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  • Esports World Cup Foundation and Lenovo Partner to Power the Next Generation of Esports Champions

    Esports World Cup Foundation and Lenovo Partner to Power the Next Generation of Esports Champions

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – June 26, 2025 – The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and Lenovo, today announced a partnership to make Lenovo’s Legion brand of gaming devices the Official PC & Gaming Hardware partner of the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC). Lenovo Legion is the one of the world’s leading gaming ecosystem brands, and will be bring its relentless commitment to innovation and performance to the global stage, empowering EWC athletes to compete at their highest level.

    From training rooms to tournament zones, EWC athletes will be equipped with Lenovo Legion Towers, Lenovo Legion laptops, and peripherals – built for elite esports play with advanced thermal systems, high-performance silicon, high refresh-rate displays and low latency keyboards and mice that meet the demands of top-level competition.

    Key models such as the Legion Tower 7i and Legion Tower 5i will feature across the event’s player infrastructure, delivering the reliability and power needed to perform under the intense pressure of elite competition. Designed for esports, both towers offer expansive I/O for a complete gaming setup and Legion Coldfront: Liquid cooling thermal solutions. The Legion Tower 7i boasts advanced cooling and an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Desktop GPU for the extreme performance that top-tier esports athletes rely on, while the Legion Tower 5i pairs intelligent cooling with the RTX 5070 Ti Desktop GPU to deliver focused, winning gameplay.

    EWC will also feature Legion Pro 7i laptops to give attendees the full Lenovo Legion experience. Legion laptops untether elite-level gaming experiences from the desk, allowing gamers to win anywhere they find themselves in competition for the top spot with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPUs and Legion Coldfront: Vapor thermal systems, allowing the laptop to deliver up to 250W TDP that brings the most demanding games to life on the 16” PureSight OLED display.

    “We’re building the Esports World Cup to set a new global standard — in both competition and the technology behind it,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer at Esports World Cup Foundation. “Lenovo’s Legion brand understands what elite players need: speed, efficiency, and reliability under pressure. These machines deliver the competitive edge required on the world’s biggest stage, and together we’re pushing the limits of performance — while delivering an experience that meets the expectations of athletes, fans, and the future of global esports.”

    “Lenovo Legion equips gamers around the world with outstanding devices to help them achieve their goals and reach their impossible,” said Volker Düring, VP, PC Gaming Business, Lenovo. “The Esports World Cup is the ultimate forum for the world’s best gamers to showcase their mettle and emerge at the top of the world leaderboards, and when the best gamers compete on Lenovo Legion devices, anything is possible.”

    As part of the partnership, Lenovo’s Legion branding will appear across EWC’s global broadcast, digital content, and onsite experiences, including fully equipped festival zones with PCs, gear, and laptops available for attendees to play on-site, helping drive deeper engagement with fans while highlighting the ecosystem that supports world-class gaming.

    Fans can expect exclusive content, player-focused storytelling, and digital activations across Lenovo Legion’s social channels, offering an inside look at the road to victory – and the technology that powers it.

    Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup will unite global gaming communities for a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2,000 elite players, and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, from high-stakes competition to live music, anime cafes, retro arcades, cosplay, and more, drawing millions of fans online and in person.

    To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.

    Explore Lenovo Legion’s full lineup at www.lenovo.com/legion.

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  • 170 charities and NGOs call for U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza aid distribution to be shut down

    170 charities and NGOs call for U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza aid distribution to be shut down

    Calling the humanitarian aid distribution centers “death traps,” the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that 583 people had died since GHF first began operating in Gaza in late May following a three-month Israeli blockade on aid distribution.

    Since then, there have been almost daily claims of the Israeli military deliberately firing at aid recipients, accusations that the IDF has denied. The United Nations condemned the GHF aid system, with Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday calling it “inherently unsafe.”

    Refuting the claims in a statement to NBC News Tuesday, GHF said it was “providing millions of meals each day directly to the Palestinian people who deserve and need aid.”

    “Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza,” it added.

    Israel, which has defended GHF by saying it provides direct assistance to Palestinians while bypassing Hamas interference, said in a statement Monday that it would “examine” the reports of civilians being hurt at the aid sites and add new fencing and sign posting to improve access.

    The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Tuesday accused Hamas of firing at civilians at humanitarian sites and of falsely blaming the IDF to “disrupt aid efforts and keep the people of Gaza away from much needed aid,” according to a post on X.

    A child treated after Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on Palestinians gathered to receive humanitarian aid in the southern city of Kahn Younis last month. Doaa Albaz / Anadolu via Getty Images

    The move comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington early next week, a White House official confirmed to NBC News, as pressure to end the war in Gaza intensifies.

    “I am expected to leave next week for meetings in the United States with President Trump,” Netanyahu said Tuesday. “These things come in the wake of the great victory we achieved in Operation ‘Rising lion,’” he added, referring to Israel’s recent military assault on Iran.

    The Israeli leader added that along with Trump, he would also meet other senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff. “We have a few things to close before then in order to reach the trade agreement in addition to other things,” he said.

    Trump also said on Tuesday that he would discuss the situation in Gaza with Netanyahu during the upcoming visit.

    The president in an earlier post on Truth Social on Saturday said that Netanyahu was “right now in the process of negotiating a Deal with Hamas, which will include getting the Hostages back.” On Sunday, he again urged both sides to make progress on the stalled ceasefire talks. “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!” Trump wrote in a separate post.

    A two-month ceasefire collapsed in March after Israel renewed its military assault on Gaza and imposed a total aid blockade for 11 weeks. Hundreds of aid distribution points across Gaza previously run by the U.N. were later reduced to four sites operated by GHF, where deadly incidents have been reported nearly daily.

    The Israeli military acknowledges involvement in many of these incidents, often saying that soldiers fire warning shots or at individuals who appear to pose a threat or are in unauthorized areas. GHF says the attacks happen outside its distribution sites.

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  • First Ever Crayola Global Color Vote to Kick Off Back-To-School Season

    First Ever Crayola Global Color Vote to Kick Off Back-To-School Season

    This year Crayola is celebrating creativity through color and the deeply personal role color plays in connecting us to the past and inspiring them anew. Following the resounding success of the Limited Edition Retired Color Collection – where nostalgic colors like Dandelion, Blizzard Blue and Magic Mint are making a triumphant return for a limited time – Crayola is eager to discover what other beloved Crayola colors hold a special place in consumers’ hearts with the Global Color Vote.

    “Color is part of one’s identity: who we are, how we feel, how we live our lives,” said Pete Ruggiero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crayola. “With this global color vote, Crayola will bring innovation to the market that directly reflects the global consumer. People around the world will have the unique opportunity to influence a special collection of crayons, colored pencils, and markers based on the colors that mean the most to them.”

    According to a 2024 Color Perception Survey conducted by Crayola in partnership with the Ad Council Research Institute, color rates as the most impactful element in planning important milestones, symbolizing meaningful aspects of life, and describing something as beautiful or unique by more than 88% of respondents. These emotional ties to color also lend themselves to self-expression as 87% of those surveyed believe color significantly impacts creativity.

    “The 2025 Global Color Vote celebrates the incredible power that color has to connect us to our emotions and memories, to unite us, and to help us creatively express our feelings, thoughts and ideas,” says Victoria Lozano, Chief Marketing Officer at Crayola. “We’re excited to see which colors resonate most deeply with people around the world and bring those meaningful hues together to encourage more creative moments and colorful memories.”

    To become a part of Crayola history, color enthusiasts of all ages can cast their votes from now until Sept. 30, 2025 by visiting www.crayola.com/votenow or scanning QR codes on the back of Crayola “What’s Your Favorite Color” products – 24-count crayons, 12-count colored pencils, 10-count broad and fine line markers or 8-count washable watercolors.

    Teachers, parents, and kids can find their favorite Crayola back-to-school products at retailers nationwide for the same exceptional value they’ve come to rely on. Consumers can also purchase bulk packs of top list items to help provide much needed supplies that support learning in the classroom. For added nostalgia and colorful fun, shoppers have the opportunity to supplement their baskets with Limited Edition Retired Color Collection items before they go back into retirement.

    Color Perception Survey Methodology Findings from a nationwide study conducted by Crayola in partnership with the Ad Council Research Institute from October 16-23, 2024, with 1,503 parents of kids aged 2-12.

    About Crayola
    Whether it’s providing tools to put a purple octopus on the moon, helping create family memories or enabling teachers to bring arts-infused learning into the classroom, Crayola is passionate about helping parents and educators raise creatively alive children. The company has inspired creativity in children for over 120 years, creating an expansive portfolio of innovative art tools and learning resources, crafting activities, toys and digital platforms, live action and animation content, and location-based experiences allowing children of all ages to color their world in imaginative ways. Through its work, Crayola sees a world where the inherent creativity of children is fully nurtured into adulthood, helping all kids reach their full potential. For more information visit www.Crayola.com or join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/Crayola.

     Media Contact: Jaclyn Giuliano, [email protected] 

    SOURCE Crayola

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  • The Luxury Collection and Michael McGregor Channel the Essence of Three Cities in an Artful New Limited-Edition Collaboration

    The Luxury Collection and Michael McGregor Channel the Essence of Three Cities in an Artful New Limited-Edition Collaboration

    The unique partnership will showcase the distinctive heritage and charm of three iconic North American properties within The Luxury Collection’s portfolio through a creative lens.

    BETHESDA, Md., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces a partnership with Michael McGregor, the Los Angeles-based artist celebrated for his striking and vibrant depictions of everyday life. In his first collaboration with a global hotel brand, McGregor has partnered with The Luxury Collection to create a bespoke series of original drawings that celebrate the local charm and culture of three of the portfolio’s most esteemed North American properties: Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco; Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis; and Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah. This exclusive collaboration reinforces the brand’s commitment to providing guests with immersive experiences that capture the soul and cultural vibrancy of each destination, seen through the unique lens of global creatives.




    The Luxury Collection and Michael McGregor Limited-Edition Collaboration






    The Luxury Collection and Michael McGregor Limited-Edition Collaboration

    Known for exploring themes of luxury, leisure, and travel with expressive style, McGregor was inspired by his personal experiences at the three hotels to create one-of-a-kind artworks that reflect the identity and locale of each destination. Whether capturing the Gilded Age opulence of Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco, the flourishing arts and design scene surrounding Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis, or the romance and historic charm of Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah, McGregor’s drawings translate each hotel’s sense-of-place with his signature whimsy.

    “At The Luxury Collection, we are passionate about unearthing the authentic essence of a destination and creating moments of discovery that resonate long after guests depart,” said Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. “Michael McGregor’s talent for distilling the spirit of a place with unmistakable character and flair beautifully encapsulates this mission. His drawings are artistic celebrations of personal exploration. In the same spirit, we hope to inspire our guests to discover and fall in love with the destinations they visit in their own unique ways.”

    The drawings will also be integrated into the guest journey at these select hotels through bespoke guest collateral and visual storytelling elements including welcome notes and amenity cards that evoke a deep sense of place. Additionally, a curated box set of postcards featuring five of McGregor’s illustrations will be available for purchase at participating properties and online, offering guests a timeless memento of their stays.

    To further bring the collaboration to life, each of the three hotels will offer bespoke guest programming inspired by McGregor’s artistic process and his whimsical approach to capturing a sense of place. At Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco, guests will be invited to join Sketches Through Time, a guided walking tour through the hotel’s historic spaces culminating in a sketching session led by a local artist. Using custom sketch kits and materials, guests will be encouraged to interpret the property’s iconic architectural and cultural details that inspired Michael himself.

    Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah and Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis will also introduce interactive sketching activations celebrating local creativity and personal expression. At the rooftop bar Peregrin at Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah, the Sketch & Sip event will invite guests to create their own illustrations of Savannah while enjoying the lively atmosphere. Guests’ artworks will then be shared on social media for a friendly competition, with the lucky winner receiving a postcard set, gift card to Peregrin, and a complimentary one-night stay at the hotel. Meanwhile, Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis, will also host a sketching class led by local artists. Held within the hotel’s skyway system, guests will reimagine impressive views of the Ziggurat-inspired Ivy Tower and downtown Minneapolis skyline. These activations will offer guests thoughtful moments of connection and creativity – an extension of Michael’s belief in approaching travel with an observational and curious spirit.

    “I find inspiration in the quiet observations of everyday life and the freedom to explore at my own pace, so travel has always been a driving force in my creative process. Partnering with The Luxury Collection is a natural fit, as the brand’s approach to travel resonates with my own, both valuing curiosity and the thrill of unexpected discoveries,” said Michael McGregor. “The hotels I visited were as unique as the destinations they inhabited, with stories and characters waiting to be uncovered. It’s been a fulfilling artistic endeavor to share my perspectives on these remarkable places and bring them to life through my drawings.”

    The postcard set will be available to purchase online at TheLuxuryCollectionStore.com and on property at select locations.

    ABOUT THE LUXURY COLLECTION HOTELS & RESORTS
    The Luxury Collection® is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA® brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of over 120 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in over 40 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Instagram and Facebook. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

    ABOUT MARRIOTT BONVOY
    Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with more than 30 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques®. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

    ABOUT MICHAEL MCGREGOR
    Michael McGregor is a Los Angeles-based artist known for his distinctive, wide-eyed renderings that transform traditional subject matter into vibrant, thought-provoking works, with a focus on still life. His illustrations, often inspired by themes of luxury, travel, and leisure, have been featured on hotel stationery and in various lifestyle publications. In 2024, McGregor released Hotel Sketches: Capturing Moments of Travel and Leisure, a coffee table book that compiles his most iconic works, offering a visual journey through the nuances of travel and the beauty of everyday life.

    SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.


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  • Netflix New Releases: July 2025

    Netflix New Releases: July 2025

    The return of Charlize Theron’s band of immortals; another behind the scenes glimpse at the lives of NFL quarterbacks; a brand-new music talent series featuring one of Liam Payne’s final TV appearances; the conclusion of The Sandman‘s story; a potential breakout Korean thriller; and the long-awaited return of Happy Gilmore are some of the highlights among the new films and series hitting Netflix in July.

    One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard. Debuting on July 2, the Victoria Mahoney-directed film once again sees Charlize Theron playing Andromache of Scythia, aka Andy, the leader of a band of vigilante immortals. In The Old Guard 2, following on from the climax of the first film, Andy must come to terms with her newfound mortality while preparing to face a mysterious foe (played by Uma Thurman). The cast includes returnees KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and newcomers Thurman and Henry Golding.

    Quarterback, the sports docuseries, is back for its second season this month, debuting on July 8. The show, produced by Netflix in partnership with NFL Films, 2PM Productions, and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, is in the vein of the streamer’s phenomenally successful Drive to Survive docuseries. Season one of Quarterback followed Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota through the 2022 season. Season two will see Cousins return, this time as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, with Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions.

    On July 9, Netflix debuts its new music competition series, Building the Band. The show was notably the last television appearance of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died tragically in October 2024. Before his death, Payne recorded episodes as a guest judge on the series that is hosted by Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean, with Nicole Scherzinger (The Pussycat Dolls) serving as mentor-judge and Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland also serving as a guest judge. Following Payne’s death, the show’s producers and Payne’s family were weighing his inclusion in the series. Ultimately, they have decided to move forward with Payne remaining in the show.

    Launching in three parts over the month of July is the second and final season of The Sandman, the fantasy series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s iconic graphic novels. Despite stellar reviews and decent ratings for season one, the followup and indeed the very existence of a second season hung in the balance as Gaiman was accused of sexual assault by five women in July 2024, and by four more women in January 2025. The second season will conclude the story for Dream (played by Tom Sturridge), the show’s central character and part one will debut on July 3, with part two on July 24 with a special episode concluding things on July 31. Season two will feature a number of fan-favorite characters reprising their roles, including Mason Alexander Park as Desire, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, and Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven. Jenna Coleman, Donna Preston, Esmé Creed-Miles, Adrian Lester, Barry Sloane, Ferdinand Kingsley, Stephen Fry, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Razane Jammal, Ruairi O’Connor, Freddie Fox, Clive Russell, Laurence O’Fuarain, Ann Skelly, Douglas Booth, Jack Gleeson, Indya Moore, and Steve Coogan also appear.

    A potential breakout film for Netflix this month could be the Korean psychological thriller Wall to Wall, which debuts on July 18. In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience. According to the logline, Wall to Wall is about “Woo-sung, a financially burdened homeowner who struggles to find sleep and peace in what should be his dream home. When all his neighbors accuse him of being the source of the noise, he sets out to find the source himself and prove his innocence.”

    The other big Hollywood film release for Netflix in July, and the feature most likely to shoot up the top 10 list and dominate social media, is the sequel to Adam Sandler’s classic and endlessly quotable golf comedy Happy Gilmore. The first film, released all the way back in 1996, featured Sandler as a failed hockey player with a knack for booming golf drives, and the Kyle Newacheck-directed sequel sees Happy picking up his clubs once more to pay for his daughter’s school fees. As well as Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher “Shooter McGavin” McDonald, and Ben Stiller reprise their roles from the original film while Benny Safdie and Bad Bunny are newcomers. Happy Gilmore 2 debuts on July 25.

    Movies added to Netflix in July include Blow, Born on the Fourth of July, Captain Phillips, The Deer Hunter, Friday Night Lights, Here Comes the Boom, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Horrible Bosses, The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III, Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible II, Mission: Impossible III, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, The Notebook, Pacific Rim, The Sweetest Thing, Tangerine, V for Vendetta, White Chicks, Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3 and Jaws: The Revenge.

    Read on for the complete list of titles hitting Netflix in March.

    July 1

    Attack on London: Hunting The 7/7 Bombers (GB)
    Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel (GB)
    17 Again
    Annie     (1982)
    Blow
    Born on the Fourth of July
    Captain Phillips
    The Deer Hunter
    Friday Night Lights
    Here Comes the Boom
    The Hitman’s Bodyguard
    The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
    Horrible Bosses
    The Karate Kid
    The Karate Kid
    The Karate Kid Part II
    The Karate Kid Part III
    Mission: Impossible
    Mission: Impossible II
    Mission: Impossible III
    Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
    Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
    Mom    : Seasons 1-8
    The Notebook
    Pacific Rim
    PAW Patrol     Seasons 2-3
    Portlandia: Seasons 1-8
    The Sweetest Thing
    Tangerine
    V for Vendetta
    White Chicks
    Yellowjackets    : Season 2
    Zathura: A Space Adventure

    July 2

    The Old Guard 2
    Tour de France: Unchained    : Season 3 (GB)

    July 3

    Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano
    Mr. Robot    : Seasons 1-4
    The Sandman: Season 2 Volume 1

    July 4

    All the Sharks

    July 5

    The Summer Hikaru Died (JP)

    July 8

    A Star Is Born (2018)
    Better Late Than Single (KR)
    Nate Jackson: Super Funny
    Quarterback    : Season 2
    Sullivan’s Crossing: Seasons 1-2
    Trainwreck: The Real Project X (GB)

    July 9

    Building The Band
    The Gringo Hunters     (MX)
    Mad Max: Fury Road
    Under a Dark Sun     (FR)
    Ziam (TH)

    July 10

    7 Bears (FR)
    Brick (DE)
    Leviathan (JP)
    Off Road (IL)
    Sneaky Pete: Seasons 1-3
    Too Much (GB)

    July 11

    Aap Jaisa Koi (IN)
    Almost Cops (NL)
    Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3
    Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding

    July 14

    Apocalypse in the Tropics (BR)
    SAKAMOTO DAYS: Season 1 Part 2 (JP)

    July 15

    Entitled: Season 1
    Jaws
    Jaws 2
    Jaws 3
    Jaws: The Revenge
    Trainwreck: Balloon Boy     (GB)

    July 16

    Amy Bradley Is Missing
    Mamma Mia!
    Wanted

    July 17

    Catalog (EG)
    Community Squad: Season 2 (AR)
    UNTAMED

    July 18

    Almost Family (BR)
    Delirium (CO)
    I’m Still a Superstar (ES)
    Superstar (ES)
    Vir Das: Fool Volume (IN)
    Wall to Wall (KR)

    July 19

    Eight for Silver

    July 21

    The Hunting Wives: Season 1
    The Steve Harvey Show: Seasons 1-6

    July 22

    Trainwreck: P.I. Moms (GB)

    July 23

    Critical: Between Life and Death (GB)
    Hightown: Seasons 1-3
    House of Lies: Seasons 1-5
    Letters From The Past (TR)

    July 24

    A Normal Woman (ID)
    Hitmakers
    My Melody & Kuromi (JP)
    The Sandman: Season 2 Volume 2

    July 25

    Happy Gilmore 2
    Trigger (KR)
    The Winning Try (KR)

    July 28

    The Lazarus Project: Seasons 1-2

    July 29

    Dusty Slay: Wet Heat
    Trainwreck: Storm Area 51     (GB)
    WWE: Unreal

    July 30

    Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes
    Unspeakable Sins     (MX)

    July 31

    An Honest Life (SE)
    Glass Heart
    Leanne
    Marked     (ZA)
    The Sandman: Season 2: Special Episode

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  • Siemens adds AI copilot and VR features to NX software

    Siemens adds AI copilot and VR features to NX software

    Siemens has announced major updates to its NX and NX X software. The latest version introduces an AI copilot for natural language interaction, immersive engineering capabilities in collaboration with Sony, and integrated thermal and fluid simulation.

    The new Design Copilot NX uses natural language processing to give users access to Siemens’ database. Both beginners and experienced users can search for technical answers, best practices, and documentation using natural language. The system is designed to accelerate the learning process by providing quick access to relevant information.

    Immersive engineering with Sony headsets

    One of the most notable additions is the collaboration with Sony for mixed reality functionalities. In addition to the existing NX Immersive Designer, which allows users to view and edit 3D CAD designs in VR and AR, Siemens is now introducing NX Immersive Collaborator.

    This new tool allows colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to collaborate in the same virtual reality environment. Collaborative sessions can be started directly from the NX interface without extensive preparatory work. The system provides tools for measuring, evaluating, and annotating parts or complete assemblies.

    With NX CFD Designer, Siemens is introducing a new CAD-integrated simulation tool. The software, based on Simcenter FLOEFD technology, enables designers to perform fluid flow and thermal analyses without leaving the CAD environment.

    The system is specifically designed for users without CFD experience. It automates complex tasks such as fluid volume detection and meshing, allowing designers to quickly evaluate different scenarios and compare geometry variations.

    In addition, Siemens has expanded the capabilities of Performance Predictor. Designers and engineers can now perform mechanical stress analyses on complete assemblies.

    Model-based design extended to quality control

    The new NX Inspector represents a significant advancement in Model-Based Design (MBD). The system adds model-based characteristics to digital twins, enabling MBD to be used for downstream quality and production processes.

    Designers can define manufacturing PMI based on the Model-Based Characteristics standard of the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium. This information is reused to create inspection and metrology processes through integration with Teamcenter and Teamcenter Quality.

    The Design for Manufacture (DFM) Advisor also automates early manufacturability assessments. The system analyzes geometry and identifies potential challenges in various manufacturing processes such as drilling, milling, assembly, and casting. The NX Mold Wizard has also been improved with real-time updates and enhanced cooling channel simulation tools.

    Tip: Siemens nears largest acquisition ever with $10 billion loan

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  • New black hole recipe could hold the key to quantum gravity: ‘This is the holy grail of theoretical physics’

    New black hole recipe could hold the key to quantum gravity: ‘This is the holy grail of theoretical physics’

    The first step toward quantum gravity, the “holy grail of physics,” may be hiding in a quantum recipe to cook up black holes.

    That’s the suggestion of new research that adds quantum corrections to Einstein’s 1916 theory of gravity, known as “general relativity.” Black holes are relevant to this because they first theoretically emerged from the solutions to the Einstein field equations that underpin general relativity.

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  • Multiple Sclerosis Drug Reshapes the Immune System < Yale School of Medicine

    Multiple Sclerosis Drug Reshapes the Immune System < Yale School of Medicine

    When ocrelizumab became the first FDA-approved treatment for early forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2017, it offered patients immense hope. The long-awaited drug is a monoclonal antibody that depletes B cells—the immune cells that drive MS progression. Exactly how ocrelizumab does this, however, remains unclear.

    In a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Yale scientists begin to answer this question. By using single-cell RNA sequencing—a technique that provides a window into the gene expression in individual cells—the researchers laid out a detailed view of how ocrelizumab achieves its therapeutic effects.

    “The surprise was that the drug doesn’t work at all the way we thought it was working,” says David A. Hafler, MD, William S. and Lois Stiles Edgerly Professor of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine, who led the study. “We knew what the end result was and that the drug was enormously effective in patients. But what’s driving the drug’s action is a type of white blood cell in the central nervous system. No one would ever hypothesize that.”

    The roles of T cells and B cells in multiple sclerosis

    B and T cells have closely intertwined roles in the immune system. B cells are critical cells that recognize foreign objects, bind them, and present them to T cells, which then signal other immune cells to take action. But this relationship goes awry in disease.

    In MS, abnormally active B cells trigger T cells to attack the myelin sheath, the protective layer of nerve fibers, leading to neurological symptoms, such as loss of vision, muscle weakness, and cognitive impairment. More than two decades ago, Hafler and his team discovered this was due to defects in regulatory T cells, which normally put the brake on immune responses, but when defective, unleash immune cells that mistakenly target the body’s own tissues.

    In the early stages of MS, both B and T cells are deemed to be the drivers of the disease. Once the disease progresses to a neurodegenerative stage, other inflammatory processes become more prominent.

    “Once you enter the neurodegenerative phase of the disease, it is much more difficult to stop the process,” Hafler says. “What we’ve learned is that the earlier you treat the disease, the better the outcome.”

    Ocrelizumab binds to the surface of B cells, leading to their destruction. And especially for people in the early stages of MS, it can be quite effective. “The drug works incredibly well,” Hafler says. But Hafler and his team found that ocrelizumab was doing far more than just controlling B cells.

    What we’ve learned is that the earlier you treat the disease, the better the outcome.

    David A. Hafler, MD

    In the new study, the researchers analyzed the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of 18 patients, all of whom had an early-onset form of multiple sclerosis in which patients cycle between periods of disease remission and relapse. The scientists measured the cell type-specific changes in protein expression before and after the patients received six months of ocrelizumab, in an effort to identify immune molecules that might change in response to the drug.

    They discovered that the reduction in B cells driven by ocrelizumab led to an increase in the pro-inflammatory molecule TNF-α. This was unexpected because TNF-α has been shown to trigger the immune system and exacerbate inflammation in certain diseases. In fact, medications that block the activity of TNF-α are typically used for treating various autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

    As they looked further, the researchers found that by inducing TNF-α, ocrelizumab led to an increase in a specific type of regulatory T cell. This, in turn, curbed the circulation of T cells that attack the myelin.

    “This unpredicted increase in TNF-α shows that ocrelizumab works in a paradoxical way,” says Hafler.

    Understanding the cause of multiple sclerosis

    One of the current working models of MS suggests that the disease originates from the Epstein-Barr virus. “How the Epstein-Barr virus triggers the disease is a point that we don’t yet understand,” Hafler says. However, there is a strong body of evidence to show that the virus infects B cells. Therefore, understanding how a B cell-depleting drug affects T cell activity may lead to further explanations.

    The current finding also explains why a fifth of the genes linked to MS risk involve the TNF pathway and why many of those genetic changes are protective in other diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases.

    “This shows that biology has a richness to it,” Hafler says. “When these molecules are made, where they’re made, and what cell they’re working on have very different effects.”

    Hafler suspects that ocrelizumab might be acting through other mechanisms as well, an inkling that motivates his lab to continue their investigation. “For something to work that well, there must be other things going on,” he says.

    The team is now beginning to study the pathogenesis of MS in a large cohort of women who have at least one parent with the disease. By following the genetic evolution of the disease, the scientists are hoping to better understand how B cells change the immune landscape in real time.

    “This study is only one piece of the puzzle,” Hafler says. “We’ll continue to look for other pieces.”

    The research reported in this news article was supported by the National Institutes of Health (awards P01AI073748, U19AI089992, U24AI11867, R01AI22220, UM1HG009390, P01AI039671, P50CA121974, and R01CA227473) and Yale University. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. This work was also supported by Race to Erase MS, the National MS Society, Genentech, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche.

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  • PM Shehbaz visits Iranian Embassy, signs condolence book – RADIO PAKISTAN

    1. PM Shehbaz visits Iranian Embassy, signs condolence book  RADIO PAKISTAN
    2. Governor KP visits Iranian Embassy to express solidarity over Israeli aggression  Ptv.com.pk
    3. Iran’s military chief thanks Pakistan for support during war with Israel  The Express Tribune
    4. Pakistan, Iran to hold bilateral talks in Azerbaijan this week  samaa tv
    5. PM lauds economic team, wants tight Muharram security  Dawn

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  • OLAF supports coordinated crackdown on cross-border counterfeit cigarette network in Italy and Romania

    OLAF supports coordinated crackdown on cross-border counterfeit cigarette network in Italy and Romania

    Press release no 18/2025
    PDF version

    The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) played an important coordination role in a large-scale joint operation that dismantled a cross-border criminal network involved in the illicit production and smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes, with estimated evaded duties totalling approximately €9.8 million.

    The network, coordinated by Romanian, Moldovan, and Italian nationals, operated illegal production facilities in both Romania and Italy, with significant quantities of counterfeit tobacco products destined for distribution across the European Union.

    The operation, carried out on 3 June 2025, was the result of extensive intelligence sharing between OLAF, Romanian authorities—including the Economic Crime Investigation Directorate of the General Police Inspectorate (I.G.P.R.), Caraș-Severin County Police (I.P.J. Caraș-Severin), and the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (D.I.I.C.O.T.)—and the Italian Guardia di Finanza and Bologna Economic Police Unit.

    In Romania, coordinated searches in Timiș and Arad counties led to the seizure of approximately 25 million cigarettes stored in 2,500 boxes. Four individuals were arrested in Timiș County while handling smuggled goods. Two other suspects were detained by D.I.I.C.O.T. on 4 June.These actions were supported by the Romanian Customs Authority.

    Simultaneously, in Italy, a clandestine cigarette factory was discovered in an industrial area in the Emilia-Romagna region. The site was equipped with high-end machinery for replicating branded packaging. Investigators seized 14 tonnes of counterfeit cigarettes, more than 10 tonnes of unprocessed tobacco, and a large quantity of packaging materials.

    The scale of the illicit operation underscores the financial threat posed to the EU’s budget and legitimate trade. OLAF’s role was instrumental in ensuring swift cross-border cooperation, highlighting its mandate to protect the EU’s financial interests and combat organised fraud. 

     

    OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
    OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

    OLAF fulfils its mission by:
    •    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
    •    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
    •    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

    In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
    •    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
    •    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
    •    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

    Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

    For further details:

    Pierluigi CATERINO
    Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
    Email: olaf-mediaec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    X: x.com/EUAntiFraud
    Bluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social

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