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M-Matisse mission set to analyse Martian space weather

The M-Matisse mission marks a groundbreaking step in space exploration, as it is the first dedicated to studying Martian space weather and assessing the planet’s potential to support human life.

Dr Beatriz Sanchez-Cano of the University of Leicester is leading the operation to revolutionise our knowledge of Mars’ climate, alongside Principal Investigators for the Mars Ensemble of Particle Instruments (M-EPI) and the Science Data Centre for mission coordination, planning, and science exploitation.

The project is expected to receive approval from the European Space Agency (ESA) within the next year and will enable essential scientific research on the dynamics of the Martian System, aiding studies into the potential hazards astronauts may face on future journeys to the Red Planet.

What is M-Matisse?

Currently in Phase A study, the M-Matisse (Mars Magnetosphere ATmosphere Ionosphere and Space-weather SciencE) mission is one of ESA’s three candidates for its next ‘medium’ mission. Previous flying medium-class missions include Solar Orbiter and Euclid.

The mission sets out to use two identical spacecraft with focused and high-technological payloads that have the ability to observe the space weather of Mars through observational perspective, using in-situ measurements and radio cross-talks to combine findings.

A model of the M-MATISSE spacecraft.Credit: Dr Beatriz Sánchez-Cano/European Space Agency

These robot orbiters have been named after French Artist Henry Matisse, an influential figure in the early 20th century due to his works in expressive colour and the Fauvist style, as well as his daughter Marguerite.

Each capsule will work in separate areas; one will be confined to the plasma system and the other to the unexplored region of Mars’ far tail.

Surveying space weather

The mission will unravel Martian space weather through analysis of the different layers surrounding the planet; the magnetic-field region known as the Magnetosphere, the ionosphere (layer of the atmosphere that is ionised by solar wind) and the thermosphere (the thickest layer in the atmosphere) will be orbited predominantly, as well as investigating the lower atmosphere and the radiation build-up around Mars.

By analysing the Martian system dynamics, researchers will also gain insight into the processes of energy dissipation through solar wind and how space activity affects surface reactions, which will ultimately lead to precise space weather forecasting and improved safety measures for upcoming projects.

Sánchez-Cano is optimistic regarding the mission’s success as it “will provide the first global characterisation of the dynamics of the Martian system at all altitudes.”

Towards lift-off

The successful mission is set to be chosen by ESA by mid-2026. If approved, M-Matisse will launch a new era of Martian exploration – one where robotic missions not only gather data but also shape the safety and feasibility of future human expeditions.

By offering a detailed picture of how solar activity interacts with the Martian environment, the mission will provide critical insights into the planet’s capacity to host life and the challenges astronauts may face.

As space agencies across the world look beyond Earth orbit, understanding the space weather around Mars is no longer a theoretical exercise – it’s a vital necessity.

With M-Matisse, Europe positions itself at the forefront of this frontier, leveraging cutting-edge instrumentation and international collaboration to decode one of the most complex systems in our solar system.

Whether it’s protecting future astronauts from radiation or determining how Mars has evolved over billions of years, M-Matisse’s findings could shape the next chapter of human spaceflight.

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July 10, 2025

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet—White Flare Battle Pass Deck Strategies

Get more from Pokémon TCG Live when you use the in-game Battle Pass. With the Battle Pass, you can complete quests to earn experience and unlock new tiers by playing Ranked or Casual matches! Each Battle Pass is accessible only until the next expansion releases.

Begin your path along the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet—White Flare Battle Pass with two new decks featuring Reshiram ex or Zekrom ex. Advance through the Battle Pass to unlock booster packs, Collector Crates, Trainer Points, Trade Credits, a full suite of deck cosmetics, and 16 additional cards that can be swapped into one of these decks! You can also earn 16 more cards that can be used to bling out your other deck by the end of the Battle Pass, so try to collect them all!

Learn how to play and upgrade these powerful decks in Pokémon TCG Live.

Reshiram ex’s Blazing Burst gets stronger for each Prize card your opponent has taken, but this attack requires Fire Fire Colorless to attack. Thankfully, Emboar’s Inferno Fandango Ability can attach any number of Basic Fire Energy cards from your hand to your Pokémon in any way you like, so firing off Blazing Burst won’t be a problem.

Pokémon: 16

2 Reshiram ex WHT 020

2 Emboar WHT 013

1 Pignite WHT 012

3 Tepig WHT 011

2 Gouging Fire ex TEF 038

2 Revavroom SVI 142

2 Varoom SFA 043

1 Iron Hands ex PAR 070

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 038

Trainers: 34

4 Arven

4 Iono

2 Boss’s Orders

2 Levincia

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin

4 Rare Candy

3 Ultra Ball

2 Earthen Vessel

2 Superior Energy Retrieval

1 Max Rod

1 Nest Ball

1 Night Stretcher

1 Switch

1 Air Balloon

1 Big Air Balloon

1 Technical Machine: Evolution

Energy: 10

8 Basic Fire Energy

2 Basic Lightning Energy

While Reshiram ex is great in the mid- to late game, its damage output before your opponent has taken any Prize cards leaves much to be desired. Gouging Fire ex can act as your early—or late!—game attacker, dishing out a massive 260 damage with Blaze Blitz. Note that it won’t be able to use Blaze Blitz until it leaves the Active Spot, so try attaching Air Balloon to give it free Retreat Cost or use a Switch to reset its attack.

Both Revavroom and Fezandipiti ex have card-drawing Abilities that can help you find more Basic Energy—either by drawing into it directly, or by drawing cards that can search for it. For example, Earthen Vessel can search your deck for 2 Basic Energy at the cost of discarding a card. Try discarding one that’s stuck in your hand, then use one of the Energy cards you got from Earthen Vessel to discard to Revavroom’s Rumbling Engine Ability. You can also use Superior Energy Retrieval to grab Energy from your discard pile, or Max Rod, which can get back both Energy and Pokémon. Levincia is a Stadium card that can return Basic Lightning Energy to your hand each turn it’s in play, helping to fulfill any Colorless attack costs your Pokémon may have or serving as discard fodder for Revavroom’s Rumbling Engine.

If you make it halfway through the Battle Pass, you’ll receive a variety of blisteringly cool cards, including three special illustration rare Reshiram ex. Feel free to add these into your deck if you want to heat things up even more. Don’t white out yet—you won’t want to miss the next deck, as it might leave your opponent black and blue.

Zekrom ex’s Voltage Burst attack is nearly identical to Reshiram ex’s Blazing Burst, doing more damage as your opponent takes Prize cards. You have a number of ways to power up Zekrom ex in your deck, but your primary means of charging its attacks will be with Eelektrik, as each one you have in play can use its Dynamotor Ability to attach a Basic Lightning Energy card from your discard pile to one of your Benched Pokémon once per turn.

Pokémon: 18

2 Zekrom ex BLK 034

4 Eelektrik BLK 031

4 Tynamo BLK 030

2 Iono’s Kilowattrel JTG 055

2 Iono’s Wattrel JTG 054

2 Miraidon ex SVI 081

1 Iron Hands ex PAR 070

1 Zeraora DRI 078

Trainers: 28

4 Professor’s Research

3 Arven

2 Boss’s Orders

2 Iono

4 Electric Generator

4 Ultra Ball

3 Nest Ball

1 Prime Catcher

1 Super Rod

1 Switch

2 Air Balloon

1 Technical Machine: Evolution

Energy: 14

14 Basic Lightning Energy

One of the first Pokémon you should put into play is Miraidon ex, as its Tandem Unit Ability lets you search your deck for 2 Basic Lightning Pokémon and put them directly onto your Bench. This can find your Tynamo to evolve into Eelektrik, your attackers, or even another copy of Miraidon ex to use another Tandem Unit in the same turn!

Another good Pokémon to consider finding with Miraidon ex’s Tandem Unit is v, as its evolved form, Iono’s Kilowattrel, can use its Flashing Draw Ability to discard a Basic Lightning Energy from itself to draw cards until you have 6 in your hand. In combination with Eelektrik’s Dynamotor Ability, Iono’s Kilowattrel will make sure your hand is stocked full of cards, even after an opponent plays a disruptive card like Iono or Unfair Stamp.

Like Eelektrik’s Dynamotor, Electric Generator is an Item card that can energize your Benched Lightning Pokémon by looking at the top 5 cards of your deck and attaching up to 2 Basic Energy. Things can get electrifying as soon as your first turn since you can play this Item immediately, letting your deck make aggressive plays early in the game. Try to use this to power up Iron Hands ex’s Amp You Very Much to Knock Out a weak Pokémon for an additional Prize card or Zeraora’s Thunder Raid to take out a Benched Pokémon ex (like Mew ex or Fezandipiti ex).

At the end of the Battle Pass, you’ll be granted a selection of shockingly cool and rare Lightning-type Pokémon, including Zekrom ex.

You can swap these special cards with the ones in your deck or use these extra copies to make the deck your own.

Finally, in the home stretch, you’ll unlock a plethora of booster packs, Trainer Points, Trade Credits, cosmetics, and Collector Crates.

Enjoy your new decks, cards, and Battle Pass, Trainers!

P.S. Keep a lookout during the 2025 Pokémon World Championships for a special prom-ocean-al deck.

For more information on Pokémon TCG Live, and to download and play at no cost, visit tcg.pokemon.com/en-gb/tcgl.

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July 10, 2025

Gregg Wallace faces backlash over autism defence

Noor Nanji & Felicity Baker

Culture reporters

BBC/ShineTV

Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is facing criticism from charities and groups working with disabled people after he appeared to link claims of misconduct he is facing to his autism diagnosis.

Several dozen people have come forward to BBC News with allegations about Wallace, including inappropriate sexual comments, touching and groping, which he denies.

In a statement this week, the presenter defended himself and also said he had recently been diagnosed with autism, but that TV bosses had failed to “investigate my disability” or “protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment”.

One charity told BBC News that autism is “not a free pass for bad behaviour”, while others warned that such remarks risked stigmatising the autistic community.

Wallace has been sacked as MasterChef host, and a report into the accusations is expected to be published shortly. He has said it has cleared him of “the most serious and sensational allegations”.

On Tuesday, Wallace wrote on Instagram: “My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef.

“Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years.”

The Telegraph reported on Thursday that he plans to sue the BBC and the makers of MasterChef for discrimination on the grounds of his autism following his sacking.

And the Times reported friends of Wallace as saying his autism means he can’t wear underwear, and that his condition was partly to blame for his alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Speaking to BBC News, Seema Flower, founder of disabilities consultancy Blind Ambition, said there was “no excuse” for being inappropriate to people in society.

“Where does it leave us if we use autism as excuse to behave in whatever way we like?” she asked.

Her comments were echoed by Emily Banks, founder of neurodiversity training body Enna.

“To be clear: being autistic is never an excuse for misconduct. It doesn’t absolve anyone of responsibility, and it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t tell the difference between right and wrong.”

Dan Harris, who runs the charity Neurodiversity in Business and is himself autistic, said people like him “may miss social cues sometimes”.

“But autism is not a free pass for bad behaviour,” he added.

“Comments like this stigmatise us and add an unfortunate negative focus on our community.”

Last year, the charity Ambitious About Autism dropped Wallace as an ambassador in the wake of the original claims against him.

BBC/Shine TV

The comments have also sparked debate online and on radio phone-ins.

On BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show, Jessie Hewitson, Director of NeuroUniverse, said people with autism “have been stereotyped since the dawn of time”.

She said she worried that remarks like this risk “forming a connection in peoples’ minds – either that autistic people behave inappropriately in the workplace or that we cannot take personal responsibility”.

But on social media, many people responded positively to Wallace’s post and sent him supportive messages.

And on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell Show, which dedicated an hour to the topic on Thursday, some callers were sympathetic.

One called Danielle, who is autistic, said people with the condition “can misread situations quite often”.

“I think growing up undiagnosed, you grow up thinking everything you’re doing is wrong because you’re different and you then internalise a lot of that so you’re very oversensitive as well,” she said.

Another caller, Jake, said he thought Wallace should have had support a long time ago.

“You’ve got a man here who’s clearly out of touch, he’s been out of touch for a long time, he’s had nobody putting him back in line, whether that’s an employer, whether that’s a friend, whether that’s anybody, and at the moment that’s what he needs.

“He needs some compassion to get him back where he needs to be and I feel for his mental health.”

Report expected

As the face of BBC One cooking show MasterChef, Wallace, 60, was one of the most high-profile presenters on British television for 20 years.

He stepped aside from the show in November after an initial BBC News investigation, when 13 people accused him of making inappropriate sexual comments.

This week, new claims have come from 50 more people who say they encountered him across a range of shows and settings.

The majority say he made inappropriate sexual comments, while 11 women accuse him of inappropriate sexual behaviour, such as groping and touching.

The inquiry into allegations of misconduct against Wallace has been conducted by an independent law firm on behalf of MasterChef’s production company Banijay.

BBC News has not seen that report, but Wallace said it had found the “most damaging” allegations to be “baseless”.

He also accused the BBC of “peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories”.

A spokesperson for Wallace has said he denies engaging in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.

Banijay UK said: “While the external investigation is ongoing, we won’t be commenting on individual allegations. We encourage anyone wishing to raise issues or concerns to contact us in confidence.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace.

“We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.”

If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.

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July 10, 2025
HER2DX Assay Predicts pCR Following Neoadjuvant THP in HER2+ Breast Cancer

HER2DX Assay in HER2+ Breast Cancer

| Image Credit: © Rasi – stock.adobe.com

High HER2DX genomic assay score was significantly associated with pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients with stage I to III HER2-positive breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta), and paclitaxel (THP), according to final results from the single-arm phase 2 BiOnHER clinical trial (NCT05912062) presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.

A total of 83 patients were categorized into HER2DX-low (35.0%), -medium (37.5%), and -high (27.5%) pCR score groups. The corresponding pCR rates were 13.3% (95% CI, 4.4%-31.6%), 51.6% (95% CI, 33.4%-69.4%), and 81.8% (95% CI, 59.0%-94.0%), respectively (odds ratio [OR], 32.60; P < .001).

Among patients with hormone receptor (HR)–negative disease, pCR was achieved in 78.6% of high-score patients and 0.0% of low-score patients. For those with HR-positive tumors, the pCR rates were 87.5% and 13.8%, respectively, in the high- and low-score subgroups. Although HR status was initially associated with pCR (OR, 0.125; P = .006), it lost statistical significance in multivariable analysis that included HER2DX scoring.

Baseline Ki-67 score (median, 35.0%; range, 0%-90%; OR, 1.02; P = .098) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) level (median, 8.0%; range, 0%-60%; OR, 1.03; P = .003) were not significantly associated with pCR. Although day 8 post-treatment biopsies provided biologic insight, they did not enhance the predictive power of HER2DX beyond baseline. In patients with pCR, decreases in HER2DX score from day 1 to day 8 were associated with treatment effect and aligned with suppressed proliferation in the ERBB2 pathway.

“HER2DX is a robust predictor of pCR following neoadjuvant THP in stage I to III HER2-positive breast cancer, outperforming HR status. Baseline TIL [levels] and Ki-67 [score] were not predictive of pCR, and HER2DX day 8 data did not improve predictive performance,” lead study author Bartomeu Fullana Grimalt, MD, a breast oncology medical oncologist at Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain, summarized in the conclusion of the poster presentation.

BiOnHER Trial Design

BiOnHER investigators enrolled patients with stage I to III HER2-positive (ERBB2+) breast cancer at Catalan Institute of Oncology-University Hospital of Bellvitge in Barcelona. Eligible patients were treated with neoadjuvant THP for a total of 15 weeks. Eligible patients received a loading dose of trastuzumab and pertuzumab (HP) followed by weekly paclitaxel in combination with HP administered every 3 weeks for 5 cycles. Tumor biopsies were obtained prior to treatment initiation on day 1 and again on day 8, following the loading dose of HP and before the initiation of paclitaxel.

Following neoadjuvant therapy, patients who did not achieve a pCR with THP were treated with adjuvant ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) for 14 cycles. Patients who achieved a pCR with THP continued adjuvant trastuzumab monotherapy for 1 year. Adjuvant pertuzumab was not permitted under Spain’s regulatory guidelines.

All biopsy samples, collected as both fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, were evaluated for HER2DX gene expression signatures. The study assessed the expression of 185 genes at both timepoints. Patients were stratified into HER2DX low-, medium-, or high-risk groups based on predefined genomic thresholds.

All patients underwent a paired significance analysis of microarrays that had a false discovery rate of less than 5%, as well as t-tests to assess changes in gene expression between day 1 and day 8. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between HER2DX scores and pCR (defined as ypT0/isN0).

The study’s primary end point was the association between HER2DX score and pCR at day 1. Secondary end points included HER2DX performance by HR status, baseline TIL levels, baseline Ki-67 score, and HER2DX score pCR prediction at day 8.

Baseline Characteristics

The median age at baseline was 58 years (range, 35-83). HR-positive disease was present in 67.5% of patients (n = 56), whereas 32.5% of patients (n = 27) had HR-negative tumors.

Most patients presented with early-stage disease, including clinical stage IA (19.3%), IB (43.4%), and IIB (26.5%). Fewer patients had stage III disease, with stage IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC reported in 3.6%, 6.0%, and 1.2% of patients, respectively.

Residual cancer burden (RCB) was evaluated at surgery. RCB 0 was observed in 45.8% of patients (n = 38), RCB I was seen in 21.7% of patients (n = 18), RCB II was reported in 25.3% of patients (n = 21), and RCB III was seen in 7.2% of patients (n = 6).

Gene expression analysis was performed in paired tumor samples from 79 of 83 patients (95.2%). Among enrolled patients, cT1-cT2 disease accounted for 89.2% of cases, and cN0 was observed in 62.7% of patients. The overall pCR rate was 45.8%, increasing to 54.2% when patients with ypT1miN0 disease were included.

Gene Expression Changes

In the total population, treatment with HP significantly decreased the expression of 81 genes—including CREB3L4, SPDEF, and MUCL1—and significantly increased the expression of 84 genes—including GPNMB, CD68, CD84, and CD4. The change in expression ratio of 38 genes from day 1 to day 8 (20.5%) was significantly associated with pCR, including in the S100A9 (P = .006), TRPV6 (P = .008), GPNMB (P = .013), and LY9 (P = .016) genes.

Reference

Bartomeu Fullana Grimalt, Fara Brasó-Maristany, Petit A, et al. HER2DX genomic test in HER2-positive breast cancer treated with 15 weeks of neoadjuvant paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab (THP): final analysis from the BiOnHER clinical trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):607-607. doi:10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.607

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July 10, 2025
MEDIA ALERT: First Expansion of New Pokémon Trading Card Game: Mega Evolution Series Launching Soon, Featuring Return of Mighty Mega Evolution Pokémon
July 10, 2025 — The Pokémon Company International announced today that the next expansion in the best-selling Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), Mega Evolution, will launch beginning Sept. 26, 2025, at participating retailers around the world.

Initially revealed on Pokémon Day 2025, Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution marks the first expansion in the upcoming Mega Evolution Series, which will feature the highly anticipated return of Mega Evolution Pokémon to the Pokémon TCG. These mighty Pokémon first appeared in the Pokémon TCG in the XY Series and were last seen in the Sun & Moon Series. In the Mega Evolution expansion, players will be able to discover and collect cards featuring powerful Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, including Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex.

Though powerful and equipped with increased HP and attack damage compared to regular Pokémon ex, Mega Evolution Pokémon ex will give up three Prize cards when Knocked Out. In addition, Mega Evolution Pokémon ex appear as Basic Pokémon, Stage 1 Pokémon or Stage 2 Pokémon and do not require an extra Evolution step (for example, Mega Lucario ex evolves from Riolu, rather than from Lucario).

Players can also look forward to discovering a new art style for ultra rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, which may feature a silhouette of the regular version of that Pokémon (for example, Lucario appears in silhouette on the ultra rare card featuring Mega Lucario ex). Furthermore, Mega Evolution will expand ultra rare cards beyond Pokémon and Supporter cards, with the introduction of ultra rare Item, Stadium and Pokémon Tool cards.

Noteworthy cards from the expansion include:
- 10 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex
- 22 illustration rare Pokémon
- 22 ultra rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and Trainer cards
- 10 special illustration rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and Supporter cards
Mega Evolution will be available in booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes and various collections at participating retailers worldwide.

Pokémon TCG players will have the opportunity to play with Mega Evolution before launch by attending one of the many Prerelease tournaments held as part of the Play! Pokémon competitive program, taking place beginning Sept. 13 at participating independent retailers.

In addition, ahead of the release of the tabletop version, Trainers will be able to play with Mega Evolution digitally starting Sept. 11, 2025, via the Pokémon TCG Live app for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows devices. Players can collect and battle with new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and receive in-game bonuses when logging in to the app.

To learn more about the Pokémon TCG, please visit Pokemon.com/TCG. Additionally, for more ways to celebrate Mega Evolution Pokémon, fans can stay tuned for future announcements.
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July 10, 2025
Could Jersey qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup?

Jersey are third in the five-team round robin group going into the final round of matches, having lost to the Netherlands, beaten Guernsey and had their game with Italy rained off.

Victory over Scotland would ensure qualification should pool leaders Italy go on to beat hosts the Netherlands later on Friday.

It would be an even greater shock as Jersey’s team are all part-time apart from Jersey-born professionals Asa Tribe, who plays county cricket for Glamorgan, and Wellington’s Nick Greenwood.

Scotland and the Netherlands are both mainly professional sides while the Italians have been bolstered by a policy of bringing in cricketers with Italian heritage such as former Australia Test player Joe Burns, Harry and Ben Mananti, who have played for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, and Durham’s Emilio Gay.

“When we get out there on the field it’s a one-ball game and it doesn’t matter if you’re a professional or not, it’s all about executing your skills as best as possible,” says Perchard.

“Obviously them being a professional outfit does help them, but we’ve got immense pride and camaraderie as a unit that a lot of these other teams don’t have, and that helps to bridge the gap massively.”

The islanders are playing in the final qualifying stages for a T20 World Cup for the fifth time, having reached the penultimate stage for the 2023 50-over World Cup two years ago.

Jersey beat Italy to earn international status 20 years ago, and Jenner has no problems with countries bringing in players if it improves the sport.

“Italy are trying to just spread the game,” he says.

“It would be pretty cool if Italy goes through and we go through to not have Scotland and Netherlands there, who were the top two teams.

“These guys that come in and play probably more towards the end of their careers, are still trying to play and spread the game.

“So it’s frustrating for us because we can’t do it to the same extent as them, but you play the ball rather than anybody on their reputation.”

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July 10, 2025
It hasn’t been this hard for Americans to find work since 2021

CNN
—

Layoffs may not be mounting, but it’s getting harder to find a job.

New data released Thursday showed that initial claims for unemployment benefits — considered a proxy for layoffs — fell last week.

There were an estimated 227,000 first-time applications for unemployment insurance made during the week that ended on July 5. That’s down 5,000 claims from the prior week.

Economists were expecting claims to move higher to 238,000, according to FactSet.

Jobless claims data can be highly volatile (especially during weeks with holidays) and is frequently revised, but can provide a timelier snapshot of shifts occurring in the labor market. The weekly reports have risen in importance as a potential indicator for how the sweeping actions taken by President Donald Trump — including steep tariffs, cutbacks to the federal workforce as well as spending, and reductions in immigration — are impacting the economy.

The US labor market has cooled significantly during the past year, and the pullback in job growth has largely been attributed to employers reining in hiring rather than conducting mass layoffs.

That trend, however, has meant that it’s taken longer for unemployed people to find work. Continuing claims, which are filed by people who have received jobless benefits for at least one week, once again but up against three-and-a-half-year highs.

The number of continuing claims rose by 10,000 to 1.965 million, marking the highest total since November 13, 2021.

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July 10, 2025
Study Highlights Rate of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use for Heart Failure
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use for heart failure in US ambulatory cardiovascular care is low, rises over time, and is shown to be highly variable across practices, according to new data, and efforts to make SGLT2i therapy use improvements may be warranted.¹

These data resulted from a recent study published in JAMA looking into the temporal change, prevalence, and variability of SGLT2i implementation among individuals with heart failure held in ambulatory cardiovascular care.

Abdelghani El Rafei, MD, MS—from the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus’s Division of Cardiology—authored this analysis alongside a team of investigators. El Rafei and coauthors highlighted that

“[We] sought to characterize (1) trends in use of SGLT2i therapy by different left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) categories (HFrEF vs HFmrEF or HFpEF), (2) factors underlying SGLT2i therapy prescription, and (3) variation across practices among patients with [heart failure],” El Rafei et al wrote.¹

Design and Notable Findings

The investigative team’s aim was to look into how frequently SGLT2i were prescribed to individuals with heart failure held in outpatient cardiology clinics. The team conducted their study using a retrospective cohort trial design, with the research spanning from July 2019 – June 2023. The study’s population consisted of patients with heart failure enrolled in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) registry—a nationwide database established in 2008 within the US to systematically gather outpatient cardiovascular care quality metrics.

El Rafei and colleagues’ data analysis took place between February 2024 – January 2025. Their primary focus was on both patient-level and practice-level prescription SGLT2i therapy rates among patients. Those deemed eligible to be participants were adults in the age range of 18 years or older who had at least a single clinical encounter for heart failure during the study period and had documented SGLT2i prescribing data.

759,915 individuals with heart failure were included in total from 191 clinical sites in the US. All subjects had a mean [SD] age of 70 [14] years. El Rafei et al noted that 47.3% had been women, 14.6% identified as Black, and 82.7% as White. Among these individuals, 10.1% were prescribed an SGLT2 inhibitor. Among those with available ejection fraction (EF) data, prescription rates were 17.9% for those with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and 8.9% for those with heart failure with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF) or preserved EF (HFpEF).

Overall, the investigative team concluded that SGLT2i use rose from 4.6% in Q3 2019 to 16.2% in Q2 2023. Among those with HFrEF, the team found increases in usage from 5.1% to 28.5%, whereas for those with HFmrEF or HFpEF, such increases were from 4.5% to 12.8% over the same period (P < .001).

Prescriptions of SGLT2i therapy took place less frequently among those labeled as older adults (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.75–0.77), among women (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.77–0.81), and among subjects showing higher systolic blood pressure (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.77–0.79). Patients with a history of type 2 diabetes, however, were shown by El Rafei and coauthors to be significantly more likely to be given an SGLT2i (OR: 3.21; 95% CI: 3.15–3.28).

After adjusting for both patient- and practice-level variables, the investigators found that substantial variation in SGLT2i prescribing patterns continued to appear among all clinical sites. Individuals given treatment at practices in the 90th percentile of prescribing had a 4.40-fold higher likelihood of receiving an SGLT2i compared to those at 10th percentile practices (adjusted OR: 4.40; 95% CI: 3.76–5.52).

“In a nationwide study of outpatients with [heart failure], a majority eligible for SGLT2i therapy did not receive it, particularly those who were older, female, or with higher blood pressure,” the investigators concluded.¹ “There was a significant increase in SGLT2i use over the study period, less among patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF compared with those with HFrEF, with substantial variation in use across practices.”

El Rafei et al added that systematic efforts to make improvements to SGLT2i therapy use may be necessary in the future.

References
1. El Rafei A, Gosch K, Manning ES, et al. Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use for Heart Failure in US Ambulatory Cardiovascular Care. JAMA Cardiol. Published online July 09, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2025.2145.
2. Abdel Jawad M, Spertus JA, Ikeaba U, et al. Early adoption of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor in patients hospitalized with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. JAMA Cardiol. 2025;10(1):89-94. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.4489.
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July 10, 2025
Kendrick Lamar and SZA gig at Birmingham’s Villa Park

Susie Rack

BBC News, West Midlands

PA Media

SZA and Kendrick Lamar performed the half-time show at the Super Bowl in February

Days after Birmingham rocked out to heavy metal legends Black Sabbath, it is preparing to welcome two more critically acclaimed musical superstars.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA perform at Villa Park on Thursday as part of their Grand National Tour of 13 European stadiums.

Their tour was reported last month to have become the highest-grossing co-headline tour ever, making in excess of $250m on the North American leg alone.

Roads are closed around the venue, with doors opening at 16:30 BST. The show starts at 19:00 and is expected to run until 22:30.

The rapper and R&B singer-songwriter’s powerful half-time performances at the Super Bowl in February were broadcast to a TV audience of more than 130 million.

After Birmingham, the pair will perform dates in Cardiff and London, before further shows in Europe, South America and Australia.

Reuters

Rapper Lamar won five Grammy Awards in February, including Best Music Video, and Song Of The Year

What will the set list be in Birmingham?

The joint headliners are expected to alternate performances, and come together for duets such as ballad All the Stars.

According to Setlist.fm, their gig at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday showcased a 52-song playlist.

Lamar opened with Wacced Out Murals and performed five tracks before SZA arrived on stage with 30 for 30 then Love Galore.

The show closed with another duet, Gloria.

What can I bring to Villa Park?

Concert-goers are asked not to bring a bag where possible, and anything larger than A4 size will not be allowed.

Sealed plastic water bottles under 500ml are permitted for seated customers, but bottle tops will be removed on entry and any other food or drink confiscated.

Small cameras, sun cream and walking aids can be brought, but a banned list of items includes alcohol, umbrellas, flags and banners, glass and pyrotechnics.

Smoking and vaping is also banned in the stadium, although there are extended outdoor concourses on stands.

Staff will be carrying out searches, the venue confirmed.

Reuters

SZA won the award for Favorite R&B Song for Saturn during the 2025 American Music Awards in May

How can I get to the Villa Park gig?

Road closures are in place around the stadium from 13:00 and will remain until about midnight or once the areas are clear,

Trinity Road will be shut between the junctions with Witton Lane and Nelson Road, and Witton Lane from Witton Island to Trinity Road.

Residential areas around the stadium do not allow parking and parking at the stadium is unavailable, organisers said.

However, there are car parks within a 45-minute walk or in the city centre, with an official shuttle bus running from Dudley Street, near New Street Station, to Villa Park for £7.50 each way.

Transport for West Midlands warned buses and trains in the area would be busy and some buses would be diverted away from the area post-concert.

There will be additional trains running to Witton and Aston stations, which are about a five- and 15-minute walk from the venue.

The last train leaves from Witton to Rugeley Trent Valley at 23:32 and to Birmingham New Street at 23:48.

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July 10, 2025
Kashmir issue cannot be wished away as it demands an immediate attention

Nearly a century ago, 22 unarmed and peaceful Muslim protesters were gunned down by the armed forces of Hari Singh, the last ruler of the tyrannical Dogra dynasty, outside the Central Jail in the capital city of Srinagar. They had gathered there to hold vigil during the trial of their hero, Abdul Qadeer, who was being tried by Hari Singh’s kangaroo court. That historic massacre of July 13, 1931, came to be mourned and memorialised as Martyrs Day by Kashmiris everywhere. That event marked the beginning of the popular uprising against the tyrannical rule of the ruling dynasty under the protectorate of the British monarchy.

Unfortunately for Kashmiris, the tyranny would not end there, and in 194,7 Hari Singh’s rule would end, but not until he had surrendered to the invading Indian armed forces. Kashmiris lost their final opportunity to establish a free and democratic state of their own.

Kashmiris have continuously given immense sacrifices under post-independence India. Massacres after massacre have continued to take place under Indian occupation, ethnic cleansing and colonisation. Indian state under Modi’s Hindutva has abolished even the celebration of Martyrdom from the Kashmiri calendar since the annexation of Kashmir on August 5, 2019, but the people of Kashmir have vowed to resist, no matter the cost.

The world powers need to understand that the Kashmir issue cannot be wished away. It demands immediate attention to establish the process leading to a peaceful resolution. Kashmiri sacrifices – physical, mental and economic – cannot be erased from memory or history.

Freedom is not offered on a platter. The Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar will always remind us of the sanctity of those who sacrificed for truth and justice, and for freedom.

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July 10, 2025