We’re always looking for ways to improve the Stab user experience. You’re always looking for ways to get new surfboards.
You scratch our back, we scratch yours.
Once again, the time comes for our annual Audience Survey — you can take this year’s version here. This time, we’re giving away one surfboard each to Europe, Australia, and North America, as well as one wetsuit to each region. Plus, we’ll be going through and randomly selecting people to win Stab Premium yearly memberships, boardshorts, and pairs of fins.
For fear of skewing the results, we can’t tell you brands of said board or wetsuit in advance, but… trust us, you won’t be disappointed. And yes, you have to complete the survey to be in the running.
Why do we do this every year? Because we want to know more about our audience so we can better serve you. What we learn helps us shape our creative projects and partnerships — for example, Kelly Slater for Stab In The Dark was an obvious decision, seeing as he’s featured at the top of our SITD Audience Survey section every year for the past few years. Ditto about M-Feb and EAST.
The survey also makes for some fascinating articles, some of which you can read here and here.
Moscow has said it must be part of any international talks on Ukraine’s security, as Russia continues to stall on Donald Trump’s push for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Wednesday that Moscow must be included in any talks on Ukraine’s security guarantees, dismissing European diplomacy as “aggressive escalation” and a “clumsy effort to sway Trump”.
“To discuss security guarantees seriously without Russia is a road to nowhere,” Lavrov said during a working visit to Jordan.
Lavrov also said that China, Russia’s ally in the war, should be among Ukraine’s security guarantors – reviving a proposal first put forward by Russian negotiators during talks in Turkey in spring 2022.
European leaders have begun exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine, following Trump’s pledge to help protect the country under any deal to end Russia’s war.
Russian officials have repeatedly said Moscow would not accept the deployment of European forces to Ukraine, one of the key security guarantees under discussion.
Kyiv is likely to view with scepticism any prospect of China, a supporter of Russia during the war, acting as a security guarantor.
Lavrov, meanwhile, avoided any direct reference to a possible Putin-Zelenskyy summit, highlighting the Kremlin’s apparent plans to delay any concrete planning of a meeting.
Trump announced this week he had “begun the arrangements” for the first meeting between the two leaders since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Trump later claimed he had set up a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, explaining: “I thought I’d first let them meet.”
Opening direct talks with Zelenskyy would cut against the storyline Putin has cultivated since the 2022 invasion – portraying Ukraine’s president as an illegitimate figure and a mere puppet of the west.
Putin, who almost never refers to Zelenskyy by name and instead speaks of the “Kyiv regime”, has repeatedly cast doubt on whether his Ukrainian counterpart even holds the authority to sign a peace agreement. “You can negotiate with anyone, but because of his illegitimacy, he [Zelenskyy] has no right to sign anything,” Putin told Russian officials earlier this year.
But Trump’s promise of a meeting puts Putin in a difficult spot: rejecting it risks tension with the US president, while agreeing to one would elevate Zelenskyy to equal status and confront Putin with a media-savvy rival ready to meet almost without preconditions.
Moscow has shown scant sign of preparing for such an encounter.
Lavrov cautioned on Wednesday that any contact between the two leaders would need to be arranged “with the utmost care”, while other Russian officials dismissed Zelenskyy as a lightweight unworthy of serious attention.
But, as often is the case, Moscow has avoided closing the door entirely, hinting that the Putin–Zelenskyy encounter could take place, while giving no sign that it is actually on the horizon.
Several countries have offered to host a possible Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, including the Vatican, Switzerland and Hungary.
skip past newsletter promotion
after newsletter promotion
The Russian leader reportedly suggested to Trump that his counterpart travel to Moscow for talks – an idea Russia knew Kyiv would reject because of the obvious risks to Zelenskyy’s safety.
Analysts suggested that the Russian leader would probably only meet Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s maximalist conditions, which would equal Ukraine’s capitulation.
“Putin will not meet Zelenskyy under the current circumstances,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “He has repeatedly stated that such a meeting would only be possible if there were well-prepared grounds, which in practice means Zelenskyy’s acceptance of Russia’s terms for ending the war.”
Figures close to the Kremlin have emphasised that Putin sees no need to rush into a meeting with Zelenskyy.
“Simply put, Putin only sees value in a meeting with Zelenskyy if it ends with a capitulation,” wrote the nationalist commentator Alexei Mukhin. “If Zelenskyy is unwilling to sign one, the Kremlin will keep ‘working on’ the idea of a meeting until he is,” Mukhin added.
Putin now faces a situation reminiscent of earlier moments when Trump pressed him to agree to a ceasefire. At the time, he managed to manoeuvre around the pressure, and analysts believe he is likely to take a similar approach now – downplaying the prospect of talks without rejecting them outright.
The key question is whether Trump will seek to put pressure on Kyiv to accept some of Russia’s demands to clear the way for a meeting between the two leaders.
Russia’s leadership on Wednesday showed no sign of compromise. Lavrov said the US was beginning to gain a clearer understanding of the “root causes” of the war – a phrase Putin has used to describe demands ranging from Ukraine’s formal renunciation of Nato membership to its “demilitarisation” and “denazification”, a vague formula that in practice would mean removing Zelenskyy.
The Russian foreign minister also pointed to the April 2022 talks in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine as a model. Those failed negotiations centred on Moscow’s demands for Ukraine’s disarmament, political neutrality and the abandonment of its ambition to join Nato.
Meanwhile, Russian officials told Reuters that Moscow was preparing to raise taxes and cut spending to sustain high defence outlays and keep the war effort going.
A remarkable fossil discovery dating back more than 120 million years has revealed the existence of a two-headed Hyphalosaurus, a small, long-necked aquatic reptile that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. Unearthed in the Yixian Formation of northeastern China, this unique specimen shows clear signs of axial bifurcation, a rare developmental anomaly in which an embryo begins to split into twins but fails to complete the process, resulting in a single organism with two heads.Although similar malformations have been observed in modern-day reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and turtles, this fossil is the oldest known example of such a condition in the vertebrate fossil record. The discovery, published in a 2007 study by Buffetaut and colleagues in Biology Letters, offers important insight into the occurrence of congenital defects in ancient species. It also provides a fascinating glimpse into the biological and evolutionary challenges faced by early reptiles, adding a rare developmental perspective to paleontology and evolutionary biology.
Fossil discovery explains axial bifurcation in two-headed hyphalosaurus
Axial bifurcation is a rare developmental anomaly that occurs during early embryonic growth, where the vertebral column begins to split longitudinally, resulting in two parallel cervical (neck) series and the formation of two distinct skulls and necks. This incomplete twinning process leads to the development of conjoined heads, a condition that is extremely uncommon in reptiles and other vertebrates. In modern species such as snakes and turtles, axial bifurcation is occasionally observed but usually results in non-viable or short-lived offspring due to complications in mobility, feeding, or organ function.The two-headed Hyphalosaurus fossil discovered in the Yixian Formation provides the earliest known evidence of this phenomenon in the fossil record. Measuring just 70 millimeters in length, the specimen is believed to be either a late-stage embryo or a newborn that did not survive beyond hatching. Despite its brief lifespan, the fossil’s exceptional preservation offers scientists a rare window into congenital malformations in ancient reptiles. It not only demonstrates that such developmental errors occurred as far back as the Early Cretaceous but also opens new avenues for understanding the evolutionary and genetic factors influencing vertebrate development in deep time.
Significance of the two-headed hyphalosaurus fossil discovery
The preservation of this two-headed Hyphalosaurus fossil is an extraordinary stroke of luck, considering that the fossil record captures only a minute fraction of all organisms that once lived. Developmental anomalies like axial bifurcation are rare to begin with, and their fossilization is even more unlikely. What makes this discovery even more remarkable is the specimen’s nearly pristine condition.The fossil remains partially embedded in sediment, and the surrounding stone slab is unbroken, lending strong support to its authenticity, a crucial point given the region’s history of fossil forgeries.According to the original 2007 study published in Biology Letters, this fossil represents the oldest confirmed case of axial bifurcation in any vertebrate. Its discovery not only sheds light on rare congenital conditions in ancient reptiles but also expands our understanding of how such anomalies have occurred throughout evolutionary history. It serves as a rare and valuable reference point for studying embryonic development, mutation, and survivability in extinct species.The Hyphalosaurus fossil discovery underscores the rarity of axial bifurcation and the value of well-preserved specimens in studying prehistoric life. While modern examples of two-headed reptiles exist, this dinosaur-age fossil offers a unique glimpse into evolutionary development and the challenges of survival for such anomalies.By examining fossils like this, scientists gain deeper insight into the diversity and complexity of life millions of years ago, emphasizing the continuing importance of paleontology in uncovering nature’s ancient mysteries.Also read| 26-million-year-old whale skull fossil found, sheds light on ancient marine life
The One UI 8 beta program will now be available on the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the expansion of its ongoing One UI 8 beta program to additional compatible Galaxy devices. The update sets the foundation for advanced multimodal capabilities to more Galaxy devices across various form factors, along with more intuitive Galaxy AI[1] experiences that simplify everyday routines.
Initially introduced with the Galaxy S25 series in May, the One UI 8 beta program will now include the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6.
In September, availability will extend to even more devices, including the Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, A36 5G, A55 5G, A35 5G, and A54.[2] Users can register for the beta program via the Samsung Members app.
One UI 8 delivers smarter, more convenient AI experiences through multimodal capabilities that understands users’ real-time context and supports more natural interactions. When paired with the Galaxy Buds3 or Buds3 Pro, users can activate Google’s Gemini[3] with voice or by long-pressing either earbud. Designed to complement Galaxy’s diverse form factors, One UI 8 enhances productivity and efficiency while offering personalised, proactive suggestions tailored to each user.
In September, Samsung will roll out the official version of One UI 8, incorporating valuable feedback from beta program participants. The update will begin with the Galaxy S25 series and will be rolled out sequentially to other eligible devices. In addition, One UI 8 Watch will expand to more Galaxy Watch models beyond the Galaxy Watch8 series later this year, delivering motivational health features and a more refined, intuitive smartwatch interface to a wider range of users.
[1] Galaxy AI features are currently free of charge, with any specific plans for premium AI services to be decided in close coordination with our partners. There are currently no plans to charge for Galaxy AI features, however different terms may apply to other AI features provided by third parties, at the end of 2025.
[2] Availability may vary by device model and market.
[3] Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Gemini Live feature requires internet connection and Google Account login. Compatible with certain features and certain accounts. Available on select devices and select countries, languages, and to users 18+.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes that Valtteri Bottas is fully deserving of a Formula 1 comeback, amid the Finn’s links to the Cadillac F1 Team ahead of their debut 2026 season.
Bottas dropped off the F1 grid at the end of 2024, having lost a race seat at Kick Sauber, which led to him rejoining Mercedes in a reserve role alongside regular drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Although he has not been racing, Bottas is still playing a key role at the Silver Arrows – a team he previously raced with from 2017 to 2021 – through simulator work and his presence at the track.
With the aforementioned Cadillac team set to arrive on the grid next year, and 10-time Grand Prix winner Bottas one of the names being tipped for a drive, Wolff has shown his support.
“Valtteri has been part of the Mercedes family for a long, long time,” began Wolff, talking in a mid-season review video for his team’s social media channels.
“He is a driver that, if some of our guys would have fish poisoning, you put him in the car and he’s going to be absolutely on [the] pace. That’s great to know, that your reserve and third driver is as quick as it gets.
“But obviously, with Valtteri, he deserves a race seat. Hopefully that door is going to open. Watch this space.”
Bottas himself has described Cadillac’s project as “very interesting” – the operation being backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors, and led by former Virgin Racing/Marussia chief Graeme Lowdon.
“[It’s] something new to F1, an American team with maybe a different view to the sport,” he told F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast earlier this year. “If I would be there as a driver, it would be actually very interesting because you can start from scratch.
“The team starts from zero. You could actually make a big influence on certain things, which direction to go, and that would be very motivating and rewarding when the success comes.
“I think the rule change is always a good point to jump in because you just never know, if you suddenly get it right you might actually be doing really well from the get-go.”
Along with Bottas, another experienced pair of hands in former Red Bull driver – and six-time Grand Prix winner – Sergio Perez has been linked to Cadillac, who are yet to confirm either of their two drivers for 2026.
Vehari – An awareness and training seminar on the national HPV vaccination campaign was held in Vehari under the Health and Population Welfare Department to guide women education officers and heads of girls’ schools about cervical cancer prevention.
CEO Education Nasir Aziz and CEO Health Dr. Fahad Waheed were the chief guests. Nasir Aziz said protecting women from cervical cancer is a national responsibility and all institutions, including private schools, must play their role. He stressed that prevention is easier than cure and called on female officers and headmistresses to fully cooperate with vaccination teams.Dr. Fahad Waheed announced that from September 15 to 27, free HPV vaccines will be given to around 238, 000 girls aged 9–14 in Vehari, with schools and madrassas as the main focus. He added that awareness is being raised to dispel misconceptions.DHO Dr. Muhammad Fazil said the HPV vaccine is safe, globally used, and parents must be guided to avoid rumors.The seminar was also attended by DDPR Mian Naeem Asim, District Officer Population Welfare Ghufran Hussain Saqib, DEO Elementary (Women) Andleeb Asghar, DDHO Dr. Yousaf Shehzad, Focal Person Fazal Din and other officials.
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell address romance rumours
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are once again clearing the air about the buzz surrounding their on-screen chemistry in Anyone But You.
The two actors, whose undeniable connection fueled rumors of an off-screen romance, insist their relationship has always been rooted in friendship and professional respect.
In a new interview with The Wall Street Journal published August 20, Sweeney reflected on the playful bond she and Powell shared while making the 2023 romantic comedy.
“We wanted everything to be an activity,” the 27-year-old actress explained, adding that it was the public who “created all the other narratives.”
At the time of filming, both stars were in relationships with other people. Sweeney was engaged to Jonathan Davino, while Powell was dating Gigi Paris.
Still, their chemistry sparked endless speculation online. Both have consistently emphasized that the rumours never matched reality.
The movie, which turned into a box office hit, has also left fans eager for more.
Sweeney previously hinted to E! News in February 2024 that a sequel was possible, admitting she had been chatting with Powell about it but keeping details under wraps.
“I can’t actually reveal all of my secrets,” she teased.
Now, more than a year later, Powell has echoed the same sentiment. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter this week, the 36-year-old actor confirmed that he and Sweeney are “still talking” about revisiting the story but stressed that they’re taking their time.
“We agreed to not make a follow-up until it’s the right idea,” he said, noting that it “requires patience.”
Since the film’s release, the pair have remained close friends. Earlier this year, after Sweeney called off her engagement to Davino, she reconnected with Powell at his younger sister Leslie’s wedding.
Despite the timing, sources have been firm that nothing romantic is happening between them.
“There is nothing going on romantically between Glen and Sydney. They are just friends,” an insider told Us Weekly in March, adding that Sweeney has been close to Powell’s family for years.
The source also shared that the Euphoria star has long been good friends with Leslie Powell and even attended the wedding with one of her girlfriends as her guest.
For now, fans eager to see Sweeney and Powell back together on screen will have to wait until the pair feel the story is right.
But whether or not a sequel happens, their friendship, and the movie that started the rumours, continues to keep audiences talking.
As the tensions between India and Pakistan continue to persist, Islamabad on Wednesday extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until September 23.
As the tensions between India and Pakistan continue to persist, Islamabad on Wednesday extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until September 23. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) announcing the one-month extension. The NOTAM noted the ban would continue to apply to both Indian civilian and military aircraft.
“All aircraft operated by Indian airlines will not be allowed to use Pakistani airspace. The ban also remains in place for military and civilian aircraft that are Indian-owned or leased,” the Pakistani authority said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
From August 20 to September 23
Pakistan airspace not available for aircraft registered in India and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Indian airlines/operators including military flights.
It is pertinent to note that the Pakistani authorities first imposed the closure on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. The closure was initially in place for one month.
India eventually responded to the ban on April 30 with a reciprocal airspace closure for Pakistani aircraft, starting a series of tit-for-tat restrictions. The ban was first extended on May 23. In July, Pakistan further extended the closure until August 24, affecting hundreds of flights daily.
Pakistan lost 4.1 billion in 2 months due to the closure
Earlier this month, the Pakistani Ministry of Defence informed the country’s National Assembly on Friday that Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has lost PKR 4.1 billion in just over two months. The loss was attributed to the closure of the airspace to India-registered aircraft due to the diplomatic row.
The Defence Ministry noted that the shortfall from April 24 to June 30 was in overflying revenue and was lower than the reported PKR 8.5 billion, Dawn reported. It is pertinent to note that Pakistan called for the closure of the country’s airspace after India put the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
While Pakistan boasted about the measure, the move affected 100 to 150 Indian aircraft flying over Pakistan daily, cutting transit traffic by almost 20 per cent. In 2019, a similar closure led to an estimated Rs7.6 billion ($54 million) revenue loss, compared to $100 million previously reported.
SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, Professor An Chiying and her medical team at Shenzhen Hengsheng Hospital, China, announced a groundbreaking achievement: since June 2024, they have successfully helped 24 patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) discontinue insulin therapy through holistic integrative medicine (HIM)—an optimized combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine—thereby achieving a functional cure. The longest duration of insulin discontinuation has reached 14 months. This breakthrough offers new hope for global T1DM treatment and marks a remarkable advance in integrated Chinese and Western medicine for autoimmune diseases.
Breakthrough Therapy: Precision Intervention through HIM
T1DM is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of beta cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin secretion. Conventional medicine holds that patients require lifelong insulin injections. However, Professor An’s team employed the HIM model combining holistic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), orthomolecular medicine, functional medicine, and lifestyle medicine focused on immune blockade and metabolic balance, alongside endocrinology-specialized precision remote digital healthcare, to successfully restore islet function and enable insulin discontinuation.
The core of this treatment protocol lies in multidisciplinary collaboration, including precision diagnostics using mass spectrometry platforms to identify the immunological causes of T1DM for targeted etiological treatment; immune regulation through molecular nutrition and TCM to modulate abnormal immune responses and reduce autoimmune attacks on pancreatic islet cells; metabolic repair by improving the body’s microenvironment and promoting islet function recovery via TCM acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional interventions; and precision monitoring that employs artificial intelligence to dynamically analyze patients’ blood glucose and immune markers, allowing personalized adjustments to treatment strategies. Patients typically require only 3 to 5 days of hospitalization before discharge.
（Professor An Chiying inspects patients with type 1 diabetes）
Over a two-year clinical observation period, the team intervened in 70 patients with T1DM, among whom 24 patients (34%) completely discontinued insulin use. These patients maintained stable blood glucose levels (HbA1c < 7%) and showed significant recovery of islet function as evidenced by C-peptide testing. Currently, these patients only require dietary management and regular follow-up, without reliance on exogenous insulin.
Professor An Chiying emphasized, “Functional cure refers to the partial restoration of islet function sufficient to meet normal metabolic demands, achieved through immune blockade, intestinal mucosal repair, and gut microbiota reconstruction. Patients diagnosed early with T1DM who have a C-peptide level above 0.5 ng/ml can stop insulin, while those with insufficient islet function can significantly reduce insulin dosage once blood glucose levels are stabilized.”
National Academician’s Evaluation: Pioneering a New Treatment Paradigm
Academician Fan Daiming of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and pioneer of HIM in China commented, “The results achieved by this Chinese team challenge the traditional view that T1DM requires lifelong medication. The synergistic effects of HIM deserve the attention of peers worldwide and open a new clinical treatment paradigm for T1DM.”
Background
There are approximately 9 million T1DM patients globally. Traditional treatment costs exceed RMB 10,000 annually, and patient prognoses remain unsatisfactory with uncontrollable risks of complications. The widespread adoption of HIM health management programs could significantly reduce both the financial and health burdens on patients.
