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  • Meta Hires Another Apple AI Leader Amid Headcount Freeze, Report Says

    Meta Hires Another Apple AI Leader Amid Headcount Freeze, Report Says

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • Meta Platforms is reportedly hiring another senior AI executive from Apple for its Meta Superintelligence Labs, where it is moving to freeze headcount.
    • According to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, the Facebook parent is hiring Frank Chu, who has led Apple AI teams focused on cloud infrastructure, training, and search.
    • Chu is at least the sixth Apple employee working on AI models to defect to Meta, the report said.

    Meta Platforms (META) is reportedly hiring another senior AI executive from Apple (AAPL) for its Meta Superintelligence Labs division, where it is moving to freeze headcount.

    According to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, the Facebook parent is hiring Frank Chu, who has led Apple AI teams focused on cloud infrastructure, training, and search. Chu is at least the sixth Apple employee working on AI models to defect to Meta. The most recent hire is Ruoming Pang, the head of the iPhone maker’s AI models team, the report said.

    Bloomberg said Chu “helped manage the running of large language models on Apple cloud servers and oversaw some training of the software.” He also worked on creating search functions for the Siri voice assistant and entertainment services, the report said.

    Apple and Meta didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

    Apple shares, which entered Friday down 10% this year, are up slightly in morning trading. Meta shares are little changed. 

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  • Wall St gains ahead of Powell's Jackson Hole speech – Reuters

    1. Wall St gains ahead of Powell’s Jackson Hole speech  Reuters
    2. Powell indicates conditions ‘may warrant’ interest rate cuts as Fed proceeds ‘carefully’  CNBC
    3. Bitcoin Price (BTC) News: Higher on Powell Jackson Hole Remarks  CoinDesk
    4. The Fed is under full-scale assault. Jerome Powell is facing his toughest battle yet  CNN
    5. The Slow-Burn Dollar Slide  Barron’s

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  • Boeing Company – Boeing-Built X-37B Spaceplane Launches, Beginning Eighth Mission

    Boeing Company – Boeing-Built X-37B Spaceplane Launches, Beginning Eighth Mission

    – The returnable orbital test vehicle launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

    – Less than six months since it completed its seventh mission, the X-37B is back in space hosting technology demonstrations for several U.S. government partners including the Defense Innovation Unit and Air Force Research Laboratory

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Aug. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Boeing [NYSE: BA]-built X 37B Orbital Test Vehicle launched today on its eighth mission, lifting off at 11:50PM ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The vehicle is healthy on orbit and proceeding with standard checkout.

    Less than six months after completing its seventh mission with a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on March 7, 2025, the spaceplane is back in space. This mission includes a Boeing integrated service module to increase payload capacity for experimentation activities on orbit.

    “Our role is to make sure the spaceplane is the most reliable testbed it can be,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “None of this happens without teamwork. Launch is the starting line for this mission, but the work that follows –the quiet, methodical work on orbit, analysis and eventual return is where progress is earned.”

    The X-37B is hosting several technology demonstrations from government partners on this mission, include laser communications and a quantum inertial sensor designed to support navigation when GPS is unavailable. On its previous mission, the vehicle executed a first of its kind aerobraking maneuver to change orbits while conserving propellant.

    “Having a returnable space platform allows us to learn faster,” said Col. Brian Chatman, installation commander for Space Launch Delta 45. “The data we gather from the X-37B speeds decisions, hardens our architectures, and helps Guardians stay connected and on course even in contested environments. This is how we move from promising ideas to fieldable capability at pace.”

    The X 37B is a government–industry partnership led by the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, with the U.S. Space Force overseeing operations. Boeing teams primarily based in Seal Beach, Calif., and Kennedy Space Center, Fla., design, build, integrate and operate the reusable spaceplane. Since first flight in 2010, the orbital test vehicle has completed seven missions and accumulated more than 4,200 days in space, returning after each flight for inspection and augmentation.

    A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.  

    Contact

    Zeyad Maasarani
    Boeing Communications
    +1-562-400-5533
    [email protected] 

    Boeing Media Relations
    [email protected]

     

    Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-built-x-37b-spaceplane-launches-beginning-eighth-mission-302536717.html

    SOURCE Boeing

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  • Boeing-Built X-37B Spaceplane Launches, Beginning Eighth Mission

    Boeing-Built X-37B Spaceplane Launches, Beginning Eighth Mission

    – The returnable orbital test vehicle launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

    – Less than six months since it completed its seventh mission, the X-37B is back in space hosting technology demonstrations for several U.S. government partners including the Defense Innovation Unit and Air Force Research Laboratory

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Aug. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Boeing [NYSE: BA]-built X 37B Orbital Test Vehicle launched today on its eighth mission, lifting off at 11:50PM ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The vehicle is healthy on orbit and proceeding with standard checkout.

    Less than six months after completing its seventh mission with a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on March 7, 2025, the spaceplane is back in space. This mission includes a Boeing integrated service module to increase payload capacity for experimentation activities on orbit.

    “Our role is to make sure the spaceplane is the most reliable testbed it can be,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “None of this happens without teamwork. Launch is the starting line for this mission, but the work that follows –the quiet, methodical work on orbit, analysis and eventual return is where progress is earned.”

    The X-37B is hosting several technology demonstrations from government partners on this mission, include laser communications and a quantum inertial sensor designed to support navigation when GPS is unavailable. On its previous mission, the vehicle executed a first of its kind aerobraking maneuver to change orbits while conserving propellant.

    “Having a returnable space platform allows us to learn faster,” said Col. Brian Chatman, installation commander for Space Launch Delta 45. “The data we gather from the X-37B speeds decisions, hardens our architectures, and helps Guardians stay connected and on course even in contested environments. This is how we move from promising ideas to fieldable capability at pace.”

    The X 37B is a government–industry partnership led by the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, with the U.S. Space Force overseeing operations. Boeing teams primarily based in Seal Beach, Calif., and Kennedy Space Center, Fla., design, build, integrate and operate the reusable spaceplane. Since first flight in 2010, the orbital test vehicle has completed seven missions and accumulated more than 4,200 days in space, returning after each flight for inspection and augmentation.

    A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.  

    Contact

    Zeyad Maasarani
    Boeing Communications
    +1-562-400-5533
    zeyad.maasarani@boeing.com 

    Boeing Media Relations
    media@boeing.com

     

    SOURCE Boeing

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  • Reconfigurable control of coherence, dissipation, and nonreciprocity in cavity magnonics

    Reconfigurable control of coherence, dissipation, and nonreciprocity in cavity magnonics

    Experimental design

    Figure 1(a) illustrates the experimental design. A YIG film is positioned at the cavity centre in a flip-chip configuration (defined as the origin). The cross-shaped microwave cavity comprises a central transmission line along the (x)-axis intersecting two orthogonal arms along the (y)-axis (Fig. 1(e)). This structure supports both travelling and standing waves. The YIG thin film and the cross-shaped cavity in this study only partial overlap (dimensions of the thin film and the cavity are detailed in Method section). In Fig. 1(e), a red box drawn to scale indicates the area covered by the YIG thin film. The orientation of the (mathbf{h}) field within the YIG film is depicted in Fig. 1(d). The nonuniformity of the (mathbf{h}) field in the cavity, especially the relative dimensions of the metallic structure and the YIG thin film, has been shown to play an important role in determining the coupling strength between the photon mode and the magnon mode22. An external magnetic field is applied to tune the magnon resonance frequency ({omega}_{0}). The magnetic field is applied with field direction (theta) from (0^circ) (perpendicular to the transmission line) to (90^circ) (parallel) within the (x)(y) plane. A calibrated vector network analyser (VNA) measures the transmission properties of the photon–magnon hybrid system, including (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) (rf signals sent from Port 1 to Port 2) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) (rf signals sent from Port 2 to Port 1). Figure 1(c) shows the measured (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) of the empty cavity, with a resonant frequency of ({omega}_{c}/2pi=3.85:text{G}text{H}text{z}). The fitted intrinsic and extrinsic damping rates are ({kappa}_{c}/2pi=13.74:text{M}text{H}text{z}) and ({gamma}_{c}/2pi=3.65:text{G}text{H}text{z}), respectively, with the fitted curves overlaid. The near-identical (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) responses confirm the reciprocity of the cavity.

    Theoretical model

    Figure 1(b) shows the diagram of the photon–magnon coupling mechanism in our work. Our system comprises a YIG film coupled to a microwave cavity. Under the excitation of a rf magnetic field (mathbf{h}), the fundamental FMR mode is driven, characterised by the in-phase precession of spins29. In addition to this uniform mode, spin wave resonance (SWR) modes with nonzero wavevector (varvec{k}) can also be excited, primarily due to the nonuniform rf field. These SWR modes involve collective excitations of a large spin population and can directly couple with the photon modes (shown in Fig. 3(c) and (e)). The Hamiltonian of the hybrid cavity-magnon system can be described as29,30:

    $${hat{H}}_{text{s}text{y}text{s}}=hslash{omega}_{c}{c}^{dag}c+hslashsum_{j=0}^{3}{omega}_{{m}_{j}}{m}_{j}^{dag}{m}_{j}+{hat{H}}_{text{i}text{n}text{t}}mathrm{,}$$

    (1)

    where (c) and ({c}^{dag}) are the annihilation and creation operators for the cavity mode. Similarly, ({m}_{0}) and ({m}_{0}^{dag}) are the annihilation and creation operators for the FMR mode ((:j=0)), while ({m}_{j}) and ({m}_{j}^{dag}) represent the corresponding operators for the (j)th (for j {1,2,3}) SWR mode.

    Under the rotating wave approximation, the interaction Hamiltonian takes the form29,30:

    $${hat{H}}_{text{i}text{n}text{t}}={hslash}left(sum_{j=0}^{3}{g}_{j}left(thetaright)left({c}^{dag}{m}_{j}+{m}_{j}^{dag}text{c}right)right)mathrm{,}$$

    where (theta) is the angle of the external magnetic field relative to the (x)axis, and ({g}_{j}left(thetaright)) (for (jin{0,1,2,3})) denotes the coupling strength between the cavity as a function of the angle (theta) and the (j)th mode.

    We can then derive the quantum Langevin equation following the recipe in21 – i.e. the equations of motion for all the observables.

    $$:begin{array}{c}{partial}_{t}{mathbf{x}}^{T}=-ivarOmega:{mathbf{x}}^{T}+{mathbf{b}}^{T}{p}_{text{i}text{n}}end{array}mathrm{,}$$

    (2)

    $$mathrm{where}:mathbf{x}=(c,{m}_{0},{m}_{1},{m}_{2},{m}_{3}),:mathbf{b}=(sqrt{{gamma}_{c}},sqrt{{gamma}_{0}}{e}^{i{Theta}},sqrt{{gamma}_{1}}{e}^{i{Theta}},sqrt{{gamma}_{2}}{e}^{i{Theta}},sqrt{{gamma}_{3}}{e}^{i{Theta}}):mathrm{and}$$

    $$:{Omega:}=left(begin{array}{cccc}{omega}_{c}-i({gamma}_{c}+{kappa}_{c})&:{g}_{0}left(thetaright)-i({e}^{i{Theta}}sqrt{{gamma}_{0}{gamma}_{c}}+sqrt{{kappa}_{c}{kappa}_{0}})&:{g}_{1}left(thetaright)-i({e}^{i{Theta}}sqrt{{gamma}_{1}{gamma}_{c}}+sqrt{{kappa}_{c}{kappa}_{1}})&:cdots:\:{g}_{0}left(thetaright)-i({e}^{i{Theta}}sqrt{{gamma}_{c}{gamma}_{0}}+sqrt{{kappa}_{0}{kappa}_{c}})&:{omega}_{0}-i({gamma}_{0}+{kappa}_{0})&:-i(sqrt{{gamma}_{1}{gamma}_{0}}+sqrt{{kappa}_{1}{kappa}_{0}})&:cdots:\:{g}_{1}left(thetaright)-i({e}^{i{Theta}}sqrt{{gamma}_{c}{gamma}_{1}}+sqrt{{kappa}_{1}{kappa}_{c}})&:-i(sqrt{{gamma}_{0}{gamma}_{1}}+sqrt{{kappa}_{0}{kappa}_{1}})&:{omega}_{1}-i({gamma}_{1}+{kappa}_{1})&:cdots:\:vdots&:vdots&:vdots&:vdotsend{array}right)mathrm{.}$$

    Here, ({kappa}_{c}), ({kappa}_{0}), and ({kappa}_{j}) ((jinleft{1,2,3right})) represent the intrinsic damping rates for the cavity mode, FMR mode, and the (j)th SWR mode, while as ({gamma}_{c}), ({gamma}_{0}), and ({gamma}_{j}) ((jinleft{text{1,2,3}right})) represent the extrinsic damping rates for these modes, respectively. The parameter ({Theta}inleft{0,piright}) accounts for the nonreciprocal behaviour induced by the port-dependent phases, where ({Theta}=0) is taken if the signal is sent from Port 1, and ({Theta}=pi) is taken if the signal is sent from Port 221. The nonreciprocity induced by the asymmetry of the (mathbf{h}) field is phenomenologically captured by adjusting ({kappa}_{0}) and ({gamma}_{0}).

    Assuming that the FMR modes and the SWR modes have the time-dependence of the form ({e}^{-iomega t}), we can solve for the observables in terms of the input ({p}_{text{i}text{n}})

    $$:begin{array}{c}{varvec{x}}^{T}=-ileft({Omega}-omega Iright)^{-1}{mathbf{b}}^{T}{p}_{text{i}text{n}}end{array}mathrm{,}$$

    (3)

    where (I) is the identity matrix. Finally, we can derive the input-output relationship31

    $$begin{array}{c}{p}_{text{o}text{u}text{t}}+{p}_{text{i}text{n}}=mathbf{b}cdot{varvec{x}}^{T}end{array}mathrm{,}$$

    (4)

    The input-output substituting ({varvec{x}}^{T}=-ileft(varOmega-omega Iright){varvec{b}}^{T}{p}_{text{i}text{n}}) gives

    $$begin{array}{c}{p}_{text{o}text{u}text{t}}={p}_{text{i}text{n}}left(1-imathbf{b}({Omega}-omega I{)}^{-1}{mathbf{b}}^{T}right)end{array}mathrm{.}$$

    (5)

    For our case, we can compute transmission coefficient as32

    $$begin{array}{c}{text{S}}_{21left(12right)}=left(1-imathbf{b}(Omega-omega I)^{-1}{mathbf{b}}^{T}right)end{array}mathrm{.}$$

    (6)

    Fig. 1

    (a) Schematic of the experimental setup (not to scale). An YIG film is positioned at the centre of a cross-shaped cavity supporting both travelling and standing waves. A rotatable external magnetic field tunes the FMR frequency. The cavity’s two ports are connected to a VNA for measuring (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|). (b) Diagram of the photon–magnon coupling mechanism. The cavity mode couples directly to both the FMR and SWR modes, with each mode dissipatively coupled to travelling photons at the input and output ports. (c) Measured (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) of the empty cavity, with fitting results overlaid. Lines are guides to the eye. (d) CST simulation of the (mathbf{h}) field orientation in the YIG region at the resonant frequency with rf signals entering from Port 1. (e) Heatmap of the simulated magnetic field (h field) intensity at resonance, with rf signals injected from Port 1. The red boxed area shows the region, drawn to scale, that is covered by the YIG thin film.

    Simulation of the (mathbf{h}) field distribution

    The (mathbf{h}) field generated by the cross-shaped cavity plays a crucial role in this study, governing the excitation and dynamics of spin precession in the YIG film. The intensity and distribution of the (mathbf{h}) field are simulated using CST Studio Suite33. Figure 1(e) shows the (mathbf{h}) field intensity at the cavity’s resonant frequency with rf excitation from Port 1. The field is stronger near the input side due to asymmetric energy distribution within the cavity. Energy dissipation at the centre reduces the (mathbf{h}) field intensity as it propagates toward the cross arms. At the transmission line, adjacent to the input port (left half of the transmission line), the (mathbf{h}) field predominantly aligns along the (:y)-axis and exhibits relatively higher intensity, as indicated by the warmer colours. The (mathbf{h}) field gradually transitions from being nearly perpendicular to the (x)-axis at the cavity centre to parallel to the (x)-axis on the two arms. This variation in field direction and intensity highlights the asymmetry in the (mathbf{h}) field distribution within the cavity.

    The angle between the (mathbf{h}) field and the external magnetic field plays a crucial role in the excitation of spin precession. Maximum spin precession occurs when the (mathbf{h}) field is perpendicular to the external field, as this maximises the torque on the magnetisation34. Conversely, when the fields are parallel, spin precession is inefficient30. Therefore, when (theta=0^circ), spins in the two arms of the cross cavity experience strong excitation, while those under the transmission line are minimally excited. At (90^circ), this behaviour is reversed, with spins in the cross cavity arms remaining mostly inactive and those under the transmission line experiencing stronger excitation. Consequently, the net torque exerted by the (mathbf{h}) field determines the coherent coupling strength, which can be dynamically tuned by adjusting the external field angle30.

    The (mathbf{h}) field directly governs the excitation of the FMR mode, which is most efficient when the spins in the YIG film precess collectively with (varvec{k}=0)35,36. However, its spatially nonuniformity can also excite magnons with finite (varvec{k}), introducing spatial variations in spin dynamics36. This enables energy transfer from the uniform FMR mode to these magnons, leading to enhanced magnon damping through two-magnon scattering20,37,38. Notably, the relative angle between the (mathbf{h}) field and the external magnetic field dynamically modulates the strength and spatial distribution of these interactions, offering a means to control FMR dissipation38. This variation in angle excites spins in different regions of the YIG film, effectively reconfiguring the inhomogeneities and influencing two-magnon scattering39. As a result, the damping rate of the FMR mode is expected to vary with (theta). The extrinsic damping rate of the FMR mode is governed by its dissipative coupling with the travelling photon mode. This coupling is influenced by the density of states of the travelling photons, and its contribution can be modulated by (theta)34. This effect plays a key role in determining the strength of the dissipative coupling between the FMR and travelling photon modes21.

    The (mathbf{h}) field distribution excited by Port 2 exhibits (180^circ) rotational symmetry relative to the distribution excited by Port 1 (see Supplementary Materials, Fig. S144). This results in different relative angles between the (mathbf{h}) field and the external magnetic field when the rf signal is applied from Port 1 versus Port 2. The variation in these angles alters the torque exerted on the magnetisation, leading to differences in spin precession. As a result, the spin dynamics are asymmetric, producing distinct energy dissipation profiles for (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|), commonly referred to as nonreciprocity21. Specifically, the spin excitation and two-magnon scattering process depend on the rf signal direction, which in turn affects the observed transmission characteristics. This nonreciprocity is important for understanding the directional dependence of damping mechanisms and provides insight into how the system can be controlled through the relative orientations of the (mathbf{h}) field and external magnetic field.

    The intrinsic damping rate of the FMR mode is defined as the total energy dissipation that does not occur through radiative coupling with travelling photons. In our system, the intrinsic damping primarily arises from Gilbert damping and two-magnon scattering, with the latter playing a dominant role. While two-magnon scattering is often classified as an extrinsic mechanism due to its dependence on inhomogeneities, it does not involve photon emission but instead redistributes energy among magnons. As a result, within our framework, two-magnon scattering contributes significantly to the nonradiative damping of the FMR mode, distinguishing it from photon-mediated extrinsic damping. This variation in damping mechanisms plays an important role in modulating the overall system dynamics, further influenced by the asymmetry in the excitation conditions.

    Photon–magnon coupling at (varvec{theta}=0^circ)

    Figure 2 presents (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) measured at (theta=0^circ). The (:left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) intensity is plotted as a function of both the rf frequency detuning ((varDeltaomega=omega-{omega}_{c})) and field detuning ((varDelta m={omega}_{0}-{omega}_{c})). Figure 2(c) shows the (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) line profiles as a function of rf frequency detuning, measured at the coupling centre (labelled “III”) and at detuned FMR frequencies (labelled “I”, “II”, “IV”, and “V”). A typical photon–magnon coupling is observed, characterised by a cavity mode with a resonance frequency independent of the external magnetic field, an FMR mode whose resonance frequency increases with the field, and an anti-crossing at the coupling centre (({omega}_{c}={omega}_{0}))2,6,17,40,41,42. Within the anti-crossing region, fine lines parallel to the FMR mode correspond to fine spin wave excitations, which are enhanced due to photon–magnon coupling, consistent with previously reports43. As in previous studies, these fine spin wave excitations are identified by comparison with their calculated dispersion relations rather than quantitative fitting. Their properties and origin have been systematically characterised in the literature43, so our model and fitting analysis is focused on the main hybrid modes relevant to photon and uniform FMR coupling and these fine spin wave excitations are not included in our model. In the spectra, these enhanced fine spin wave excitations appear as sharp peaks at various detuned fields (Fig. 2(c), labelled “II”, “IV”, and “V”), as well as multiple smaller peaks at the coupling centre (labelled “III”).

    As shown in Fig. 2(a), the intensity of the FMR mode rapidly diminishes as the external magnetic field detunes from the coupling centre. The broadened linewidth of the FMR mode in Fig. 3(c) further confirms its high damping rate. This suggests that two-magnon scattering is pronounced when (theta=0^circ), contributing to the broadened linewidth of the FMR mode. Additionally, the FMR mode exhibits a greater intensity when red-detuned compared to blue-detuned, revealing a noticeable asymmetry between the upper and lower branches of the anti-crossing. This asymmetry arises from the dissipative coupling between the travelling photons and the FMR mode21,34. The observed asymmetry suggests weak coupling between the FMR mode and the travelling photons.

    The cavity-FMR coupling interaction in this case can be described as a direct coupling between the cavity and FMR modes, with a coupling strength of g0, while both modes also dissipatively couple to the travelling photon modes. Figure 2(b) presents calculated mappings of the transmission parameters as functions of rf frequency detuning and FMR frequency detuning. These calculations use ({g}_{0}/2pi=240.0) (text{M}text{H}text{z}), ({kappa}_{0}/2pi=138.2) (text{M}text{H}text{z}), and ({gamma}_{0}/2pi=12.6) (text{M}text{H}text{z}), respectively. Intrinsic damping ({kappa}_{0}) here includes the damping owing to the two-magnon scattering, which do not directly couple with travelling photons. Dissipative coupling strength ({{Gamma}}_{0}), typically defined as (sqrt{{gamma}_{c}{gamma}_{0}}), is calculated to be (243.3:text{M}text{H}text{z}) in this case. The fitting successfully reproduces the key features observed in the experimental data, validating the proposed model. The calculated line profiles at various ({Delta}m) are overlaid on the experimental data in Fig. 2(c), demonstrating excellent agreement.

    Fig. 2
    figure 2

    (a) Measured and (b) calculated (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) at (theta=0^circ), plotted as functions of (varDeltaomega) and (varDelta m), respectively. Dashed lines in (a) and (b) are the real part of the calculated eigenvalues. (c) (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) line profiles (solid lines) measured at detuned fields (labelled “I” to “V” in (a) and (b)), overlaid with calculated curves (dashed lines). A vertical (45:text{d}text{B}) offset is applied between successive traces for clarity. Lines are a guide to the eye.

    Effect of (theta) on coupling strength and damping rates

    To investigate the dependence of photon–magnon coupling on external magnetic field orientation, we rotate the electromagnets from (0^circ) to (90^circ). Figure 3(a)–(d) presents measured (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) at (45^circ) and (90^circ), respectively. Compared to (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) at (0^circ) (Fig. 2(a)), ({g}_{0}) decreases with (theta), as indicated by the fitting results (eigenvalues overlaid in Fig. 3(a)). Specifically, ({g}_{0}/2pi) reduces to (215.0) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (45^circ), suggesting that the net torque exerted by the (mathbf{h}) field on the magnetisation is weaker than that at (0^circ). Furthermore, the asymmetry between the upper and lower branches of (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) becomes more pronounced at (45^circ). The upper branch diminishes rapidly as the field increases, whereas the lower branch decreases more gradually as the field decreases. Notably, the lower branch exhibits a higher transmission intensity of (-63.86) (text{d}text{B}) at the coupling centre, compared to (-34.45) (text{d}text{B}) at (0^circ) (Fig. 3(g)). This enhanced transmission and narrower linewidth indicate a reduced FMR damping rate and a weaker two-magnon scattering process. In this work, two-magnon scattering–induced damping is considered part of the intrinsic damping ({kappa}_{0}), as it does not directly couple to traveling photons. In contrast, extrinsic damping refers to radiative coupling between magnons and traveling photons. Fitting results reveal a significantly lower ({kappa}_{0}/2pi) of (25.1) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) for the FMR mode at (45^circ). The increased asymmetry between the upper and lower branches suggests that dissipative coupling between the FMR mode and travelling photons intensifies, while ({kappa}_{0}) decreases with (theta). The fitted ({gamma}_{0}/2pi) rises to (94.2) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (45^circ). The cavity-FMR coupling at (45^circ) is calculated using the same method as for (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) at (0^circ) (fitting result is shown in Supplementary Materials Fig. S344. The ({g}_{0}/2pi) further decreases to (150.0) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (90^circ), representing a (37.5%) reduction compared to that at (0^circ). The asymmetry between the upper and lower branches nearly vanishes at (90^circ), indicating weaker dissipative coupling between the FMR mode and travelling photons relative to (45^circ), with a fitted ({gamma}_{0}/2pi) of (6.3) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) (shown in Fig. 3(f)). Meanwhile, the FMR linewidth increases, with the fitted ({kappa}_{0}/2pi) reaching (50.3) (text{M}text{H}text{z}). The corresponding dissipative coupling strengths ({{Gamma}}_{0}) are calculated to be 666.4 MHz at (45^circ) and 172.1 MHz at (90^circ). Conventionally, level attraction is expected when the dissipative coupling exceeds the coherent coupling. However, in our measurements, we consistently observe level repulsion (anti-crossing), even when ({{Gamma}}_{0}>{g}_{0}). We attribute this observation to differences in the treatment of magnon damping in the modelling. In many previous works, the extrinsic magnon damping rate ({gamma}_{0}) is often neglected or approximated for model simplicity and qualifiedly fitting. By contrast, our analysis includes the full damping contributions. As a result, the criterion for observing level attraction becomes more restrictive: the cavity extrinsic damping ({gamma}_{c}) must be significantly larger than the extrinsic magnon damping rate ({gamma}_{0}) (i.e., ({gamma}_{c}gg{gamma}_{0}))21. In our experiments, ({gamma}_{c}) and ({gamma}_{0}) are of comparable magnitude, so the transition to level attraction is not observed, despite the large dissipative coupling strength.

    The coherent coupling strength between the cavity and FMR modes at different field angles ((left|{text{S}}_{12}right|)) is extracted from the model fits and summarised in Fig. 4(a). ({g}_{0}) decreases continuously with (theta), indicating that the net torque exerted by the (mathbf{h}) field on the magnetisation weakens as (theta) increases. This angular dependence approximately follows a cosine function ({g}_{0}left(thetaright)=left[{g}_{0}left(0right)-{g}_{0}left(90right)right]text{cos}theta+{g}_{0}left(90right)). The spatial region of spin precession shifts with (theta). At (0^circ), precession primarily occurs in the cavity arm regions, where the magnetic field is normal to the (mathbf{h}) field, maximising the torque exerted on the magnetisation. At (90^circ), spin precession is concentrated in the transmission line region, where the magnetic field is perpendicular to the (mathbf{h}) field, again maximising the local torque. At intermediate angles, spin precession occurs in both regions. The resulting ({g}_{0}) reflects the cumulative contribution from spin precession across the entire (mathbf{h}) field distribution. Although the (mathbf{h}) field is strongest near the transmission line, the cavity arms cover a much larger area. As a result, ({g}_{0}) is maximised at (0^circ) and minimised at (90^circ).

    The ({kappa}_{0}/2pi) initially decreases sharply from (138.2) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (0^circ) to a minimum of (25.1) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (45^circ) before gradually increasing to (50.3) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (90^circ), representing an overall reduction of over (82%) (Fig. 4(b)). This trend is further evident in the line profiles plotted in Fig. 3(g), where the hybridised mode linewidth decreases with increasing field angle up to (45^circ), exhibiting a sharp dip, before broadening again as (theta) increases. The angular dependence of ({kappa}_{0}) indicates that two-magnon scattering is minimised at (45^circ) in our setup. In contrast, ({gamma}_{0}/2pi) rises steeply from (12.6) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (0^circ) to a peak of (94.2) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (45^circ), then rapidly declines to (6.3) (text{M}text{H}text{z}) at (90^circ), marking a reduction of over (90%) (Fig. 4(c)). This behaviour suggests that the dissipative coupling between the FMR mode and travelling photon modes is maximised at (45^circ). Dissipative coupling strengths ({{Gamma}}_{0}) as a function of (theta) can be found in Supplementary Materials Fig. S444.

    Fig. 3
    figure 3

    (a)–(d) Measured (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) at (theta=45^circ) and (90^circ), plotted as functions of (varDeltaomega) and (varDelta m), respectively. (e), (f) Corresponding calculated (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) under the same conditions as (b) and (d), respectively. (g) Measured (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) at (varDelta m/2pi=0) as a function of (varDeltaomega) for (theta) from (0^circ) to (90^circ). A vertical (45:text{d}text{B}) offset is applied between successive traces for clarity. Lines are a guide to the eye.

    Nonreciprocity induced by nonuniform rf field

    The (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) measured at (45^circ) exhibits distinct features compared to (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|), highlighting the nonreciprocal nature of the photon–magnon interaction. While (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) captures the fundamental coupling behaviour of the FMR mode, (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) reveals additional side couplings at detuned magnetic fields (Fig. 3(b)). These side couplings correspond to strong SWR modes with nonzero (varvec{k}) at detuned FMR frequencies of approximately (-0.40) (text{G}text{H}text{z}), (-0.65) (text{G}text{H}text{z}), and (-1.00) (text{G}text{H}text{z}). This nonreciprocity stems from the asymmetry of the (mathbf{h}) field in the cavity for forward- and backward-propagating waves. As a result, SWR modes with nonzero (varvec{k}) are predominantly excited in (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) (the resonant frequency of these SWR modes varies with (theta) as shown in Supplementary Materials Fig. S244, while their excitation is suppressed in (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|). This asymmetry further leads to differences in the ({kappa}_{0}) and ({gamma}_{0}) of the FMR mode, resulting in variations in the FMR linewidth and the intensity asymmetry between the upper and lower hybridised branches. The nonuniform (mathbf{h}) field plays a critical role in selectively driving SWR from one direction, producing an effective nonreciprocal response. As the magnetic field detunes from the resonant frequency, these SWR modes vanish rapidly with broad linewidths, indicating their high intrinsic damping rates. The interaction between these SWR modes and the cavity mode is incorporated into our model, with the calculated spectra shown in Fig. 3(e). The selection of SWR modes is primarily guided by the observed spectra, since their excitation is highly complex due to the nonuniform distribution of the (mathbf{h}) field, making it difficult to unambiguously assign a specific wavevector (varvec{k}) to each mode. The parameters used for the SWR fitting can be found in the Supplementary Materials Table S144. The calculations accurately reproduce the asymmetric coupling behaviour observed in (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|). These SWR modes remain observable in (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) at (theta) ranging from (0^circ) to (60^circ) (see Supplementary Materials Fig. S244, underscoring the role of the nonuniform (mathbf{h}) field and external field angle in driving nonreciprocal magnon-photon coupling.

    At (90^circ), (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) become nearly identical, indicating a transition to reciprocal behaviour. This suggests that (theta) plays a crucial role in controlling nonreciprocity in a cavity with a nonuniform (mathbf{h}) field. At intermediate angles, such as (45^circ), nonreciprocity arises from the asymmetry between the forward- and backward-propagating waves, which is induced by the relative orientation of the (mathbf{h}) field and the external magnetic field. The nonuniform (mathbf{h}) field, generated by sending signals to Port 1 and Port 2, exhibits (180^circ) rotational symmetry. However, for a given (theta), the angle between the (mathbf{h}) field and the external magnetic field differs for the forward- and backward-propagating waves. This difference in angles leads to variations in the spin precession excitation (including the two-magnon scattering process), which in turn affects the photon–magnon coupling and modulates the reciprocity of the system, transitioning it from nonreciprocal to reciprocal. As (theta) further increases to (90^circ), this asymmetry diminishes (with the spins precessing most significantly within the transmission line), and the system transitions to reciprocal behaviour, as evidenced by the near-identical (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|).

    To quantify the nonreciprocity of our system, we analyse the nonreciprocity difference, defined as ({Delta:}text{S}=left|{text{S}}_{21}right|-left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) (with (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) and (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) in (text{d}text{B}) scale). ({Delta:}text{S}) is measured at the lower branch of the hybrid mode ((omega=3.66) GHz) with zero field detuning (({Delta}m/2pi=0)). Figure 4(d) shows ({Delta}text{S}) as a function of (theta). At (0^circ) and (15^circ), (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|) is stronger than (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|), resulting in ({Delta}text{S}<0) (around (-20:text{d}text{B})). At (30^circ), ({Delta}text{S}) is nearly zero, while at (45^circ), the sign of ({Delta}text{S})becomes positive with a large value of (24:text{d}text{B}), indicating that (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) is now weaker than (left|{text{S}}_{21}right|). As (theta) further increases, ({Delta}text{S}) decreases to nearly zero at (90^circ), demonstrating a transition to reciprocal behaviour. These results demonstrate that microwave transmission in our photon–magnon hybrid system can be controlled by adjusting the magnetic field angle, enabling tunable nonreciprocity. The nonreciprocal behaviour in our study contrasts with previous reports where nonreciprocity was attributed to the direction-dependent relative phase between coherent and dissipative magnon–photon couplings21. In our work, nonreciprocity arises from two contributions: the first is analogous to the mechanism described in21, which is also incorporated into our model. The second and more dominant contribution stems from the differing torques exerted by the nonuniform (mathbf{h}) field on the magnetisation for forward- and backward-propagating waves. This torque difference leads to distinct spin precession dynamics and alters two-magnon scattering, thereby affecting the magnon damping rate. This effect depends on the external magnetic field orientation, providing an additional platform for manipulating the nonreciprocity in the photon–magnon coupling system.

    Fig. 4
    figure 4

    (a) Coherent coupling strength g0 extracted from (left|{text{S}}_{12}right|) as a function of (theta). The solid curve is a fit based on ({g}_{0}left(thetaright)=left[{g}_{0}left(0right)-{g}_{0}left(90right)right]text{cos}theta+{g}_{0}left(90right)). (b) Intrinsic damping rate ({kappa}_{0}/2pi) and (c) extrinsic damping rate ({gamma}_{0}/2pi) of the FMR mode excited by Port 2, as functions of (theta), respectively. (d) Nonreciprocity difference ({Delta}text{S}) as a function of (theta).

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  • Journalist Khawar Hussain died by suicide: report

    Journalist Khawar Hussain died by suicide: report



    Journalist Khawar Hussain. — Facebook@k.hussains/File

    KARACHI: Investigators probing into journalist Khawar Hussain’s death submitted a 30-page report to Sindh Inspector-General Ghulam Nabi Memon on Friday, in which they declared it a “suicide” based on evidence.

    Hussain, a young journalist associated with a private news channel, was found dead in his car in mysterious circumstances outside a restaurant on Hyderabad Road in his hometown, Sanghar, last week.

    The probe committee concluded “suicide as the only cause of death of journalist Hussain” based on the “detailed visit of the crime scene, interview of the witnesses, examination of post-mortem reports, forensic reports, and analysis of CCTV footage”.

    The report includes an eight-page section supported by medical records.

    Investigators also reviewed CCTV footage from Karachi to Sanghar, tracing Hussain’s travel route, as well as video evidence from the hotel parking area up to the point of the incident.

    Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Irfan Baloch, a member of the committee, said the CCTV footage showed no individual approaching the journalist’s vehicle during the incident.

    The report added that video evidence, call data records, and witness statements from people who last contacted Hussain were all examined. The medical and post-mortem reports also confirmed suicide.

    The committee concluded that while the cause of death was suicide, determining the underlying reasons would require the cooperation of Hussain’s family.

    Investigators noted that Hussain had transferred online payments to a water tanker driver after arranging for water delivery to his home before his death.

    The inquiry was led by Additional Inspector General Azad Khan, with DIG Irfan and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abid Baloch as members.

    Earlier, the initial post-mortem report stated that the bullet recovered from his head was fired from his licensed pistol. “The evidence so far indicates suicide,” a civil surgeon involved in the examination said.

    Videos showed Hussain entering and leaving a local restaurant twice before returning to his vehicle, where he stayed for nearly two hours, investigators said.

    Police also recovered one of the two mobile phones in use, while the other remains missing. The journalist had been stationed in Karachi for nearly 10 years, working with different media organisations during his career.

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  • Tool predicts prostate cancer outcomes using patient-reported data

    Tool predicts prostate cancer outcomes using patient-reported data

    In this interview, Bashir Al Hussein Al Awamlh, MD, MPH, a urologic oncologist and assistant professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, New York, highlights the challenges patients with localized prostate cancer face when choosing among treatment options such as active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, or radiation therapy. Although oncologic outcomes are often comparable, differences in functional outcomes—such as sexual, urinary, and bowel function—make shared decision-making critical. Al Awamlh notes that existing prediction tools are limited: They rely on outdated treatment data, offer only short-term predictions, and present results as continuous scores that are difficult for patients to interpret.

    To address these shortcomings, his team leveraged data from the 10-year prospective CEASAR study, which collected patient-reported outcomes on contemporary prostate cancer treatments.1 Using advanced statistical methods, particularly random forest modeling, they developed predictive models that generate patient-centered, individualized outcomes. Instead of abstract scores, the tool provides probabilities for specific functional outcomes, such as the likelihood of maintaining erections sufficient for intercourse, urinary continence, or experiencing bowel symptoms. This approach makes the results more relatable and useful for patients.

    The tool is designed as a patient-facing application that can be used both during clinic visits and independently at home. By allowing patients to input readily available clinical and functional baseline information, the model predicts likely outcomes over a 10-year horizon, supporting informed decisions that align with personal values and reducing treatment regret.

    Looking ahead, Al Awamlh’s team plans to transform the prototype into a more sophisticated, mobile-friendly web application. Future development will focus on making the tool “health literacy agnostic,” ensuring accessibility for patients from diverse backgrounds. Ultimately, the goal is to integrate the tool into routine clinical practice nationwide, enhancing patient engagement and shared decision-making in prostate cancer care.

    REFERENCE

    1. Al Awamlh BAH, Zhao Z, Huang L-C, Koyama T, Barocas DA. Development of predictive models using patient-reported data for integration into a patient-facing functional outcomes prediction tool for localized prostate cancer treatments. J Urol. 2025;213(5S2):e257. doi:10.1097/01.JU.0001109792.00985.9d.12

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  • Benjamin Ree, Buzzy Genre Pics

    Benjamin Ree, Buzzy Genre Pics

    Wrapping Thursday, industry reps mood was upbeat at the New Nordic Films in Norway’s Haugesund. A co-production, sales and networking event running parallel to the Norwegian International Film Festival, the  confab offered a curated program of what’s coming next from the Nordics, with a Baltic twist this year. 

    Heavyweight players tagged the lineup “impressive’,” an adjective especially used for projects in development. Boat tours on the fjord, dynamic panels, networking ops and sunshine throughout the two-day event further lifted spirits of guests and Nordic film professionals, more than ever looking outside the region for partnerships.

    Capped Attendees and Meetings

    Attendance numbers of over 300 participants attendees was “an ideal maximum size for quality conversations,” said New Nordic Films honcho Gyda Velvin Myklebust in a post-market wrap. “We had exceptional pitches of 21 projects in development [out of a record 92 applications] and 16 works in progress which opened up the size of the event,” she said. Over the last two years, the Nordic Co-Production Market (NCPM)  has proved the NNF’s hottest strand due to the drying out of Nordic public coin and the overall tougher eco-system of indie film financing. Sydney Film Festival director Nashen Moodley, at the NNF for the first time, was pleased with the overall program. 

    “The market was a great place to watch so much material in a few days. It gave a good snapshot of what’s been done the last year in the Nordics and the market screening lineup was very good and wide-ranging,” said the programmer who watched half of the 20-title market program in two days.  “New Nordic Films is a well-oiled organisation, so precise. That’s a nice change for us Southern Europeans,” joked Spanish veteran producer-distributor Paco Poch of Barcelona’s Mallerich Films who was eyeing possible co-productions with some NCPM teams, and hopes to be back in 2026.

    From France, mover and shaker Guillaume Benski of Superbe Films, producer of “Mr Harris Goes to Paris,” was enthused with his first trip to Haugesund. “The market was a great discovery. For me the Nordics was one big brand, but now I can better identity each of the five Nordic countries, the type of movies they do. The quality of the pitches at the NCPM in particular was excellent-and from a producer’s point of view, the pitches themselves were very clear about what creators were expecting from the market, “said the French producer who attended 12 match making meetings and plans to ramp up TV and film co-productions with the Nordics.

    Strong Market Value of Genre-Bending, Arthouse Fare

    “There was a healthy and interesting balance between arthouse festival films, high concept/genre-driven films, as well as family/young adult films,” said Yuan Sui, co-managing director and head of sales at Berlin-based Picture Tree International, among some 20-plus sales agents in attendance. “What stands out is that many projects were market-aware: even the more artistically films were anchored in strong hooks (mythology, elevated genre, social themes). A few were in a very early stage (with 2027 Q2/Q3 shooting plans), but that’s part of the strength of the market; it gives us visibility on promising work early on and more time to adapt with the market,” she noted.

    Benski enjoyed the “good mix of psycho thrillers, elevated genre, arthouse dramas, period pieces, children’s films, although his own top choice were genre-bending projects. “At a time when soft money is harder to secure, genre is a bit easier to finance,” he said.

    Commenting on the overall NCPM slate, Casey Baron, Tribeca Film Festival programmer and co-production market jury, felt “a lot of projects had a true universal appeal and potential to hit [the audience], no matter what’s your walk of life.

    Nordic storytellers have a natural intuition into tapping into humanity, the kind of things that make us tick, that either drive us or depress us, the kind of stuff that defines us for years. There is a real sensibility to explore that space, to mind that for interesting storytelling, and I think we saw that to the nth degree here,” he said.

    For his party, fellow jury member Josef Kullengård, Göteborg Fest head of industry, highlighted the raft of seasoned directors and producers, as well as directing-writing talent coming into film from serialised drama, such as Måns Månsson, Baldvin Z, Johan Fasting, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Julia Lindström. “This is indicative of what’s happening in the industry, with creatives working both film and TV. It’s a standard now and that’s to everyone’s benefit,” he said.

    Buzz Titles

    At the NCPM, Storyline Production winner “The Greatest Illusion” stood out for its jaw-dropping story of a talented magician, navigating between memory and trauma of the killing of his mother by his father. Project is by acclaimed Norwegian docu filmmaker Benjamin Ree (“The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,” “The Painter and the Thief’).

    There was also good word of mouth on Finnish elevated vampire pic “Blood – The Devil in Helsinki” by debutante Viivi Huuska who said in a video link: “Why the fuck haven’t vampires been smart enough to go to Finland? We have no sun-and we don’t like people! We’re weird on the street and no one cares!” 

    “Viivi is most exciting voice coming out of Finland; she’s positively mad”, said genre-expert producers Aleksi Hyvärinen (“Lake Bodom,” “The Twin”) and Mika Pajunen. Also from Finland, the documentary “God is Tango” by Annika Grof sparked interested for its vision to explore Argentine tango as a path to relief in four war-torn countries.

    From Iceland, the English-language pic “Klara” by Bjørn Hlynur Haraldsson stood out as an arthouse pic with international crossover potential, according to one sales agent; the suspense drama “Dark Ocean” by Baldvin Z scored for its A-list cast – Baltasar Kormákur, “Severance” star Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and its theme of toxic masculinity. 

    Another claustrophobic offer to be shot on a ship – “Into the Ice” by Norwegian star actor Nicolai Cleve Broch – was viewed as a strong offer for streamers, while the Norwegian comedy “How to Steal a Bike” enthused for its catchy universal topic and humorous presentation from writer Johan Fasting. “That movie will appeal to people in any bike cities in the world – whether they are in New-York, hanging out on a beach in L.A. or in Iceland” said juror Baron.

    From the strong slate of six Baltic projects part of the Baltic Focus, “Silverwhite,” which won a best pitch project honorary mention, captured an industry audience for its ambitious storyline spanning 7,000 years and potentially strong delivery by visionary Estonian filmmaker Martti Helde (“In the Crosswind”). Latvia’s “Sorcerer’s Eye” by Aik Karapetian had fans, thanks to a clever storyline and mix of live action/animation and family adventure.

    Works in Progress Favorites

    Stand-out titles by seasoned helmers ranged from monster pic “Kraken” by Pål Øie to animated feature “Dante” by Linda Hambäck to Finnish social dramas “Father’s Day” by Aleksi Salmenperä and “Don Quixotte of Barcelona” by Jarmo Lampela. 

    Debut projects that caught delegates’ attention included the Sámi musical drama “Árru” by Ele Sofe Sara, realistic drama “Lucky” by Nitesh Anjaan and drama thriller about radicalism “Nipster” by Sunniva Eir Tangvik Kveum. But some buyers preferred to wait for the finished films to make a move. “The French market is highly competitive for foreign language pics. Besides the Cannes brand names Joachim Trier or Ruben Östlund, we need strong hooks and to watch the full feature to eventually take a risk,” said first time Haugesund attendee Daniel Chabannes, senior producer/distributor from Epicentre Films.

    Dante
    Credit Lee Film

    Animation Rocks at First Haugesund Showcase

    At the first ever Nordic Animation showcase in Haugesund held in partnership with the association Nordic Animation, six heavyweight producers took centre stage to pitch some of the region’s most compelling projects.

    After highlighting that feature film animation in Norway “is booming and experiencing a golden age,” Den Siste Skilling’s Kristine Knudsen (“Richard the Stork”) pitched her upcoming pic “Coco Banana and the Dinosaur” directed by Will Ashurst and Kjersti G. Steinsbø, co-produced with her Germany sister company Den Sister Skilling Germany and Seru Animation. The 3D film is due to enter production next year.

    Her Norwegian counterpart Tonje Skar Reiersen of major studio Mikrofilm (a 2007 Oscar-winner with the short animation “The Danish Poet”), highlighted the young-adult skewed “Pesta,” by Hanne Berkaak, a love story set in Norway during the Black Death. The co-production with France’s Xilam Films and Germany’s Knudsen Pictures will step into production next year for a 2028 delivery.

    From SwedenSnowcloud’s Petter Lindblad presented “Millie and the Secret of the Crocodile,” the next 3D animation pic by acclaimed Esben Toft Jacobsen (“The Great Bear,” “Beyond Beyond”). The co-production with Nørlum Denmark and Viking Film in the Netherlands starts production later this year, with a planned delivery early 2027. LevelK handles sales.

    From Denmark, Claus Toksvig Kjær from Nørlum Animation Studio –  which contributed to Disney TV’s “Big Hero 6” series and the Oscar-nominated “Song of the Sea” – said his co-production “Lotte & Totte”, has just passed 50,000 admissions in Denmark, making it the biggest pre-school title in Denmark for 20 years.

    For the fans of the 2008 Icelandic hit “Ploey-You Never Fly Alone,” which sold to over 70 territories, producer Haukur Sigurjónsson of GunHill unveiled the good news that the sequel “Ploey-the Legend of the Wind” will hit screens in 2027. The expanded brand will include a large merchandise offer with books, soft toys and two spinouts in development. Sigurjónsson also underscored the enlarged community of animation producers in Iceland with Compass Films, Tulipop, and the country’s Oscar nod in 2021 with “Yes-People” by Gísli Darri Halldórsson.

    Another prime purveyor of quality Nordic animation, Finland’s Anima Vitae, credited for the blockbuster “Niko” multi-pic franchise, presented its next feature “Fleak” which premiered in Annecy and will hit local screens this fall.

    Baltic Focus

    The first NNF and Baltic film agencies’ joint initiative to boost Baltic and Nordic ties, was a successful bet as 30-plus producers, funders from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were able to network with their Nordic counterparts and discussed ways to boost collaborations. 

    At the panel Insights on Co-producing with the Baltics on Thursday joined as speakers Lithuanian producer Brigita Beniuŝytė of M Films (“The Visitor”), Inga Blese at the National Film Centre of Latvia’s (NFCL), Estonian cash rebate commissioner Nele Paves and Estonian Film Institute’s head of production Viola Salu. They reminded the floor of the Baltics’ competitive cash rebates, large pool of skilled professionals and talent. Paves said Finnish projects are “the bread and butter” of Estonian co-producers, thanks to a long-standing relationship, cultural and geographical closeness, but she urged Swedes, Danes and especially Norwegians to step up. “We are very professional, solution-minded, straight in deal-making and have a good sense of humor,” they summarised.

    Picked for the Nordic Co-Production Market showcase, the six Baltic projects in development received strong feedback from attendees. Kullengård from the Göteborg Festival felt the Baltic slate “integrated really well into the overall Nordic selection thanks to their high quality and shared story-telling and cultural affinities between the Nordics and Baltics.

    Insights on Co-producing With the Baltics Panel
    Credit: Annika Pham

    Norwegian pics local-global appeal

    During the Norwegian Film Festival and New Nordic Films, Norwegian films displayed their full pulling power, especially Lilja Ingolfsdóttir’s “Loveable” and Dag Johan Haugerud’s “Sex-Love-Dreams” trilogy, which both won national Amanda Awards  – on top of a Nordic Council Film Prize nomination for “Dreams.” 

    “Loveable” and Haugerud’s trilogy were also discussed at a panel staged by Europa Distribution, attended by distributors from Italy (Wanted Cinema) and the Czech Republic (Aero Films) who detailed their launch and promotional strategy for the pics. Motlys’ Yngve Sæther, producer of “Sex-Love-Dreams” said he was proud to be “part of the Norwegian wave,” an upward trend in the global appeal of Norwegian films confirmed by the Norwegian Film Institute’s Hanne M. Okstad, the NFI’s international promotion advisor, who discussed the institute’s international distribution scheme. 

    “Over the last four years, we’ve supported 55 unique Norwegian films internationally and 165 releases globally,” she said,’ underlining the NOK 250,000 or $24,400 grant per territory, seen by many distributors as a vital distribution support.

    At home, Norwegian films are still struggling to climb back to pre-pandemic times, said Espen Pedersen, head of Film & Kino and chair of the Board of the Norwegian Film Festival. He said local admissions so far are down 15%, due to the lack of Norwegian tentpoles and the hot summer weather, but he is hopeful that the end of year will close with over 9.5 million admissions and a Norwegian market-share of around 25%.

    Loveable
    Beijing International Film Festival

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  • Two-time champion Venus Williams goes full circle with record-extending US Open homecoming

    Two-time champion Venus Williams goes full circle with record-extending US Open homecoming

    Twenty-eight years since Venus Williams first stepped foot onto the hallowed courts of the US Open, it is as if she never left.

    The four-time Olympic tennis gold medallist returned to Flushing Meadows to a rapturous reception reserved for the greats of the game, as she emerged for the revamped Mixed Doubles Championship alongside Reilly Opelka.

    Although her latest Grand Slam title quest ended in opening round defeat, the women’s singles draw still lies in store, the 45-year-old awarded a wildcard for the main draw starting Sunday (24 August).

    Williams has a tricky first round opponent in 11th seed Karolína Muchová, the 29-year-old Czech who has reached the semi-finals two years running. Only one of these women has lifted the trophy though, and that was Venus back in 2000 and 2001.

    When Venus made a shock comeback to the WTA tour in July 2025, all roads seemed certain to lead to the US Open, where she has been crowned champion on four occasions: twice in singles, twice in doubles.

    The former world number one played at the DC Open and the Cincinnati Open in her preparations for Flushing Meadows, both on her adored hard courts in her homeland of the USA. Next up: the Big Apple and the final Slam of the season.

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