Choreographer Dan Daw and the dancers from Candoco are celebrating and politicising the dancefloor, looking for freedom and to shake up the system. Over and Over (and Over Again) is set in a club, to a soundtrack of house, drum’n’bass and dubstep, but it’s not exactly a feelgood bop-along, it’s more nuanced, more thoughtful and a bit less fun than that.
Candoco are a long-running integrated company with disabled and non-disabled dancers. We’re told at the outset that anyone can take a break when they need to and that means the audience and also the dancers, especially one who is currently dealing with pain. This is not a forum for pushing through pain, they say. Like so many things Candoco have done, that’s a quietly revolutionary statement, when pushing through pain is usually seen as a given for dancers.
‘Rest as an act of resistance’ … Annie Edwards in Over and Over (and Over Again). Photograph: Hugo Glendinning
Throughout the show, parallels are drawn between the life of the club and the lives of the performers, with projected titles: struggle, desire, solidarity. There’s a section labelled “chill-out”, with the dancers all cuddled together on a beanbag and a definition flashes up on the backdrop: “rest as an act of resistance”. There is a lot of gentle resistance happening here, resistance to expectations, the sense of doing things on your own terms. Often there’s not that much happening at all. The dancing feels as much for the dancers as the audience, although there’s pleasure watching Annie Edwards as the beats of the music pulse around her body, or the wild streak of the always excellent Temitope Ajose.
The show doesn’t quite work as a rousing call to the dancefloor, but it has some stand-out scenes, such as Maiya Leeke becoming a human disco ball as the spotlight reflects off her mirrored top, arms flung wide, soaking up the vocalist’s insistent lyric: “I want to feel everything!” It captures that paradox of the dancefloor, when you’re completely in your body, in the moment, yet melted into the music, the self having dissolved. When the lights in the club come up, one lone dancer is left behind. James Olivo warms up into a churning, exploratory solo that finally digs deep. It’s a real moment of finding yourself on the dancefloor, with not a disco light in sight.
There are 17 ticket stubs going under the hammer at Richard Winterton auctioneers
Ticket stubs for 1960s gigs by The Beatles that cost pennies at the time are among a collection expected to fetch up to £500 at auction.
The 17-stub archive includes two for The Beatles and Roy Orbison at Birmingham Town Hall in June 1963, costing fans eight shillings and sixpence.
The Liverpool band was originally second on the bill, but were bumped up to co-headline as Beatlemania grew and ended up closing the set.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers described the “rare and nostalgic collection”, which spans performances between 1962 and 1964, as a “wonderful piece of music history”.
Of the 17 tickets, 16 are for performances in Birmingham and also include The Beatles’ first outing at the city’s Odeon, on 11 October 1964.
There are additional stubs for The Cliff Richard Show at the Hippodrome, The Searchers at the Odeon, and Brenda Lee at the Town Hall.
One stub reveals the owner snagged a balcony seat for an unnamed performance, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, for just 7 shillings.
In addition, there is a complete ticket for Jazz 1963 at Birmingham Town Hall, presented by The Musicians’ Union and The Labour Party, in October 1963.
PA Media
In 1963, Beatlemania was taking over the UK, just months before it would do the same in the US during the band’s first visit, in February 1964
“Two ticket stubs for The Beatles at the height of Beatlemania are especially evocative – how incredible it must have been to see the Fab Four live in 1963 and 1964,” a spokesperson for the auctioneers said.
“With a host of other iconic names in the collection, this is a wonderful piece of music history.”
The stubs will go under the hammer on 14 July, at the Lichfield Auction Centre in Fradley Park.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched its new global campaign ‘AWS is How,’ created in collaboration with London-based agency Hijinks. This marks the first major global AWS campaign since 2023, and showcases how leading companies are revolutionising its industries using AWS cloud solutions. The campaign debuted in the United States on June 17th, and will be followed by a UK launch, and will expand to nine more markets. It will run through Q1 2026 across television, social media, and out of home.
Directed by Sam Brown through Rogue Films, the ads use movement to take viewers on a dynamic journey up a building where each floor showcases a different level of customer innovation from brands including BMW, Epic Games, and Formula 1. The ad was shot in a modular format that could be tailored to different audiences or regions by swapping in different rooms.
The concept came to life using a motion control camera that could be programmed to create precise, repeatable movements – seamlessly transitioning from BMW’s autonomous parking technology to Epic Game’s ability to deliver smooth gameplay for millions. For the week-long production that took place in Prague, the art department constructed eight distinctive sets. In addition to A-list director Sam, the crew included DOP Franz Lustig, who crafted the perfect lighting for the spot.
Tamryn Kerr and Marc Allenby, co-founders and chief creative officers at Hijinks, said, “’AWS is How’ positions AWS as the answer to how so many amazing businesses are innovating. The campaign is the culmination of an incredible transatlantic co-creation working with the AWS team. Working with the formidable Sam Brown and the Rogue team to bring this to life was a dream come true.”
LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – Usually the second volume of a Smart Power Rankings has a couple teams moving up or down a spot or two. The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 hasn’t been a usual event – as you can see by the massive shifts by many teams in the review of the teams going into the Quarter-Finals.
You may also want to read this:
Smart Power Rankings Vol 1: Where is your team?
We took stock of the teams and all the madness going on in Lausanne and re-adjusted the rankings.
Here is Volume 2 of the Smart Power Rankings.
16 Jordan =
Jordan were expected to struggle in their first appearance in the competition in 30 years and the Asians have done just that.
Jordan hung around with Dominican Republic for a while but they haven’t been a real threat other than that.
15 China -4
Thoughts about China coming in were that the extensive preparations they had would pay off in victories. But that hasn’t been the case.
The Asians were close in the first game against Canada and then had a rally versus New Zealand in the Round of 16, but it will be tough for them to register wins the rest of the way.
14 Mali -2
Mali pulled off a massive shocker to start the tournament with their win over Serbia.
But the Africans were not able to match that same mix of effort and success the rest of the way.
13 Dominican Republic +1
Dominican Republic have kind of been the unlucky losers so far, falling to Switzerland and Israel by four points in both games and then scoring 96 points against Australia but still losing the Round of 16 game.
12 Argentina -2
Argentina fall into that same category as Dominican Republic.
After losing to New Zealand in the opener, the South Americans beat Serbia and Mali. But they were unable to reach their third straight Quarter-Finals after losing in a heart-breaking defeat against Slovenia.
11 Cameroon -3
Some might question why Cameroon are so high after losing all four games so far and having never played in this competition.
But the Africans played tough in all three group games against basketball powerhouses France, Australia and USA and then missed a golden opportunity to beat Israel in the Round of 16 for a historic first win.
10 France -5
France must bounce back from the massive disappointment of losing to Switzerland in the Round of 16 – and missing out on the podium after three straight top-three finishes.
This is the second consecutive poor showing for France on the global youth stage after they lost to Puerto Rico in the Round of 16 at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 and ended up taking ninth place.
9 Serbia -6
Serbia came to Lausanne with the hopes of finally getting back to the podium for the first time since they were second in 2013. And the chances seemed decent given they were second in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024.
But Serbia lost to Mali and Argentina in the group stage and then had to face Germany in the Round of 16 – a rematch of the U18 European title game from last summer. And they couldn’t slow down the Germans. Now they are playing in Classification 9-16.
Let us know what you think and vote:
Who will be crowned U19 World Cup 2025 champions?
8 Israel +5
Israel have put together a valiant performance in their first appearance in the FIBA U19 World Cup, going undefeated in the group stage and then fighting off Cameroon in the Round of 16 to reach the Quarter-Finals.
7 Switzerland +8
Switzerland’s magical run in their first-ever FIBA U19 World Cup continued as they shocked France in the Round of 16 with an 18-0 run spanning the fourth quarter and overtime.
The hosts have now won three straight games and believe in something great. They are a dangerous team to face right now with that kind of momentum.
6 Canada =
Canada and the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA U19 World Cup go hand-in-hand, now reaching the top eight for the seventh straight time.
But the Americas side has only picked up two wins at this stage of the competition in that run – going all the way to the title in 2017 and finishing third in 2021.
Canada face a tough battle against USA in the Quarter-Finals.
5 Australia -1
Australia have not been so lucky at this competition, reaching the top eight for the first time since 2015. The 2003 champions lost to USA in their opener and have lost since then – fighting back to beat Cameroon and then knocking off France and Dominican Republic.
The Emus next must face a very difficult matchup with Germany.
4 New Zealand +5
New Zealand are in the Quarter-Finals for the first time in history with just one loss thus far – falling to Serbia in the final group game though New Zealand were already secured first place in the group and Serbia last place.
New Zealand have a core of leaders who helped the country make history by finishing fourth at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024. Now they are hungry for success at the U19 level.
3 Slovenia +4
It’s been a while since Slovenia have been among the top eight in world in this competition – the only other time was 2003 when they finished seventh. Slovenia started the tournament on a down note – losing to Germany and Canada.
The Europeans bounced back and beat China and then narrowly knocked off Argentina in the Round of 16. Now they are just a win over Israel in the Quarter-Finals to be in the top four in the world.
2 Germany =
Germany have done nothing for them to move from the No. 2 ranking. They had a bit of a subpar opener against Slovenia but have rolled since then.
Comfortable wins over China and Canada were followed by a strong showing against Serbia in the Round of 16 – a rematch of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 Final.
1 USA =
USA have dominated in every game thus far in the competition, especially with their defense – not allowing more than 77 points in a game. The Americans, who have won this competition a record eight times, have a wealth of weapons who can step up and carry the team.
USA seem clearly set to reach the Final and the only question is if someone can keep them from a ninth crown.
Let us know what you think and vote:
Who will be named FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 TISSOT MVP?
Kensington Palace issues statement as Prince William makes decisive move
Prince William, who is quietly preparing for his destined role in the monarchy, has been making big moves for the future of his reign.
The Prince of Wales stepped out on Wednesday at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival in Hertfordshire for a solo appearance. The future king announced major plans that he has for his private estate, the Duchy of Cornwall, after inheriting it from King Charles.
Kensington Palace dropped an update on the engagement after the important royal engagement.
“Dropping into the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival yesterday,” the statement read.
“Fantastic to listen to speakers on subjects aligning with the work of the Duchy of Cornwall’s tenant farmers, who are exploring innovative ways of farming on the road to net zero, and how to work with nature, not against it.”
Before Prince William inherited the position of the of Duke of Cornwall from his father, the royal had been planning to make improvements on the estate in his ambition for having sustainable resources which are not a burden to the planet.
During the visit, William shared that he believes that regenerative farming should be the “foundation stone of British agriculture”.
As Duke of Cornwall, he stressed on his mission to “rebuild the health of our nation” and “working in partnership to enhance the land we share with nature.”
The update comes as King Charles and Queen Camilla are in Scotland to mark Holyrood Week – the annual royal celebration of Scottish culture, community and achievements.
It’s a rite of passage — or probably should be — for adults upon reaching 50 years of age: Getting vaccinated for shingles.
Currently, the two-dose Shingrix vaccine, which is the only shingles vaccine available in the US, is recommended for adults aged 50 years or older, as well as adults aged 19 years or older who are immunocompromised.
The vaccine shouldn’t be a hard sell, given the available information about its effectiveness and the risks for shingles, John Pauk, MD, MPH, medical director of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention, and Antimicrobial Stewardship for Swedish Health Services and Caregiver Health for Providence Swedish in Seattle, said. “The most important step is remembering to make the time during medical visits to have the conversations as part of preventative care,” he said.
The two-dose vaccine could also be more important for patients at risk for cardiovascular problems. Research released last month shows patients who get the vaccine have a 23% lower risk for all cardiovascular disease events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease.
Those benefits last for up to 8 years, researchers found, and the protective effect was particularly pronounced for men, people younger than 60 years, and those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and being inactive.
However, in a time of growing vaccine hesitancy, clinicians may worry they’ll begin encountering some reluctance among their patients to get the shingles vaccine.
Elizabeth Mock, MD, MPH
“It’s harder nowadays because there’s so much misinformation about vaccines,” Elizabeth Mock, MD, MPH, a member of the board of directors for the American Academy of Family Physicians, said. “People are more likely to get their medical information from TikTok than they are from their family physician. That’s a difficult thing to overcome.”
Here’s what physicians and other providers may want to consider when speaking to their patients about the importance of the shingles vaccine.
Why the Shingles Vaccine Matters
Ask any clinician who’s cared for a patient with shingles if they’d get vaccinated for shingles themselves, and you’re likely to get a hearty “yes.”
Ryan C. Maves, MD, professor of infectious disease and internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, celebrated his own 50th birthday by calling to schedule his first dose of the shingles vaccine. “I’ve taken care of a lot of shingles over the years,” he said. “I don’t want shingles.”
Salisia Valentine, DNP, FNP-C, MSN, RN
“It’s just miserable,” agreed Salisia Valentine, DNP, FNP-C, MSN, RN, vice president of Provider Services at American Family Care. “The ones who’ve had it are the ones saying, ‘Give me the vaccine. This is awful.’”
A few points to discuss with patients about the vaccine:
It Prevents Nerve Pain
As a neurotropic virus, the varicella zoster virus (VZV) is infamous for causing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). After the painful, itchy rash clears up, pain can linger in the same affected areas for months or, in some cases, years. Between 10% and 20% of patients with zoster develop PHN, and it can have a very serious impact on their lives, Pauk said.
However, vaccination is considered more than 90% effective in preventing shingles and PHN in adults older than 50 years with healthy immune systems, according to the CDC.
Treatments Are Only ‘Variably Effective’
While many treatments can be used to manage PHN, there’s no standard treatment. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help people with milder pain, and an antiseizure drug, such as gabapentin or pregabalin, may be more appropriate for managing more severe nerve pain. Even then, treatments are only “variably effective,” according to Judith O’Donnell, MD, chief of Infectious Diseases at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and professor of infectious diseases at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Judith O’Donnell, MD
“Some people do get reasonable pain control with them, but others do not, and you don’t know who those are going to be,” she said.
Maximo Brito, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, added, “There are treatments that are available, but I think prevention is much better than treatment.”
It Can Reduce the Possibility of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus
If the prospect of nerve pain isn’t enough to convince some patients of the benefits of getting vaccinated for shingles, the possibility of vision loss might be.
The VZV can reactivate in the ophthalmic branch of the fifth cranial nerve, causing herpes zoster ophthalmicus, which may occur in as many as 10%-20% of herpes zoster cases. According to research, conjunctivitis seems to be the most common involvement, followed by keratitis and uveitis, but a small percentage of people may experience moderate or even severe vision loss, usually caused by corneal scarring.
How to Bring Up the Issue
O’Donnell suggests clinicians start talking to their patients at well visits before they reach their 50th birthday, when most people become eligible for the two-dose Shingrix vaccine. Then they can give reminders.
It may also help to explain that almost everyone born before about 1980 is at risk for shingles because chickenpox was in such wide circulation during their childhood. That means the VZV is dormant in their bodies, waiting to be reactivated.
“Even if we don’t know it, we were likely exposed to the chickenpox virus,” Mock said. “Some people might have been exposed to it and gotten the virus and never gotten sick from it.”
Clinicians must be prepared to respond to patients concerns and talk to them about the risk-benefit ratio of the shingles vaccine.
“Take your time, show sympathy, listen, answer questions, and (don’t) get defensive,” Brito said.
“If patients decline, keep the lines of communication open around vaccines, and continue to revisit their vaccination status,” O’Donnell said. “Be willing to talk through it and offer them vaccines even if they say no the first time.”
Neha Vyas, MD
Neha Vyas, MD, a family medicine physician with Cleveland Clinic, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, said she would encourage other clinicians not to give up on patients who might decline the chance to get vaccinated. “If you keep talking, the next time they may agree,” Vyas said.
Plus, “this is not something that you have to get yearly,” she added.
Maves emphasized the importance of candor when discussing the shingles vaccine with patients, which includes being upfront about the possible side effects. The most common side effects tend to be injection site swelling and soreness, muscle pain, fatigue, and possibly headache, fever, and shivering.
He often recommends that patients schedule their vaccines on a Friday or another day before an off day, just in case they do experience some fatigue and muscle pain. “Just be braced for it. Just be ready for it,” he tells them.
Benefits Beyond Shingles Prevention?
Eventually, clinicians may also be able to offer additional benefits of vaccination to their patients.
Several recent studies have suggested that people may receive other benefits from getting vaccinated for shingles.
For example, a recent study published in the European Heart Journal found an association between lower risks of overall cardiovascular events and live zoster vaccination. Meanwhile, the results of a recent study in JAMA that reviewed electronic health records in Australia suggested that herpes zoster vaccination may prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Another study, which was published in Nature, analyzed electronic health record data, this time in England and Wales, and also found that live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccination seemed to have a preventive effect for dementia.
However, the live zoster vaccine is not available in the US, with Zostavax having been removed from the market in 2020.
That doesn’t mean that people couldn’t potentially receive similar benefits from the recombinant vaccine that is available here. According to a retrospective cohort study published earlier in 2025 in Vaccine, the rate of dementia was significantly lower in individuals who had received two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine.
More research could be helpful to determine if patients who receive the two-dose Shingrix vaccine could receive other benefits. However, the primary reason to get the two doses of Shingrix, which is shingles prevention, is a worthwhile cause all by itself, Maves said.
Meta Platforms is once again under fire as users across Facebook and Instagram report being locked out of their accounts without warning, including those subscribed to the company’s premium Meta Verified service. Despite paying for features like direct account support, users say they’ve been met with silence, broken links and automated replies that offer little to no help.
A recent TechCrunch report has highlighted growing frustration among Meta Verified subscribers who are facing sudden account suspensions with no explanation or recourse. The issue appears to be widespread, affecting not just individual profiles but also Facebook Groups, business pages, and long-standing messaging histories.
Meta Verified, which costs $14.99 per month in the United States (around Rs. 1,300) and Rs. 699 in India, promises enhanced visibility and direct support from Meta representatives. But users say that in practice, these assurances amount to nothing more than empty promises.
Many users have reportedly labelled the support experience as “useless,” pointing out that no real human help is available and that appeals are either ignored or redirected to malfunctioning webpages.
The report suggests that Meta has issued a vague apology for Instagram-related issues and attributed Facebook Group bans to a “technical error”. The core problem appears to lie in the company’s AI-based moderation systems.
Media reports hint that users and observers believe that overly aggressive algorithms are flagging legitimate content as violations, leading to widespread and unjustified account removals.
It is noteworthy that the consequences have been severe, particularly for small businesses and creators who rely on Meta’s platforms for outreach and communication. Some users report losing years’ worth of personal messages, content, and client interactions.
Calls for accountability are growing. A Change.org petition demanding that Meta fix its AI moderation tools and restore affected accounts has already garnered over 25,000 signatures.
LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the selection of 30 players for the third phase of the U19 Skills Assessment camp in Multan.
The third phase will begin on Monday, 7 July and will go until the end of next month.
The selection of 20 players follows a comprehensive match-based assessment process conducted in two phases, in which a total of 65 players participated under the supervision of Azhar Ali, Head of Youth Development.
The 10 players who had previously represented Pakistan U19 and are eligible to feature in the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 are added in the third phase of the camp. The players born on or after 1 September 2006 are eligible to feature in the forthcoming ICC U19 World Cup.
To ensure a fair and detailed evaluation, the 65 players were divided into two groups, with each group playing four matches under competitive conditions. This format enabled selectors and coaches to evaluate a range of key skills, including batting, bowling, fielding, and tactical awareness.
The third phase of the Skills Assessment camp aims to further refine the players’ technical and mental skills as part of the broader strategy to prepare a strong pool of talent for upcoming domestic events as well as international events, including ACC U19 Asia Cup and ICC U19 World Cup.
Players (20) in alphabetical order:
Abbas Khan, Abdul Wahab, Ali Hassan Baloch, Asad Umar, Daniyal Ali Khan, Ghulam Haider, Hamza Zahoor, Haroon Khan, Hazrat Ali, Huzaifa Ahsan, Ibtisam Azhar, Mohammad Arshad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Niqab Shafiq, Rana Adeel Mushtaq, Rizwanullah, Saad Sakhawat, Sadeeq Aman, Sameer Minhas and Yahya Shah
10 players (already represented Pakistan U19) in the third phase (in alphabetical order):
Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Farhan Yousaf, Hassan Khan, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Tahir, Momin Qamar, Tayyab Arif, Umar Zaib and Usman Khan
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi speaks to the media on July 3, 2025. — Screengrab via Geo News
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a major role in Iran-Israel ceasefire after the two countries carried out attacks against each other for 12 days putting the world on edge due to fears of a wider conflict.
The interior minister’s remarks refer to the Middle East turmoil which erupted on June 13 after Israel launched a bombing campaign in Iran that killed top military commanders and scientists linked to its nuclear programme. Tehran responded with ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities.
The Israeli attack came a few days ahead of planned Iran-US talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, prompting Tehran to launch wide-ranging retaliatory strikes on Israeli targets, inflicting what it claims to be “significant damage” to key positions in the occupied territories.
Throughout the conflict, Pakistan voiced its support for Iran at all international platforms, including the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) against Israeli aggression.
PM Shehbaz also held a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Pezeshkian, where the latter thanked the premier and appreciated Pakistan’s consistent and principled stance in support of Tehran.
Speaking during a presser alongside religious scholars regarding security measures for the month of Muharram, Naqvi also touched upon the recent Pakistan-India conflict, saying that the country did not suffer much loss.
“None of the missiles fired by India reached their target. India fired about 11 missiles at a [military] base [in Pakistan], but none of our aircraft was damaged,” he said while shedding light on the 87-hour-long conflict which saw both Islamabad and New Delhi carrying out cross-border attacks against each other.
India had launched unprovoked airstrikes on multiple Pakistani cities in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident where 26 tourists were killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Pakistan then retaliated via “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”, and targeted several Indian military targets across multiple regions.
A total of 53 individuals, including 13 personnel of the armed forces and 40 civilians, were martyred in Indian strikes during the recent military confrontation.
Expanding on Pakistan’s strategy during the conflict, the security czar stressed that Islamabad did not target India’s civilian population.
On the issue of security during Muharram and sectarian harmony, the minister said that the efforts of law enforcement agencies are as important as those of religious scholars.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary underlined the need for unity to ensure law and order during Muharram as well as to defeat the terrorist elements.
