Author: admin

  • ‘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.”

    Continue Reading

  • 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

    Continue Reading

  • 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.

    Continue Reading

  • 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.”

    Continue Reading

  • Howden acquires majority stake in Japanese retail broker Holos

    Howden acquires majority stake in Japanese retail broker Holos

    Howden, the global insurance and reinsurance broking group, has acquired a majority stake (68.3%) in Holos Holdings Co., Ltd. (Holos), a Kyoto-headquartered retail insurance broker.

    Founded in 2001 by Kei Horii, Holos is a privately owned retail insurance broker with over 400 employees across 20 locations in Japan.

    The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Howden’s strategy to scale its business in Japan. Since establishing operations in the country in 2024, Howden now employs more than 450 people. The deal enhances the credibility, relevance, and capabilities of Howden’s service offering in the Japanese market.

    With this acquisition, Howden is well positioned to deliver high-quality services across both life and non-life insurance segments to a broad range of clients, from individuals to SMEs and corporates.

    The deal follows a series of strategic initiatives by Howden Japan in 2024, including the launch of Howden Re Japan, a partnership with Keystone ILS Capital, and entry into the Japanese retail insurance market through the acquisition of the Foresight Group.

    Register for the Artemis London 2025 cat bond and ILS market conference

    David Howden CBE, CEO of Howden, said, “Right from the very start we’ve known that to provide the best services to clients you must have strong local expertise on the ground. Holos has incredible know-how and like us they have a rich history in the market. And joining forces now gives us strength-in-depth across Japan, enabling us to provide individuals, SMEs, corporates, and insurers with a full suite of services from reinsurance to retail. This is a transformational move for us, and it shows that our commitment to this dynamic market is truly for the long-term.”

    Kei Horii, CEO of Holos Holdings, commented, “For the past 25 years, Holos has grown its business with the strong support of our employees and clients. As the Japanese insurance industry enters a new phase, we have decided to join Howden. By combining Holos’ deep experience in the life insurance sector with Howden’s global resources and advanced expertise in the corporate general insurance field, we aim to grow into a trusted and valued insurance group, even more loved by our clients.”

    Kentaro Tada, CEO of Howden Japan, added, “Holos and Howden share similar corporate cultures in that we value the independence of each employee and aim to deliver optimal insurance solutions that bring satisfaction to clients. I look forward to working together with the team at Holos to grow our business while continuing to earn the trust of our clients.”

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Continue Reading

  • Nepra cuts electricity rate by Rs1.15 per unit to ensure uniform tariff across country

    Nepra cuts electricity rate by Rs1.15 per unit to ensure uniform tariff across country

    A technician works on porcelain insulators on power transmission tower in Karachi. — Reuters/File
    • Protected consumers with 100 units to pay at rate of Rs10.54/unit.
    • A rate of Rs13 per unit will apply to those consuming 200 units.
    • Average basic tariff for commercial users set at Rs45.43 per unit.

    ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), in a move to ensure uniform power tariff across the country, has reduced the electricity rate by Rs1.15 per unit for all but lifeline consumers with the change also applicable to K-Electric consumers.

    The development follows Nepra’s hearing of the Power Division’s motion seeking a uniform basic tariff, contending that tariff rationalisation is not aimed at raising any revenues for the federal government but in fact enables the fulfilment of parameters set forth in the Constitution as well as the policy.

    In its decision, the regulator has maintained the tariff for lifeline consumers using 50 units at Rs3.95 per unit, whereas those using 100 units will continue to pay Rs7.74 per unit.

    Protected consumers with 100 units on their bill will now pay at rate of Rs10.54 per unit, whereas an Rs13 per unit rate will apply to those consuming 200 units a month.

    Breakdown of change in electricity tariff. — Nepra
    Breakdown of change in electricity tariff. — Nepra

    With regards to non-protected consumers, the electricity tariff has been slashed by Rs1.15 per unit for all categories — and the same reduction is applicable on commercial consumers as well, bringing their new average basic tariff to Rs45.43 per unit.

    The Rs1.15 per unit reduction also applies to the general services whose existing rate now stands at Rs43.17 per unit.

    For industries, the new electricity tariff is now fixed at Rs33.48 per unit after the Rs1.15 per unit reduction. Meanwhile, the new basic tariff for bulk electricity consumers has been set at Rs41.76 per unit.

    Agricultural consumers on the other hand will also benefit from the reduction and will now pay at a rate of Rs30.75 per unit.

    During the Nepra hearing a day earlier, the government as per The News had attributed the reduction to rupee stability, falling capacity payments, and declining global fuel prices — offering rare fiscal relief amid ongoing economic challenges.

    Interestingly, the government’s renegotiated deal with independent power producers (IPPs) would help shave Rs236 billion off capacity payments in FY26.

    During the hearing Power Division officials estimated that national electricity consumption in FY2025-26 will hover around 103 billion units, slightly lower than the 106 billion units projected for the current fiscal year. The revenue requirement for FY26 has also been revised down to Rs3.521 trillion, from Rs3.768 trillion a year earlier, documents presented at the hearing show.

    “The decline in power generation costs by Rs1.27 per unit and capacity charges by Rs1.34 per unit has created room for tariff reduction,” a Power Division official told Nepra.

    Despite the proposed tariff cut, capacity payments — fixed payments to power producers — will remain a heavy burden on consumers. The total capacity payments for FY26 are projected at Rs1.766 trillion, translating into Rs17.06 per unit. 

    On an annual basis, it is a Rs1.34 per unit cut in these charges. In the FY 2024-25 the total capacity payments were Rs1.952 trillion, the official added. When asked about the impact of terminating/hybrid Take & Pay agreement with the IPPs on the capacity payments, the official said that the total reduction in capacity payments will be Rs236 billion.


    Continue Reading

  • Pipeline supplying gas to Punjab blown up in Lakki Marwat

    Pipeline supplying gas to Punjab blown up in Lakki Marwat

     Terrorists have blown up main transmission gas pipeline in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district, which was supplying gas to Punjab, local police said on Wednesday.

    Lakki Marwat police said that the terrorists again detonated explosives to blow up the gas pipeline near Wandah Ameer in Torwah area of Saddar police jurisdiction.

    The pipeline blast suspended gas supply to Punjab, police said.

    The police personnel and the gas company officials have reached to the spot and the pipeline’s repair work has been initiated.

    Terrorists had detonated the gas pipeline, carrying gas to Punjab, at the same spot around a week ago.

    Earlier, saboteurs had targeted the gas pipeline several times at different points.

    The police earlier said that the terrorists have targeted a key gas pipeline from the Bettani Gas Field to Punjab, using explosives to destroy a main section of the line.

    Police have started investigation to identify and apprehend those involved in the attack.


    Continue Reading

  • Best Samsung Monitor deal: Save $100 and get a free $100 Amazon gift card

    Best Samsung Monitor deal: Save $100 and get a free $100 Amazon gift card

    $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD: As of July 2, Amazon is offering a free $100 gift card when you preorder the Samsung 32-inch Smart Monitor M7 (M70F), now priced at $399.99. The monitor officially releases on July 8.

    Amazon is heating up its early Prime Day deals, and Samsung fans have another reason to be excited. 

    For a limited time, you can preorder the brand-new 32-inch M7 Samsung smart monitor (M70F) for just $399.99 — a full $100 off its regular price of $499.99 — and Amazon will throw in a free $100 gift card to sweeten the deal. Just make sure to select the gift card bundle at checkout. 

    The monitor officially launches on July 8, and this offer ends that same day.

    SEE ALSO:

    How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Day

    Available in black and white, the 2025 model of Samsung’s M7 smart monitor is a versatile 4K UHD display that’s more than just a screen. With Samsung Vision AI, the monitor automatically adjusts visuals for optimal clarity whether you’re working, gaming, or binge-watching. It even includes an AI-powered voice amplifier that bumps up dialogue when your environment gets loud — perfect for those noisy home offices or dorm rooms.

    Like Samsung’s higher-end smart displays — such as the M9 version of the monitor also on sale — the M7 features built-in streaming apps, access to Samsung TV Plus, and a surprisingly rich Gaming Hub that supports cloud-based play with no console required. You’ll also get access to Samsung’s 3D SmartThings map view to manage your smart home devices — and Samsung Knox for extra data security.

    And if you’re looking to go bigger, the same $100 gift card plus $100 off deal is also available with the 43-inch version of the monitor.

    Mashable Deals

    This is one of the best early Prime Day monitor deals we’ve seen under $500, especially with the added Amazon credit. Don’t wait — this launch bundle is only good through July 8.

    For more on what’s coming from Prime Day as we build up to the full event, take a look at everything there is to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025 — covering start dates and times, what’s new from past events, and the best early deals. 

    The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable’s team of experts

    Continue Reading

  • Renewable energy supply grew by 3.4% in 2024 – News articles

    Renewable energy supply grew by 3.4% in 2024 – News articles

    In 2024, according to preliminary data, the supply of renewable energy in the EU increased by 3.4% compared with 2023, amounting to around 11.3 million terajoules (TJ) in 2024.

    In contrast, the supply of coal continued to decrease. Brown coal supply decreased by 10% to 199 302 thousand tonnes, while hard coal supply dropped by 13.8% to 110 924 thousand tonnes. Both figures are the lowest recorded since the data series began.

    After a sharp drop in the EU’s natural gas supply in 2023, 2024 recorded a very modest increase of 0.3% compared with 2023, reaching a value of 12.8 million TJ.

    In terms of oil and petroleum products, the supply totalled 454 038 thousand tonnes, indicating a 1.2% drop compared with 2023.

    Source datasets: nrg_cb_sff, nrg_cb_gas, nrg_cb_oil, nrg_cb_rw and nrg_ind_pehnf

    This information comes from data on energy production and imports published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on energy production and imports.  

    Renewables made up 47.3% of EU electricity production 

    In 2024, renewable energy was the leading source of electricity in the EU, accounting for 47.3% of all electricity production. Renewables generated 1.31 million Gigawatt-hour (GWh), marking an increase of 7.7% compared with 2023. 

    Conversely, electricity generated from fossil fuels decreased by 7.2% compared with the previous year, contributing 0.81 million GWh, or 29.2% of the total electricity production.

    Nuclear plants produced 0.65 million GWh or 23.4% of the EU electricity production, reflecting a 4.8% increase in production compared with 2023.

    Electricity production in the EU, 1990-2024, GWh. Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

    Source datasets: nrg_ind_pehcf and nrg_ind_pehnf

    Continue Reading

  • Edinburgh fringe 2025: the best theatre and comedy we’ve already reviewed | Edinburgh festival 2025

    Edinburgh fringe 2025: the best theatre and comedy we’ve already reviewed | Edinburgh festival 2025

    A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First

    In cult clown duo Xhloe and Natasha’s two-hander, we are swiftly in the US of LBJ, Beatlemania and Tom Sawyer-style outdoor adventuring. The pair portray muddy-kneed boy scouts who, against a backdrop of chirping insects and with the sole prop of a tyre, recount their hijinks with an emotional impact that sneaks up on you. Read the review. Chris Wiegand
    theSpace @ Niddry St, 2-23 August

    Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows

    As directed by Lara Ricote, Abby Wambaugh’s show is a masterpiece of construction, an anthology of dotty creative ideas that resolves into an affecting story of the comic’s miscarriage and of the value of beginnings that never reach a middle and an end. Read the review. Brian Logan
    Pleasance Courtyard, 12-25 August

    Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway?

    Conti’s signature trick is turning volunteers into human ventriloquist’s dummies and animating them in improvised scenes on stage. Her touring show reveals a master at work, elevating her brand of off-the-cuff voice-throwing and organised havoc to a state of near comedy grace. Read the review. BL
    Underbelly, Bristo Square, 7-15 August

    300 Paintings

    The title of Sam Kissajukian’s show alludes to the surfeit of artwork that the former standup produced during his mental-health crisis. In a self-directed production, he talks us through his output with a slideshow. It’s a funny and fascinating study of the mysteries of the mind. Read the review. Mark Fisher
    Summerhall, 31 July to 25 August

    Audacious … Khalid Abdalla in Nowhere. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

    Nowhere

    In an audacious avant garde solo show, with its multimedia depths of images, audio voiceovers, personal stories, song and dance, Khalid Abdalla asks where you belong when the country in which you were born or raised does not want you or has become too dangerous for you to stay. How does it feel to belong in Nowhere-land? Read the review. Arifa Akbar
    Traverse, 12-24 August

    Nick Mohammed is Mr Swallow: Show Pony

    A deliriously enjoyable hour of comedy meets magic meets more of the real Mohammed than we’ve ever before seen on stage. He’s in character as his alter ego, the camp and bumptious northern know-it-all Mr Swallow, but it’s as if this were a coming out party for a comedian who has remained incognito until now. Read the review. BL
    Playhouse, 22 August

    Shamilton! The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical

    An extension of the Baby Wants Candy! improvisation franchise, this show inspired by audience suggestions has a cast breezily adept not only at making up lyrics on the fly (naturally, there is a rap battle) but also at ad-libbing harmonies, backing vocals and basic choreography. Read the review. MF
    Assembly George Square Studios, 30 July to 24 August

    Tricksy … Stevie Martin

    Stevie Martin: Clout

    Stevie Martin’s show weighs up the differences between live and online comedy. It’s a tricksy and silly hour buoyed by arch good humour and high-quality gags tightly packed inside other gags, ready to jack-in-the-box out and multiply the surprise. Read the review. BL
    Monkey Barrel, 1-8 August

    Nish Kumar: Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe

    He is the pre-eminent comic polemicist of our age, the joker to whom lefties turn, and others revile, for his righteous tirades against racism, neoliberalism and the Tories. But what drove Kumar to this, where has it left him – and what good does it do? This state of the nation comedy explores the state of Nish too. Read the review. BL
    Assembly George Square, 1-10 August

    Last Rites

    This collaboration between performer Ramesh Meyyappan and director George Mann describes a man’s final parting with his late father. That could have been sentimental but it is invested with rage, making a knotty mix of love and recrimination in which the personal and the political collide. Read the review. MF
    Pleasance Courtyard, 18-24 August

    Continue Reading