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  • Lana Del Rey Voices Support for Palestine & Texas Flood Victims

    Lana Del Rey Voices Support for Palestine & Texas Flood Victims

    Lana Del Rey has spoken out about two crises happening in the world right now, sharing a message of support for people affected by the deadly flash floods in Texas before mourning the “heartbreaking” loss of life amid the ongoing conflicts in Gaza on Monday (July 7).

    First taking to Instagram to send love to people down South, the singer/songwriter wrote that she’s “so sorry for everyone who’s going through this” in relation to the people affected by the torrential downpours in central Texas. With storms first breaking out on the Fourth of July, at least 95 people have died amid the natural disaster, according to CNN.

    “We’ve been thinking of you every day since the floods,” Del Rey wrote in her post, layering pink text over a photo of a cloudless blue sky. “All of my prayers are with you every moment of the day this week, and may all the angels be with you as you search for even more lost loved ones.

    “It’s truly unprecedented, and I can’t even imagine it,” the musician added.

    Included in the floods’ ever-increasing death toll are 27 young girls and counselors who were part of Camp Mystic, a summer camp located along the Guadalupe River. Ten campers and one counselor are still missing, CNN reports.

    Del Rey is just one of several musicians who have spoken out about the devastation in Texas, with Billie Eilish, Miranda Lambert, Shakira and Maren Morris also posting tributes in the past couple of days. Rescue missions are still ongoing as rainfall continues to tear through the state, with Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. noting in a recent interview with CNN that the storms were so sudden, he didn’t even receive an alert that they’d be happening beforehand.

    In the comments of her post, however, Del Rey also reminded fans of another humanitarian crisis that’s been unfolding in the Middle East for well over a year. “And yes of course we pray for Palestine every day,” the 11-time Grammy nominee wrote in response to fans questioning why she was speaking out about the floods but not about the crisis in Gaza.

    “I wish for peace between all nations and am constantly up on all of the news between the Israel Palestine conflict,” she continued. “I was very hopeful when we were getting close to a peace treaty. And that was my greatest wish as I’ve watched the news unfold from a far.”

    Mass hunger and homelessness has run rampant in and around the Gaza Strip ever since Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 more hostages in its Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which prompted the country to declare war on the terrorist group. According to Reuters, more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the subsequent violence.

    “It’s always difficult to watch any innocent victims killed by crimes of war,” Del Rey wrote of the conflict. “There is never a good way of wording things that will make all people happy but that is my personal truth. Politically I do keep up and have been very much hoping for cease fire. This is a long ongoing conflict and one I’ve studied hard to understand. It’s heartbreaking and unfathomable to think there hasn’t been a way to find some resolution.

    “It’s a topic of conversation in many of my daily conversations and we’re constantly considering what we can do to contribute in all situations like this,” she added. “I always have been.”

    See Del Rey’s post below, and find her response about Palestine in the comments section.

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  • Interstellar Amorphous Ice Contains Tiny Crystals, New Research Reveals

    Interstellar Amorphous Ice Contains Tiny Crystals, New Research Reveals

    Low-density amorphous ice is one of the most common solid materials in the Universe and a key material for understanding the many famous anomalies of liquid water. Yet, despite its significance and its discovery nearly 90 years ago, its structure is debated. In a new study, researchers from University College London and the University of Cambridge found that computer simulations of low-density amorphous ice best matched measurements from previous experiments if the ice was not fully amorphous but contained tiny crystals — about 3 nm wide, slightly wider than a single strand of DNA — embedded within its disordered structures. In an experimental work, they also re-crystallized (i.e. warmed up) real samples of amorphous ice that had formed in different ways. They found that the final crystal structure varied depending on how the amorphous ice had originated. If the ice had been fully amorphous (fully disordered), the researchers concluded, it would not retain any imprint of its earlier form.

    The structure of low-density amorphous ice: many tiny crystallites (white) are concealed in the amorphous material (blue). Image credit: Michael B. Davies, UCL & University of Cambridge.

    “We now have a good idea of what the most common form of ice in the Universe looks like at an atomic level,” said Dr. Michael Davies, a researcher at University College London and the University of Cambridge.

    “This is important as ice is involved in many cosmological processes, for instance in how planets form, how galaxies evolve, and how matter moves around the Universe.”

    For their study, Dr Davies and colleagues used two computer models of water.

    They froze these virtual ‘boxes’ of water molecules by cooling to minus 120 degrees Celsius (minus 184 degrees Fahrenheit) at different rates.

    The different rates of cooling led to varying proportions of crystalline and amorphous ice.

    The researchers found that ice that was up to 20% crystalline (and 80% amorphous) appeared to closely match the structure of low-density amorphous ice as found in X-ray diffraction studies (that is, where researchers fire X-rays at the ice and analyze how these rays are deflected).

    Using another approach, they created large ‘boxes’ with many small ice crystals closely squeezed together.

    The simulation then disordered the regions between the ice crystals reaching very similar structures compared to the first approach with 25% crystalline ice.

    In additional experimental work, the scientists created real samples of low-density amorphous ice in a range of ways, from depositing water vapor on to an extremely cold surface (how ice forms on dust grains in interstellar clouds) to warming up what is known as high-density amorphous ice (ice that has been crushed at extremely cold temperatures).

    They then gently heated these amorphous ices so they had the energy to form crystals.

    They noticed differences in the ices’ structure depending on their origin — specifically, there was variation in the proportion of molecules stacked in a six-fold (hexagonal) arrangement.

    This was indirect evidence that low-density amorphous ice contained crystals.

    If it was fully disordered, the ice would not retain any memory of its earlier forms.

    The findings raised many additional questions about the nature of amorphous ices — for instance, whether the size of crystals varied depending on how the amorphous ice formed, and whether a truly amorphous ice was possible.

    “Water is the foundation of life but we still do not fully understand it,” said University of Cambridge’s Professor Angelos Michaelides.

    “Amorphous ices may hold the key to explaining some of water’s many anomalies.”

    “Ice is potentially a high-performance material in space,” Dr. Davies said.

    “It could shield spacecraft from radiation or provide fuel in the form of hydrogen and oxygen.”

    “So we need to know about its various forms and properties.”

    The findings also have implications for one speculative theory about how life on Earth began.

    According to this theory, known as Panspermia, the building blocks of life were carried here on an ice comet, with low-density amorphous ice the space shuttle material in which ingredients such as simple amino acids were transported.

    “Our findings suggest this ice would be a less good transport material for these origin of life molecules,” Dr. Davies said.

    “That is because a partly crystalline structure has less space in which these ingredients could become embedded.”

    “The theory could still hold true, though, as there are amorphous regions in the ice where life’s building blocks could be trapped and stored.”

    “Ice on Earth is a cosmological curiosity due to our warm temperatures,” said University College London’s Professor Christoph Salzmann.

    “You can see its ordered nature in the symmetry of a snowflake.”

    “Ice in the rest of the Universe has long been considered a snapshot of liquid water — that is, a disordered arrangement fixed in place. Our findings show this is not entirely true.”

    “Our results also raise questions about amorphous materials in general.”

    “These materials have important uses in much advanced technology.”

    “For instance, glass fibers that transport data long distances need to be amorphous, or disordered, for their function.”

    “If they do contain tiny crystals and we can remove them, this will improve their performance.”

    A paper on the findings was published today in the journal Physical Review B.

    _____

    Michael Benedict Davies et al. 2025. Low-density amorphous ice contains crystalline ice grains. Phys. Rev. B 112, 024203; doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.112.024203

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  • Prime Day Is Bringing Our Favorite Beats Headphones Back to Its Lowest Price Ever

    Prime Day Is Bringing Our Favorite Beats Headphones Back to Its Lowest Price Ever

    A good pair of headphones makes everything better, from long commutes to gym sessions and even everyday chores. But not everything with two earcups is created equal. The Beats Solo 4 is one of our favorite on-ear headphones, and with Prime Day officially kicking off tomorrow, you can save a huge amount on these headphones. 

    Amazon is currently offering 50% off the Solo 4, bringing the price down to $100 from $200. And the discount is valid on just about every color, so you can pick the one that best matches your style. Hurry, Prime Day deals won’t last forever. 

    These headphones feature Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology to prevent frequent connection drops and 40mm drivers that deliver a more balanced, clean sound. In his expert review, CNET’s audio expert, David Carnoy, noted that the audio quality and voice-calling performance in Solo 4 are significantly better than its predecessors. They don’t feature active noise cancellation, but you can get decent passive noise reduction with the earcups.

    Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.  

    The flex-grip headband and angled earcups in Solo 4 are designed for a more natural fit. Pair this with the soft UltraPlush cushions, and you’ll appreciate how comfortable they feel, especially during long sessions. Speaking of all-day use, the battery lasts up to 50 hours. You can pair these with both iOS and Android devices easily.

    If you prefer keeping things wired, the Solo 4 also includes a 3.5mm audio cable. However, if this isn’t the best option for you, take a look at all the best Prime Day headphone deals. 

    Best Prime Day Headphones Deals

    Prime Day means you don’t have to pay full price for a great pair of headphones. Whether you prefer earbuds, headphones or something in between we’ve got Prime Day headphone deals for you.


    See Now

    HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

    Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

    Why this deal matters

    Beats makes some of the best headphones out there, and this Prime Day, Amazon brought the price of the Solo 4 down to just $100, which is a rare find for a model like this. It might not stick around for long, so you’ll want to act fast. Since Prime Day kicks off tomorrow, there’s no telling how long this deal will last. 

    CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.


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  • US revokes ‘terrorist’ designation for Syrian president’s former group HTS | Syria’s War News

    US revokes ‘terrorist’ designation for Syrian president’s former group HTS | Syria’s War News

    The move follows the lifting of sanctions on Damascus after the fall of the al-Assad government last year.

    The United States will revoke its designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) as Washington softens its approach to post-war Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government last year.

    The decision, which takes effect on Tuesday, comes as part of US President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to re-engage with Syria and support its reconstruction after more than a decade of devastating conflict.

    “This FTO revocation is an important step in fulfilling President Trump’s vision of a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Monday.

    HTS had been designated as a “terrorist” group by the US since 2018 due to its former ties to al-Qaeda.

    The group emerged out of the al-Nusra Front, once al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, but formally severed those ties in 2016 after HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa declared the group’s independence.

    Al-Sharaa, who led the opposition forces that removed al-Assad in a lightning offensive last December, has since become Syria’s president.

    He has launched what many experts have described as a charm offensive aimed at Western powers, including meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and, most recently, Trump in Riyadh in May.

    The Trump administration and the European Union have since lifted sanctions on Syria.

    “In line with President Trump’s May 13 promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria, I am announcing my intent to revoke the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” Rubio said.

    “Tomorrow’s action follows the announced dissolution of HTS and the Syrian government’s commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms.”

    HTS was dissolved in late January, with its forces folded into the official Syrian military and security forces.

    Damascus welcomed the US decision as a step towards normalisation. In a statement, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the delisting of HTS was a “positive step toward correcting a course that previously hindered constructive engagement”.

    The ministry added that it hoped the move would “contribute to the removal of remaining restrictions that continue to impact Syrian institutions and officials, and open the door to a rational, sovereign-based approach to international cooperation”.

    Meanwhile, HTS remains under United Nations Security Council sanctions, which were imposed in 2014 over its previous affiliation with al-Qaeda. Al-Sharaa also remains under UNSC sanctions, which can only be removed by the Council itself.

    Al-Sharaa is reportedly preparing to attend the UN General Assembly in New York this September.

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  • 7 Pulmonology Updates to Know

    7 Pulmonology Updates to Know

    The first half of 2025 marked a dynamic period in pulmonology, with major FDA milestones, promising trial readouts, and continued momentum in precision medicine for respiratory conditions. Most notably, the FDA granted landmark approval to mepolizumab as the first biologic for eosinophilic COPD, signaling a shift toward more targeted treatment for a challenging COPD phenotype. Other regulatory progress included FDA acceptance of a gene therapy BLA for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, an ultrarare disease with no approved treatments, and encouraging steps toward new therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension and progressive pulmonary fibrosis.

    Meanwhile, clinical pipelines produced a mix of breakthroughs and setbacks. Positive results for TPIP and brensocatib suggested new hope for patients with PAH and bronchiectasis—2 historically underserved populations. Nerandomilast also showed statistically significant benefit in progressive pulmonary fibrosis, potentially expanding options for this debilitating disease. However, tezepelumab failed to meet its endpoint in a COPD trial, underscoring the complexity of inflammation-driven phenotypes.

    Check out this H1 2025 pulmonology month in review for a recap of HCPLive’s coverage of the top pulmonology news and research from the past few months:

    Regulatory Actions in H1 2025

    FDA Approves Mepolizumab for Eosinophilic COPD

    On May 22, the FDA has approved mepolizumab (Nucala) as an add-on maintenance treatment for patients with COPD with an eosinophilic phenotype. In the phase 3 MATINEE trial, mepolizumab demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 21% reduction in the annualized rate of moderate or severe exacerbations (0.80 events per year) compared to placebo (1.01 events per year; rate ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.94; P = .01), successfully meeting the primary endpoint.

    Related content: Expanding Precision Medicine in COPD With Mepolizumab, with Frank Sciurba, MD

    FDA Accepts BLA for PRGN-2012 for Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

    On February 25, the FDA accepted Precigen, Inc.’s BLA for PRGN-2012 (zopapogene imadenovec), an investigational gene therapy targeted for adults with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare disease that requires repeated surgeries with no current therapeutic alternative. A Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of August 27, 2025, was set, with no plans to hold an advisory committee meeting.

    H1 Data Readouts

    Merck Halts Phase 3 HYPERION Trial of Sotatercept for Final Analysis

    On January 30, Merck halted the Phase 3 HYPERION trial evaluating sotatercept-csrk (WINREVAIR) versus placebo in adults with recently diagnosed PAH and plans to proceed with the final analysis. Merck indicated the decision to stop HYPERION before its scheduled end date was based on positive data from the interim analysis of ZENITH and an overall review of data from the sotatercept clinical trial program.

    Tezepelumab Fails Study Endpoint of Reducing Moderate-to-Severe COPD Exacerbations

    Tezepelumab was not seen to reduce the annualized rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations, thus failing the primary endpoint of COURSE, a phase 2a trial (NCT04039113). Singh and colleagues found that the annualized rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations represented a nonsignificant change and thus did not meet the trial’s primary endpoint.

    Nerandomilast Meets Primary Endpoint in Improving FVC in Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis

    Nerandomilast met the primary endpoint in the Phase 3 FIBRONEER-ILD trial, significantly improving forced vital capacity (FVC) among individuals with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), compared with placebo. Based on these findings, Boehringer Ingelheim announced plans to submit an NDA for nerandomilast to the FDA.

    Brensocatib Improved Outcomes, Slowed Decline in People With Bronchiectasis
    In April, Brensocatib showed efficacy in reducing pulmonary exacerbations and slowing disease progression in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. The positive results from the Phase 3 trial suggest brensocatib could become a novel therapeutic option for this underserved population.​

    Related content: Investigating Brensocatib, Potential First Treatment for Bronchiectasis, with James Chalmers, MBChB, PhD

    TPIP Boasts Significant Outcome Improvements for PAH in Phase 2b

    In June, Insmed announced positive phase 2b results for treprostinil palmitil inhalation powder (TPIP), meeting its primary endpoint of significantly reducing pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Based on findings from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, TPIP treatment led to notable improvements in exercise capacity and biomarkers of heart strain, supporting its potential as an effective once-daily prostanoid therapy. Safety analysis showed TPIP was generally well tolerated despite higher rates of common prostanoid-related adverse events like cough and headache. Insmed plans to initiate phase 3 trials for TPIP in PAH and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease starting later this year and into early 2026.

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  • Samsung Unpacked Live Reveals: New Galaxy Fold Phones Appear Imminent

    Samsung Unpacked Live Reveals: New Galaxy Fold Phones Appear Imminent

    The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

    The sequel to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (seen here) could be an “Ultra” edition.

    Lisa Eadiccico/CNET

    Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event is taking place on Wednesday, and it’s very likely that it will include a new wave of Galaxy Fold and Flip phones. Samsung itself has been teasing in blog posts that we’ll be seeing an “Ultra” edition of the Galaxy Fold, which might also be thinner and lighter than its previous foldable devices.

    Samsung’s summer Unpacked events have also historically included updates to the Galaxy Watch line, which last year expanded to include an Ultra edition of the Galaxy Watch 7.

    CNET will be reporting directly from Samsung Unpacked in New York on Wednesday, and in the leadup we’ll be using this live blog to cover all the last minute rumors and predictions ahead of the company’s next Galaxy event.

    More from Samsung Unpacked


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  • Speaker vows to oust ‘rowdy’ MPAs

    Speaker vows to oust ‘rowdy’ MPAs


    LAHORE:

    Amid preparations to file a reference against PTI’s 26 suspended MPAs, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has reiterated that he is not in favour of expelling any member from the house but any lawmaker who violates the constitutional oath will inevitably face action.

    Addressing a press conference, he said he would not politicise disqualification, but if a reference is received under Article 63(2) of the Constitution, it must be decided accordingly.

    He said that under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, it is the right of the petitioners to have their applications decided within 30 days. He made it clear that if these applications are not resolved within the stipulated time, they will automatically be forwarded to the Election Commission.

    The speaker said that the opposition had been given every possible democratic space in the past – from chairing standing committees to leading the Public Accounts Committee – but unfortunately the opposition had turned the assembly into a forum for constant disruption.

    Speaker Khan said the opposition is portraying disorder as a political right, but there is no such provision in the Constitution.

    He said parliament is meant for legislation, not protest.

    He stated that he does not believe in the politics of disqualifying anyone, as practised by PTI. However, if anyone violates constitutional boundaries or undermines the discipline of the house against party decisions, he will not hesitate to take action, he added.

    He added that he holds no grudge against any party or leader but is committed to upholding the sanctity of the house. Any member who violates their constitutional oath will inevitably face action.

    The speaker stated that such actions in the past laid the foundation for undermining democracy. He said he would not politicise disqualification, but if a reference is received under Article 63(2) of the Constitution, it must be decided accordingly.

    He also expressed hope that the government and opposition will engage in meaningful dialogue in the coming days to improve the atmosphere of the house, so that the Punjab Assembly can truly serve as the representative forum of the 120 million people of the province.

    The speaker appears to be facing a new front of criticism in attempting to counter censure from treasury lawmakers accusing him of favoring the opposition.

    He had also faced accusations of failing to maintain order during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s speeches.

    Speaker Khan had been accommodating opposition lawmakers in the house proceedings by granting them sufficient time and allowing them to speak on points of order. Sometimes he was also witnessed adopting a harsh tone with some treasury members.

    An impression had bene gaining strength among the treasury benches that that the speaker was favouring the opposition. But he was of the view that he should take along the opposition and the treasury side by side and it was not appropriate to take strict action over petty issues.

    At one stage, the treasury members had stopped bothering about the opposition’s protests, but called for silence during the speeches of the chief minister. The opposition members also often remained confined to their chairs rather than protesting in front of the speaker’s dais.

    The opposition admired the speaker’s conduct but also tried to create maximum disruption during the CM’s speech.

    When CM Maryam Nawaz spoke on June 27, the opposition appeared more aggressive, perhaps in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on reserved seats. This led to the preparation of the reference.

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  • Wimbledon recap: Unexpected injury retirements all over the All England Club

    Wimbledon recap: Unexpected injury retirements all over the All England Club

    Follow The Athletic’s Wimbledon coverage

    Welcome to the Wimbledon briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories on each day of the tournament.

    On day eight, an unexpected tennis body shot, two games that epitomized the sport’s ebbs and flows, and a return for a different kind of Slam.

    Occupational tennis hazards of the most painful kind

    Tennis injuries are usually freak incidents like Grigor Dimitrov’s painful exit from a two-sets-to-love lead over Jannik Sinner. This especially applies to ball injuries, when players can get hit by a shot at the net.

    Sometimes, though, the ultimate act of accidental betrayal occurs instead.

    The No. 2 seeds in the boys’ doubles, Dominick Mosejczuk and Alejandro Arcila, were serving to level their match with Timofei Derapasko and Jacapo Vasami, with Mosejczuk serving and Arcila at the net. The American unleashed a first serve, which found a target it was definitely not supposed to find.

    After falling to the court and receiving attention from the umpire, Arcila waved things off, hit two winning volleys and helped his partner win the second set 6-3, having lost the first by the same scoreline.

    But then Arcila had to go through concussion treatment. He failed the tests conducted by the medical staff, and he and Mosejczuk had to retire with the third set still to play. It was that kind of day.

    James Hansen

    Two games that had everything

    Things have been ending fairly punctually at Wimbledon the past couple of nights, but with tennis, you never know when things are going to go long.

    In these cases, the 11 p.m. curfew is not involved. Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur played an 18-minute game with Djokovic serving at 1-0 in the second set, Belinda Bencic and Ekaterina Alexandrova played a 15-minute one with Bencic serving for the match at 7-6, 5-3.

    In the case of Djokovic vs. De Minaur, the game had everything that exemplified Djokovic’s play for much of the afternoon, when he struggled with the wind and with the pressure that De Minaur, who is a terrific grass-court player, put on him throughout. Djokovic could have finished it off with a down-the-line backhand into the open court at 40-30. He put a ball he usually puts away into the net.

    And things got weird from there, with both players missing opportunities to finish things off far more quickly than they did. It all ended with De Minaur coming into net and knifing a forehand volley across the court of the winner.

    That was some decent drama, but nothing compared with the Bencic vs. Alexandrova marathon with the match on the line. Bencic saved four break points before she started missing on match point chances. A forehand went long. Alexandrova hammered a forehand inside in to save another. A net cord tickled over in Bencic’s favor. She yelled at her box to “calm down.” Was she talking to herself? Possibly.

    Bencic then ticked the net on a backhand winner to save another break point, but then double-faulted. Alexandrova would miss on that point and then need to earn another with a forehand winner before finally getting the game on a Bencic error on the 22nd point.

    What did both marathons have in common? The returner won the long game, then lost the next one, and in Alexandrova’s case, the match. De Minaur would survive another two and a half hours on Centre Court, but he too would win the battle only to lose the war.

    Matt Futterman

    Wimbledon travel woe

    The U.S. Open has the 7 train. The French Open has the 10. Melbourne has its trams.

    Each Grand Slam has a major artery by which fans arrive. At Wimbledon, it’s the District Line. But where the others have direct alternatives — the Long Island Rail Road in New York City, or the 9 in Paris — if London Underground goes down, getting to Wimbledon suddenly appears impossible.

    For most of its first week in 2025, the line has been beset by problems. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is “extremely frustrated,” a spokesperson for City Hall told The Athletic, and passengers heading in the direction of the All England Club via Southfields, Wimbledon Park or Wimbledon stations feel the same.

    The latest and most severe disruption happened Monday, when the line was suspended entirely between Wimbledon and Parsons Green, a few stops north of Southfields, which is the most popular station for getting to the tournament. The culprit was a track fault between East Putney and Putney Bridge, on a section jointly managed by Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail. Services were disrupted throughout last week, with around 14,000 fans attempting to travel to Southfields per day.

    “We acknowledge that today’s disruption comes on the back of a challenging week for District line services last week,” a statement from TfL read. “We are continuing to work closely with organisers of the Wimbledon Championships and Network Rail to ensure that we deliver a reliable service and share up-to-date travel information with customers.”


    Passengers attempt to get into Southfields station to leave Wimbledon. (Joanna Chan / Associated Press)

    Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, who led a minute’s silence in honor of the 52 victims of the July 7 terror attacks on the 20th anniversary, said that the AELTC has been “clear” with TfL “that delivering an event of this scale in this part of London requires the infrastructure to support us in doing that.”

    “We’ve arranged to catch up with them after the Championships, not just to look at what has happened this year, but to look ahead in terms of investment into the District line,” she said.

    The AELTC is particularly invested in infrastructure improvements due to its plans to expand. It wants to move Wimbledon’s qualifying event, played at Roehampton a few miles away, to the tournament site. Plans for 39 new grass courts to be built on the old Wimbledon Park golf course, including an 8,000-capacity stadium, will provide the required space. But the extra seven days of foot traffic and associated revenue will be just as reliant on the same tracks which have erred this week.

    The Greater London Authority (GLA) approved planning permission last September, but local campaign group Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) is opposed to the redevelopment of the 23-acre Grade II* (meaning of particular importance) heritage site, which the AELTC owns. A judicial review of the GLA’s approval decision will be heard in the High Court on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

    Caoimhe O’Neill 

    Other notable results on day eight

    • Jannik Sinner (1) got the worst kind of good luck in sports when Grigor Dimitrov (19) had to retire injured two sets up on the world No. 1. He led 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 before injuring his pectoral muscle.
    • Iga Świątek (8) put on another grass masterclass against Clara Tauson (23), winning 6-4, 6-1.
    • Novak Djokovic (6) struggled with his movement and the wind against Alex de Minaur (11), but held off the Australian 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
    • Liudmila Samsonova (19) got to her first major quarterfinal with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
    • And Ben Shelton (10) used his growing mastery of returns ahead of his big serves to beat Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 7-5 and reach his first Wimbledon quarterfinal.

    Shot of the day

    Iga Świątek has always been a master of defense, but playing a point like this on grass is especially impressive.

    Day nine matches as quarterfinals begin

    🎾 Taylor Fritz (5) vs. Karen Khachanov (17)

    8 a.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+

    A first meeting since 2020 for two players who feel like they should have played much more frequently. Expect a lot of aces and unreturned serves, baseline battles and probably five sets.

    🎾 Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Laura Siegemund

    8:30 a.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+

    Sabalenka is the overwhelming favorite, but Siegemund — a master of the grass and of the dark arts — is the type of player who could get under her skin. There is little middle ground here: expect either a routine win for Sabalenka or the makings of a massive upset.

    🎾 Amanda Anisimova (13) vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

    Follows Fritz vs. Khachanov on ESPN/ESPN+

    Anisimova is having the kind of season she threatened to have before having to take a break from tennis for burnout. Pavlyuchenkova is in her second Wimbledon quarterfinal, nine years after her first. A moment for both of them, whatever the result.

    🎾 Carlos Alcaraz (2) vs. Cameron Norrie

    Follows Sabalenka vs. Siegemund

    Norrie, a 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist, has not enjoyed the cut-through with the British public that his consistency at the All England Club might afford. Alcaraz, having started the tournament scratchily, has said he is in full flight now. Norrie will need that crowd.

    Wimbledon men’s draw 2025

    Wimbledon women’s draw 2025

    Tell us what you noticed on the eighth day…

    (Top photo of a men’s doubles match: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic)

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  • Google AI Just Open-Sourced a MCP Toolbox to Let AI Agents Query Databases Safely and Efficiently

    Google AI Just Open-Sourced a MCP Toolbox to Let AI Agents Query Databases Safely and Efficiently

    Google has released the MCP Toolbox for Databases, a new open-source module under its GenAI Toolbox aimed at simplifying the integration of SQL databases into AI agents. The release is part of Google’s broader strategy to advance the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a standardized approach that allows language models to interact with external systems—including tools, APIs, and databases—using structured, typed interfaces.

    This toolbox addresses a growing need: enabling AI agents to interact with structured data repositories like PostgreSQL and MySQL in a secure, scalable, and efficient manner. Traditionally, building such integrations requires managing authentication, connection handling, schema alignment, and security controls—introducing friction and complexity. The MCP Toolbox removes much of this burden, making integration possible with less than 10 lines of Python and minimal configuration.

    Why This Matters for AI Workflows

    Databases are essential for storing and querying operational and analytical data. In enterprise and production contexts, AI agents need to access these data sources to perform tasks like reporting, customer support, monitoring, and decision automation. However, connecting large language models (LLMs) directly to SQL databases introduces operational and security concerns such as unsafe query generation, poor connection lifecycle management, and exposure of sensitive credentials.

    The MCP Toolbox for Databases solves these problems by providing:

    • Built-in support for credential-based authentication
    • Secure and scalable connection pooling
    • Schema-aware tool interfaces for structured querying
    • MCP-compliant input/output formats for compatibility with LLM orchestration frameworks

    Key Technical Highlights

    Minimal Configuration, Maximum Usability

    The toolbox allows developers to integrate databases with AI agents using a configuration-driven setup. Instead of dealing with raw credentials or managing individual connections, developers can simply define their database type and environment, and the toolbox handles the rest. This abstraction reduces the boilerplate and risk associated with manual integration.

    Native Support for MCP-Compliant Tooling

    All tools generated through the toolbox conform to the Model Context Protocol, which defines structured input/output formats for tool interactions. This standardization improves interpretability and safety by constraining LLM interactions through schemas rather than free-form text. These tools can be used directly in agent orchestration frameworks such as LangChain or Google’s own agent infrastructure.

    The structured nature of MCP-compliant tools also aids in prompt engineering, allowing LLMs to reason more effectively and safely when interacting with external systems.

    Connection Pooling and Authentication

    The database interface includes native support for connection pooling to handle concurrent queries efficiently—especially important in multi-agent or high-traffic systems. Authentication is handled securely through environment-based configurations, reducing the need to hard-code credentials or expose them during runtime.

    This design minimizes risks such as leaking credentials or overwhelming a database with concurrent requests, making it suitable for production-grade deployment.

    Schema-Aware Query Generation

    One of the core advantages of this toolbox is its ability to introspect database schemas and make them available to LLMs or agents. This enables safe, schema-validated querying. By mapping out the structure of tables and their relationships, the agent gains situational awareness and can avoid generating invalid or unsafe queries.

    This schema grounding also enhances the performance of natural language to SQL pipelines by improving query generation reliability and reducing hallucinations.

    Use Cases

    The MCP Toolbox for Databases supports a broad range of applications:

    • Customer service agents that retrieve user information from relational databases in real time
    • BI assistants that answer business metric questions by querying analytical databases
    • DevOps bots that monitor database status and report anomalies
    • Autonomous data agents for ETL, reporting, and compliance verification tasks

    Because it’s built on open protocols and popular Python libraries, the toolbox is easily extensible and fits into existing LLM-agent workflows.

    Fully Open Source

    The module is part of the fully open-source GenAI Toolbox released under the Apache 2.0 license. It builds on established packages such as sqlalchemy to ensure compatibility with a wide range of databases and deployment environments. Developers can fork, customize, or contribute to the module as needed.

    Conclusion

    The MCP Toolbox for Databases represents an important step in operationalizing AI agents in data-rich environments. By removing integration overhead and embedding best practices for security and performance, Google is enabling developers to bring AI to the heart of enterprise data systems. The combination of structured interfaces, lightweight setup, and open-source flexibility makes this release a compelling foundation for building production-ready AI agents with reliable database access.

    Check out the GitHub Page. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter, Youtube and Spotify and don’t forget to join our 100k+ ML SubReddit and Subscribe to our Newsletter.


    Asif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.

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  • Microsoft’s Edge browser now loads sites even faster

    Microsoft’s Edge browser now loads sites even faster

    In a new post shared to its Windows blog, Microsoft says that it has “reached a major milestone” when it comes to improving the speed of Edge’s user interface. It now takes Microsoft’s browser less than 300 milliseconds to start rendering the first parts of a website for users, whether it’s text, images, or parts of the user interface.

    It’s a metric known as First Contentful Paint (FCP) that Google introduced in its Chrome browser in 2017, and according to Microsoft, “industry research shows that waiting longer than 300 to 400ms for the initial content can significantly impact user satisfaction.” However, while loading the first elements of a site in less than 300 milliseconds can help a browser feel fast and responsive, FCP is not an indication of how long it will take a site to load in its entirety.

    The upgrades could persuade some users to switch to Edge, which currently has less than five percent of the worldwide browser market share compared to Chrome’s 68 percent. Microsoft may also soon be facing new competition from companies like OpenAI that are also considering introducing their own browsers to complement existing AI web search tools.

    The improvements follow similar performance gains Microsoft has highlighted in previous blog posts made possible by the company’s continued efforts to migrate Edge’s user interface to a faster WebUI 2.0 architecture that “minimizes the size of our code bundles, and the amount of JavaScript code that runs during the initialization of the UI.”

    Last February, Microsoft said that Edge’s downloads, history, and creating new private browsing tabs were on average, about 40 percent faster. The company says it has since delivered similar performance improvements for 13 additional browser features, including settings that are more responsive, split screen that now provides “near-instant navigation and less loading delays,” and smoother playback for its AI-powered and accessibility-focused Read aloud feature.

    In the coming months, Microsoft plans to introduce additional performance improvements to Edge for features like Print Preview and Extensions.

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