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  • ‘Nobu’ review: Less about the sushi master, more about a sexy global brand

    ‘Nobu’ review: Less about the sushi master, more about a sexy global brand

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    It takes a little over an hour for “Nobu” to marinate long enough to approach a point of complexity, not exactly bitter but no longer cloyingly sweet. Nobu Matsuhisa, the celebrated sushi master, is running quality-control checks in one of his restaurants. A poor chef is sweating the test so badly, he won’t need soy sauce soon enough. His dish keeps being sent back: Chop the chives finer. Why is this pile of raw crudo smaller? Why did you paint a line of salt instead of a dot? The scene goes on, excruciatingly. A few minutes later, Robert De Niro — an early investor and co-founder — dominates a private board meeting with concerns about too-rapid growth. It’s not quite the ominous Waingro showdowns of “Heat” but in the ballpark.

    Fastidiousness, precision and a kind of reputational exclusivity are at the heart of Matsuhisa’s enterprise. These are hard things to make a documentary about. But it’s also why Nobu needed to come to Beverly Hills for his concept take root — not just any Los Angeles but the ’80s-era boomtown of power lunches and spend-to-impress dining. Spago’s Wolfgang Puck makes an appearance in director Matt Tyrnauer’s half-interesting film, fawning over his longtime friend sitting next to him but not quite articulating the essence of their revolution: high-end branding. You wish more time was spent on that conceptual idea, enabled by celebrities throwing around money on food they barely ate.

    The kind of doc that “Nobu” more often resembles (as do most foodie-targeted profiles) is a gentle chronology of a humble genius and everyday guy who just happens to fly private. Matsuhisa bows to euphoric local fishmongers, does a lot of hugs and selfies with his staff, visits his roots in Japan and Peru. There are family interviews and a detour to Alaska, where, years before he had a 300-person nightly waitlist, an early restaurant of his caught fire — in the bad literal way (Tyrnauer cuts to the Anchorage newspaper headline). These false starts are somehow exhausting, lacking in suspense. He contemplated suicide, then came to California.

    The food sails by: wedges of black cod with miso, delicate plates of thinly sliced fish adorned with tweezer-manipulated herbs. All of it is crazy-making and delicious. Still, apart from former Los Angeles Times food editor Ruth Reichl, who witnessed the rise of Nobu as it happened, there are few on-camera voices who speak directly to Matsuhisa’s gifts and experimentation with form. 2011’s “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” does a better job of delivering the intimate discipline of cutting and shaping. More testimony to the experience of eating at Nobu would have helped this feel less like a commercial.

    “Nobu” is a film oddly unconcerned with the communal experience of dining. We hear about the way his sushi workstations are elevated (a “stage,” Matsuhisa calls them) and that’s central to the performance going on here, also the remove. Something clicks when the film heads to Nobu Malibu and visits the table of supermodel Cindy Crawford, whose “Cindy rice,” a dish he invented for her, adorns the menu. There’s a deep mutual gratitude between them that goes back years. An appreciation of the finer things? No doubt. Game recognizing game? Definitely.

    ‘Nobu’

    In English and Japanese, with subtitles

    Not rated

    Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

    Playing: Laemmle Monica

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  • Diogo Jota, Liverpool and Portugal footballer, dies aged 28 in car crash | Football

    Diogo Jota, Liverpool and Portugal footballer, dies aged 28 in car crash | Football

    The football world has been left devastated by the death of the Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota in a car accident in north-western Spain. The 28-year-old father of three, who married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, 11 days earlier, was killed alongside his brother André Silva when the Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off a road.

    Jota and the 25-year-old Silva died at about 12.40am local time on Thursday in the province of Zamora. The cause of the accident has not been confirmed but Spain’s Civil Guard said it believed the car had sustained a puncture while overtaking, causing the driver to lose control. The Lamborghini burst into flames and firefighters had to extinguish a blaze in the surrounding vegetation caused by the accident. The wreckage of the vehicle was visible by the side of the A-52 near Cernadilla on Thursday. The brothers’ funeral will be on Saturday morning in the Gondomar area of Porto where they grew up.

    Liverpool said they were devastated and their former manager Jürgen Klopp, who signed Jota from Wolves, posted on Instagram that he was heartbroken. Klopp, a religious man, wrote: “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!” Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, said Jota was “a loved one to all of us” and “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be”. Slot added: “The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding. In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.”

    Tributes were paid from across the football spectrum to Jota and Silva, a professional footballer with the second-tier Portuguese club Penafiel. Cristiano Ronaldo said the death “doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife, your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”

    The site of the accident in which Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother died in the province of Zamora. Photograph: Emilio Fraile/AP

    Fans of varying allegiances laid flowers, football shirts and scarves in memory of Jota on a grass verge behind the Main Stand at Anfield. The Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish said: “Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.” Darwin Núñez, Dominic Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott were among the Liverpool players to post tributes. Elliott described the forward as “humble, hardworking, kind, and always there for anyone that needed anything”. The Liverpool squad are due to report back for pre-season training early next week and are scheduled to play their first friendly at Preston on Sunday 13 July.

    Jota joined Liverpool for £41m in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club. A superb finisher, known as “Jota the slotter” by Liverpool fans, he won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool and the 2018 Championship title with Wolves. He was also a two-time winner of the Nations League with Portugal. His last game was the Nations League final penalty shootout victory over Spain on 8 June. Uefa’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, said: “Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the Uefa Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now for ever be burned in memory with sorrow.”

    A map showing the location of the car crash

    Jota, who scored 14 goals in 49 Portugal appearances, was an immensely popular figure in the Liverpool dressing room. “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” said a club statement that also requested “the privacy of Diogo and André’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

    Liverpool have opened a book of condolence that can be signed at Anfield until Sunday, along with a digital version. Flags at the stadium and at Liverpool town hall were lowered to half mast. The club’s stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday.

    Tributes at Anfield in memory of Diogo Jota. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

    “We all feel utterly bereft right now,” said Michael Edwards, the chief executive of football at Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owner, and Richard Hughes, the club’s sporting director, in a statement. “As his teammates, friends and colleagues, we are consumed by shock and sorrow. We know our supporters, his national team, former clubs and teammates and the wider football community share in this grief. This is a tragedy that transcends Liverpool Football Club.

    “In the coming days, we as a club will look to honour our beloved No 20 with the respect and affection he so richly deserves. We will strive to make these tributes meaningful and inclusive of our supporters, to whom Diogo meant so much. For now, we express a love that is filled with deep sorrow and pain. We have lost someone truly irreplaceable. Rest in peace, Diogo. YNWA.”

    Jota and his partner were married in Porto on 22 June and announced the news in an Instagram post a few days ago. On Monday Rute shared more pictures from their wedding day and wrote: “My dream came true.” Jota commented: “I’m the lucky one.” They had met in high school and started going out in 2013, a year before he turned professional. The couple have three young children: Denis, Duarte and a daughter born last year whose name has not been revealed.

    The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and his Portuguese counterpart, Luís Montenegro, expressed sympathy for Jota, Silva and their families. Angela Raynor, the deputy prime minister, paid her respects at Anfield while on government business in Liverpool.

    Diogo Jota with the trophy after winning the Nations League last month. Photograph: Annegret Hilse/Reuters

    Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said: “Diogo Jota represented Portuguese football at the highest level and demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication as part of a generation that has taken Portuguese football to the highest level. The president sends his deepest condolences to his family, friends and professional colleagues for a loss that has dismayed all Portuguese.”

    Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese FA, wrote on social media: “We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.”

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  • Jack Draper out of Wimbledon in second round as Marin Cilic’s grass pedigree triumphs

    Jack Draper out of Wimbledon in second round as Marin Cilic’s grass pedigree triumphs

    THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB, LONDON — For Jack Draper, Wimbledon remains a conundrum. The great home hope fell in the second round on No. 1 Court for a second straight year, this time losing 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 against the world No. 83 and former finalist Marin Čilić.

    Those two early exits bookend an otherwise very impressive 12 months of Grand Slam performances for the world No. 4, with runs to the semifinals at the U.S. Open and then fourth-round appearances in Melbourne and Paris.

    It would be easy to attribute his Wimbledon defeats to the strain of being Britain’s highest-ranked player — pressure Draper has continually played down — but like last year’s defeat to Cameron Norrie, Draper again struggled to impose his game on home turf. Normally so nimble, Draper has looked a little heavy-legged here, as though not quite sure yet how to best maneuver his bulky 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) frame across the grass.

    Čilić, 36, is fresh from winning an ATP Challenger title in Nottingham and knows the intricacies of this surface. He reached the Wimbledon final in 2017 and won the prestigious warm-up tournament at Queen’s in 2012 and 2018. He displayed all of that grass-court pedigree against Draper, dominating from the baseline and neutralizing Draper’s power. His stronger wing is his backhand, which caused Draper a big problem. The Brit’s favored serve from the ad court swings out to the right-hander’s backhand, and it’s generally a devastating weapon. Not so against Čilić, who could handle it with his favorite shot, winning the first set with a return winner off his backhand.

    Čilić’s forehand is much more up and down, but when it works, it can be lethal. It flew through the court at times here, augmented by a brilliant serving display that took in 16 aces and an 88 percent win-rate on first-serve points in the first two sets. Most importantly, Čilić was able to get on the front foot. In the first couple of sets, he spent 25 percent and then 28 percent of the time in attack, compared to 16 percent in both for Draper — a huge drop-off from his average in the past year of 26 percent.

    Draper flipped this in the third set, when it felt as though the momentum of the match might be about to turn. He finally broke for the first time and then raced away with the set, harnessing the energy of a crowd who enjoyed seeing their adversary for the day getting a time violation down break point.

    Čilić wasn’t rattled by the home fans getting on his back. He refocused and got back on the front foot, attacking in 27 percent of the fourth set compared to Draper’s 21 per cent. His movement was impressive too — even when he was younger, before two knee operations, he rarely chased down drop shots like he did against Draper. Čilić’s injuries have been so persistent that this summer’s tournament is his first Wimbledon appearance since 2021.

    Draper clung on to save two break points down 3-4, but a few games later, it was all over. Čilić forced a missed backhand to claim a memorable victory that further opens up a tournament defined by upsets on the men’s and women’s sides. Novak Djokovic, the seven-time champion, and Jakub Menšík, the world No. 17, are the two highest seeds left in Draper’s quarter.

    For Čilić, it is a statement win after fearing that his career would be over following a second knee operation in May last year.

    Draper will be monumentally disappointed, but he has made great strides in so many areas over the past year. He has climbed up from No. 40 to become a fixture in the world’s top five, winning a Masters 1,000 title, the level just below Grand Slams, along the way.

    Until next year at least, this home major continues to be his kryptonite.

    (Photo: Hannah Peters / Getty Images)

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  • NIH Study Links Particulate Air Pollution to Increased Mutations in Lung Cancers Among Nonsmokers

    NIH Study Links Particulate Air Pollution to Increased Mutations in Lung Cancers Among Nonsmokers

    Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, have found that fine-particulate air pollution, which includes pollution from vehicles and industry, was strongly associated with increased genomic changes in lung cancer tumors among people who have never smoked.

    By assembling the largest-ever whole-genome analysis of lung cancer in individuals who have never smoked, researchers were able to link air pollution exposure to increased cancer-driving and cancer-promoting genetic mutations. This could potentially lead to more prevention strategies for never-smokers.

    Researchers analyzed lung tumors from 871 never-smoker patients across 28 geographic locations worldwide as part of the Sherlock-Lung study They found associations between air pollution exposure and changes in the TP53 gene, and other genetic mutational signatures previously associated with tobacco smoking. They also observed a relationship between air pollution and shorter telomeres, which are sections of DNA found at the end of chromosomes. Telomeres shorten naturally with age and shorter telomeres are related to cells inability to continue to replicate. However, scientists found fine particulate air pollution was linked to premature shortening of telomeres.

    Prior genomic studies of lung cancer have focused on tobacco smokers, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of how lung cancer develops in people who have never used tobacco. By beginning to uncover the mechanisms through which tissues acquire cancer-causing or cancer-promoting mutations following environmental exposures, this study helps scientists better understand the primary drivers of lung cancer in this population—which represents up to 25% of all lung cancer cases globally.

    Interestingly, the researchers found that while exposure to secondhand smoke was associated with slightly higher mutation burdens and shorter telomeres, compared to tumors in patients who were not exposed, it did not lead to an increase in cancer-driving mutations or mutational signatures. This suggests that secondhand smoke may have a lower overall ability to cause genetic mutations, known as mutagenicity, compared to air pollution.

    This work was led by researchers at NIH’s National Cancer Institute and the University of California, San Diego, and published in Nature on July 2, 2025.

    This news release was published by the National Institutes of Health on July 2, 2025.

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  • Hepatitis E virus also attacks organs other than the liver, study finds

    Hepatitis E virus also attacks organs other than the liver, study finds

    A research team from Bochum and Hannover shows that the hepatitis E virus also attacks organs other than the liver.

    The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes severe liver inflammation. A research team from Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, and TWINCORE, the Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research in Hannover, has now been able to prove for the first time that it can also infect kidney cells and replicate there. Antiviral drugs such as ribavirin are less effective there than in the liver. The results of the study have now been published in the journal Liver International on June 27, 2025.

    Entire life cycle possible in the kidney

    Hepatitis E viruses mainly infect liver cells and cause the most damage in the liver. “However, it was already known that they can go down the wrong path and infect other cells, such as nerve cells,” says last author Dr. André Gömer from the Department of Molecular and Medical Virology at Ruhr University Bochum.

    The team from Bochum and Hannover has now succeeded in proving in cell culture that the viruses also infect kidney cells and can multiply with their help. “The entire replication cycle of the virus takes place in kidney cells in the same way as in liver cells,” says Gömer.

    The infected kidney cells responded less well to treatment with the antiviral drug ribavirin than the liver cells. “This is probably due to the significantly different metabolic profiles of the two organs,” says Gömer. In the kidney, the virus is therefore relatively insensitive to drug treatment.

    “It could be that in chronic infections, the kidney acts as a reservoir from which the viruses spread again after a supposedly successful treatment,” says Nele Meyer, a PhD student in the Translational Virology research group at TWINCORE. She and the physician Avista Wahid are the first authors of the study. Such a reservoir could also enable the viruses to adapt better to treatment.

    Evolution in the organ

    The team also conducted a comparative genetic analysis of hepatitis viruses from chronically infected patients using their blood plasma, stool and urine. While viruses are mainly excreted from the liver in the stool, those from the kidneys are found in the urine. ‘The viruses found in the different samples differ significantly from each other,” reports Dr Patrick Behrendt, head of the Translational Virology group at TWINCORE and also last author of the article. “This indicates that the populations have been developing independently of each other for some time and have undergone a kind of evolution in the respective organ.”

    The hepatitis E virus

    The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the main cause of acute viral hepatitis. After the first documented epidemic outbreak in 1955 to 1956, more than 50 years passed before researchers began to focus intensively on the topic. Acute infections normally heal themselves in patients with an intact immune system. In patients with a reduced or suppressed immune system, such as organ transplant recipients or HIV-infected patients, HEV can become chronic. HEV is also particularly dangerous for pregnant women.

    Funding

    The work was supported by the German Center for Infection Research, the Volkswagen Foundation, the German Research Foundation (398066876/GRK 2485/2 and 448974291) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (VirBio project, funding code: 01KI2106).

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Wahid, A., et al. (2025). Extrahepatic Replication and Genomic Signatures of the Hepatitis E Virus in the Kidney. Liver International. doi.org/10.1111/liv.70183.

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  • NDMA issues new alert for heavy rain, storms across country

    NDMA issues new alert for heavy rain, storms across country

    Listen to article


    ISLAMABAD:

    The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a nationwide weather alert, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and the possibility of flooding across Pakistan from July 6 to July 10.

    According to the NDMA, cities in provinces will experience significant weather disturbances. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Lahore, Kasur, and Okara are expected to see rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms.

    In southern Punjab, heavy winds with rain are predicted in Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

    Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is also at risk, with regions like Dera, Swat, Chitral, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Battagram, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Haripur, Bannu, and Kohat likely to see thunderstorms and heavy rain.

    In the northern areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, heavy rainfall is anticipated in Skardu, Hunza, Astore, Diamer, Ganche, Shigar, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Rawalakot, Haveli, and Bagh, with a high risk of flooding in these regions.

    Meanwhile, the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are not exempt from adverse weather conditions. Cities such as Sukkur, Nawabshah, Kashmore, Hyderabad, Karachi, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Badin, Mithi, Ghotki, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Jacobabad, and Dadu are expected to receive heavy rain, with the urban flooding expected.

    In Balochistan, areas like Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Barkhan, Jafarabad, Kohlu, Sibi, Dera Bugti, Loralai, Lasbela, and Naseerabad are on alert for rainfall.

    Read More: Flash floods, heavy rain kill 64 in a week

    The NDMA has cautioned the public to stay away from weak structures, brick walls, electric poles, and billboards during storms and heavy winds, as they pose a significant risk.

    It also warned that visibility could be reduced, leading to potential accidents. Flash floods may occur, especially in local streams, so the public is advised to exercise caution.

    “Authorities have been instructed to ensure preparedness for any emergency situations,” an NDMA spokesperson said. “Citizens are encouraged to use the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App for updates and guidance on the weather conditions and potential hazards.”

    As Pakistan braces for severe weather, the NDMA is urging citizens to stay informed and follow safety guidelines to minimise the risk of casualties and damage from storms, flooding, and other weather-related hazards.

    Also Read: Construction along Swat River diverted water flow, leading tourists into danger: report

    Flash floods and heavy rain have killed 64 people and injured 117 in a week across the country, a government agency said on Wednesday.

    The highest toll was in K-P, with 23 dead including 10 children, the National Disaster Management Authority said. Fourteen of the victims were swept away in a flash flood in the Swat Valley last week, local media reported.

    Flash floods and homes collapsing in heavy rain killed 21 others in the eastern province of Punjab, including 11 children, the authority said. In Sindh, 15 were killed, while five people died in southwestern Balochistan.

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  • Gulf markets rally as non-oil growth, US-Vietnam tariff deal lift investor sentiment

    Gulf markets rally as non-oil growth, US-Vietnam tariff deal lift investor sentiment

    Major Gulf stock markets rebounded on Thursday, supported by steady non-oil private sector growth and renewed investor optimism following a trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam, just ahead of the July 9 tariff deadline.

    U.S. President Donald Trump signed a deal with Vietnam on Wednesday imposing a 20% tariff on exports to the United States — significantly lower than the previously threatened 46%. The move gave markets reason to hope the impact of the tariffs on global trade may be less severe than initially feared.

    Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index rose 1%, reaching its highest level in over a month, with almost all constituents posting gains. Saudi National Bank, the kingdom’s largest lender by assets, surged 4.1%, while oil giant Saudi Aramco added 0.9%.

    BlackRock Inc. was reportedly in talks with Aramco to divest its stake in the leasing rights of a natural gas pipeline network — a deal potentially worth billions of dollars, according to Bloomberg. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

    Retailer Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Hokair & Co. was the day’s top performer, jumping 9.9%, followed by Saudi Telecom, which rose 1.2%.

    Market optimism was also fueled by strong domestic data. Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector expanded at its fastest pace in three months in June, according to a new survey. The seasonally adjusted Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 57.2 from 55.8 in May, remaining well above the 50-point growth threshold.

    Dubai’s main index gained 1.4% to close at 5,748 — its highest in 17 years — with most sectors trading in positive territory. Emaar Properties climbed 3.7%, while tolls operator Salik advanced 3.4%.

    In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark index rose 0.6%, supported by gains across sectors. Presight AI surged 6%, reaching its highest level in nearly two years, while Space42 rose 4.3%.

    The UAE’s non-oil private sector also expanded steadily in June despite regional tensions, as companies ramped up output to clear backlogs, according to a separate survey released Thursday.

    Qatar’s main index added 0.6%, lifted by a 0.5% gain in Qatar National Bank.

     


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  • Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2025: Pamir Legends vs Mahipar Stars; Hindokush Strikers vs Maiwand Champions

    Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2025: Pamir Legends vs Mahipar Stars; Hindokush Strikers vs Maiwand Champions

    Here are the Fantasy Cricket Predictions and Betting Tips for Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2025, Match 9 – Pamir Legends vs Mahipar Stars and Match 10 – Hindokush Strikers vs Maiwand Champions on the 4th of July at the Kunduz Cricket Ground, Kunduz.

    Points Table

    Match 9 – Pamir Legends vs Mahipar Stars (Kunduz Cricket Ground, Kunduz)

    Current Form Pamir Legends:
    Pamir Legends are currently placed at the 3rd position on points table with 2 wins and 2 losses to their credit.

    The top run scorer for Pamir Legends in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Mohammad Haroon with 140 runs to his name.

    The top wicket taker for Pamir Legends in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Sayed Shirzad with 7 scalps under his belt.
    Pamir Legends have won their previous match against Maiwand Champions by 3 wickets.

    Maiwand Champions batted first and they posted a total of 163 for 8 in 20 overs. Wasim Akram and Shawkat Zaman got out without troubling the scorers much. After their dismissals, Khalid Taniwal and Abdul Hadi played really well and scored 39 and 50 runs respectively. The rest of the batters failed to perform to their potential and Maiwand Champions had to settle for an ordinary total of 163 in their innings.

    During the chase, Pamir Legends lost their premier batter Mohammad Haroon early on in the innings. After his dismissal, Wafiullah  took the responsibility of taking Pamir Legends over the line. He smashed 76 runs off 39 balls and laid out a great foundation for a successful chase. There were hiccups on the way but Pamir Legends chased the target down in the last over with 3 wickets in hand.

    Batting Stats T20

    Current Form Mahipar Stars:

    Mahipar Stars are currently placed at the 2nd position on points table with 2 wins and 2 losses to their credit.

    The top run scorer for Mahipar Stars in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Mohammad Shahzad with 131 runs to his name.

    The top wicket taker for Mahipar Stars in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Saleem Safi with 8 scalps under his belt.
    Mahipar Stars have lost their previous match against Hindokush Strikers by 4 wickets.

    Mahipar Stars batted first and they posted a total of 144 before being bowled out. Hazaratullah Zazai batted well and scored 25 quick runs but he got out at a wrong time. After his dismissal, the whole team struggled. Yama Arab bowled exceptionally well for Hindokush Strikers as he picked up 2 wickets for just 14 runs. He played a major role in bowling Mahipar Stars out for a small total of 144.

    During the chase, Hindokush Strikers got off to a great start. Their openers Mobin Bakhtyar Khan and Zubaid Akbari played like champions and scored 18 and 47 runs respectively. Even after their dismissals at a wrong time, the other middle order batters kept the ship from sinking. Tariq Stanikzai made 27 important runs as Hindokush Strikers won the game on the last ball of the match with 4 wickets in hand.

    Let’s have a look at the squads:

    Mahipar Stars

    Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad, Hamza Khan Alikhil, Usman Sadaat, Naveed Obaid, Shir Khan Bahadur, Allah Noor, Sediq Pacha, Javid Sulaimankhil, Shamsurrahman, Farmanullah Safi, Khalil Gurbaz, Qamar Shams, Mohammad Ibrahim, M Saleem Safi, Aftab Alam, Mohib Zurmatai

    Pamir Legends

    Nangyal Kharoty, Noor Rahman, Murad Muradi, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Haroon Khan, Barakzai Naseri, Bilal Ahmad, Emal Shaheen, Rahmanllah Zadran, Asif Shah, Mohib Hamraz, Mohammadullah, Arab Gul Momand, Lalbaz Sinzai, Sayed Shirzad, Kamil Kakar, Bilal Sami

    Match Prediction – Pamir Legends v Mahipar Stars

    Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

    Who will win the toss? – Mahipar Stars

    Who will win?– Mahipar Stars

    Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Aaif Shah Khan (Pamir Legends), Hazaratullah Zazai (Mahipar Stars)

    Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Bilal Sami (Pamir Legends), Khalil Gurbaz (Mahipar Stars)

    Most Sixes – Aaif Shah Khan (Pamir Legends), Hazaratullah Zazai (Mahipar Stars)

    Player of the Match– Hazaratullah Zazai (Mahipar Stars)

    Team Scores Batting first – Pamir Legends 165+, Mahipar Stars 170+

    Match Handicap : Mahipar Stars

    Wicket Takers T20

    Match 10 – Hindokush Strikers vs Maiwand Champions (Kunduz Cricket Ground, Kunduz)

    Current Form Maiwand Champions:

    Maiwand Champions are currently placed at the bottom most position on points table with 4 losses to their credit.

    The top run scorer for Maiwand Champions in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Samiullah Shinwari with 93 runs to his name.

    The top wicket taker for Maiwand Champions in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Khalel Ahmad with 5 scalps under his belt.
    Maiwand Champions have lost their previous match against Pamir Legends by 3 wickets.

    Maiwand Champions batted first and they posted a total of 163 for 8 in 20 overs. Wasim Akram and Shawkat Zaman got out without troubling the scorers much. After their dismissals, Khalid Taniwal and Abdul Hadi played really well and scored 39 and 50 runs respectively. The rest of the batters failed to perform to their potential and Maiwand Champions had to settle for an ordinary total of 163 in their innings.

    During the chase, Pamir Legends lost their premier batter Mohammad Haroon early on in the innings. After his dismissal, Wafiullah  took the responsibility of taking Pamir Legends over the line. He smashed 76 runs off 39 balls and laid out a great foundation for a successful chase. There were hiccups on the way but Pamir Legends chased the target down in the last over with 3 wickets in hand.

    Current Form Hindokush Strikers:

    Hindokush Strikers are currently placed at the 1st position on points table with 4 wins to their credit.

    The top run scorer for Hindokush Strikers in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Zubaid Akbari with 133 runs to his name.

    The top wicket taker for Hindokush Strikers in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Dawlat Zadran with 6 scalps under his belt.

    Hindokush Strikers have won their previous match against Mahipar Stars by 4 wickets.

    Mahipar Stars batted first and they posted a total of 144 before being bowled out. Hazaratullah Zazai batted well and scored 25 quick runs but he got out at a wrong time. After his dismissal, the whole team struggled. Yama Arab bowled exceptionally well for Hindokush Strikers as he picked up 2 wickets for just 14 runs. He played a major role in bowling Mahipar Stars out for a small total of 144.

    During the chase, Hindokush Strikers got off to a great start. Their openers Mobin Bakhtyar Khan and Zubaid Akbari played like champions and scored 18 and 47 runs respectively. Despite their dismissals at wrong time, the other middle order batters kept the ship from sinking. Tariq Stanikzai made 27 important runs as Hindokush Strikers won the game on the last ball of the match with 4 wickets in hand.

    Most 6’s T20

    Let’s have a look at the squads:

    Hindokush Strikers
    Mohammad Ishaq, Mobin Khan, Zubaid Akbari, Hassan Esakhil, Kamal Khan, Asif Mosazai, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Sohail Khan, Tariq Stanikzai, Abdullah Tarakhil, Izharulhaq Naveed, Azeem Zadran, Lutfullah, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Dawlat Zadran, Yama Arab, Faridoon Dawoodzai

    Maiwand Champions

    Najibullah Zadran, Yousaf Shah, Abdul Hadi, Mohammad Akram, Khalid Taniwal, Imran Mir, Shawkat Zaman, Ijaz Ahmad, Samiullah Shinwari, Ismat Alam, Babar Khan, Naseer Maroofkhil, M Gul Alizai, Khalil Ahmad, M Dawood, Sami Sarmast, Bashir Ahmad

    Match Prediction – Hindukush Strikers v Maiwand Champions

    Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

    Who will win the toss? – Maiwand Champions

    Who will win?– Hindokush Strikers

    Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Zubaid Akbari (Hindokush Strikers), Abdul Hadi (Maiwand Champions)

    Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Yama Arab (Hindokush Strikers), Mohammad Gul Alizai (Maiwand Champions)

    Most Sixes – Zubaid Akbari (Hindokush Strikers), Abdul Hadi (Maiwand Champions)

    Player of the Match– Yama Arab (Hindokush Strikers)

    Team Scores Batting first – Maiwand Champions 140+, Hindokush Strikers 150+

    Match Handicap : Hindokush Strikers

    Live Cricket Streaming Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2025 : The live cricket streaming page which enables you to watch live cricket  – Geo-restrictions apply

    *NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In-Play’ features, so stay tuned.

    © Cricket World 2025
     

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  • Lando Norris reflects on his Silverstone chances and why he and Piastri are doing things their ‘own way’

    Lando Norris reflects on his Silverstone chances and why he and Piastri are doing things their ‘own way’

    A roar reverberates around Trafalgar Square as Lando Norris comes into view on a temporary balcony, erected as part of McLaren’s takeover of one of London’s most famous sites.

    The place is swarming with papaya fans, who have spent the day soaking up the summer sun and showing their support for the British team.

    Norris waves to the crowd and humbly takes the applause and cheers. It’s an example of just how far Norris has come from a shy, little baby-faced teenager who walked in the doors of McLaren’s domineering headquarters in Woking as a junior driver in 2017 to the iconic F1 team’s lead driver and genuine championship contender. It’s been a journey – and now, as is evidenced again today, he’s a big deal.

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  • Long-term study confirms lasting benefits of lifestyle changes in preventing diabetes

    Long-term study confirms lasting benefits of lifestyle changes in preventing diabetes

    In the early 2000s the U.S. Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large randomized clinical trial, showed that intensive lifestyle modification was better than a medication called metformin at preventing at-risk patients from developing Type 2 diabetes.

    In a newly completed follow-up study, a team of researchers including Vallabh “Raj” Shah, professor emeritus in The University of New Mexico Departments of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine, found that the health benefits from the lifestyle intervention persisted more than 20 years later.

    In a paper published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, they reported that the greatest results from both interventions were seen in the first few years of the study, and they were durable, Shah said. “The data suggests that those people who didn’t get diabetes also didn’t get diabetes after 22 years,” he said.

    The DPP was launched in 1996 to compare the benefits of metformin – then newly approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes – and a lifestyle modification regimen that included exercise and a healthy diet. The study enrolled 3,234 patients with prediabetes at 30 institutions in 22 states.

    The intensive lifestyle intervention reduced the development of diabetes by 24%, and metformin reduced diabetes development by 17%, according to the new study. The DPP had previously found that after the first three years of study, the lifestyle intervention of moderate weight loss and increased physical activity reduced the onset of Type 2 diabetes by 58% compared with a placebo medicine, while metformin reduced development of diabetes by 31%.

    Compared with the original placebo group, the median time without diabetes was extended by three-and-a-half years in the lifestyle group and two-and-a-half years in the metformin group.

    Within three years, they had to stop the study because lifestyle was better than metformin. That means lifestyle, which everybody is banking on, is more effective – that is the news.”


    Vallabh “Raj” Shah, professor emeritus in The University of New Mexico

    But because a wealth of health and biological data had already been collected for patients participating in the project, the DPP was repurposed into the DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS), enabling researchers to follow their health outcomes in multiple domains over a period of decades, he said.

    Shah has contributed to kidney disease research for more than three decades, conducting multiple studies at Zuni Pueblo and other American Indian communities in western New Mexico. He has also overseen the participation of the American Indian cohort enrolled in the DPPOS. Meanwhile, David Schade, MD, chief of the Division of Endocrinology in the UNM School of Medicine, recruited New Mexico participants in the study.

    More recently, he said, DPPOS researchers have taken advantage of their large, well-documented cohort to repurpose the study to focus on diseases associated with aging, such as cancer and dementia, Shah said.

    Source:

    University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

    Journal reference:

    Knowler, W. C., et al. (2025). Long-term effects and effect heterogeneity of lifestyle and metformin interventions on type 2 diabetes incidence over 21 years in the US Diabetes Prevention Program randomised clinical trial. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. doi.org/10.1016/s2213-8587(25)00022-1.

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