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  • Emirates signs on as Official Partner of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    Emirates signs on as Official Partner of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    • New partnership reinforces Emirates’ long-standing support of global rugby and commitment to growing the women’s game.
    • The iconic Emirates ‘Fly Better kit will feature across all 32 tournament matches, worn by World Rugby Match Officials as a symbol of the airline’s continued support for elite officiating.
    • With almost 50 days to go, England 2025 is already smashing records, with over 300,000 tickets sold, more than twice the total attendance of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand.

    Emirates will continue its support of match officiating with the sponsorship of World Rugby Match Officials during Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, helping foster the growth and development of top-tier match officials and the rise of women officials in pinnacle competitions. The Emirates ‘Fly Better’ kit will be worn across all matches.  

    The sponsorship demonstrates the airline’s commitment to advancing the sport of rugby while also enhancing the growth and visibility of women’s sports, while providing Emirates with a platform to engage with new, passionate fan bases.

    As part of the new partnership, Emirates will enjoy significant marketing exposure across Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 digital and social channels and on-ground activations. The airline will also receive in-stadium branding across all 32 Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 matches.

    Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will span eight venues across England from 22 August to 27 September, with 16 teams competing to lift the new Women’s Rugby World Cup Trophy. Emirates has a well-established commercial and operational footprint in 13 participating countries.

    Michel Poussau, World Rugby Chief Revenue Officer, said: “Emirates has been a trusted and long-standing partner of World Rugby and our pinnacle competitions for nearly two decades, and we’re proud to extend this enduring relationship into the groundbreaking Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Their continued commitment to supporting our match officials plays a crucial role in upholding excellence on the field. This partnership reflects not only our shared values, but also our collective ambition to elevate rugby on the global stage.”

    Sarah Massey, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Managing Director, added: “Supporting the development of our team behind the whistle on the sport’s biggest stage is vital to delivering a world-class tournament. Emirates’ investment is helping create meaningful opportunities for these inspiring individuals to thrive, especially the women match officials taking part in this landmark event. We’re thrilled to welcome Emirates as a partner for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.”

    Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said: “We’re excited to partner with World Rugby as an Official Partner and Airline of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Women’s rugby is flourishing globally, and Emirates’ significant investment expands our presence and supports rugby’s growth. Making the sport accessible to everyone is part of our commitment to creating long-lasting impact, stronger connections with fans and unlocking possibilities through the power of sport.”

    Emirates has championed the game of rugby since 1987, expanding its support to include World Rugby, six consecutive Rugby World Cups (2007-27), Cape Town 7s, and the Emirates Dubai 7s for nearly 40 years.

    About Emirates

    Emirates is the world’s largest international airline, connecting travellers to more than 140 cities. Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380s, and now flies the Airbus A350, offering spacious cabins and iconic inflight features across its fleet. With a culturally diverse workforce, Emirates caters to its global customer base by delivering exceptional services and world-class products and has earned customer recognition for its industry-leading services on the ground and in the sky.

    About Women’s World Rugby World Cup 2025

    Running from 22 August-27 September, Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 will be a generational moment for rugby. The tournament organised across eight iconic locations will advance the incredible momentum behind women’s sport in England, and around the world.

    With powerful personalities, unstoppable athletes and compelling competition, England 2025 will capture hearts and headlines globally, inspiring the next generation of players, and welcoming new fans to the sport.

    Beyond the field, Women’s RWC 2025 will play a central role in empowering real change, shaping positive perceptions at all levels of the game, championing gender equity, and enriching local communities.

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  • Paralogous Genes Decoded With Paraphase Tool

    Paralogous Genes Decoded With Paraphase Tool


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    Many medically relevant genes reside in “dark regions” of the genome that have long been elusive. To address this, we developed Paraphase – a computational tool that accurately resolves and analyzes paralogous genes. By unlocking the difficult-to-analyze regions of the genome where paralogous genes reside, Paraphase provides deeper insights into genetic variation, disease mechanisms and population diversity. This knowledge helps lay the groundwork for improved diagnostics, more inclusive reference genomes and future discoveries in genomic medicine. This multi-institutional study, led by PacBio, was published in Nature Communications.

    Shedding light on the genome’s dark regions

    We wanted to overcome a longstanding challenge in genomics: highly similar paralogous genes. These genes often reside within segmental duplications (SDs), which are large, repeated regions of DNA with nearly identical sequences. The repetitiveness of SDs complicates variant calling and copy number analysis, meaning traditional short-read sequencing technologies struggle to resolve these regions, leaving many genomic regions understudied and conditions undiagnosed.


    To further our mission of accurately analyzing previously “dark” regions of the genome, we decided to design a tool for precise phasing and analysis of SDs with high accuracy and throughput. We also wanted to examine how copy number variations (CNVs) in certain paralogous genes differ across ancestries, and to show how this affects disease risk for different populations of people. We wanted to prove further how understanding genetic diversity such as copy numbers is key for building inclusive reference genomes and advancing equitable genomic medicine.

    Paraphase uncovers genetic variations in segmental duplications in global populations

    We developed a computational tool, Paraphase, to resolve segmental duplications (SDs) and allow us to accurately assess paralogs and copy numbers.


    Before applying Paraphase to new data, we first validated the tool by applying it to known positive pathogenic samples and confirmed its accuracy. We then extended our analysis to 160 SD regions, spanning 316 genes. Samples came from 259 individuals across 5 ancestral groups: South Asian, European, African, Latin American and East Asian; the goal was to identify patterns of population-specific diversity and potential reference genome errors. Additionally, we examined 36 parent–offspring trios to detect de novo variants and gene conversion events.


    The key findings of the study were:

    • Paraphase enabled the analysis of medically important genes and associated diseases, such as those implicated in spinal muscular atrophy (SMN1/SMN2) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CYP21A2).
    • We observed high copy number variability in many gene families within segmental duplications across people of different ancestries.
    • We discovered a new approach for identifying false duplications in the reference genome.
    • We identified 23 paralog groups with exceptionally low genetic diversity between genes and paralogs, indicating that frequent gene conversion and unequal crossing-over may contribute to similar gene copies.

    Diverse genomic insights improve disease research and diagnosis

    Our study demonstrates that using long-read HiFi sequencing in conjunction with our computational tool, Paraphase, provides a much richer and more detailed picture of genetic variation, specifically in complex SDs. By improving our ability to call disease-linked variants that are often missed by other technologies, Paraphase opens up new avenues for disease research.


    For example, using Paraphase, we disentangled medically important gene families in a single test that have previously required specialized, multi-step assays. In the CYP21A2/CYP21A1P region – where mutations cause congenital adrenal hyperplasia – we characterized a previously overlooked duplication allele carrying both a functional CYP21A2 copy and a nonfunctional CYP21A2(Q319X) copy. Using standard tests, this duplication allele could easily have been misclassified.


    Our study further highlights the power of long-read sequencing in detecting de novo variations, particularly in previously inaccessible parts of the genome. We uncovered seven previously undetected de novo single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and four de novo gene conversion events, two of which were non-allelic – a level of detail not possible with traditional sequencing approaches.


    Additionally, our approach revealed high variation in copy number distributions across paralog groups in different ancestries. This finding reinforces the need for more genetically diverse reference genomes, as current references genomes are often biased toward European populations.


    Paraphase provides a method for studying paralogous genes at scale, offering new opportunities for disease research, population-wide analysis and potentially even clinical testing. By broadening our understanding of genetic variation across ancestries, we can better understand how certain diseases impact specific populations, paving the way for more targeted diagnoses and treatment approaches.


    By enabling more accurate identification of de novo variants and gene conversion events, our approach provides deeper insights into how genetic disorders arise and how traits are inherited. These discoveries offer a clearer view of genetic inheritance patterns and help reveal the underlying mechanisms of disease.

    It should be noted that the current study focuses exclusively on gene families with fewer than 10 genes. Larger and more complex gene families were not included, meaning some medically important regions have yet to be studied. Additionally, the study is limited to assessing DNA-level variation in paralogs and does not explore transcriptomic or epigenetic factors, such as RNA expression or methylation differences between gene copies.

    A broader lens: From genomics to multiomics

    Looking ahead, we would like to extend Paraphase to study larger gene families, which were excluded from the current study. We’re also interested in applying Paraphase to investigate RNA-level differences and the transcriptional activity of paralogs that are very similar in sequence. It would be beneficial to explore epigenetic regulation with Paraphase, as it could provide further insights into how paralogous genes are controlled and expressed.


    Reference: Chen X, Baker D, Dolzhenko E, et al. Genome-wide profiling of highly similar paralogous genes using HiFi sequencing. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):2340. doi:10.1038/s41467-025-57505-2 

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  • Aurangzeb calls for renewed commitment to revitalizing int’l development cooperation – RADIO PAKISTAN

    1. Aurangzeb calls for renewed commitment to revitalizing int’l development cooperation  RADIO PAKISTAN
    2. Aurangzeb calls for equitable global financial reforms and scaled-up development support at FFD4 Conference  Ptv.com.pk
    3. UN chief seeks aid surge to check ‘climate chaos’  Dawn
    4. Sevilla Platform of Action Launched to Scale Country-Led Financing Approaches for Sustainable Development and Climate  United Nations Development Programme
    5. How to overhaul the global financial architecture | D+C – Development + Cooperation  dandc.eu

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  • Researchers study interactions between light and heavy electrons in twisted trilayer graphene

    In systems with multiple energy bands, the interplay between electrons with different effective masses drives correlated phenomena that do not occur in single-band systems. Magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene is a tunable platform for exploring such effects, hosting both heavy (“bound”) electrons and light (“weakly bound and mobile”) electrons. 

    Researchers at Harvard, MIT and National Institute for Material Science in Japan have examined the interplay between “light” and “heavy” electrons in magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene, shedding new light on how they may help form novel quantum states.

     

    “Before our work, people could only ask ‘What is the overall ground state’?” said Andrew T. Pierce, one of the paper’s lead authors. Pierce, currently a fellow at Cornell University, was a graduate student in Amir Yacoby’s lab at Harvard when they began to study this question. What wasn’t clear was the true nature of these different states and how the separate light and heavy electrons joined forces to form them.

    Additionally, because of the more obvious role of heavy electrons to drive insulators, light electrons have often been dismissed as “doing nothing” or “being spectators,” said Yonglong Xie, one of the paper’s lead authors. A former Harvard Quantum Initiative Prize postdoctoral fellow in Yacoby’s lab, Xie, now an assistant professor at Rice University, noted that the effect of these light electrons on the overall system was hard to detect.

    The interplay between electrons with different masses is believed to drive intricate quantum phenomena. In the novel material known as magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene (MATTG), where three layers of graphene are stacked together with the middle sheet rotated slightly, electrons with small and large masses coexist. This material supports a plethora of exotic quantum phenomena including superconductivity (i.e. electrical conduction without heating), thereby providing a new setting to address this question.

    To understand what was going on in these cases, the researchers used a specialized form of microscopy, known as scanning single-electron transistor (scanning SET), pioneered by Yacoby, to examine tiny “puddles” in the MATTG where electrons are trapped when the MATTG enters an insulating state. The scanning SET indicated that while the heavy electrons enable insulating states, the light electrons remain mobile, suggesting that they should participate in forming the novel states, including superconductivity.

    “The heavy electrons form an insulator among themselves, creating the illusion of an overall insulating state, but in reality the light electrons remain free,” clarified Pierce. “This raises the possibility that the light electrons can mediate interactions between heavy electrons.”

    This surprising finding underscores how complex the interplay between light and heavy electrons in MATTG can be, the researchers said. They suggested that exploring further methods of “tuning” the ratio of heavy and light electrons in two-dimensional materials will lead to exciting new discoveries. “The problem of coexisting light and heavy electrons in solids is a long-standing one, and we hope our scheme for disentangling their roles gives a new approach to these intriguing materials,” said Pierce.

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  • F1 Exhibition in Amsterdam to be extended beyond Dutch Grand Prix due to popular demand

    F1 Exhibition in Amsterdam to be extended beyond Dutch Grand Prix due to popular demand

    The Formula 1 Exhibition is extending its stay in Amsterdam by a final six weeks because of incredible demand.

    After welcoming tens of thousands of visitors since opening, and receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, the internationally acclaimed exhibition will now remain at De Kromhouthal in Amsterdam-Noord in the Dutch capital through Sunday, September 7 2025.

    The extension means F1 Exhibition remains in Amsterdam one week beyond the Dutch Grand Prix, giving fans the perfect opportunity to enjoy both unmissable events together in the Netherlands.

    F1 Exhibition offers an engaging look into 75 years of Formula 1 history, highlighting how the sport has evolved from technical innovation to the personal journeys of its greatest icons.

    Visitors explore this rich legacy across seven thematic rooms, featuring standout pieces such as Max Verstappen’s 2021 title-winning RB16B, Jim Clark’s Dutch Grand Prix-winning Lotus 33, and the dramatic wreckage of Romain Grosjean’s Haas from his 2020 crash in Bahrain.

    The European tour has already enjoyed successful runs in major cities including Madrid, Vienna, and London, while in the Americas the show opened to critical acclaim in Toronto and Buenos Aires – each showcasing legendary cars, cutting-edge innovations, personal stories, and interactive experiences for fans of all ages, including racing simulators.

    “It’s fantastic news that the exhibition is being extended – a clear sign of how much it resonates with fans,” said former F1 driver, and ambassador of the F1 Exhibition Amsterdam, Robert Doornbos. “As an ambassador, I’m incredibly proud to be part of an experience that brings the sport to life in such a powerful and inspiring way.”

    Jonathan Linden, Co-CEO Round Room Live and Producer of The Formula 1 Exhibition, commented: “We are delighted with the popularity of the Formula 1 Exhibition in Amsterdam and are thrilled to extend our run there.

    “With the Dutch Grand Prix coming up as well as the summer holidays in Amsterdam, we expect a high-demand for the newly released tickets and look forward to sharing the experience with even more fans.”

    Visitors start by entering Once Upon a Time in Formula 1, where legendary cars including the Sauber C17, Williams FW13B and Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari F10 are displayed, while in Drivers & Duels legendary rivalries come alive.

    Design Lab explores the ground-breaking technologies driving the sport forward, with Revolution by Design showing the technological advances the sport has gone through in the past 75 years, before The Pit Wall delivers an immersive 360° multimedia experience capturing the thrill and strategy of a race weekend.

    Each element of the Formula 1 Exhibition is carefully curated to captivate and entertain fans of all generations – a unique and unforgettable experience for every motorsport enthusiast.

    The Amsterdam edition also features an exclusive local highlight: Dutch Drive – a tribute to Circuit Zandvoort and the Dutch Grand Prix. This room celebrates the Netherlands’ deep motorsport heritage and the passionate ‘Orange Army’ that has embraced the sport.

    For more about exhibits in Amsterdam and for ticket information, head to the Formula 1 Exhibition website.

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  • Integrating Animal Health into Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Planning

    Integrating Animal Health into Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Planning

    Prevention and preparedness play central roles in global health security, with the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) now working with third-country governments to strengthen cooperation on medical countermeasures for preparedness and response to serious cross-border public health threats. The recently published WHO Pandemic Agreement also represents a significant step forward in strengthening the global health architecture to better address future pandemics.

    While timely access to critical medical resources, such as vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics often take centre stage in preparedness discussions, a crucial dimension remains underappreciated: animal health. Yet, history tells us that this is precisely where the next global health emergency may begin.

    The term “Disease X” a kind of placeholder name adopted by the WHO in 2018 refers to an unknown pathogen with the potential to cause a serious international epidemic or pandemic. Although Disease X is hypothetical, the concept is very real, and one fact is consistently reaffirmed by scientific evidence: pandemics predominantly originate in animals. Zoonotic pathogens (those that can jump from animals to humans) are the likeliest culprits for future pandemics, as SARS, MERS, Ebola, avian influenza, and mostly recently, COVID-19, have all been linked to animal origins. This reality places animal health systems on the front line of prevention, long before the first human case emerges.

    The WHO Pandemic Agreement reflects a notable shift toward integrated approaches that span across sectors. A few articles within the text touch on the need to reduce risks of interspecies transmission, strengthen surveillance, and promote the One Health approach, a framework that recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. The animal health sector is uniquely positioned to play a central role in helping to turn these ambitions into concrete outcomes.

    Tackling disease outbreaks in livestock and wildlife at their source prevents them from spreading to other animals, and more importantly to people.

    Animal health professionals, including veterinarians, epidemiologists, researchers, and medicines manufacturers, are already deeply engaged in surveillance, prevention, and management of animal disease outbreaks. But continued threats from infectious diseases and evolving pathogens influencing disease distribution and severity have reinforced the need for robust surveillance, early warning systems, and preparedness planning. A recent report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) shares some key facts on how animal health impacts human health:

    • Animal diseases are migrating into previously unaffected areas and half (47%) of these diseases have zoonotic potential.
    • Between 2005 and 2023 68% of the notifications to WOAH for emerging diseases were considered to have zoonotic potential.
    • Outbreaks of bird flu in mammals more than doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, increasing the risk of further spread and transmission to people.

    Tackling disease outbreaks in livestock and wildlife at their source prevents them from spreading to other animals, and more importantly to people. Moreover, taking bird flu as an example, aside from the devastating loss of poultry, HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) is causing unprecedented mass die-offs in wild-bird populations. This can seriously disrupt ecosystems and threaten biodiversity. And, although in this case the risk of human infection remains low, the more animals are affected, the greater the possibility for the virus to jump from mammal to mammal, and potentially also to people.

    It’s clear that decreasing the burden of animal diseases will mitigate the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. Preparedness actions must begin before a pathogen reaches human populations, so investing in disease surveillance, vaccine development, and healthcare infrastructure for animals is not a luxury but a necessity.

    Despite their importance, animal health systems often face chronic underfunding. This leaves significant gaps in pandemic preparedness planning, particularly in developing countries where disease emergence risks are high and surveillance capacity is limited. For example, a key vulnerability globally is the inadequate number of trained veterinarians, and Europe is not a stranger to this phenomenon either. An insufficient vet-to-livestock ratio not only means less prevention of zoonotic diseases, but it also means less effective surveillance and a higher likelihood of diseases crossing borders.

    The path to pandemic prevention runs not only through our hospitals and laboratories, but also through the world’s ecosystems, our farms, food markets, and veterinary clinics.

    By directing greater resources and political attention toward animal health, promoting the development of joint training programmes for the workforce at the human-animal-environment interface, and developing integrated disease surveillance systems the global community can close these gaps and better protect itself from future disease emergencies, while also creating more resilient health systems overall.

    The WHO Pandemic Agreement offers a framework to facilitate this shift, as its emphasis on international cooperation, technology transfer, and capacity-building opens the door to greater collaboration between human and animal health sectors. One of the key challenges ahead lies in making sure these ideas are not only endorsed on paper but implemented in practice, which means ensuring that veterinary services are embedded within European and national pandemic preparedness plans and that animal vaccines producers are consulted before a disease outbreak reaches crisis scenario. DG HERA and the EU Preparedness Union Strategy published earlier this year set a good basis for addressing emerging health threats, but the role for animal health is not clearly defined, nor mentioned in the latter.   

    It is important that decision-makers understand the value of One Health action, i.e. involving all the health sectors. preventive action over reactive measures, while also fostering a regular dialogue between the public and private sectors, including Chief Veterinary Officers, to ensure strategies are informed by real-world experience and scientific expertise.

    The path to pandemic prevention runs not only through our hospitals and laboratories, but also through the world’s ecosystems, our farms, food markets, and veterinary clinics. Ultimately, the global health community must recognise that animal health is public health and that by enhancing animal health systems today, we can reduce the risks and impacts of tomorrow’s pandemics.

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    Every Friday our editorial team goes behind the headlines to offer insight and analysis on the key stories driving the EU agenda. Subscribe for free here.

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  • ‘He looks like a potato’: every major Gallagher feud since Oasis split in 2009 | Oasis

    ‘He looks like a potato’: every major Gallagher feud since Oasis split in 2009 | Oasis

    2 July

    Liam Gallagher performing at One Love Manchester. Photograph: Dave Hogan for One Love Manchester/PA

    After One Love Manchester, few thought the feud could get any worse. But when Noel’s wife Sara MacDonald is asked if she would watch Liam’s performance at Glastonbury she declines and calls Liam a “fat twat doing his tribute act”. Noel then posts a screenshot of a message Liam sent to Noel’s daughter Anaïs reading “tell your step mam to be very careful”.

    “So you’re sending threatening messages via my teenage daughter now are you?”, Noel wrote. “You always were good at intimidating women though eh?” Liam apologises: “My sincere apologies to my beautiful mum Peggy and my lovely niece Anais for getting caught up in all of this childish behaviour I love you both dearly”.

    5 August

    Noel speaks to the Guardian in an interview headlined with the quote: “I liked my mum until she gave birth to Liam.”

    Noel adds: “That’s not the first time he’s sent texts to my daughter, or left threatening phone calls on my wife’s answering machine. So when he’s threatening my wife via my teenage daughter, I’m thinking, you know, if you weren’t a rock star, if you were just an uncle who worked in a garage, you’d be getting a visit from the police. But because you’re a rockstar, wahey, you get away with that shit.”

    Noel says the incident means they are unlikely to ever reconcile. “Because I’ve got one fatal flaw in my otherwise perfect makeup as a human being, which is I don’t forgive people. Once you start texting my children – and his two sons have been going for her, too – and legitimise my wife being bullied on the internet, where she has to shut down Instagram accounts because of the vile shit being written about her and my daughter, then it ain’t happening.”

    He also uses the interview for a dig at Liam’s new solo music. “I think it’s unsophisticated music. For unsophisticated people. Made by an unsophisticated man. Who’s giving unsophisticated orders to a load of songwriters who think they’re doing the Oasis thing … I reckon if I put my two sons in a room – one’s nine, one’s 11 – for about 45 minutes, they could probably muster up something better than that new single of his.”

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  • AI Detects Hidden Lung Tumors Doctors Miss — And It’s Fast – SciTechDaily

    1. AI Detects Hidden Lung Tumors Doctors Miss — And It’s Fast  SciTechDaily
    2. Leveraging Transfer Learning and Attention Mechanisms for a Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Classification Model  Cureus
    3. AI Matches Doctors in Mapping Lung Tumors for Radiation Therapy  Northwestern University
    4. Lung cancer caught early thanks to AI  Digital Watch Observatory
    5. Opinion: Artificial intelligence may close the gap in lung cancer control  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

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  • Kanye West blocked from entering Australia over Hitler song

    Kanye West blocked from entering Australia over Hitler song

    American rapper Kanye West has been blocked from entering Australia over a song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

    Australia’s home affairs minister Tony Burke revealed that his department had cancelled West’s valid visa after the song Heil Hitler was released in early May.

    West’s song has been widely condemned and has been banned on most platforms.

    The highly controversial rapper, also known as Ye, identifies as a Nazi and is known for his anti-Semitic comments. He is married to Australian designer Bianca Censori.

    Mr Burke revealed the visa cancellation in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, during a discussion about the visa cancellation of another person over their Islamophobic comments.

    “If someone argued that anti-Semitism was rational, I would not let them come here,” Mr Burke said, while bringing up West’s case.

    “[West] has been coming to Australia for a long time… and he’s made a lot of offensive comments.

    “But my officials looked at it again once he released the Heil Hitler song, and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia.”

    It is not clear if West has been permanently banned from Australia. Mr Burke said that visa applications would be reassessed each time they are made, in accordance with Australian law.

    But when asked if any visa ban on West would be sustainable, Mr Burke said: “I think that what’s not sustainable is to import hatred… We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry.”

    It is not the first time Australia considered blocking West. In 2023, Australia’s education minister Jason Clare had also condemned West’s “awful” comments on Hitler and the Holocaust, and suggested he could be denied entry.

    Amid the current backlash, Heil Hitler raked up millions of views within a day of its release in May.

    The song is part of the Grammy-winning artist’s new album WW3, which also contains other tracks with controversial lyrics.

    The music video for Heil Hitler, released on 8 May, shows a group of men wearing animal skins and chanting the song’s title. It has been banned on streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

    But shortly after its release, West said he was “done with anti-Semitism” and released a new version of Heil Hitler – titled Hallelujah. The new song replaced earlier references to Nazism with lyrics relating to Christianity.

    West has in recent years sparked controversy for his anti-Semitic remarks. Earlier this year, he declared himself a Nazi and retracted an apology for earlier comments.

    In 2022, sportswear giant Adidas announced it was ending its partnership with West over his anti-Semitism.

    Late last year, the company said it had reached a settlement with him to end all legal proceedings between them.

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  • How Ahmed Elgendy lived up to a 17-year-old prophecy

    How Ahmed Elgendy lived up to a 17-year-old prophecy

    Elgendy’s mental strength insights for Mo Salah

    The blue banner that Elgendy raised after completing the laser run on 10 August is now kept in his home in Egypt. It features the words ‘Paris 2024’ next to the Olympic rings and became a popular photo backdrop when he hosted a party at his home five days after returning from the French capital.

    This was just one of many celebrations that the Olympic champion was swept up in from the moment he landed in Cairo International Airport.

    When Elgendy’s final was broadcast on television, thousands of people in the country tuned in to see if this could be their golden moment.

    “People now knew that I’m competing, so they were all watching it,” the athlete said. “They saw what I’m doing, so they felt the win, they felt the achievement here.”

    Ultimately, it turned into a double celebration as Elgendy and weightlifter Sara Ahmed won gold and silver medals, respectively, within hours of each other.

    “There were many people in the airport when we got back, fireworks, many interviews, many things we did,” Elgendy said. “Actually after, now you are a celebrity in Egypt, so you have to deal with it but it’s a good thing.”

    Elgendy’s achievement also got the attention of another sporting hero in Egypt – Mo Salah. The Liverpool striker first reached out to Elgendy in 2018, calling on the phone to congratulate him for the double victory at the Youth Olympic Games. He also congratulated him after Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

    The two met in person several times, including six months before Paris 2024. Mindset was the topic of conversation with Salah especially curious how Elgendy mentally prepares to compete in the five diverse sports that make up modern pentathlon: swimming, equestrian, shooting, fencing and running.

    “When he asked me about how you prepare mentally for the competition, I knew that it’s the most important thing because it’s the first thing that he asked me,” Elgendy said.

    “The main thing that he’s concentrating on is the mindset, how you work mentally, not only physically, because all people are training hard. All people do well in training, but the difference is their mindset. That’s what he told me, so I knew that it’s very important and I worked on it very hard.”

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