Blog

  • Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland is back at the Norisring

    Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland is back at the Norisring

    The last time the one-make cup was held at this venue was during the ADAC Norisring Speedweekend in 2019 – when none of this year’s entrants competed. With no testing permitted on the street circuit just outside Nuremberg, all drivers will arrive at the fourth race weekend (4-6 July 2025) with very little preparation. Their only opportunity to familiarise themselves with the shortest circuit on the calendar – measuring just 2.3 kilometres – has been via simulator training.

    This is also the situation for Porsche Junior Alessandro Ghiretti. Like his team, Schumacher CLRT, the 23-year-old Frenchman is contesting his debut season in the German Carrera Cup. Over the first three race weekends, Ghiretti and his engineers were able to draw on existing data. The French squad already knew the Autodromo di Imola, Italy, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, and the coastal Zandvoort track in the Netherlands from their experience in the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. The result: two wins from so far six Carrera Cup races and the current lead in the drivers’ standings for Ghiretti.




    Porsche Junior Alessandro Ghiretti

    Round four, however, presents a completely different challenge. While Ghiretti has previously raced on German circuits during a season in ADAC Formula 4, the Norisring is not one of them. “So, none of my competitors has the advantage of track experience,” he noted. The championship leader will be particularly mindful of his closest rivals: Dutchman Robert de Haan of Proton Huber Competition trails by just four points in second place, with Israeli Ariel Levi of Team GP Elite sitting third.

    The highest-ranked German in the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland field is Janne Stiak, ranking fifth overall. The 18-year-old recently celebrated his first win of the season at Zandvoort. “I enjoy the challenge of new tracks,” says Stiak, as he looks ahead to the Norisring. “I use a special software to incorporate the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup into my simulator. It helps me get a feel for key aspects like braking points and the racing line. Still, I want to get in as many laps as possible during the one-hour practice session to optimise the 911’s setup.”

    Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Janne Stiak (DEU), Target (#40), Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland, Zandvoort (NLD), 2025, Porsche AG




    Janne Stiak

    In the ProAm class, Kuwaiti driver Ahmad Alshehab, racing for the German outfit [a-workx] by Porsche Paderborn, currently leads the standings. Among the rookies, Dutchman Sacha Norden holds the top spot. The 24-year-old from Proton Huber Competition has already secured four wins in the newcomers’ classification so far this season.

    “I’m delighted that the Norisring is back on the German Carrera Cup calendar for the first time in six years,” says Thorsten Rückert, Project Manager of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland. “With its short layout, the race features more laps than any other round, treating fans to even more on-track action with the Cup 911. The large crowds also create an incredibly special atmosphere.”

    Thorsten Rückert (DEU), Project Manager Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland, Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland, Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), 2025, Porsche AG




    Thorsten Rückert, Project Manager Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland

    Due to its compact length, roughly half that of for example the Hockenheimring, the Norisring requires a unique qualifying format. The Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland field will be split into two qualifying groups, allowing each driver a better chance to set a clean flying lap without interference from traffic.

    Racing with synthetic fuel

    Committed to cutting CO₂ emissions in motorsport, the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland will use the synthetic fuel “DTM Pro Climate” across all eight race weekends in the 2025 season. Partnering with the Carrera Cup, ADAC is also adopting this fuel for the first time for its DTM, ADAC GT Masters, and GT4 Germany series.

    The racetrack: Norisring, Nuremberg

    The Norisring, named after the medieval name for Nuremberg, is the only street circuit on the German Carrera Cup calendar. Located on the city’s historic Zeppelin and Beuthener Strasse, the track is transformed each year over a three-week period with the installation of barriers, a temporary pit lane, additional grandstands, and motor racing infrastructure.

    Today measuring just 2.3 kilometres, the Norisring first hosted motorcycle racing in 1938. Automobile racing followed in 1948, gaining prominence in the 1960s with the “200 Miles of Nuremberg,” a major fixture in sports prototype championships including the World Sportscar Championship. In 1987, the DTM made its debut at the Norisring, which today remains the centrepiece of the ADAC Norisring Speedweekend.

    Start: Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, Norisring 2019, Porsche AG





    The Porsche Carrera Cup has a long history at the circuit, appearing on the calendar regularly since its inaugural season in 1990. Most recently, in 2019, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup thrilled fans on the imposing stone grandstand opposite the pits, with Frenchman Julien Andlauer and Germany’s Michael Ammermüller each taking a victory at the doubleheader event.

    The Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland on the internet

    Fans can follow all the races live with English commentary on the internet, including on the Porsche Motorsport Hub and the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland social media channels on YouTube and Facebook.

    Aside from the race weekends, the one-make cup is also present with dedicated channels via the social networks Instagram and X.

    Schedule Round 4, Norisring Nuremberg (Germany)

    Friday, 4 July
    11:55 – 12:55 hrs: Practice
    17:42 – 18:20 hrs: Qualifying

    Saturday, 5 July
    11:20 hrs: Start race 7 (30 minutes plus 1 lap)

    Sunday, 6 July
    11:15 hrs: Start race 8 (30 minutes plus 1 lap)

    Standings after 6 of 16 races

    1. Alessandro Ghiretti (FRA/Schumacher CLRT), 105 points/2 wins
    2. Robert de Haan (NLD/Proton Huber Competition), 101 points/2 wins
    3. Ariel Levi (ISR/Team GP Elite), 71 points

    Full results and championship standings on the Porsche Motorsport Hub.

    Calendar Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland 2025

    18–20 April: Imola (ITA), FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
    8–10 May: Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
    6–8 June: Zandvoort (NLD), DTM
    4–6 July: Norisring Nuremberg (DEU), DTM
    8–10 August: Nürburgring (DEU), DTM
    22–24 August: Sachsenring (DEU), DTM
    12–14 September: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg (AUT), DTM
    3–5 October: Hockenheimring (DEU), DTM


    Continue Reading

  • Yastremska eliminates Gauff at Wimbledon: “I was on fire”

    Yastremska eliminates Gauff at Wimbledon: “I was on fire”

    Gauff led the head-to-head 3-0, with all those meetings coming on clay. The most recent was in Madrid, at altitude, where Yastremska showed how dangerous she could be.

    Gauff prevailed 0-6 6-2 7-5, but under the No.1 Court roof at Wimbledon she confronted an opponent perfectly suited to the conditions – and who possesses the game to go further this fortnight.

    “I was actually on fire,” Yastremska smiled. “I really, really enjoyed playing on Court 1.

    “I have good memories from this court, even though last year I lost there to Donna Vekic. I still have a nice memory. This court brings me a lot of energy. I really felt it today.”

    Yastremska’s giant-killing capabilities are obvious, especially at Grand Slam level – never more so than when she powered to the Australian Open 2024 semifinals, beating Marketa Vondrouova, Emma Navarro and Victoria Azarenka along the way.

    But with her win over Gauff, Wimbledon becomes the major tournament at which she has the best winning percentage, nearing 70.

    No.1 Court was also where Yastremska appeared in the junior singles final in 2016 – demonstrating her early affection for grass – and where she made the fourth round on her women’s singles main-draw debut in 2019.

    That year she beat Sofia Kenin, the 28th seed who looms as a potential third-round opponent.

    “I feel pretty good on grass,” Yastremska declared. “I had a couple matches.”

    She’s played nine this grasscourt season, to be exact, and won seven.

    She’ll be hoping for an eighth when she faces Anastasia Zakharova next.

    Continue Reading

  • Cracking cancer’s code through functional connections

    Cracking cancer’s code through functional connections

    Among cancer researchers, their computers, servers and databanks store thousands of terabytes of omics data, enabling novel discoveries about genetic and proteomic relationships. However, making meaningful connections can be computationally challenging. What if there were a way to harness the power of machine learning to help interpret this data and identify unrecognized patterns that advance therapeutic strategies?

    A recent paper in Nature Cancer introduces a new tool for decoding and uncovering functional connections within cancer biology. FunMap, a machine-learning-driven platform, allows researchers to understand how genes and proteins work together in cancer, even when they aren’t directly connected. Bing Zhang, a professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, and his lab aim to bridge the gap between large-scale cancer omics data and functional interpretation using machine learning.

    The team used large-scale proteogenomic data, or integrated information about genes, RNA and proteins, across 11 cancer types to chart a functional network of more than 10,000 genes. Unlike traditional protein–protein interaction networks, which focus on physical contacts between proteins, FunMap assesses “cofunctionality,” the concept that genes or proteins can participate in the same biological process even if they do not physically interact.

    “Think of a complex research lab,” Zhiao Shi, lead programmer in the lab and first author of the paper, explained the computational tool. “A computational biologist and a wet lab scientist may never perform experiments together, but the computational analysis is crucial for guiding the wet lab experiments and interpreting results. Though they do not interact directly, their roles are tightly coordinated to achieve scientific breakthroughs — this is cofunction.”

    With the ability to incorporate graph-neural-network-based deep learning, a type of model that learns from data structured as networks of connected elements, FunMap can identify cancer driver mutations with low frequencies. This expands the understanding of cancer pathogenesis beyond high-frequency mutations and may potentiate new discoveries in cancer diagnostics and treatment.

    FunMap also advances functional genomics by shedding light on understudied cancer genes, such as RBM34 and MAB21L4, also known as dark genes. These understudied genes and their protein counterparts have not been studied in the context of cancer but are significantly over or under expressed in tumors. Shi explained that their approach “enables a more systematic and data-driven assignment of functions to poorly characterized cancer-associated genes, aiding in the discovery of novel cancer biology.”

    The platform is available to the public at funmap.linkedomics.org, where scientists can explore the network and apply it to their own studies. The Zhang lab plans to expand its tool with additional data types, such as epigenomics and protein modification.

    “By identifying key cancer-associated proteins and functional pathways, our findings can help prioritize therapeutic targets, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective treatments,” Shi said. “In the long run, this research could lead to improved cancer diagnostics and therapies, benefiting patients by making precision medicine more actionable and impactful.”

    Bing Zhang, Baylor College of Medicine

    Overview of FunMap, a machine learning and network-based framework that integrates pan-cancer proteogenomic data to identify functional modules, predict understudied protein functions, and discover low-frequency cancer drivers.

    Continue Reading

  • PTI rift widens as Junaid Akbar, CM Gandapur camps trade blame

    PTI rift widens as Junaid Akbar, CM Gandapur camps trade blame

    PTI KP President Junaid Akbar (left) and KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur. — GeoNews/Facebook@JunaidAkbarMNA
    • “Junaid Akbar should stop whining and stay at home”: Saif.
    • Govt spox blames Akbar for failing to fulfill responsibilities. 
    • Akbar declines to respond to Barrister Saif’s comments.

    PESHAWAR: Tensions within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter deepened as a war of words erupted between the party’s provincial president, Junaid Akbar Khan, and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s spokesperson — exposing divisions within the party’s top ranks, The News reported.

    The rift began when Junaid Akbar accused the provincial government of undermining him and targeting his supporters. He alleged that development schemes linked to MPAs who organised rallies in his favour were cancelled and that the chief minister was actively working against him. 

    He also accused the government’s spokesperson and CM’s adviser on information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, of promoting an “establishment-driven narrative.”

    In a sharp rebuttal, Barrister Saif dismissed Junaid Akbar’s complaints, saying: “Junaid Akbar should stop whining and stay at home.” He suggested Akbar should resign from his role and make way for someone “competent” to lead PTI in the province.

    Speaking to this correspondent, Barrister Saif said he had met Imran Khan only on the PTI founder’s request and would respect his decision if told otherwise. He blamed Junaid Akbar for failing to fulfil the responsibilities assigned to him, claiming this was the root cause of his frustration.

    “Those who work don’t complain,” Saif said. “At a time when the party is going through a difficult phase, Junaid Akbar should support the leadership instead of crying and accusing others.”

    He added that if Akbar had issues with CM Gandapur, they should be resolved internally rather than through public criticism. “There’s no justification for attacking the chief minister,” he remarked.

    Saif also addressed wider political developments, dismissing PML-N leader Amir Muqam’s hopes that his brother, opposition leader Ibadullah Khan, would have become the CM in the last general elections. He insisted the provincial government faced no threat, and all MPAs were united in completing their constitutional term.


    Continue Reading

  • Keanu Reeves to Host, Produce Docuseries on US Cadillac Formula 1 Team

    Keanu Reeves to Host, Produce Docuseries on US Cadillac Formula 1 Team

    Rev the engines! Keanu Reeves is looking to challenge Brad Pitt for the pole position.

    F1: The Movie, the Formula One movie starring Pitt, was off to the races in its opening weekend, bringing Apple Original Films its first major theatrical win. Now, film star and motorsport enthusiast Keanu Reeves has unveiled a documentary series produced in partnership with North One, part of RedBird IMI‘s production giant All3Media, that will showcase the behind-the-scenes story of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team in its effort to build a racing team from the ground up amid signs of U.S. audiences’ growing need for speed.

    With exclusive access to the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, owned by Mark Walter and Thomas Tull’s TWG Motorsports and General Motors, “the series traces the creation of the sport’s newest and uniquely American team as it prepares for its debut at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season opener in Melbourne,” the producers said on Wednesday. “Reeves rejoins the production team from North One with his own KR+SH production company for this new series, serving as host and executive producer mere months after his International Emmy-award win for the acclaimed Disney+ docuseries Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story.”

    Developed by Emmy-award-winning director and executive producer Simon Hammerson and three-time BAFTA-winning executive producer Neil Duncanson, the docuseries promises “to capture the ultimate story of sporting jeopardy in the high-octane world of Formula 1 and offer audiences a trackside seat for the whole ride,” according to the creative team. 
     
    “I’m very honoured and excited to be a part of telling the remarkable Cadillac Formula 1 Team story and its incredible journey into the world of Formula 1 racing,” said Reeves. “Our goal with the docuseries is to bring audiences into the heart of this journey and showcase what it takes to participate in one of the most exclusive sports arenas in the world.”
      
    In the new show, audiences will get “an intimate look at the unique challenges of assembling a competitive team on an accelerated timeline and receive a first-hand account of the vision behind establishing a distinctly American presence in a sport long dominated by European powerhouses,” North One said. “By documenting the challenges, setbacks, drive, and determination required to build a new contender in Formula 1, the series will captivate both motorsport fans and viewers interested in stories of resilience, cultural aspiration, and the pursuit of ambitious goals. The story will also explore the journey to build the first American-based team amidst the backdrop of Formula 1’s continuing growth with audiences in the U.S. and around the world.” 
     
    The new team looking to join the pinnacle of motorsports is happy to let audiences peek under the hood. “This is a story of bold ambition and relentless drive,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. “We’re honored to work with Keanu, whose passion and knowledge of racing runs deep, and proud to partner with General Motors on this incredible story. We have an opportunity to welcome a new generation of fans to Formula 1, and Keanu’s creativity is the perfect spark to ignite that journey.”

    KR&SH Productions is a documentary-focused production company founded by Reeves and Hammerson that created Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story.

    Continue Reading

  • Omani bikers meet Punjab Governor to boost cultural and tourism ties

    Omani bikers meet Punjab Governor to boost cultural and tourism ties

    A delegation of bikers from Oman called on Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan during their visit to Pakistan, aimed at fostering regional friendship and promoting cultural exchange.

    Welcoming the delegation at the Governor’s House, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that the visit of the Omani bikers would help strengthen people-to-people, cultural, and tourism ties between Pakistan and Oman.

    He expressed hope that the Omani bikers would return home as ambassadors of goodwill, helping to project Pakistan’s peaceful and positive image to the world.

    “Pakistan is a fortress of Islam and a peaceful nuclear power,” the Governor stated, adding that the country has always supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Islamic nations at global forums.

    He further said, “Pakistan is the only nuclear power in the Islamic world, and no enemy can dare cast an evil eye on us. When war was imposed by India, we defeated a much larger enemy and set new records in military history.”

    Highlighting the importance of bilateral cooperation, Governor Haider noted that vast opportunities for mutual collaboration exist in various fields, including sports, between the two nations.

    He termed the Omani bikers’ visit an important step toward strengthening tourism and cultural relations between Pakistan and Oman, adding, “Pakistan is a peaceful and beautiful country rich in tourism potential, and its people are known for their hospitality and warmth.”

    Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Al Nabhani, a member of the Omani Bosher Bikers Club, said, “It’s been a great joy to visit Pakistan. We will never forget the love and respect we received from the people here.”

    The Omani delegation said their tour aimed to promote unity, friendship, and regional cooperation.

    Present at the meeting were Pakistan People’s Party Golf President Mian Munir Hans, Vice President Kashif, Atif, and members of the Bosher Bikers Club including Issa Al-Hassani, Mohammad Al Nabhani, Kamel Al Wahbi, Majid Al Rawahi, Mohammad Al Menini, Majid Al Wahabi, and Mohammad Al Rawahi, among others.


    Continue Reading

  • Hong Kong property group’s shares jump 11% after refinancing talks close – Financial Times

    Hong Kong property group’s shares jump 11% after refinancing talks close – Financial Times

    1. Hong Kong property group’s shares jump 11% after refinancing talks close  Financial Times
    2. Hong Kong property scion Adrian Cheng resigns from New World board  The Straits Times
    3. Hong Kong developer NWD meets 2025 sales target and wins commitment to refinancing  South China Morning Post
    4. Shares of New World Development set to open up 7%  TradingView
    5. New World Seals $11.2B Lifeline; UMS Eyes Malaysia Debut; Dezign Format Joins IPO Race; SingTel CEO Sees Payday Surge  Minichart

    Continue Reading

  • PM lauds KSA’s efforts for peace in Middle East – RADIO PAKISTAN

    1. PM lauds KSA’s efforts for peace in Middle East  RADIO PAKISTAN
    2. PM lauds Saudi efforts for Middle East peace, role in Pakistan-India ceasefire  Ptv.com.pk
    3. PM, Saudi Crown Prince discuss ME situation  nation.com.pk
    4. PM Shehbaz discusses Middle East crisis with Saudi and Qatari envoys  Daily Times
    5. Pakistan urges efforts to de-escalate tensions after Iranian attacks on US base  The News International

    Continue Reading

  • BTS to release new album, begin world tour in spring 2026 – Korea.net

    1. BTS to release new album, begin world tour in spring 2026  Korea.net
    2. BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour  BBC
    3. K-pop superstars BTS announce end of hiatus with a new album and world tour in 2026  CNN
    4. K-pop supergroup BTS announces comeback for spring 2026  The Guardian
    5. BTS OT7 surprises ARMY with first full-group livestream since 2022 military hiatus  The Express Tribune

    Continue Reading

  • NASA, Netflix Team Up To Stream Space Content And Rocket Launches Soon: Check Details Here

    NASA, Netflix Team Up To Stream Space Content And Rocket Launches Soon: Check Details Here

    “Detailed schedules drop closer to launch day, so check back to Tudum for more details in the coming weeks,” Netflix said.

    On the collaboration, NASA said that it was focused on a simple goal: to bring the excitement of the agency’s discoveries, inventions, and space exploration to people, wherever they are.

    According to NASA’s official website, at least five major space events are lined up for launch this year. These include the NASA-SpaceX Crew-11 mission, NISAR satellite, NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1, Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, and the long-awaited X-59 supersonic jet.

    The NISAR mission will particularly excite Indians as it’s a joint NASA-ISRO Earth-observing project, involving the study of natural hazards, sea level rise and groundwater, among other aspects.

    Continue Reading