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  • Galaxy phone users should turn on these new anti-theft features ASAP, says Samsung

    Galaxy phone users should turn on these new anti-theft features ASAP, says Samsung

    Kerry Wan/ZDNET

    If you’re a Galaxy phone user, Samsung warns that you need to activate some new features as soon as you can.

    In a recent press release, Samsung explained that as phone thefts continue to rise around the world, it’s critical for users to make sure they enable their phone’s security measures – some of which are new to One UI 7.

    Also: Phone theft is on the rise – 7 ways to protect your device before it’s too late

    One of the areas getting an update is Theft Protection, which Samsung called “a multi-layered suite of features developed to safeguard personal data.” Existing and updated features in this suite include:

    • Theft Detection Lock: This feature uses machine learning to detect motions associated with theft (like a sudden snatch and rapid acceleration), and instantly locks the screen to stop unauthorized access. Pixel devices introduced a similar feature last fall.

    • Offline Device Lock: If your device is disconnected from the network for an extended time, the screen gets automatically locked.

    • Remote Lock: If your phone has already been stolen, you can lock it remotely using your phone number and a quick verification step. You can also regain control of your account and explore additional recovery options.

    These features build on the standard Android safety protection, Samsung noted, but take security a step further by introducing additional protection for high-risk scenarios when your access credentials have been compromised.

    To turn on these features, head to your device’s settings menu and find security and privacy, then “Lost Device Protection” and “Theft Protection.”

    Samsung also recommended enabling new anti-robbery features that were released in One UI 7, including: 

    • Identity check: Samsung lets you define trusted places (say, your home in Google Maps) where your phone stays unlocked. With the “Safe Places” feature, if you’re outside a trusted place, your phone will require biometric authentication for any sensitive security changes. This helps keep your device safe even if someone has your PIN.

    • Security Delay: If someone attempts to reset biometric data, your phone puts a one-hour waiting period in place. This gives users time to lock their stolen phone from another device before unauthorized access can occur.

    These features are also under the Security and Privacy Section of the settings menu, but under “Lost Device Protection.”

    Also: 5 warning signs that your phone’s been hacked – and how to fight back
    Samsung said the updated theft features are becoming available now on previous flagship devices like the Galaxy S24 series, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip 5, S23, and S22 series, with future updates coming to even more Galaxy smartphones.

    Features like this are starting to become commonplace. Android rolled out broader anti-theft measures last fall, added a few more in May, and even introduced some enhanced protections just a few days ago. Apple introduced its own version for iPhones last January.

    Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.


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  • Indian boxers get off to strong start

    Indian boxers get off to strong start

    India’s campaign at the World Boxing Cup Kazakhstan 2025 began on a promising note, with Hitesh Gulia, Sachin Siwach, Minakshi and Muskan picking up opening-day wins in Astana on Monday.

    Competing at the Beeline Arena, Indian boxers Hitesh Gulia and Sachin Siwach started off with unanimous wins in the men’s light middleweight (70kg) and lightweight boxing (60kg) categories, respectively.

    Hitesh Gulia, a gold medallist from the opening leg of the World Boxing Cup in Brazil, outclassed Olympian Kan Chia-Wei of Chinese Taipei 5:0. Sachin, a bronze winner in Brazil, was convincing in his 5:0 win over Canada’s Keoma-Ali Al-Ahmadieh.

    In women’s events, Minakshi began her campaign with a clean 5:0 win over Australia’s Madeleine Bowen in the light flyweight (48kg) division.

    Meanwhile, Muskan edged England’s Kerry Davis in a closely contested 3:2 decision in the middleweight category (75kg).

    Back in April, India had claimed six medals at the previous World Boxing Cup leg in Brazil.

    The Indian women did not compete in Brazil. The tournament in Astana is the second of three scheduled events that help boxers accumulate ranking points throughout the year.

    The Kazakhstan leg will run until July 7, with over 400 boxers from 31 countries, including Olympians, competing across 10 weight categories in both men’s and women’s divisions. India have sent a 20-member team.

    The series will conclude with a final event in India this November, where stage winners and top-ranked boxers will compete for the World Boxing Cup title.

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  • Tens of Thousands of Heart Attacks and Strokes Could Be Avoided Each Year if Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Were Used According to Guidelines | Johns Hopkins

    Tens of Thousands of Heart Attacks and Strokes Could Be Avoided Each Year if Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Were Used According to Guidelines | Johns Hopkins

    A new study led by Johns Hopkins researchers has identified a significant gap between the number of U.S. patients for whom cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins are recommended and the actual number of patients who take them. 

    Coronary artery disease remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. and globally, despite the development of statins and other cholesterol-lowering medications in recent decades. Many adults who should be taking these drugs to lower their low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) levels are not—even though these drugs are considered safe and there is a large body of evidence supporting their effectiveness. In their new study, the researchers sought to quantify this treatment gap.

    In a nationally representative analysis of nearly 5,000 U.S. adults, the researchers found that among those who had never had a major cardiovascular event, just under half—47%—were eligible for cholesterol-lowering drugs under U.S. guidelines but only 23% were taking them. Among those who had a record of a major cardiovascular event, just over two-thirds—68%—were receiving cholesterol-lowering treatment when 100% were eligible for them under 2018 U.S. guidelines.

    The researchers estimate that closing this treatment gap could help prevent nearly 100,000 non-fatal heart attacks in the U.S. each year and up to 65,000 strokes overall in the U.S. each year, and also prevent tens of thousands of heart bypass surgeries and stent-placement procedures annually in the U.S. 

    Bringing treatment in line with recommended U.S. guidelines could save up to $30.6 billion in annual medical costs in the U.S. for these prevented events, the researchers estimate.

    The findings were published online June 30 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

    “These results add to a growing body of evidence that there are important shortcomings in the quality of care for common and costly chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, and that addressing those shortcomings would yield major public health benefits,” says study lead author G. Caleb Alexander, MD, a practicing internist and professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology.

    For their study, the researchers analyzed data on a nationally representative sample of 4,980 American adults, ages 40–75, from U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys taken from 2013 to 2020. The researchers used data for each individual that included LDL-cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk profiles to determine eligibility for lipid-lowering medications based on 2018 U.S. guidelines, as well as actual use of such medications by U.S. patients. 

    The researchers also analyzed U.S. patient data applying E.U. guidelines. The European guidelines had more aggressive LDL-C goals compared to U.S. guidelines, resulting in wider gaps between observed and recommend care.

    The vast majority of the individuals in the sample—89%—didn’t have a record of a major cardiovascular event such as a stroke, heart attack, or coronary bypass surgery. In this “primary prevention” group, representing about 116 million U.S. adults, only 23% were using lipid-lowering drugs to prevent such events, although 47% were eligible for such drugs under U.S. guidelines.

    Among the 11% of the sample who did have a record of a major cardiovascular event—a “secondary prevention” sample representing about 15 million U.S. adults—only 68% received any LDL-lowering treatment, despite 100% being eligible under both the U.S. and E.U guidelines examined.

    The researchers estimated that if treatment for all eligible individuals were fully aligned with U.S. or E.U. guidelines, including the use of non-statin LDL-lowering drugs in many cases, median levels of LDL cholesterol would drop sharply, reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in the U.S. by up to 27%. 

    “Several factors account for the gaps that we document,” says Alexander. “They include differences in clinician training, patient preferences, barriers to accessing care, financial incentives that don’t always support best practices, and the difficulty of putting clinical guidelines into practice in busy, real-world settings.”

    Bringing actual treatment closer to what guidelines recommend could be achieved through various measures including better patient education on the benefits of treatment for those who know they have high LDL-cholesterol levels, and better screening for everyone else, the researchers say.

    “High cholesterol is an important chronic health condition that silently claims far too many lives —there are millions of people walking around with this condition that don’t even know they have it, and then when it is recognized it too often goes undertreated. Evidence-based action is critical to close the gap and prevent devastating cardiovascular events,” says study senior author Seth S. Martin, MD, MHS, a practicing cardiologist and professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

    “U.S. Public Health Gains from Improved Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia: A Simulation Study of NHANES Adults Treated to Guideline-Directed Therapy” was co-authored by G. Caleb Alexander, Jill Curran, Alejandro Victores, Hemalkumar Mehta, Shanshan Lin, Xuya Xiao, Erin Michos, Jeromie Ballreich, Lori Bash, Jason Exter, Kathryn Foti, and Seth Martin.

    Funding was provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

    Disclosures: Caleb Alexander is past chair of FDA’s Peripheral and Central Nervous System Advisory Committee and is a co-founding principal and equity holder in Stage Analytics. Outside of this work, Seth Martin has received personal consulting fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Kaneka, Merck, NewAmsterdam, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Premier, Sanofi, and 89bio. Outside of this work, Erin Michos has received personal consulting fees from Amgen, Arrowhead, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Edwards Lifescience, Esperion, Ionis, Lilly, Medtronic, Merck, NewAmsterdam, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer. These arrangements have been reviewed and approved by Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. Alejandro Victores, Lori Bash and Jason Exter are employees of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA. Jill Curran is now employed by Boehringer Ingelheim.

    # # #

    Media contacts: Jon Eichberger je@jhu.edu or Kris Henry khenry39@jhu.edu

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  • South Africa set Zimbabwe 537 to win after Mulder’s career-best century

    South Africa set Zimbabwe 537 to win after Mulder’s career-best century

    BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AP) — South Africa set Zimbabwe 537 runs to win the first test after Wiaan Mulder’s career-best 147 on Monday.

    Zimbabwe was 32-1 at stumps on day three, trailing by 505 runs with two days to go and without concussed opener Brian Bennett. His replacement, Prince Masvaure, was 5 not out.

    A solid start by Zimbabwe was spoiled by opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano edging Corbin Bosch to second slip on what turned out to be the last ball of the day.

    Zimbabwe has six 500-plus scores in test cricket, most recently last December against Afghanistan at the same Queens Sports Club. But its highest fourth-innings total was 331 in a 2001 loss to New Zealand, also in Bulawayo.

    Considering Zimbabwe was out for 251 in the first innings, South Africa already began the day in charge from leading by 216 at 49-1 in the second innings with Mulder 25 not out.

    South Africa was reduced to 155-5 in the morning session but Mulder stood firm and his partnership with Kyle Verreynne, worth 104 in 131 balls into the afternoon, diminished Zimbabwe hopes.

    Mulder reached his second test century before lunch, the 100 coming from 149 balls.

    After 17 boundaries and two sixes, Mulder was out in the afternoon, caught right on the boundary by Kaitano after taking on Wessly Madhevere.

    A late 51 from 70 balls by stand-in Proteas captain Keshav Maharaj, the only other 50-plus score in the second innings, pumped up the total to 369 after the first innings was declared on 418-9.

    Maharaj was bowled by Wellington Masakadza, who took 4-98. Tanaka Chivanga and Vincent Masekesa got two wickets each.

    ___

    AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket


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  • Jurors in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s sex-trafficking trial begin deliberations | Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs

    Jurors in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s sex-trafficking trial begin deliberations | Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs

    After seven weeks of testimony from more than 30 witnesses, jurors in the high-profile federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs have begun deliberations.

    The 12-member jury – made up of eight men and four women – began deliberating on Monday, following closing arguments from both sides that concluded on Friday and lengthy instructions from the judge.

    Earlier on Monday, Judge Arun Subramanian told jurors that they were the “sole and exclusive judges of the facts” who are to determine a verdict without bias or prejudice to either of the parties involved.

    He emphasized that prosecutors had the burden of proving Combs is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, not proof beyond any possible doubt.

    Combs, 55, was arrested in September and faces felony charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

    He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and denied the accusations against him.

    If convicted, Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison. He has been held without bail at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest.

    Prosecutors allege that for over two decades, Combs led a criminal enterprise, aided by employees and associates, that engaged in, attempted to engage in and worked to cover up crimes including sex trafficking, kidnapping, forced labor, drug distribution, arson and bribery, enticement to engage in prostitution and obstruction of justice.

    The government has sought to prove that Combs used violence, threats, money, drugs, intimidation and power to abuse and coerce two of his former girlfriends into participating in “freak-offs”, which were described as drug-fueled sex marathons with hired male escorts.

    The defense has insisted throughout the trial that all sexual encounters were consensual and part of a “swingers lifestyle”. They have argued that no criminal conspiracy exists and that Combs is being wrongly prosecuted for his “private” and “personal sex life”.

    Throughout the trial, Combs’s lawyers acknowledged past instances of domestic violence, but denied that Combs committed sex trafficking and that any coercion took place.

    Since the trial began on 12 May, the jury has reviewed dozens of text messages, videos and receipts. The government called 34 witnesses to the stand, including two of Combs’s former girlfriends, multiple former employees and assistants, several male escorts, stylists, hotel workers, law enforcement agents and well-known figures such as the rapper Kid Cudi and singer Dawn Richard, among others.

    Key testimony came from two of Combs’s former girlfriends and alleged victims, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a woman identified as “Jane”, both of whom described the alleged “freak-offs” in graphic detail and alleged that they were coerced into participating.

    They both testified that Combs directed, watched, masturbated to and sometimes filmed the sexual encounters.

    The women described times where they said Combs was violent with them and they alleged that Combs would threaten to release explicit videos of them or cut off financial support if they didn’t meet his demands.

    During cross-examination, Combs’s lawyers sought to cast Ventura and Jane as willing and consenting participants in the “freak-offs”. Combs’s team presented loving and at times explicit text messages exchanged with Combs – some of which showed the women expressing enthusiasm for the encounters. His lawyers also frequently brought up the role that jealousy and drug use played in their relationships.

    Another woman, a former personal assistant who testified under the pseudonym “Mia”, alleged that Combs physically and sexually assaulted her during her employment.

    Defense attorneys suggested that she fabricated the allegations, and highlighted social media posts and messages from after the alleged assaults in which Mia praised Combs, calling him a “mentor” and an “inspiration”.

    The government rested its case last week. Shortly after, Combs confirmed that he would not be testifying. His legal team also rested its case, but opted not to call any witnesses of its own. Instead, his team submitted evidence to the court and relied on its extensive cross-examinations throughout the trial.

    During closing arguments, the prosecution spent nearly five hours outlining the government’s case against Combs, revisiting testimony from several witnesses, and broke down each allegation against Combs.

    The prosecution described him as “the leader of a criminal enterprise” who refused to “take no for an answer” and alleged that he was someone who wielded “power, violence and fear to get what he wanted”.

    “The defendant was a very powerful man,” she said. “But he became more powerful and more dangerous because of the support of his inner circle and his businesses – the enterprise.”

    The defense offered its closing argument on Friday, and told the jurors that the government’s case against Combs was “false” and “exaggerated”.

    Combs’s lawyer urged the jury to reject the prosecution’s case against Combs and pushed back against the government’s accusations, disputed various pieces of witness testimony, and challenged the prosecution’s portrayal of Ventura and Jane as sex-trafficking victims.

    Combs’s lawyer cast Ventura, the government’s star witness, as a woman with agency, rather than a victim, who willingly participated in the sexual encounters.

    The lawyer also pointed to the $20m settlement she received from Combs in 2023 after filing a civil lawsuit accusing him of abuse, which triggered the federal investigation, as well as the the $10m Ventura is expected to receive from the owner of a hotel in Los Angeles where she was assaulted by Combs in 2016.

    “If you had to pick a winner in this whole thing, it’s hard not to pick Cassie,” Agnifilo said. “This isn’t about a crime, this is about money.”

    Though he did not take the stand, throughout the entire trial, Combs has been engaged and active in his defense, often seen whispering to his lawyers and reacting visibly to testimony.

    Earlier this month, the judge warned that Combs could be removed from the courtroom for looking at and “nodding vigorously” at the jury during a cross-examination.

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  • Mars Orbiter taught to ‘roll over’ for a view beneath the surface

    Mars Orbiter taught to ‘roll over’ for a view beneath the surface

    After nearly two decades in orbit, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is trying something new.

    Engineers have taught the spacecraft how to roll – hard. This isn’t just a simple tilt. These are full-body rolls, sometimes nearly upside down.


    The purpose is to see deeper beneath the surface of Mars and hunt for signs of water and ice.

    Teaching Mars Orbiter to roll

    The new technique comes from scientists at the Planetary Science Institute and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

    Between 2023 and 2024, MRO performed three massive rotations – what the team calls “very large rolls” – to boost the performance of one of its key instruments.

    “Not only can you teach an old spacecraft new tricks, you can open up entirely new regions of the subsurface to explore by doing so,” said Gareth Morgan of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona.

    Advanced planning and careful balance

    Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was originally built to roll up to 30 degrees to aim its cameras and sensors at specific features on the Martian surface.

    It’s a flexible platform, designed to twist and turn in space so scientists can target impact craters, landing zones, and more.

    “We’re unique in that the entire spacecraft and its software are designed to let us roll all the time,” said Reid Thomas, MRO’s project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

    But the bigger rolls – 120 degrees or more – are something else entirely. These require advanced planning and careful balance.

    Mars Orbiter: Why every roll counts

    MRO’s five main science instruments all have different needs. When one is pointed at Mars, others might lose their ideal view.

    That means every maneuver is scheduled weeks in advance. Teams negotiate which instruments will be active and when.

    An algorithm takes over from there, guiding the orbiter to roll and aim while keeping its solar panels locked on the Sun and its antenna aimed at Earth. For very large rolls, even those systems go dark temporarily.

    “The very large rolls require a special analysis to make sure we’ll have enough power in our batteries to safely do the roll,” Thomas said.

    Flipping for stronger radar returns

    The massive rolls are especially helpful for SHARAD, the Shallow Radar instrument on board. It is designed to see about half a mile to 1.2 miles (0.8 – 1.9 kilometers) below the Martian surface.

    SHARAD can also differentiate between ice, rock, and sand – a crucial capability for identifying water that future astronauts might one day use.

    “The SHARAD instrument was designed for the near-subsurface, and there are select regions of Mars that are just out of reach for us,” said Morgan. “There is a lot to be gained by taking a closer look at those regions.”

    Normally, SHARAD’s signals bounce off parts of the orbiter before hitting Mars, which muddies the data. But by flipping the spacecraft 120 degrees, SHARAD gets a clean line of sight. That single move boosts signal strength tenfold or more.

    This improvement is big, but it comes with tradeoffs. During the maneuver, MRO can’t communicate with Earth or recharge its batteries. That limits the team to one or two very large rolls each year – for now.

    Old instruments with new tricks

    SHARAD isn’t the only instrument adjusting to new routines. The Mars Climate Sounder, a radiometer built at JPL, is also leaning into MRO’s roll capability. It tracks temperatures and atmospheric changes on Mars, revealing patterns in dust storms and cloud formations.

    Originally, this instrument used a gimbal to adjust its view. But the gimbal started to fail in 2024. Now, the Climate Sounder depends on the orbiter’s roll maneuvering instead.

    “Rolling used to restrict our science, but we’ve incorporated it into our routine planning, both for surface views and calibration,” said Mars Climate Sounder’s interim principal investigator, Armin Kleinboehl of JPL.

    Mars Orbiter still delivers after 18 years

    NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been circling the Red Planet since 2006. It’s an aging but incredibly capable machine.

    These new rolling maneuvers show that even after 18 years in space, it’s still finding new ways to contribute.

    By shifting its body in bold new directions, MRO is helping us see what lies beneath the Martian dust – and just maybe, where water waits to be found.

    Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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  • M3GAN 2.0 Stars Say What’s Next for the Horror Franchise

    M3GAN 2.0 Stars Say What’s Next for the Horror Franchise

    “I think if we had been making her with the expectation that she would be a queer icon, she would have been dismissed by the queer community,” Williams says.

    “It was like, if you just commit to the truth of it, making her feel like an authentic, real person, making all the characters real, making the world feel real, making the tone feel consistent, then you stand a better chance of creating a character that can be embraced by a community that loves a bold woman living in the truest expression of herself,” she adds.

    M3GAN AS A SEQUEL

    “M3GAN 2.0” defies expectations once again by totally reinventing the character that made the franchise a hit. The sequel goes almost full action movie while highlighting the need for AI regulation.

    Two years after Gemma and her niece Cady neutralize M3GAN, they’ve resettled in San Francisco. Then, they learn a new robot is on the scene. A military contractor got hold of the leaked code that powered M3GAN and built a new robot: AMELIA, short for Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android.

    The feds put Gemma and her crew in charge of AMELIA when she, just like M3GAN, begins to go rogue. The only way to end AMELIA? Bring back M3GAN.

    Ivanna Sakhno, who portrays AMELIA, tells TODAY.com about joining the franchise as a new enemy.

    “There’s definitely a sense of responsibility, because you know how beloved it is by people, so you want to just do it justice,” Sakhno says. “I do have full trust in (director) Gerard (Johnstone) and his vision, and I have to applaud him for being so open to go so far with it and being unpretentious in its craziness. He wasn’t afraid to do something quite different from the first one and take a risk.”

    Davis also hopes audiences love the fighting scenes between M3GAN and AMELIA, as they start to see M3GAN as something other than just a villain.

    “I think the funny thing about M3GAN is, yes, she’s a villain, but she can also be seen as a hero. But she’s also hilarious, and she’s sassy, and she doesn’t care what you’re saying, she just says it. I think it’s really fun for audiences, because they don’t know what’s going to happen next for her, and they can’t predict it.”

    “I also think there’s some kinship between AMELIA and M3GAN — although there’s rivalry and fear that is also felt, they see each other. They’re made of the same seed. But M3GAN is that b—-,” Sakhno says with a smile, before adding, “Respectfully.”

    M3GAN AS A TRILOGY — AND BEYOND

    While a third installment of “M3GAN” hasn’t yet been greenlit, Williams, while appearing on TODAY on June 24, highlighted the fact there is a number “3” in the title of the films.

    “We put a three in the first title, which was a conundrum, and it sort of means we have to be allowed to,” Williams said. “It’s already been there, it’s predestined.”

    Davis calls the opportunities within the M3GAN Cinematic Universe “endless.”Leanna Šiupinys for TODAY

    “That said,” she added, “We are dreaming of a third. We have talked about it and wondered what it would look like, and we’ve had some of those conversations, but we’ll need to see what happens this weekend.”

    “M3GAN 2.0” is projecting $10 million in its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo, but regardless of whether the franchise becomes a trilogy, the M3GAN Cinematic Universe has already begun, Williams tells TODAY.com.

    “You can take a real, deep, important theme that’s hard to talk about and put it into this mixy genre, and then suddenly people are able to talk about it in a bigger way,” Williams says. “And then doing it with ‘M3GAN,’ I realized, you can keep doing this.”

    Williams is an executive producer on “SOULM8TE,” a “M3GAN” spinoff set in the same universe, premiering in 2026. The details on the film are minimal, though viewers do know that it follows a man who buys an android to help cope with the loss of his wife.

    “From the moment the M3GAN doll was an idea, we were kind of like, because people are people, we just know it’s a matter of time before someone is like, ‘What about this, but for sex?’” Williams says with a smile.

    “It’s not just that, obviously, it’s more complicated, and I don’t want to spoil anything or give too many details, but it’s sort of like an R-rated adventure into this world where we get to see M3GAN technology extrapolated into a use case that we do not explore in our franchise,” she continues.

    Davis also calls the opportunities within the MCU “endless.”

    “Especially because of how prevalent AI is in our society, and because of how uncanny it is,” she says. “Even with the first film, they predicted AI portraits, and then they came out — what are they predicting in this film that’s going to come true?”

    Williams hopes that this franchise, which started as a question mark and then became a phenomenon, can spark relevant conversations about the world we’re living in, or about to be.

    She points to the themes of the sequel — AI regulation (“not the sexiest”) and parenthood — as an example.

    “We feel very strongly about the fact that people need to think about these things and to talk about them more openly. And we’re just hopeful that, as a result of this movie and all the other movies in the cinematic universe, people will have those conversations on the way to the car,” Williams says.

    “You can talk about the things that are funny, yeah, whatever. But like later at dinner, when the giggling dies down, it’s like, ‘But really, what are we doing? What is our plan here? What are we going to do about these really intelligent lines of code that we’ve written?’”

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  • Fungicide, Banned in Europe, Is Still Killing Aus Insects

    Fungicide, Banned in Europe, Is Still Killing Aus Insects

    Macquarie University research shows a chemical banned in Europe but still sprayed on Australian produce to kill fungus also wipes out beneficial insects and pollinators, potentially fuelling global insect decline.


    A widely-used agricultural chemical sprayed on fruits and vegetables to prevent fungal disease is also killing beneficial insects that play a critical role in pollination and wider ecosystems.


    New Macquarie University-led research published in Royal Society Open Science, shows chlorothalonil, one of the world’s most widely used agricultural fungicides, deeply impacts the reproduction and survival of insects, even at the lowest levels routinely found on food from cranberries to wine grapes.


    “Even the very lowest concentration has a huge impact on the reproduction of the flies that we tested,” says lead author, PhD candidate Darshika Dissawa, from Macquarie’s School of Natural Sciences.


    “This can have a big knock-on population impact over time because it affects both male and female fertility.”

    The insect species Drosophila melanogaster, commonly called fruit fly or vinegar fly, was used as a laboratory model representing countless non-target insects found in agricultural environments.


    “D. melanogaster is also at the bottom of the food chain, becoming food for a whole lot of other species,” says Dissawa.

    Unlike major horticultural pests in Australia, such as the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), D. melanogaster feed on rotting fruit and play an important role in nutrient recycling in agriculture.

    Testing the fungicide

    Scientists exposed D. melanogaster larvae to chlorothalonil amounts matching levels typically found in fruits and vegetables.

    Even at the lowest dose tested, the flies showed a 37 per cent drop in egg production at their maturity, compared with unexposed individuals.


    Supervising author Associate Professor Fleur Ponton, from Macquarie’s School of Natural Sciences, says the dramatic decline was surprising.


    “We expected the effect to increase far more gradually with higher amounts. But we found that even a very small amount can have a strong negative effect,” Associate Professor Ponton says.


    The findings add to mounting evidence of what researchers call the “insect apocalypse” – a global phenomenon that has seen insect populations plummet by more than 75 per cent in some regions in recent decades.

    Where the fungicide is used

    Although banned in the European Union, chlorothalonil is extensively applied to Australian crops to control fungal diseases such as mildews and leaf blights.


    The chemical has been detected in soil and water bodies near agricultural areas, with residue levels in fruits and vegetables ranging from trace amounts to 460 milligrams per kilogram.


    “Chlorothalonil is particularly common in orchards and vineyards and is often used preventatively when no disease is present,” Associate Professor Ponton explains.


    “People assume fungicides like chlorothalonil only impact fungal diseases, but they can have devastating, unintended consequences for other species.” says Associate Professor Ponton.

    Knock-on effect

    The study found that chlorothalonil exposure during larval development caused severe reproductive damage in adult flies.


    Females showed significantly reduced body weight, fewer egg-producing structures called ovarioles and drastically reduced egg production. Males had reduced iron levels, suggesting disruption to metabolic processes essential for sperm production.


    The scientists also found the larvae consumed the contaminated food normally, ruling out taste aversion as an explanation.


    “We didn’t find a significant aversion for food contaminated with chlorothalonil, except when there was a very high concentration of the chemical,” says Associate Professor Ponton. “This means the impacts are due to chlorothalonil ingestion.”

    Knowledge gap has broad implications

    In agricultural landscapes where entire orchards and vineyards are treated with fungicides, insects cannot escape chemically-contaminated food sources.


    “We need bees and flies and other beneficial insects for pollination, and we think this is an important problem for pollinator populations,” Associate Professor Ponton says. “There is a strong commercial incentive to understand the impact in the field and address the use of this chemical.”


    The research highlights a critical knowledge gap in pesticide regulation. Chlorothalonil is one of the most extensively used fungicides globally, but fewer than 25 scientific papers examine its effects on insects, despite mounting evidence of widespread insect population decline.


    “People assume fungicide only affects fungal diseases, but it has an effect on other non-target organisms,” Associate Professor Ponton says.


    The researchers have called for more sustainable agricultural practices, such as reduced frequency of applications to allow insect populations to recover between treatments.


    “We need field trials to explore options and develop evidence-based guidelines to consider the knock-on effects of fungicides on beneficial insects,” says Associate Professor Ponton.


    Future research will examine whether the reproductive damage carries over to subsequent generations and investigate the combined effects of multiple agricultural chemicals typically used together in farming operations.

     

    Reference: Dissawa MD, Boyer I, Ponton F. Chlorothalonil exposure impacts larval development and adult reproductive performance in Drosophila melanogaster. Royal Soc Open Sci. 2025. doi: 10.1098/rsos.250136


    This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.

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  • ‘You just have to believe’

    ‘You just have to believe’

    Family affair as the Marias next head to Wimbledon

    Maria, née Malek, turned pro in 2001, making her WTA main draw debut five years later.

    A first Grand Slam appearance at the Australian Open in 2009, was followed by a second three years later, reaching the second round in both.

    After marrying Charles-Edourad Maria in April 2013, Maria took a sabbatical to have Charlotte, inadvertently but happily becoming a trailblazer and mentor to those such as Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka who followed.

    But player and coach, husband and wife, both felt there was more to give.

    Sure enough, with a little patience and hard work and with an additional mini supporter along for the ride, Maria’s first tour title win came in 2018, at the Mallorca Open. The meat in the tour-title sandwich was two wins in Bogota in 2022 and 2023, which both came after having baby Cecilia‍ in April 2021.

    A couple of months after winning her second career title, Maria became the first mother of two this century to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, thanks to a Wimbledon run where the German was only thwarted by second seed and world No.2, Ons Jabeur. But it still took three sets.

    Noted for her second return to tennis, and subsequent successes, after maternity leave, Maria was voted the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2022.

    The Bad Saulgau native also became an Olympian for the first time at Paris 2024 where she competed in both singles and doubles.

    So there’s clearly still more in the tank, highlighted by the win at Queen’s – an even more notable moment with women playing at the iconic venue for the first time since 1973 – leaving Maria fizzing with positivity ahead of Wimbledon 2025.

    “In [2022] when I played Wimbledon, I mean, I was fighting for every point, but there were sometimes like a few doubts,” Maria said. “This week, I really found my confidence. I was believing in myself from the first till the last point that I could win this. Every single match.”

    With the continuing upward trajectory of recent performances and with her family by her side, Maria can only be excited about taking to the hallowed turf in southwest London’s Wimbledon once again, and has inspirational advice for those who might think their dreams are too late.

    “Everything is possible if you believe in it and you go your way,” she said. “Doesn’t matter which it is, everybody has a different one, but you have to keep going and that’s the most important thing I want to show to my kids.”

    Perhaps something she doesn’t want to show her kids, or at least young Cecillia – just to keep the pressure off – is the famous Venus Rosewater Dish given to the winner of the women’s tournament at Wimbledon – that’s nice and big and shiny too – but it really is a whole other ball game to win that one.

    But like many of her opponents are finding out; you wouldn’t put it past her.

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  • A Mass Outbreak of Electric-type Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet

    A Mass Outbreak of Electric-type Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet

    It’s time for an electrifying event in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet during a mass outbreak of Electric-type Pokémon. From Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PDT to Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 4:59 p.m. PDT, you’ll encounter groups of Dedenne, Pawmi, Pachirisu, Morpeko, Plusle, and Minun throughout the Paldea region, the land of Kitakami, and the Terarium at Blueberry Academy. Shiny Pokémon are more likely to appear during these special mass outbreaks, so don’t be shocked if you see Pokémon with unusual color schemes. Look for the following Pokémon in these locations:

    • Paldea – Dedenne and Pawmi

    • Kitakami – Pachirisu and Morpeko

    • Blueberry Academy – Plusle and Minun

    Mass outbreaks are a phenomenon in which many of the same species of Pokémon appear in one location. To participate in mass outbreak events, you will need to download the latest Poké Portal News and install the latest update data for your game.

    Get charged up and have fun during this mass outbreak event, Trainers!

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