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  • Josh Brolin Explains Why Zach Cregger’s ‘Weapons’ Is the Cure for Boring Content

    Josh Brolin Explains Why Zach Cregger’s ‘Weapons’ Is the Cure for Boring Content

    Summary

    • Collider’s Steve Weintraub chats with Josh Brolin for Weapons.
    • From Zach Cregger, Weapons is a new horror about a classroom of children who disappear at exactly the same time one night.
    • In this interview, Brolin discusses why he joined the cast and what makes Cregger and his films so special. He also shares details on upcoming projects, including The Running Man, Wake Up Dead Man, and more.

    Josh Brolin was looking for something he’d never done before. Talking with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, he admits, “When I saw Barbarian, I was like, ‘Yeah, I really liked it, but I don’t know why.’” Something about Zach Cregger‘s 2022 horror lingered with the actor, and after consulting with his daughter, it was clear that this “young man” might be the answer to his content-overhaul fatigue. When he joined the filmmaker’s sophomore feature, Weapons, he was proven correct.

    In the movie, Brolin plays Archer Graff, a man outraged by the 17 Maybrook children who mysteriously went missing at 2:17 a.m. Even more peculiar is that all 17 kids belonged to the classroom of Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), and all of them seemingly left their homes and ran through the streets of their own accord. Weapons also stars Alden Ehrenreich (Ironheart), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), and Austin Abrams (Euphoria).

    In this interview, Brolin also talks about how he had a similar reaction to Weapons as he did with No Country for Old Men, why it’s the perfect cure for boredom, and challenging Cregger on set. He also shares updates for his dream director lineup coming up, with Rian Johnson‘s Wake Up Dead Man, Edgar Wright‘s The Running Man, Ridley Scott‘s The Dog Stars, and more.

    Zach Cregger’s ‘Weapons’ Is the Cure for Boring Content

    If the quantity-over-quality effect of streaming’s got you down, you’re in the right place.

    COLLIDER: Let me start by saying I love this movie, and all of you guys did such great work. One of the things I want to talk about is how the horror genre allows filmmakers to take these big risks and swings that other movies can’t do because of the budget. Can you talk about the freedom that the genre has?

    JOSH BROLIN: It’s not only the freedom of it, because you’re inciting a reaction. Do you know what I mean? So you’re getting people raw. You’re getting people reactive. I know that the story came from something that was very emotional for Zach. When I met with Zach after I read, I thought, a really well-designed script, he told me that every character is based off a certain reaction that he was having to a very traumatic event that happened to him. I thought that was really cool. He just personalized it for me.

    You’re looking for great filmmakers, and you’re hoping that there’s another new good filmmaker out there. Right now, with so much content, you’re just watching things on whatever streaming service you’re on, and you’re just going, “Fuck, why is this so boring, man? Why?” And just go to the next thing. It’s all the same shit. And then somebody not only takes the horror genre, but then fucks with it and then does something on the edge of absurdity, and it’s sort of humorous, so it’s keeping you off-[balance] enough for him to have an emotional impact, ultimately.

    Josh Brolin Knew There Was Something Special About Zach Cregger

    “He’s like a god to them.”

    One of the things that I was surprised to learn was Zach told me that weeks before they’re going to shoot, him and his DP are going to the set and figuring out every possible shot, the lens, everything. So as actors, when you show up, you’re essentially filming like knocking off boxes.

    BROLIN: No, I know what you mean.

    What is that like as an actor when the director has such a vision?

    BROLIN: If you trust the director, then it’s great because then he’s tweaking and all this kind of stuff. But I know that I challenged him, because he’s young.

    Wait, you challenged him? I’m shocked

    BROLIN: I know. How surprising! [Laughs] But how can you not, man? He’s a young guy who’s done his sketch comedy, which is something totally different than what he’s doing, and then he did Barbarian. When I saw Barbarian, I was like, “Yeah, I really liked it, but I don’t know why.” Do you know what I mean? So I had to call my daughter, and then I said, “What did you think of Barbarian?” And she said, “One of the greatest movies of the last 10 years or five years or whatever she said.” I talked to her husband. Then you talk to that era of people, and, I mean, he’s like a god to them. And I’m like, okay, so they’re reacting to something that I may not understand. I would rather not understand it and do business with that guy and understand it better later. And I think that Weapons is a much more refined version of something that he had his finger on the pulse of with Barbarian.

    No spoilers, but what was something that you really challenged him on on set?

    BROLIN: I don’t know, man. I just generally challenged him. [Laughs] I think he had a very strong DP, and I had experienced this before where a DP kind of took over. Do you know what I mean? A lot of DPs want to be directors, so they kind of…

    I’ve never heard that.

    BROLIN: Yeah, I know. So, I think that he had a very strong DP, and then what I ended up seeing is a very strongly cinematic, emotionally lit movie, which was good.

    The cinematography in this film is actually excellent.

    BROLIN: It’s amazing.

    I love the way the camera moves and follows people. So, what was your actual reaction like? You read the script and on the page, you’re thinking one thing. What was your reaction when you actually saw the finished film versus what you imagined going in?

    BROLIN: I’m not going to say it was the same, but I remember doing No Country [for Old Men] and thinking, “A few people will see this film.” I think they felt that way. And then I saw No Country, and I was like, “Holy shit. I had no idea.” There was a similar reaction to Weapons. I thought, “This is a cool thing to do. It’s something new for me to do.” And then I saw the movie and I said, “Oh no, no, no. This has elevated beyond what I thought it was.” So yes, I was extremely pleased.

    Josh Brolin Is Searching for His “Milestone Moment”

    Between Ridley Scott, Edgar Wright, and Rian Johnson, he may have found it.

    Image via Paramount Pictures

    What are you filming this year? What are you working on?

    BROLIN: I did Weapons, and then I went to Knives Out.

    No, not the stuff you shot. I mean this year.

    BROLIN: This year? Oh, no. I’m not going to work for the rest of the year. I finished Whalefall, and I’m not going to work for the rest of the year.

    Speaking of Whalefall, you shot four other things, and I wanted to bring up all four. If you could just touch on why you wanted to do the projects and just tell people about them. You did Whalefall with Brian Duffield, a real talented filmmaker…

    BROLIN: Very.

    Ridley Scott, The Dog Stars.

    BROLIN: Which turned out great.

    That’s holy shit. You did Edgar [Wright], The Running Man, and then Rian [Johnson] with Wake Up Dead Man, Knives Out 3. Are you joking? These are four incredible projects.

    BROLIN: It was a good year. And I remember there was one moment where I called my agent, and I was like, “What the fuck am I doing all these little parts for, man?” Do you know what I mean? I had, like, a little freakout moment, and then I got over it really quick.

    What do you want to tell people?

    BROLIN: It’s the filmmakers, man. It’s the filmmakers. Then finding Brian Duffield, or not finding, not seeking, but being lucky enough to be able to be in business with Brian Duffield, Zach Cregger, and all that, like I said, you’re watching movies and you’re like, “I want to see something that impacts.” I want to see like when I saw Taxi Driver, or even when I saw Friday the 13th. I want something that has an impact that I can look back on and say, “God, that was a milestone moment for me. I remember. I couldn’t get over it for a year and a half.” Do you know what I mean? And then I get texts from people, and they’re like, “Holy shit, this was a really effective, affecting movie,” and it makes me happy to be involved with things like that.

    Weapons is now in theaters and IMAX.


    01892952_poster_w780.jpg

    Weapons

    Release Date

    August 8, 2025

    Runtime

    128 minutes

    Director

    Zach Cregger

    Writers

    Zach Cregger

    Producers

    Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, J.D. Lifshitz




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  • On Grindr you’re an object, like picking clothes online

    On Grindr you’re an object, like picking clothes online

    Jax Sinclair

    BBC Disclosure

    BBC A photo of Lewis looking at the camera. He is outdoors with trees in the background. He has dark hair and a dark thick moustache. He is wearing a green waterproof jacket.BBC

    Lewis says Grindr offered a window to explore gay culture

    For Lewis, hook-up apps such as Grindr offered a way to explore gay culture that had been missing in his upbringing in rural Dumfriesshire.

    At first, he loved the excitement of casual sexual encounters being available at the swipe of a phone but soon it became addictive.

    “You get the validation, that dopamine hit when people message you and hit you up, it is enjoyable but that is the problem,” he says.

    Lewis says it started to damage his self-esteem and he found himself chasing validation – equating his worth with his body.

    He says low moods led him back to the app’s loop of quick sexual encounters that often left him feeling “dirty and gross”, fuelling his anxiety and depression.

    “On Grindr you’re an object to them, like picking clothes on Asos,” he says.

    Grindr, a social networking app for the GBTQ community, is the biggest app of its kind and it now has about 15 million active monthly users.

    Many people, gay and heterosexual, use other apps for hook-ups too.

    Some enjoy it and don’t think twice, while others feel there is a deeper issue and it has become a fast-track to instant gratification and has normalised easy access to sex.

    For Lewis, it has been challenging to establish more meaningful connections beyond sexual hook-ups in a world where many young gay men seem to be focused on one thing.

    “When you don’t just want that, you feel like the odd one out,” he says.

    Jules Moskovtchenko A promo photo of Jacob standing in a forest with an acoustic guitar hanging from their side. They have black hair and black eye makeup. They are wearing a brown, see-through sheer top and a long black skirt.Jules Moskovtchenko

    Jacob Alon’s songs tackle the experience of casual sex with strangers on dating apps like Grindr

    Jacob Alon is an up-and-coming singer who played Glastonbury this summer and has been compared to 70s folk legend Nick Drake.

    Alon’s songs are often tender but they also tackle subjects such as casual sex with strangers on gay hook-up apps.

    One of the 25-year-old’s most popular songs – Liquid Gold 25 – ends with the refrain: “This is where love comes to die.”

    “I wrote that song after a series of hook-ups on Grindr that left me feeling quite empty and degraded,” Alon tells the BBC Disclosure documentary Should We Hook Up?.

    “It can be great fun,” the Scottish singer says.

    “But there is definitely a culture that can be quite toxic.”

    Alon, who uses they/them pronouns, says in the past they put themselves in risky situations by meeting up with random strangers in a park in the middle of the night.

    “Those people could have very easily hurt me and no-one would have known,” they say.

    “People have done things I didn’t want them to do and not listened to me when I told them not to.”

    Hook-up culture in the gay community has deep roots, dating back to a time when same-sex relationships between men had to remain hidden.

    Homosexual acts only became legal in England and Wales in 1967 and it was more than a decade later that Scotland followed suit.

    Today, hook-up culture means sex is available 24/7 – and with just a swipe of the phone in your pocket.

    Screen grab of Fintan, Kip and James at a bar

    Fintan, Kip and James say Grindr is for hook-ups and there was no pretence it is for anything other than sex.

    At a bar in Glasgow, Fintan, Kip and James say Grindr is for hook-ups and there was no pretence it is for anything other than sex.

    “It’s so superficial,” 23-year-old Fintan says.

    “Everyone’s got three pictures or maybe just one picture. Nine times out 10 a lot of them are shirtless.”

    Kip, who is 30, says there has never been any intention to build a genuine connection with someone on his hook-ups.

    “It has never been ‘wine and a gossip’,” he says. “It’s been ‘take your knickers down, let’s get to it’.”

    But Kip says it is not always a great experience.

    “Sometimes I have left and I have thought: ‘that was so hot, I’m so amazing’.

    “But there are other times when you leave and it is 07:00 and people are going to work and you are there shivering, feeling dirty and dejected.”

    In response to the BBC documentary, a Grindr spokesperson said: “We take seriously the responsibility that comes with being a platform used by millions of LGBTQ+ people every day, and we’re committed to supporting their wellbeing in all its forms.”

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  • Scientists capture bridge of stray stars being sucked from one galaxy to another

    Scientists capture bridge of stray stars being sucked from one galaxy to another

    Astronomers have spotted two massive galaxies locked in a cosmic tug-of-war 700 million light-years from Earth — and for the first time in such a nearby galaxy, watched as a faint stream of stars is being pulled from one into the other.

    The observations, made in the galaxy cluster Abell 3667, revealed a faint, million light-year-long bridge of stars connecting its two brightest galaxies. Astronomers say the cluster is actually the result of two smaller clusters that began merging about a billion years ago, each with its own dominant central galaxy. As these giants — and their satellite galaxies — continue to merge, the bridge of stars between them offers rare insights into the clusters’ history and the powerful gravitational forces at play.

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  • Scientist Sifting Through Leaf Pile Finds A Creature With Expert Camouflage

    Scientist Sifting Through Leaf Pile Finds A Creature With Expert Camouflage

    While hiking through Peru’s dense Amazon rainforest the other day, entomologist Phil Torres spotted a creature that most people tend to overlook. After carefully scooping up a pile of dead leaves, Torres sorted through the foliage one by one until one of them began to flutter.

    “One of these leaves is actually an animal,” Torres said in a Facebook video.

    The last “leaf” in Torres’ hand was a cricket-like insect called a katydid. While katydids share some similarities with crickets, like long back legs that allow them to jump and make sounds, there’s something that sets them apart from the rest: their unique ability to camouflage into their surroundings.

    “Its legs look like a stick. Its wings look like a leaf,” Torres explained. “It even has little holes in it, as if it’s an old leaf. It’s got little notches taken out of it. It’s got veins just like a leaf. Incredible amount of detail.”

    You can see Torres sort through the leaf pile here:

    The holes in the katydid’s body may seem like the result of an accident, but the small perforations serve a purpose; one that’s evolved over millions of years.

    “Cryptically colored species, which blend in with the environment, rely primarily on the mimicry of vegetation,” Britannica wrote on its website. “The peacock katydid, for example, precisely mimics the discoloration of a dead leaf.”

    You can see the katydid’s detailed wings here:

    Torres was able to identify the peacock katydid just by seeing his body, reminiscent of dead foliage. But there was one test left to confirm his findings.

    “Nothing about this looks like a peacock right now,” Torres said. “But wait until you see its defensive display.”

    With a light tap on his wings, Torres activated the katydid’s defense mechanism. The dead leaf-like insect extended his wings, revealing a bright red and orange design mimicking a predator’s eyes.

    You can see the katydid’s outstretched wings here:

    Thankfully, this katydid was in safe company with Torres, who just wanted to admire the unique insect. The dedicated entomologist has encountered countless fascinating insects, but the peacock katydid remains one of the most impressive.

    “This thing is absolutely incredible,” Torres said.

    To keep up with Phil Torres’ wildlife encounters, you can follow him on Facebook and Instagram.


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  • Afghan FM’s visit put off for now: FO

    Afghan FM’s visit put off for now: FO

    ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday said Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to Pakistan has been postponed for now, saying though the visit was not officially scheduled but new dates are being coordinated both by Islamabad and Kabul.

    The spokesperson announced this, while addressing the weekly media briefing at the Foreign Office.

    Responding to media queries regarding Muttaqi’s visit postponed due to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Sanctions Committee, he said that visit was not cancelled and schedule would be announced once the new dates are finalised.

    The process of upgradation of Chargé d’affaires to Ambassadorial level in both Islamabad and Kabul has been completed as per agreement reached between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Beijing during an informal trilateral meeting, the FO spokesperson remarked.

    “Pakistan remains firmly committed to a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. The issue of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil, particularly affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, remains a central point in our discussions with Kabul. This insurgency is foreign-sponsored, and India’s involvement is well-documented,” he added. He asserted that Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to upgrade the diplomatic status of their respective missions, reflecting a mutual commitment to closer cooperation.

    Afghan acting FM to visit Pakistan for high-level talks next month

    Expressing the country’s commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity, Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan has successfully and resolutely defended its sovereignty, despite India’s advanced weaponry.“We welcome the United States’ interest in resolving the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute. However, there has been no high-level contact between Pakistan and India so far regarding formal talks at a third-party venue since Trump-mediated ceasefire announced in early May,” Ambassador Shafqat stressed.

    He pointed out that it is now up to India to decide whether it wishes to pursue a diplomatic path toward the resolution of all outstanding bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

    The spokesperson said that Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations are historic, comprehensive, and multifaceted. Discussions on the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project are ongoing. This issue is not linked to any recent call between the foreign minister and US Senator Marco Rubio, he clarified.

    Iran remains a critical and valued neighbour. Pakistan is actively working to de-escalate tensions and foster mutual understanding with Tehran. Any support Israel may have extended to India in its hostile posturing towards Pakistan has failed to achieve its objectives. Pakistan has no intention of recognising Israel, nor is there any truth to rumors of secret agreements with the United States.

    To another question, the FO spokesperson strongly criticised Israel’s expansionist attempts are a deliberate effort to destabilise the region and sabotage any meaningful path to peace. These provocations risk igniting a catastrophic spiral of violence across the region. The world must not remain silent in the face of such systemic, illegal, inhumane, and unlawful aggression.

    Such actions constitute a blatant violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws, the UN Charter, as well as various UN and OIC Resolutions. We urge the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take immediate and concrete steps to hold Israel accountable for its illegal actions and to protect the religious sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque and the rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right to self-determination, he said.

    Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

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  • Auction suspension: SC turns down Bahria Town’s plea – Pakistan

    Auction suspension: SC turns down Bahria Town’s plea – Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court turned down M/s Bahria Town (Private) Limited’s plea to halt the auction of its properties, but issued notices to the respondents.

    A three-judge bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Friday heard an appeal of Bahria Town against the IHC’s short order.

    A division bench of the IHC on August 5, 25, dismissed the petitions of Bahria Town, and stated: “The injunctive orders issued by this Court vide order dated 15.04.2025 passed in W.P No.1368 of 2025 and order dated 04.06.2025 passed in W.P No.2248 of 2025 are hereby recalled.”

    During the proceeding, Farooq H Naek, appearing on behalf of Bahria Town, prayed that stay order be granted against the IHC’s order. However, Justice Amin declined the request saying how come the stay order be issued without hearing the other side.

    Justice Naeem questioned what the National Accountability Ordinance says about plea bargain? He noted that if an accused challenges the plea bargain process then it becomes inoperative, adding in the instant matter the accused has challenged the plea bargain, and the applications against them are pending, but the properties are being auctioned.

    Justice Naeem observed that instead of main petition only the Civil Miscellaneous Applications (CMA) were fixed for hearing Friday (Aug 8), adding how come they can hear the CMAs without hearing the main petition. Naek told that he came to know about this case late at night, adding still the case is not issued on the cause list. The counsel stated thanks God that he was in Islamabad, therefore, appearing before the bench.

    The bench ordered Naek to file more documents pertaining to the case. Justice Naeem noted that Bahria Town’s case is based on three NAB references, while they do not have copies of the references before the Court. Justice Naeem, therefore, ordered Farooq Naek to attach the documents with the application, so that may know what is the actual case? Naek said he would supply the documents tomorrow.

    M/s Bahria Town (Private) Limited on August 6, filed an appeal against the IHC’s order under Article 185(3) of the Constitution. It asked the apex court that a regular bench hear the appeal, as no vires of any law have been challenged or interpretation of any constitutional provision is involved in the case.

    The petition raised questions whether, in view of the amended proviso to Section 25(b) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, the plea bargain agreement automatically becomes inoperative and unenforceable upon the accused’s failure to fulfill the terms and conditions stipulated therein?

    Whether the NAB authorities can lawfully determine or attribute any liability arising out of a plea bargain agreement in the absence of the accused and without associating the accused in such proceedings?

    The case is adjourned until August 13.

    Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

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  • Better access to childhood cancer treatment – Editorials

    Better access to childhood cancer treatment – Editorials

    EDITORIAL: Pakistan has recently signed an agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to participate in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer, an initiative designed to enhance the availability and accessibility of life-saving treatments for children battling cancer. With approximately 8,000 children diagnosed annually, this agreement is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of young patients and their families. At the signing event, WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr Dapeng Luo, emphasised the importance of the collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners, including UNICEF — which will be responsible for the procurement and distribution of medicines — adding that “no child is to be left behind, no matter where they live or who they are.” One of the most encouraging aspects of this agreement is the provision of quality-assured, free medicines, which could greatly increase the survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer.

    Access to cancer treatment, particularly for paediatric patients, remains a critical challenge in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries like Pakistan, where the cost of treatment can be prohibitively high for most families. In many countries, the lack of affordable healthcare is one of the primary reasons behind significantly lower cancer survival rates. In Pakistan, for instance, the current survival rate for children with cancer, as per official figures, stands at 30 percent, far below the 80 percent survival rate in high-income countries. The federal health ministry has expressed the hope that by 2030 the survival rate for children in Pakistan could increase to 60 percent. That is possible only if access to quality treatment becomes more widespread and affordable. Our participation in the Global Platform represents a vital opportunity for thousands of families who would otherwise be unable to afford cancer treatment. However, along with the provision of free medicines, it is essential to raise public awareness about the availability of these resources. The new initiative must be effectively communicated so that families in need can take full advantage of its support.

    There are other successful public health initiatives that Pakistan can learn from. In Africa, for example, 25 countries have introduced the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer prevention with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — a public-private global health partnership. It has saved millions of lives by preventing cervical cancer, a disease that disproportionately affects women in low- and- middle-income countries. HPV vaccination has proven to be one of the most effective ways for reducing the incidence of cervical cancer. Pakistan should also seriously consider integrating the HPV vaccine into its national vaccination programme, focusing on girls and young women. The success of the HPV vaccination initiative in Africa serves as a powerful example of what can be achieved when governments, international organisations, and health initiatives work together to tackle preventable diseases. By replicating such programmes, Pakistan can make significant strides in cancer prevention and treatment, potentially saving thousands of lives.

    Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

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  • Google Finance receives new AI market tracking features

    Google Finance receives new AI market tracking features

    Google LLC today debuted a new version of its Google Finance financial data search tool that uses artificial intelligence to process queries.

    The company plans to roll out the upgrade in the U.S. over the coming weeks. Users will have the option to toggle between the new and original version.

    Introduced in 2006, Google Finance is a section of the Alphabet Inc. unit’s search engine that displays data about stocks and other financial instruments. There are more than a dozen interface widgets that each track a different type of asset. A search bar enables users to surface more detailed information.

    In the original version of Google Finance, the search bar only makes it possible to look up one asset at a time. For example, entering a query about Apple Inc. stock returns a page that displays the iPhone maker’s recent earnings results and share price movements. The upgraded version of Google Finance supports broader searches. A user could enter a query that retrieves information about not only Apple but also multiple competing handset makers.

    “Rather than looking up individual stock details, you can ask your complex research questions in one go, to get helpful analysis and novel insights,” Google Search principal engineer Barine Tee wrote in a blog post.

    Google has expanded the list of data sources that users can access through the Google Finance search bar. According to the company, there’s now more information about commodities and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the interface section that displays financial news now refreshes in real-time when updates are available.

    Users can visualize data retrieved by Google Finance with a built-in charting tool. The feature can now organize information in a candlestick chart, a type of graph that lends itself well to monitoring stock price movements. Google also has added the ability to display more types of financial metrics including moving average envelopes, which track long-term stock trends.

    The update is rolling out a day after the release of GPT-5. The model, which is available in both the free and paid versions of ChatGPT, can provide higher-quality information about financial topics than its predecessor.

    A few weeks earlier, Google rival Perplexity AI Inc. updated its search engine’s finance section with several new features. One of the additions provides access to earnings documents. Another new feature allows users to organize a set of stocks in a spreadsheet and sort them using natural language prompts.

    The Google Finance enhancements are part of a broad effort by the Alphabet unit to integrate more AI features into its consumer services. In May, the company started rolling out a new AI tool for Google Search that can provide more detailed answers to user queries than AI Overviews. Earlier, it added a Gemini integration to Google Maps that summarizes venue reviews and performs related tasks.

    Image: Google

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  • Ross County chief on challenges of a Highland club

    Ross County chief on challenges of a Highland club

    Ross County chief executive Steven Ferguson says being based in the Highlands can be a challenge but believes the club successfully attracts quality players north.

    The population of the Staggies’ hometown of Dingwall is smaller than its stadium’s capacity of 6,634 fans.

    The nearest cities – Aberdeen and Perth – are more than 120 miles away, while Glasgow and Edinburgh are almost 200 miles down the road.

    Ferguson told BBC Scotland Sport it was a “huge challenge” geographically, adding: “But it is one we cannot change. We are where we are.”

    Ross County were relegated from the Scottish Premiership to the Championship last season.

    Speaking at half time on Friday during County’s televised home game against former Premiership rivals St Johnstone, Ferguson was asked about the challenges of being based in the Highlands.

    He was reminded that County’s footballing neighbours, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, considered moving its base 136 miles south to Fife to be nearer central belt players before scrapping the plan.

    Ferguson said: “We understand our importance to this area. They love their football up here. They are passionate about their club.

    “We just need to show that same passion we get from our community.”

    He said County believed it had assembled a good squad.

    “I would be wrong to say that anything other than winning the league is good enough because we have invested in a group of players we believe is good enough to win the league,” he said.

    Ferguson added: “We are bedding in a lot of players.

    “It does take a little bit of time – a lot of players are moving to the Highlands. It is a different environment for them. They accept all that.”

    BBC Scotland Sport pundit and former Hearts captain Michael Stewart agreed Highland clubs faced significant challenges recruiting players.

    He said: “We are a very central belt focused nation, and there is no doubt about that.

    “It does become difficult to get players up here, but I guarantee you and I’m sure Steven Ferguson will tell you this – once they are up here they won’t want to be leaving because it is a wonderful place to be – it really is.

    “There is a different pace to life, but it (Ross County) is a very important club for the Highlands.”

    St Johnstone won the game 1-0 with a goal from Uche Ikpeazu.

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  • Oil steadies on reports of US-Russia deal, ends week about 5% lower – Reuters

    1. Oil steadies on reports of US-Russia deal, ends week about 5% lower  Reuters
    2. Oil ticks down on reports of US-Russia deal  Reuters
    3. Brent Set for Weekly Decline  TradingView
    4. WTI tumbles to below $63.00 as tariff concerns mount  Mitrade
    5. Oil Updates — crude set for steepest weekly losses since June  Arab News

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