities
    to come to a sustainable end. If that were to be the case, banks,
    particularly those with Central and Eastern Europe exposure, would likely
    benefit, in our opinion, as would construction and aggregate firms. Lower
    energy prices, thanks to reduced transport and insurance costs, could also
    benefit the region but the price improvement is likely to be marginal as
    EU sanctions on Russia will likely persist, even with an eventual
    ceasefire.

    Overall, while sentiment could improve in the short term for European risk
    assets on the back of seemingly successful diplomatic efforts, we caution
    against being overly optimistic about an immediate, lasting end to the
    hostilities as the issues associated with this are complex.

    Regardless, in our view, the investment case for Europe remains, based on
    an economic recovery thanks to lower interest rates, the German fiscal
    program, and the EU’s commitment to investing in its defense industry.
    The STOXX Europe ex UK Index trades at 16.2x the next-12-months consensus
    earnings forecast, slightly above its long-term average, a premium we
    believe is warranted given the region’s improved medium-term growth
    outlook.

    We continue to prefer sectors we think are likely to benefit from the
    fiscal stimulus, such as select industrials, including defense, and
    materials. In our view, banks should benefit from the region’s improved
    medium-term growth outlook, while continuing to offer attractive dividends
    and share buybacks opportunities.

    With contributions from Thomas McGarrity, CFA

    The material herein is for informational purposes only and is not directed at, nor intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity in any country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject Royal Bank of Canada or its subsidiaries or constituent business units (including RBC Wealth Management) to any licensing or registration requirement within such country.

    This is not intended to be either a specific offer by any Royal Bank of Canada entity to sell or provide, or a specific invitation to apply for, any particular financial account, product or service. Royal Bank of Canada does not offer accounts, products or services in jurisdictions where it is not permitted to do so, and therefore the RBC Wealth Management business is not available in all countries or markets.

    The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as professional advice or opinion provided to the user, nor as a recommendation of any particular approach. Nothing in this material constitutes legal, accounting or tax advice and you are advised to seek independent legal, tax and accounting advice prior to acting upon anything contained in this material. Interest rates, market conditions, tax and legal rules and other important factors which will be pertinent to your circumstances are subject to change. This material does not purport to be a complete statement of the approaches or steps that may be appropriate for the user, does not take into account the user’s specific investment objectives or risk tolerance and is not intended to be an invitation to effect a securities transaction or to otherwise participate in any investment service.

    To the full extent permitted by law neither RBC Wealth Management nor any of its affiliates, nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this document or the information contained herein. No matter contained in this material may be reproduced or copied by any means without the prior consent of RBC Wealth Management. RBC Wealth Management is the global brand name to describe the wealth management business of the Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates and branches, including, RBC Investment Services (Asia) Limited, Royal Bank of Canada, Hong Kong Branch, and the Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch. Additional information available upon request.

    Royal Bank of Canada is duly established under the Bank Act (Canada), which provides limited liability for shareholders.

    ® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. RBC Wealth Management is a registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. Copyright © Royal Bank of Canada 2025. All rights reserved.

    Managing Director, Head of Investment Strategy
    RBC Europe Limited

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  • Lil Nas X arrested after wandering naked in Los Angeles street and charging at officers, police say

    Lil Nas X arrested after wandering naked in Los Angeles street and charging at officers, police say

    “Old Town Road” rapper Lil Nas X was arrested and taken to the hospital early Thursday morning after he was found walking in the street without his clothes on and charged at officers in Los Angeles.

    The Los Angeles Police Department told NBC News in a statement that officers responded to the 11000 block of Ventura Boulevard just before 6 a.m. in regard to reports of a nude man. Police said that the man charged at officers when they arrived on the scene.

    “He was transported to a local hospital for a possible overdose and placed under arrest for Battery on a Police Officer,” police said.

    A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation confirmed to NBC News that the suspect was Montero Lamar Hill, otherwise known as Lil Nas X. Hill also punched an officer twice in the face during the encounter, according to the source.

    Officers were unsure whether Hill was on any substances and/or whether he was in mental distress, the source said.

    Booking records were not immediately available for Hill in the Los Angeles County database. A representative for Hill did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment on Thursday.

    Hill was seen walking down the middle of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City at 4 a.m. on Thursday in just a pair of white briefs and cowboy boots on video released exclusively to TMZ.

    In the videos released by TMZ, Hill told the driver to “come to the party” in one clip and then in another tells the person, “Didn’t I tell you to put the phone down?”

    “Uh oh, someone’s going to have to pay for that,” Hill said as he continues to walk away.

    In some clips, Hill struts as if he’s on a catwalk, posing for onlookers and at one point places an orange traffic cone on his head.

    Doha Madani
    Andrew Blankstein

    Joe Kottke and Elizabeth Maline contributed.

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  • The Pentagon’s Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Embarks on New Mission – The Wall Street Journal

    1. The Pentagon’s Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Embarks on New Mission  The Wall Street Journal
    2. X Report 21 Aug 2025  KeepTrack
    3. WATCH Live: Space Force Launch to Send X-37 Back into Orbit  Air & Space Forces Magazine
    4. SpaceX to launch Space Force spaceplane X-37B  upi.com
    5. Secretive mini space shuttle set for Space Coast launch; late-night sonic boom possible  Orlando Sentinel

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  • Pakistan SC grants bail to Imran Khan in May 9 cases, but ex-PM stays in jail

    Pakistan SC grants bail to Imran Khan in May 9 cases, but ex-PM stays in jail

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court granted bail on Thursday to jailed former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 violence, when his supporters stormed government buildings and military installations after his brief detention.The relief, however, offers little respite to the PTI founder. Khan, in prison for more than two years, remains behind bars in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust graft case, while several other corruption and terrorism-related trials remain pending against him.Khan was first jailed in Aug 2023 in a case involving the sale of state gifts. An anti-terrorism court later refused him bail in cases connected to the May 9 riots, and on June 24 the Lahore high court also dismissed his plea, prompting him to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.The top court’s order comes days after army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s remarks in Brussels stirred a storm back home. Munir was quoted as saying that Khan should “apologise for the May 9 violence, sit silently in Banigala (his residence in Islamabad), and let the present system complete its term”.The comments sparked a furious backlash from PTI’s large social media base, which sees Khan’s continued incarceration as part of a wider military-led effort to crush the party. Party leaders said the remarks were proof that Khan’s legal battles are being dictated not in courtrooms but from Rawalpindi.Political observers say the episode underscores Pakistan’s enduring civil-military imbalance. Once considered close to the establishment, Khan has emerged as its most vocal critic since his ouster in April 2022. His confrontation with Munir is now seen as the defining contest in Pakistan’s power struggle, overshadowing judicial proceedings and parliamentary debates.“The message is clear – Khan will only be allowed political space if he apologises and withdraws from active politics,” a senior analyst in Islamabad said. “This is less about legal cases and more about forcing him into silence.”Khan’s supporters, meanwhile, hailed Thursday’s court ruling as a moral victory. But with his convictions intact and multiple cases still hanging over him, the former prime minister remains far from freedom.


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