A Marvel Hulk figure could sell for up to £5,000 at auction in Hertfordshire
A stretch toy figure of a Marvel character, said to be “one of the rarest stretch toys in existence”, is to go under the hammer at auction.
Excalibur Auctions, in Hertfordshire, said the toy was one of only 30 known examples of the original Hulk stretch figure from 1979 known to still exist.
It was produced by toy-maker Denys Fisher and comes directly from its original owner.
Jonathan Torode, from the Kings Langley-based auctioneer, said: “We are thrilled to be able to offer the opportunity to acquire one of the rarest stretch toys in existence.”
The Hulk figure was manufactured in Thorp Arch in West Yorkshire, and was sold in limited quantities only in the UK.
This angry, green-skinned figure was owned by a child whose mother knew someone who worked for Denys Fisher, and purchased one of the first off the production line.
PA Media
The toy was originally a variant of Kenner’s “Stretch Armstrong” line and was later licensed by Denys Fisher in the UK
Excalibur said the figure came with its original instructions and had never been offered for sale since it was bought in 1979.
It comes with its original packaging which bears a handwritten “number one” on the flap of the box.
The cardboard packaging has a couple of tears in it, but is described as being in “mint” condition having been kept out of the light and upright over the years.
Mr Torode added: “Having never been offered on the market before and to be in such good condition and with excellent provenance, renders this the ultimate for collectors.
“We therefore anticipate world-wide interest.”
The vibrant yellow packaging has not faded and the original chalk dust on the figure’s surface means that it was never shaken off, or played with, post-production, the auction house said.
The toy is estimated to go for £3,000-£5,000 at the auction on 26 July.
Israel has attacked Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports and a power plant, the Israeli military said early on Monday, marking the first Israeli attack on Yemen in almost a month.
The strikes on Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif ports, and Ras Qantib power plant were carried out by Israel, the military added.
Hours after the strikes, the Israeli military said two missiles were launched from Yemen and attempts were made to intercept them, but the results of interception were still under review.
The Israeli ambulance service said it had not received any calls regarding missile impacts or casualties following the launches from Yemen.
Most of the dozens of missiles and drones fired toward Israel have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of strikes on Houthis as well.
Israel also attacked Galaxy Leadership in Ras Isa port, which was seized by Houthis in late 2023, the military added on Monday.
Photo: Reuters
“The Houthi terrorist regime’s forces installed a radar system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space, to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities,” the military said.
The Houthi military spokesperson said following the attacks that Houthis’ air defences confronted the Israeli attack ‘by using a large number of domestically produced surface-to-air missiles’.
Residents told Reuters that the Israeli strikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah put the main power station out of service, leaving the city in darkness. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Israel launched a series of strikes on Hodeidah, shortly after the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for people at the three Yemeni ports.
The assault comes hours after a ship was attacked off of Hodeidah and the ship’s crew abandoned it as it took on water.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but security firm Ambrey said the vessel fits the typical profile of a Houthi target.
Israel has severely hurt other allies of Iran in the region – Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas.
The Tehran-backed Houthis and pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq are still standing.
The group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, created the force challenging world powers from a group of ragtag mountain fighters in sandals.
Photo: Reuters
Under the direction of al-Houthi, the group has grown into an army of tens of thousands of fighters and acquired armed drones and ballistic missiles.
Paris is hopping with new boutiques, restaurants and exhibitions. Here’s a curation of those for this couture season.
Where to Shop
Rubirosa’s, the latest project by Paris-based jewelry designer Lauren Rubinski, isn’t about gold and gemstones. Her ancestor Ludovic Élazar Rubinski was a French merchant specialized in cotton and cashmere, who supplied the poplin used for ecclesiastic shirts in the Vatican. These inspired the upscale range of smart pajamas, crisp shirts and buttery moccasins that she is now offering in a slip of a boutique appointed like a curio cabinet.
Online diamond retailer 77 Diamonds is opening its latest by-appointment showroom on Place Vendôme so that jewelry lovers can stop by to create bespoke diamond-set baubles. It’s a major stepping stone as the 20-year-old company headquartered in London gears up to expand across Europe and the Middle East.
It’s not just the doors of its first formal flagship that French heritage leather goods brand Létrange is opening on Place Vendôme. Chairman Sébastien Létrange, the seventh generation of the founding family, has decided to follow up its retail apartment adventure with another offbeat idea: opening fine vintages drawn from the family wine cellar. And of course, the range of striking bags inspired by his adventurous and enterprising ancestors are given pride of place in this 1,650-square-foot ground-floor space.
Ghanaian American designer Kwame Adusei has opened his second standalone store in the Marais, following his flagship in Beverly Hills. Known for his modern take on African design cues, Adusei creates sharp yet generous cuts in cropped blazers, moto jackets and trousers, and is already a celebrity favorite worn by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Kylie Jenner and Ciara. Adusei is committed to sustainability, using deadstock materials and producing in his own 15-person workshop in Los Angeles, with much of the collection made-to-order, thus avoiding overproduction. The Paris store reflects Adusei’s ethos: the 820-square-foot space is filled with antiques he sourced from the Saint-Ouen flea market and sits above an atelier for tailoring and customization, and promotes his slow-fashion principles.
Barcelona-based jewelry brand MAM has opened its first standalone store outside of Spain with an immersive, art-infused space centered around an installation called “The Sanctuary of Gaia.” MAM’s sustainable, sculptural and genderless designs are meant to be wearable art and are laid out exhibit-style in the space that encourages a sensory experience. Earthy, undulating earrings and bracelets range from 150 euros to 550 euros, while intricate headpieces hit the top range at 2,500 euros. All of MAM’s works are handcrafted at their ateliers in Barcelona. The brand, founded in 2014 by Jordi Enrique Albert and Anthya Tirado, is on the cusp of global expansion with their next outpost slated to open in Mexico City this fall.
Jacques Solovière
Photo by Fabrice Poincelet/Courtesy
French footwear brand Jacques Solovière has opened its second boutique in Paris. A minimalist space housed behind a classic Haussmannian façade, the boutique features light and natural materials, with matte textures and custom-designed modern furniture, such as half-moon seating and an out-of-this world light installation, creating a calm, soothing cocoon. The brand, started in 2014 by Alexia Aubert, specializes in refined, Italian-made footwear like loafers, slippers and derbies on display in the 800-square-foot space. The brand’s signature Edouard Lug returns in two new shades: Odissea Navy and Crema Grained. Store visits are available by appointment only. — Lily Templeton and Rhonda Richford
Rubirosa’s, 7 Rue de Grenelle, 75007
77 Diamonds, 10 Place Vendôme, 75001
Létrange, 4 Rue de la Paix, 75001
Kwame Adusei, 15 Rue du Vertbois, 75003
MAM, 30 Rue de Sévigné, 75004
Jacques Solovière, 3 Rue Molière, 75001
Where to Eat
Already in high demand, Le Grand Café is the Grand Palais’ 320-seat brasserie tucked on the stone terrasse in a 6,000-square-foot space that was once home to the institution’s archive, on the Champs-Elysées side. Under the 8-meter ceiling, interior architect Joseph Dirand used warm tones nodding to the building’s original features and flooring — where velvet banquettes define alcove-like tables. Monumental, aged mirrors reflect the Petit Palais, so no one misses out even seated away from the windows. The menu offers a chiseled take on French brasserie food. A must-try is the Comté-and-truffles soufflé, but you won’t be disappointed by turbot quenelles, salmon and sorrel or arch-classic peppercorn beef fillet. Don’t forget the Colin Field-signed cocktails at the bar — and the live jazz band at 8 p.m. every evening.
Neo-bistro Kimono is a nod to the Japanese community that turned Paris’ Montparnasse area into its home in the 1920s. The star here is the Futosoba, a house creation that is the love child between thick-cut udon and the fragrant buckwheat soba. The restaurant had a traditional Japanese mill specially made to craft its own flour and uses a specialized machine replicating traditional kneading methods to prepare its noodles fresh and ready to be served hot, cold or as a salad.
Air France is landing a new edition of its pop-up restaurant on the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette Haussmann for the summer months. Dubbed “Le Restaurant,” the spot will offer an experience centered around the airline’s business class service, with dishes signed by triple Michelin-starred chef Régis Marcon, who drew inspiration from nature and particularly that of the central-southern region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes he hails from. And don’t miss the desserts by Nina Métayer, the first woman to be named World’s Best pastry chef in 2023.
It’s a bit of schlep to get to Thaddeus Ropac’s outpost in Pantin, a northeast suburb of Paris. But now, in addition to sprawling blue-chip art displays in a vast former foundry, an excellent caprese salad also awaits, or a plate of San Daniele. Last month, the Austrian art dealer christened Café Bleu, which can host more than 40 lunch guests on its colorful wicker chairs and comfy brown banquettes. It was realized by Pierre Pelegry, artistic director of Maxim’s and founder of Ligne Blanche, which produces porcelain tableware, scented candles and table linens in collaboration with the foundations of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and others.
Café Bleu
Photo by Studio Luma / Maxime Bessières/Courtesy of Café Bleu
The art-bedecked Limoges porcelain gives a sense of place to Café Bleu, especially since Ligne Blanche also works with living artists including Georg Baselitz, whose massive paintings of himself and his wife Elke are on display in Pantin until July 26.
The café is set in a separate, cottage-like building and it feels a bit like an escape with its rustic colors, tile floors and cozy atmosphere. “The idea is to do simple food with the best ingredients,” said Pelegry, who has kept Maxim’s roaring for nearly 30 years.
For now, all lunch dishes are cold, but well-priced and tasty, like the sliced salmon and avocado salad for 16 euros. The eatery is also open for breakfast and afternoon tea. — L.T. and Miles Socha
Le Grand Café, 1 Place Clémenceau, 75008 Tel.: +33 1 85 09 40 50
Kimono, 66 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Tel.: +33 1 42 22 32 15
Air France, On the terrasse of Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, through Aug. 20 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Reservation through the Air France site
Café Bleu, 69 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 93500 Tel.: +33 1 55 89 01 13
Where to Drink
If you had to sum up the American dream of Paris in one address, it would no doubt look like La Renommée. Behind the facade of a former 19th-century grocer, the first address of U.S.-based restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff, of Hogsalt fame, is a cozy bolt hole with art sourced in the city’s flea markets, plush leather banquettes and an enviable menu of French classics with an international twist. Don’t miss the expansive cocktail menu, or the bar downstairs. — L.T.
La Renommée
Courtesy
La Renommée, 95 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Tel.: +33 1 40 39 93 70
Where to Stay
Villa Junot, the first Parisian project of French private-home rental venture Iconic House, is about marrying the charm of a private residence with upscale services befitting a five-star property. Inside this meticulously restored 1920s town house in Montmartre with sweeping views of the Parisian skyline from its rooftop are five en-suite bedrooms, a cathedral-style lounge, a dedicated children’s room, a professional kitchen and a wellness area with a gym, sauna and indoor pool. Design details throughout the property are inspired by the building’s first owner, French operetta writer and composer André Mauprey. Services include a private chef and dedicated concierge, ready to cater to residents’ tastes and desires.
Villa Junot
Courtesy
Is it a five-star hotel? Is it offices? Is it a sports club? Is it an art space? La Fondation is all of the above — and then some. Imagined as a 100,000-square-foot hub in a striking Brutalist building set between Parc Monceau and the Batignolles, it offers 58 keys, including three suites; two restaurants and a rooftop under the direction of executive chef Thomas Rossi, previously at the helm of Mimosa; a sports facility that comes with the latest machines, a climbing wall, a 25-meter pool, a sauna and a hammam, and a spa using French brands Typology and Ho Karan, which specialize in organic de-stressing skin care treatments. — L.T.
Villa Junot by Iconic House, 18 bis Avenue Junot, 75018 Reservations: booking.iconic.house
La Fondation, 40 Rue Legendre, 75017 Tel.: +33 1 78 77 70 00
Where Art Meets Clothes
It was only a matter of time before Jordan Roth, a Broadway producer turned rabid fashion fan, would also turn his hand to design. That moment came shortly after the New Yorker began preparing for “Radical Acts of Unrelenting Beauty,” a performance piece premiering on July 10 at the Louvre during Paris Couture Week.
“It became clear that the clothes and the performance were so inextricably linked — were actually the same — that I have designed the clothes as part of creating the piece,” he told WWD in an emailed interview squeezed between rehearsals in New York.
Roth is the main star, along with six dancers moving to a score by Thomas Roussel, adding up to a spectacle that “sits at the nexus of theater, fashion and art.”
“It uses the language of music, movement, projections, connection and the ritual of dressing to explore the dynamics of identity, beauty and its capacity for self-expression and transformation, all through the fundamental elements of fashion — fabric and emotion,” he said.
The three back-to-back performances coincide with, and reference, a fashion exhibition running at the museum through July 21 titled “Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion — Statement Pieces.”
“The threshold between the exhibition and the performance is the magnificent red Dior haute couture piece by John Galliano that is exhibited in the Napoleon Apartments overlooking the Cour Marley, where the performance will be,” Roth explained. “It is the looking glass through which I and the audience dive into the dream we’ll explore together. You’ll see what I mean.”
The performances are free and open to the public via registration. Roth calls it nothing less than “an invitation to consider the possibility that we are the art, that we are the canvas of ourselves.” — M.S.
“Radical Acts of Unrelenting Beauty,” July 21 between 7 and 9:30 p.m. Louvre, 99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001
Where to Take in Art
Charles Frederick Worth, who is credited with founding haute couture, is the subject of a retrospective at the Petit Palais museum, the first major retrospective of the English designer in France. It features more than 400 works, including 80 pieces of clothing.
Paul Poiret‘s fashions, which famously freed women from the corset and took many cues from Eastern cultures, have inspired many designers, including Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and Dries Van Noten. Looks by such creators figure in “Fashion Is a Feast,” the exhibit dedicated to Poiret, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
There’s an exhibition featuring Rick Owens’ oeuvre at the Palais Galliera, which exudes many moods, including from couture-like dresses and capes in soaring felt niches to a life-like statue of the designer urinating into a metal trough.
The show at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris brings together more than 110 works, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures and ceramics, which reflect Henri Matisse’s view of his daughter Marguerite Duthuit-Matisse.
“Marguerite lisant,” by Henri Matisse
Courtesy of the Musée Maillol
The Musée Maillol has culled more than 350 photographs by Robert Doisneau, marking the first exhibit of his works in Paris for many years. These include iconic images alongside lesser-known ones.
Ramdane Touhami and Émile Shahidi have just opened The Radical Media Archive, a gallery they describe as a foundation for the preservation of alternative press, graphic publications, revolutionary art and utopian design. Its first exhibition, called “Words Sounds Colors & Shapes,” presents a smidgen of the archive. — Jennifer Weil and M.S.
“Worth: Inventing Haute Couture,” until Sept. 7 Petit Palais, 2 Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008
“Fashion Is a Feast,” until Jan. 11, 2026 Musée des Arts Décoratifs, 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001
“Rick Owens, Temple of Love,” until Jan. 4, 2026 Palais Galliera, 10 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75116
“Matisse and Marguerite,” until Aug. 24 Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, 11 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116
“Robert Doisneau: Instants Donnés,” until Oct. 12 Musée Maillol, 61 Rue de Grenelle, 75007
“Words Sounds Colors & Shapes,” until Dec. 31 Radical Media Archive, 1 Rue Eugène Spuller, 75003
Where K-beauty Is Rising
The K-beauty wave keeps rising in Paris, with the recent opening of Moida K-Beauty on the Right Bank. There, shelves are stocked with products from the likes of Tirtir, Biodance, Medicube, Nature Republic, Beauty of Joseon and CosRX.
Moida
Courtesy
Meanwhile, the BHV department store’s “Korean Wave” pop-up has as part of its selection beauty from South Korea. Agaskin pulled together eight brands, including Torriden, Axis-y, Urang, Dear and Klairs. Nüd Korean House of Beauty offers treatments for the face and body. And the Mi-rê brand, linking French and Korean savoir-faire, is also offered here. — J.W.
Moida K-Beauty, 17 Rue de Pont Neuf, 75001
“Korean Wave,” until July 13 at the BHV, 52 Rue de Rivoli, 75004
Where to Sweat
For the Reformer Pilates devotees out there, Kore is the spot to know. One of its two locations is on Rue Réaumur, a stone’s throw away from the Opéra area. With a 12-place studio and a separate space for private coaching, its focus is 50-minute high-intensity, low-impact workout sessions — nearly sweat-free but highly effective — targeting the upper body and abs on a specially developed machine.
Kore
Courtesy
Pressed for time? With Spark Club, a first-of-its-kind concept in Paris of fitness done in an infrared chamber, you won’t have any more excuses. This spot is all about getting your blood pumping in little more than 15 minutes doing yoga, Pilates, cycling or on an indoor rower. Group sessions are limited to three people. — L.T.
Kore, 103 Rue Réaumur, 75002 Reservations: kore-studio.com
Martinez has appeared to fulfil a few roles: coach, friend, tennis parent. Is that an accurate assessment?
“No, no, no,” said Martinez, shaking her head.
“I’m her coach – that’s the only way. Can you be friends? Yes. We have a great relationship.
“But I’m the one there on the tennis court, changing things and making her improve.
“I’m the one overseeing her whole career. I’m in charge of finding everything around her that will work to make her better player.”
So far it is paying off.
Born in Siberia and trained in France, Andreeva has been touted as a future Grand Slam champion since making her breakthrough as a 15-year-old at the Madrid Open – where her talent and fearlessness caught the eye of Andy Murray.
Martinez says it was clear from the moment she started working with Andreeva last year that the teenager was a superstar in the making.
Her progress under Martinez has been notable.
This season she has already won two WTA 1000 titles – the tier of tournaments below the majors – in Dubai and Indian Wells, helping her climb to a career-high ranking of sixth in the world.
Despite the generational divide, the way Andreeva and Martinez bounce off each other is allowing the player to flourish.
Andreeva shows their mutual affection by teasing Martinez in her post-match interviews, or encouraging a crowd to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her coach., external
But from the conversations with both women it is clear that business comes first.
“The relationship is good, we get along great and she respects my work. For me, that is super important,” said Martinez.
Bioniks CEO Anas Niaz says each prosthetic arm costs about $2,500, significantly less than the $10,000 to $20,000 for alternatives made in the United States.
As soon as eight-year-old Sidra Al Bordeeni returned from the clinic with her prosthetic arm, she jumped on a bicycle in the Jordanian refugee camp where she lives, riding for the first time since a missile strike in Gaza took her arm a year ago.
Sidra was injured while sheltering at Nuseirat School, one of several Gaza schools converted into makeshift refuges from Israeli strikes. Her mother, Sabreen Al Bordeeni, said Gaza’s collapsed health services and the family’s inability to leave at the time made it impossible to save her hand.
“She’s out playing, and all her friends and siblings are fascinated by her arm,” Al Bordeeni said on the phone, repeatedly thanking God for this day. “I can’t express how grateful I am to see my daughter happy.”
The arm was built over 4,000 kilometres away in Karachi by Bioniks, a Pakistani company that uses a smartphone app to take pictures from different angles and create a 3D model for custom prosthetics.
CEO Anas Niaz said the social enterprise startup had fit more than 1,000 custom-designed arms inside Pakistan since 2021 — funded through a mix of patient payments, corporate sponsorship, and donations — but this was its first time providing prosthetics to those impacted in conflict.
A technician works on computers with prosthetic limb diagram at Bioniks in Karachi, April 29, 2024. — Reuters
Sidra and three-year-old Habebat Allah, who lost both her arms and a leg in Gaza, went through days of remote consultations and virtual fittings. Then Niaz flew from Karachi to Amman to meet the girls and make his company’s first overseas delivery.
Sidra’s device was funded by Mafaz Clinic in Amman, while donations from Pakistanis paid for Habebat’s. Mafaz CEO Entesar Asaker said the clinic partnered with Bioniks for its low costs, remote solutions and ability to troubleshoot virtually.
Niaz said each prosthetic arm costs about $2,500, significantly less than the $10,000 to $20,000 for alternatives made in the United States.
While Bioniks’ arms are less sophisticated than US versions, they provide a high level of functionality for children and their remote process makes them more accessible than options from other countries such as Turkiye and South Korea.
“We plan on providing limbs for people in other conflict zones too, like Ukraine, and become a global company,” Niaz said.
Globally, most advanced prosthetics are designed for adults and rarely reach children in war zones, who need lighter limbs and replacements every 12–18 months as they grow.
A technician checks a prosthetic limb at the Bioniks in Karachi, April 29, 2024. — Reuters
Niaz said they were exploring funding options for Sidra and Habebat’s future replacements, adding the cost wouldn’t be too high.
“Only a few components would need to be changed,” he said, “the rest can be reused to help another child.”
Bioniks occasionally incorporates popular fictional characters into its children’s prosthetics such as Marvel’s Iron Man or Disney’s Elsa, a feature Niaz said helps with emotional acceptance and daily use.
‘Finally hug my father’
Gaza now has around 4,500 new amputees, on top of 2,000 existing cases from before the conflict, many of them children, making it one of the highest child-amputation crises per capita in recent history, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in March.
An April study by the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics found at least 7,000 children have been injured since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023. Local health authorities say more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, nearly one-third of them children.
A technician uses a mobile phone for 3D scan of a patient before developing a prosthetic limb at Bioniks, in Karachi, April 29, 2024. — Reuters
The World Health Organisation has said Gaza’s health system is “on its knees” with Israel’s border closures drying up critical supplies, meaning the wounded cannot access specialised care, especially amid waves of wounded patients.
“Where it’s nearly impossible for healthcare professionals and patients to meet, remote treatment bridges a critical gap, making assessments, fittings, and follow-up possible without travel or specialised centres,” said Asadullah Khan, Clinic Manager at ProActive Prosthetic in Leeds, UK, which provides artificial limbs and support for trauma patients.
Anas Niaz, mechatronic engineer and CEO of Bioniks, speaks with Reuters in Karachi, April 29, 2024. — Reuters
Bioniks hopes to pioneer such solutions on a large scale but funding remains a roadblock and the company is still trying to form viable partnerships.
Sidra is still adjusting to her new hand on which she now wears a small bracelet. For much of the past year, when she wanted to make a heart, a simple gesture using both hands, she would ask someone else to complete it. This time, she formed the shape herself, snapped a photo, and sent it to her father, who is still trapped in Gaza.
“What I’m looking forward to most is using both my arms to finally hug my father when I see him,” she said.
Header image : A technician checks a prosthetic limb at the Bioniks, in Karachi, April 29, 2024. — Reuters
An international research team led by the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) has discovered two new planets performing a cosmic tango – orbiting their star in perfect rhythm.
The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, reveal the two giant planets appear to be “dancing” around KOI-134, an F-type star 3,500 light-years from Earth.
The remarkable discovery is the first planetary system of its kind ever found.
The planets – dubbed KOI-134 b and KOI-134 c – are locked into a 2:1 orbital resonance, meaning the inner planet, KOI-134 c, completes two full orbits for every single orbit of the outer planet.
What makes the system even more intriguing is that, unlike the planets in our Solar System, the giants don’t share the same orbital plane – they are tilted about 15 degrees relative to each other.
Emma Nabbie, a UniSQ PhD student and lead author of the new research, said the discovery challenges long-held theories on planet formation.
“The two planets are linked in a rhythmic orbit – drifting apart, then slowly coming back together, like dancers weaving around each other on a cosmic stage,” Ms Nabbie said.
“While their orbital planes tilt back and forth over time, the gravitational pull from KOI-134 c causes KOI-134 b’s orbital period to shift by up to a day – speeding up and slowing down as the faster-orbiting KOI-134 c overtakes it from the inside.
“This is the first time a system with such strong gravitational interactions and misaligned orbits has been observed – presenting a major puzzle for planet formation theories, as none currently explain how a system like this could form.”
Using four years of data from the Kepler Space Telescope, the researchers discovered KOI-134 b to be a giant roughly the size of Jupiter and KOI-134 c to be slightly smaller than Saturn.
KOI-134 c is considered an ‘invisible planet’ because it doesn’t pass in front of its host star, which makes it difficult for scientists to spot its presence using traditional detection methods.
“The only way we could determine its mass was through its gravitational effect on KOI-134 b,” Ms Nabbie said.
“KOI-134 b’s average orbital period is about 67 days – but it can vary between 66 and 68 days due to the gravitational influence of KOI-134 c.
“That’s a remarkably large effect for a planet so close to its star. The variation was so extreme that it was initially denied to be a planet by the Kepler team.
“If we scaled this to Earth’s orbit, it would be like our year fluctuating between 360 and 370 days.”
As far as the researchers could tell, KOI-134 b and KOI-134 c are the only two planets orbiting KOI-134, which was first observed by NASA’s Kepler mission in 2009.
The study, ‘A high mutual inclination system around KOI-134 revealed by transit timing variations’, was co-authored by Emma Nabbie, Professor Robert Wittenmyer, Dr Chelsea Huang, Associate Professor George Zhou and Alexander Venner from UniSQ and researchers from Lund University, University of Geneva, University of La Laguna, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harvard and Smithsonian, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California and Tsinghua University.
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
Spare a thought for luxury property concierge Heaven, who thinks her job is a way to “live vicariously” through her billionaire guests. She is so disorganised that the bosses have brought in five-star hotel expert Jasmin. Cue plenty of competitive drama in this icky (but undeniably watchable) reality series about running a mansion on Sydney Harbour. Disasters include lost bottles of vintage champagne, an unwelcome dog guest and a pair of disgruntled hunky chef brothers. Hollie Richardson
Heatwaves: The New Normal?
7pm, BBC Two
It’s a suffocating 31C at the time of writing, so the question posed here is enough to make a nation sob – and reach for another fan. BBC weather expert Sarah Keith-Lucas delivers some hard truths as she looks at what rising temperatures are doing to all industries. HR
Scrublands: Silver
9pm, BBC Two
As the second season of this gripping, slightly sinister Aussie noir continues, Mandy is in trouble. She’s been arrested for Jasper’s murder and doesn’t have an alibi. However, while the police wander down a blind alley, journalist Martin has other ideas: could a system of sexual exploitation around tourist visas offer him a way in? Phil Harrison
Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector in The Gilded Age. Photograph: HBO/Sky Atlantic
The Gilded Age
9pm, Sky Atlantic
Busybody Bertha’s (Carrie Coon) “vision” for her daughter has started to interfere with business, and George (Morgan Spector) can’t have that, especially with the Duke’s deal beginning to fall apart. Meanwhile, Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) makes an eligible acquaintance and Agnes (Christine Baranski) is adjusting to life on the outside. Ellen E Jones
Elsbeth
9pm, Sky Witness
When a young motorist is suspiciously found dead in his vehicle, Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) goes undercover at his pricey wellness retreat to ferret out a lead and, as one does, ends up confronting her own emotional repression. Accused of covering up past abuse, she unravels, just as the retreat leader’s shady past resurfaces. Ali Catterall
Crime Scene Cleaners
10pm, Channel 4
A frankly stomach-churning documentary series that most of us could do without. But, for those with strong dispositions, it follows the experts who clean up crime scenes, which this week include a London spot where a teenager has been stabbed to death in a rental car. Over in Louisiana, a potentially explosive meth lab is discovered. HR
This cross-sectional study reports the prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus infection among women in Yangpu District, Shanghai, China from 2020 to 2024. The overall HPV infection rate detected in this study was 23.10%. Compared with similar studies in China, this infection rate is higher than the 21.0% reported in Beijing [11], 21.97% in Jinshan District Shanghai [12], 22.82% in Luoyang Henan Province [13], and 17.92% in Zhoupu District Shanghai [14], but lower than the 41.04% in Hangzhou Zhejiang Province and 50.64% in Tianjin [15, 16]. This discrepancy may be associated with variations in regional epidemiological characteristics or demographic composition of study populations [17]. Previous studies have reported substantial heterogeneity in HPV prevalence across China, ranging from 6.2–50.64% [16, 18]. Prevalence rates in clinical populations significantly exceed those in community-based screening cohorts, likely reflecting health-seeking behaviors related to symptomatic presentation that differ fundamentally from asymptomatic screening populations [19]. In the present study, an HPV prevalence of 10.5% was observed among general screening populations, lower than the 13.6% rate reported in routine screening cohorts from Zhejiang Province [20].
This regional analysis identified HPV-52 as the predominant high-risk genotype, followed by HPV-53, -58, -51, -39, and − 68, aligning with patterns reported in other Chinese studies. HPV-52, -16, -58, -51, and − 66 represent predominant subtypes in Beijing [11], while HPV-52, -16, -58, -51, and − 53 dominate in Jinshan District, Shanghai [12]. Similarly, HPV-52, -58, -16, -53, and − 51 constitute major subtypes in the Golden Triangle region of Fujian, China [3]. Substantial evidence confirms that beyond HPV-16 and − 18, genotypes including HPV-52, -58, -51, and − 53 significantly contribute to cervical carcinogenesis [21]. This study’s findings exhibit discrepancies in subtype prevalence rankings compared with certain Chinese regions [22], indicating significant geographical heterogeneity in high-risk HPV genotype distributions. This epidemiological variation likely originates from multifactorial mechanisms: Firstly, socio-behavioral patterns—including number of sexual partners, marital/reproductive history, and sexual health literacy—fundamentally shape subtype distributions by modulating viral transmission routes and exposure frequency. Secondly, molecular interactions between HPV genotypes and region-specific host immunogenetic backgrounds may establish distinct infection profiles in defined populations [23].
From the perspective of infection patterns, HPV infections exhibit a phenomenon of multi-subtype coexistence. Beyond single-subtype infections, mixed-infection modes are particularly prominent, with dual infections being the predominant form. It remains unclear whether co-infection with multiple HPV genotypes involves competitive or synergistic relationships. However, existing studies indicate that mixed infections with multiple types increase the risk of cervical cancer more significantly than single-genotype infections [24, 25]. A study conducted in Mexico observed a correlation between multiple HPV infections and high viral load as well as infection persistence [26]. Research from South Korea demonstrated that patients with multiple HPV infections had longer viral clearance cycles compared to those with single-type infections [27]. The mechanisms and potential carcinogenic effects of multiple infecting genotypes require further investigation. Fig. 2 results revealed that HPV-52, HPV-53, and HPV-58 were the most common genotypes in co-infections among women in this study, with HPV-52 + HPV-53 and HPV-52 + HPV-58 co-infections being the most frequent combinations. In Shanghai, China, HPV vaccination began in 2017, and Yangpu District started the program in 2018. Initially, the bivalent vaccine targeting HPV-16 and − 18 and the quadrivalent vaccine covering HPV − 6, -11, -16, and − 18 were mainly provided. In October of the same year, the nine-valent HPV vaccine, which covers more high-risk types including HPV − 6, -11, -16, -18, -31, -33, -45, -52, and − 58, was officially made available for vaccination. Vaccination mainly relies on the principle of self-payment and voluntary participation, and the overall vaccination rate remains relatively low. Among the HPV vaccines available on the market, only the nine-valent vaccine covers HPV-52 and HPV-58, making it more suitable for women in Yangpu District, Shanghai.
Given that the HPV-53 vaccine is still in the preclinical research stage, its high prevalence in certain regions further highlights the insufficiency of the existing vaccine’s coverage. Currently available vaccines are all based on HPV L1 self-assembled virus-like particles (VLPs), which can prevent HPV infection by inducing the production of specific neutralizing antibodies in the body [28]. Although these vaccines have shown significant efficacy, they still have several limitations, including a limited coverage of HPV types, the need to produce VLPs of different types separately before mixing them, and a high dependence on cold chain transportation and storage. The high prevalence of HPV-53 indicates the insufficiency of the current vaccine strategy in terms of protection spectrum. Therefore, in the future, it is urgent to expand the vaccine coverage through technological innovation, such as developing cross-protective vaccines based on L2 protein or constructing new multivalent vaccine systems using DNA and mRNA platforms. Although these emerging technologies face challenges in terms of research and development difficulty and cost control, they have significant potential in improving the broad-spectrum and accessibility of vaccines. The development of vaccines targeting HPV-53 is expected to provide more targeted prevention measures for regions with high prevalence.
Multiple studies have confirmed that HPV infection rates in China exhibit a U-shaped curve distribution with age, characterized by two distinct peaks [11, 24]. In this study, the first peak occurred in the under-20 age group, which may be associated with evolving sexual attitudes among youth in the current social context. A large-scale cross-sectional survey of Chinese women aged 15–24 revealed that the median age of first sexual intercourse in this cohort was 17 years [29]. Another epidemiological study demonstrated that within two to three years after initial sexual activity, HPV infection rates among adolescents can reach 50–80%, with a corresponding 2.41-fold increase in infection risk [30]. Although the sample size of the under-20 population in this study was limited, their significant disease risk profile indicates the necessity of HPV screening for this age group. The second peak emerged in the 61–70 age group, likely attributed to age-related declines in immune function and hormonal changes, which increase HPV susceptibility and reduce viral clearance capacity [31, 32]. The differential infection patterns across age groups underscore age as a critical influencing factor for HPV infection, necessitating age-specific screening strategies. Particularly in the 61–70 cohort, the marked elevation in HPV infection rates suggests these individuals should be prioritized as key surveillance targets..
Figure 3 results show that HPV-52, HPV-53, and HPV-58 were the predominant subtypes, with their infection rates maintaining high levels across all age groups. The peak infection rates occurred in the ≤ 20 years and 61–70 years age groups, but positive infections for various HPV types were primarily concentrated in the 31–40 years, 51–60 years, and 61–70 years age groups. This indicates that the population actively undergoing gynecological examinations is mainly composed of middle-aged and elderly women, which is associated with increased awareness of HPV infection among this demographic due to the introduction and promotion of HPV vaccines in recent years [22]. From a prevention and control strategy perspective, HPV vaccination and screening are core measures to reduce cervical cancer risk. Data demonstrate that the earlier young women receive the HPV vaccine, the higher the antibody titer and the better the protective effect of the vaccine [33]. However, HPV vaccination coverage in China remains critically low at approximately 2.64–11.0%, significantly below immunization rates observed in most other countries [8, 34, 35]. Multiple obstacles have led to this low vaccination rate. Among female college students, insufficient awareness of the risk of HPV infection and concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine are the main obstacles [36]. Concurrently, current vaccine shortages and exclusion from the national immunization program likely impede or delay individual vaccination decisions [37]. Consequently, stratified immunization and screening strategies informed by age-specific prevalence patterns should be implemented to address differential HPV exposure across age cohorts.
This study constitutes a cross-sectional analysis based on HPV testing data from 2020 to 2024 at Shanghai Yangpu District Shidong Hospital, systematically elucidating the epidemiological characteristics of HPV in Yangpu area. It supplements the multi-center epidemiological database of Shanghai and provides scientific evidence for regional prevention policies. However, the following limitations exist: Firstly, the study cohort solely comprised hospital patients within this five-year timeframe, which is not representative of the typical local population. Secondly, HPV vaccination history was not incorporated into the dataset, whereas existing evidence indicates that vaccination status significantly influences the infection spectrum distribution of high-risk HPV subtypes. Finally, the absence of synchronized collection of cervical cytology or histopathological diagnosis results restricted the analysis of associations between HPV genotype distribution patterns and cervical lesion severity. As a retrospective single-center study, our research sample included only patients seeking hospital care. This design excludes potentially infected individuals within the community who did not present for medical attention. This may limit the generalizability of our findings to the broader community population. Therefore, caution is warranted when extrapolating these conclusions to wider populations. Future investigations should expand sample size, enhance data dimensionality, and adopt multi-center collaborative models to systematically explore the association mechanisms between HPV infection and cervical lesions in Yangpu area..
US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House in April
After 21 months of war, there are growing hopes of a new Gaza ceasefire announcement as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Trump previously told reporters he had been “very firm” with Netanyahu about ending the conflict and that he thought “we’ll have a deal” this week.
“We are working to achieve the deal that has been discussed, under the conditions we have agreed,” the veteran Israeli PM said before boarding his plane. “I believe that the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance this outcome, which we all hope for.”
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a US-sponsored proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release deal resumed in Qatar on Sunday evening.
However, it is unclear whether key differences that have consistently held up an agreement can be overcome.
Only cautious optimism is being expressed by weary Palestinians living in dire conditions amid continuing daily Israeli bombardment, and the distressed families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
“I don’t wish for a truce but a complete stop to all war. Frankly, I’m afraid that after 60 days the war would restart again,” says Nabil Abu Dayah, who fled from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza to Gaza City with his children and grandchildren.
“We got so tired of displacement, we got tired of thirst and hunger, from living in tents. When it comes to life’s necessities, we have zero.”
On Saturday evening, large rallies took place urging Israel’s government to seal a deal to return some 50 hostages from Gaza, up to 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Some relatives questioned why the framework deal would not free all captives immediately.
“How does one survive under such conditions? I’m waiting for Evyatar to return and tell me himself,” said Ilay David, whose younger brother, a musician, was filmed by Hamas in torment as he watched fellow hostages being released earlier this year during the last, two-month-long ceasefire.
“This is the time to save lives. This is the time to rescue the bodies from the threat of disappearance,” Ilay told a crowd in Jerusalem.
“In the rapidly changing reality of the Middle East, this is the moment to sign a comprehensive agreement that will lead to the release of all the hostages, every single one, without exception.”
AFP
The Israeli hostages’ families are urging the US president to broker a deal that secures the release of all of those held in Gaza
Netanyahu is visiting the White House for the third time since Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.
But the leaders will be meeting for the first time since the US joined Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and then brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
There is a strong sense that the recent 12-day war has created more favourable circumstances to end the Gaza war.
After months of low popularity ratings, the Israeli PM has been bolstered by broad public support for the Iran offensive and analysts suggest he now has more leverage to agree to a peace deal over the strong objections of his far-right coalition partners, who want Israel to remain in control of Gaza.
Hamas is seen to have been further weakened by the strikes on Iran – a key regional patron – meaning it could also be more amenable to making concessions needed to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, Trump is keen to move on to other priorities in the Middle East.
These include brokering border talks between Israel and Syria, returning to efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and completing unfinished business with Iran, involving possible negotiations on a new nuclear deal.
For months, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have been deadlocked over one fundamental difference.
Israel has been ready to commit to a temporary truce to return hostages but not an end to the war. Hamas has demanded a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza and a full pullout of Israeli troops.
The latest proposal put to Hamas is said to include guarantees of Washington’s commitment to the deal and to continued talks to reach a lasting ceasefire and the release of all the hostages.
Nothing has been officially announced, but according to media reports the framework would see Hamas hand over 28 hostages – 10 alive and 18 dead – in five stages over 60 days without the troubling handover ceremonies it staged in the last ceasefire.
There would be a large surge in humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
After the return of the first eight living hostages on the first day of the agreement, Israeli forces would withdraw from parts of the north. After one week, the army would leave parts of the south.
On Day 10, Hamas would outline which hostages remain alive and their condition, while Israel would give details about more than 2,000 Gazans arrested during the war who remain in “administrative detention” – a practice which allows the Israeli authorities to hold them without charge or trial.
As seen before, large numbers of Palestinians would be released from Israeli jails in exchange for hostages.
Reuters
The Israeli military’s chief of staff said last week that it was nearing the completion of its war goals
President Trump has described this as the “final” truce proposal and said last week that Israel had accepted “the necessary conditions” to finalise it.
On Friday, Hamas said it had responded in a “positive spirit” but expressed some reservations.
A Palestinian official said sticking points remained over humanitarian aid – with Hamas demanding an immediate end to operations by the controversial Israeli and American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and a return to the UN and its partners overseeing all relief efforts.
Hamas is also said to be questioning the timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals and operations of the Rafah crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt.
Netanyahu’s office stated on Saturday that the changes wanted by Hamas were “not acceptable” to Israel.
The prime minister has repeatedly said that Hamas must be disarmed, a demand the Islamist group has so far refused to discuss.
EPA
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is continuing to deteriorate
In Israel, there is growing opposition to the war in Gaza, with more than 20 soldiers killed in the past month, according to the military.
The Israeli military’s chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said last week that it was nearing the completion of its war goals and signalled that the government must decide whether to move ahead with a deal to bring home hostages or prepare for Israeli forces to re-establish military rule in Gaza.
Polls indicate that two-thirds of Israelis support a ceasefire deal to bring home the hostages.
In Gaza, some residents express fears that the current wave of positivity is being manufactured to ease tensions during Netanyahu’s US trip – rationalising that this happened in May as Trump prepared to visit Arab Gulf states.
The coming days will be critical politically and in humanitarian terms.
The situation in Gaza has continued to deteriorate, with medical staff reporting acute malnutrition among children.
The UN says that with no fuel having entered in over four months, stockpiles are now virtually gone, threatening vital medical care, water supplies and telecommunications.
Israel launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken hostage.
Israeli attacks have since killed more than 57,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry’s figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.
Follow the twists and turns of Trump’s second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher’s weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
The UK’s financial sector is at a defining inflection point. As banks, regulators, and fintechs pursue transformation at scale, there is growing recognition that digital finance must be more than efficient—it must be transparent, collaborative, and resilient. Open source finance offers a compelling model to achieve just that.
At its core, open source finance involves building financial infrastructure through shared, non-proprietary frameworks—codebases, APIs, standards, and protocols that are open to scrutiny and improvement by the broader ecosystem. Far from being a niche developer concern, open source is now a strategic lever that can redefine how trust is engineered into our digital economy.
The urgency for open systems is not abstract. The Covid-19 pandemic revealed fragilities in closed financial architectures: siloed data, vendor lock-in, and slow responsiveness to public needs. Meanwhile, consumer expectations have shifted irrevocably—real-time access, data portability, and inclusive service design are now baseline requirements.
The UK’s own Open Banking initiative, established through the Competition and Markets Authority, was among the first regulatory frameworks to embrace open APIs. What began as a compliance requirement has since catalysed an entire ecosystem of fintech innovation. Yet this is only the beginning.
If open banking was the first act, open finance must be the second. A broader shift is underway, where financial services are designed around modular, interoperable platforms—platforms that allow banks to adapt faster, scale smarter, and collaborate across boundaries of institution, geography, and industry.
The benefits of open source finance
Open source finance brings measurable advantages:
Trust through transparency
When codebases are open, they can be independently reviewed, audited, and improved. This is especially important in an era of algorithmic decision-making, AI integration, and rising regulatory scrutiny.
Banks can plug into open frameworks without protracted vendor negotiations. Components can be iterated, tested, and deployed faster than with proprietary systems.
By removing licensing barriers and avoiding duplication, open solutions often lower total cost of ownership—freeing up resources for innovation.
Open platforms encourage collaboration among banks, startups, academics, and public institutions. This shared development accelerates progress and avoids siloed effort.
Openness also aligns with ESG imperatives
Open data standards, for instance, are vital for accurate climate risk disclosures, ethical AI oversight, and financial inclusion initiatives. When infrastructure is designed for accessibility and auditability, everyone benefits—not just shareholders, but society at large.
The UK is well positioned to lead the next wave of open finance—if it chooses to. The technical groundwork is already strong, but the governance frameworks, cultural alignment, and public-private collaboration must evolve accordingly.
The Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) offers a working model. Its success was not merely technical—it was institutional. By convening banks, regulators, and fintechs around shared standards, OBIE laid a foundation of interoperability. The next step is to extend this model to pensions, insurance, investments, and credit scoring. In other words, open finance must become a cross-sectoral norm, not a product feature.
Equally important is education. Many financial institutions still treat open source with scepticism, worried about security, IP risk, or loss of competitive edge. Yet the reality is quite the opposite. Open systems, when well governed, are often more secure due to peer review and faster patching. And far from eroding competitive advantage, openness fosters agility and resilience—traits no institution can afford to ignore.
The barriers to open source finance
These are no longer technical—they are strategic.
Legacy institutions struggle to move from closed systems to open collaboration. Procurement processes, legal models, and compliance mindsets need to catch up.
Managing open frameworks requires specialised knowledge—around licensing, security auditing, and community governance. These capabilities are still emerging in mainstream finance.
Without leadership, open finance can fragment into disconnected initiatives. Coordinated effort is needed to ensure interoperability and prevent duplication.
Open projects thrive on contribution. Banks and fintechs must not only consume open tools but actively support their development through funding, engineering, and governance.
Leadership challenge
These are not reasons for inaction—they are reminders that the shift to open finance is as much a leadership challenge as a technical one.
To harness the full potential of open source finance, UK stakeholders must act deliberately. Financial institutions should build internal capacity around open development, prioritise API-based architecture, and engage with community governance. Regulators must provide clear guidance on open source use, especially in critical areas like AI governance, consumer data rights, and digital identity. Fintechs should document and contribute to shared codebases, avoiding black-box tools that hinder interoperability. Technology providers must ensure compatibility with open standards and offer licensing terms that support experimentation and scale.
Above all, the UK needs a national dialogue around open finance—not as a compliance issue, but as a cornerstone of digital sovereignty and innovation.
Open source finance is not about replacing banks with code. It’s about designing the financial infrastructure of the future—one that is inclusive, ethical, and built for long-term resilience. In a world of complex risks and rapid innovation, the institutions that succeed will not be those with the most proprietary control, but those with the most collaborative advantage.
The opportunity is here. For the UK to remain a global financial leader, it must now move decisively from open banking to open finance—and from passive adoption to proactive stewardship.
Dr. Gulzar Singh is Founder & CEO of Phoenix Thoughtworks
PA Media
PA Media
