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  • NBA Fantasy: 10 Risers & Fallers for 2025-26

    NBA Fantasy: 10 Risers & Fallers for 2025-26

    Amen Thompson shot up to 26th in the Top 150 fantasy rankings for this upcoming season.

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    Whether a player’s fantasy basketball stock is on the rise or fall, you need to know who to target and who to avoid on draft day. This article breaks down the biggest risers and fallers in average draft position (ADP) from last season to this season to help you make the best decisions for your fantasy team.

    ADP Risers

    The following players have an ADP inside the top 100 this year and were being drafted significantly later in 2024-25

    Dyson Daniels, Hawks (ADP: 37.4)

    35th in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    Daniels spent the beginning of his career with the Pelicans, seeing a rotation role off the bench as a defensive specialist. However, he wasn’t given consistent opportunities to prove himself with high minutes and usage.

    That changed last year when he was dealt to the Hawks, who utilized Daniels as a starting shooting guard next to Trae Young. Daniels shined on defense, leading the league in steals per game (3.0) while taking on a secondary playmaking role, resulting in a career-best campaign overall.

    Fantasy Outlook

    This season, Daniels should continue developing as a player. However, offensive opportunities may not be as easy to come by. Jalen Johnson will begin the year healthy, while Kristaps Porziņģis was added during the offseason. Plus, Atlanta has a fairly deep and versatile bench. Fantasy managers shouldn’t go into this season expecting Daniels to take a significant leap forward, but retain value that he added from last season. 

    Amen Thompson, Rockets (ADP: 30.7)

    26th in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    Thompson’s role was a bit unclear to start last season. There were other high-usage players on the team who played similar positions, and his offensive game wasn’t quite polished. As a result, despite his draft pedigree, he was considered a late-round dart in fantasy.

    The season did start a bit slow for Thompson, but an injury to Jabari Smith Jr. let Thompson join the starting five. From there, he never gave up the spot. His perimeter shooting is still a work in progress, but he made up for it with top-shelf athleticism, good passing and excellent defense.

    Fantasy Outlook

    The question for 2025-26 is how much more his game can grow. The team brought in Kevin Durant, while Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet will also control a significant portion of the offense. It may be easier for Thompson to expand on his efficiency, rather than volume. But either way, he should be more productive than last season.

    Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers (ADP: 60.0)

    43rd in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    Avdija was traded from the Wizards to the Trail Blazers last offseason, and it wasn’t clear how much he would play. At first, coach Chauncey Billups placed him in a bench role, and many fantasy managers were forced to drop Avdija.

    However, coach Billups gained more confidence in Avdija in the middle of the year. And as Portland dealt with significant absences toward the end of the campaign, the forward took on a sizable playmaking role while also producing quality defensive numbers.

    Fantasy Outlook

    This summer, Anfernee Simons was traded to the Celtics (Jrue Holiday in return), while Deandre Ayton was bought out. There won’t be as much usage available for Avdija as there was at the very end of last season, but he seems to have earned a secure starting spot. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was Portland’s second-leading scorer.

    Josh Hart, Knicks (ADP: 51.5)

    59th in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    An unclear role and a poor preseason led Hart to be drafted outside of the top 100. He wasn’t expected to be prioritized in coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, especially among other high-usage players.

    However, coach Thibodeau leaned on Hart as much as anyone and played him a league-high 37.6 minutes per game. The minutes, coupled with improvement as an efficient scorer, passer and defender led Hart to be an excellent value pick in fantasy last year.

    Fantasy Outlook

    Will it continue? The Knicks let Thibodeau go and hired Mike Brown during the summer. Brown doesn’t have as much of a reputation for playing his starters huge minutes. The bench is also deeper this season. Hart is still someone who should be drafted in fantasy, but it’s more likely that he is less productive than more productive.

    Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers (ADP: 94.5)

    81st in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    The No. 7 pick last year, Clingan was inserted into a bench role behind starter Deandre Ayton. Fantasy managers weren’t willing to take a significant gamble on him due to a low production floor.

    But Ayton missed the latter portion of the season, allowing Clingan to step into a starter’s role. His minutes were still fairly light due to foul trouble, but the rookie established himself as a great rebounder and shot-blocker as advertised.

    Fantasy Outlook

    This season, Ayton is on the Lakers, so Clingan will be Portland’s full-time starter. If he can reduce his fouls and increase his conditioning, there’s potentially 30 minutes per game available. Either way, Clingan projects to be a double-double machine this season, and someone capable of averaging 2+ blocks.

    ADP Fallers

    The following players had an ADP of 75 or earlier last year and have fallen significantly in 2025-26

    Tobias Harris, Pistons (ADP: 114.2)

    117th in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    Harris was expected to play a significant role with the Pistons last season after coming over from the 76ers. There was potential for him to compete with Jaden Ivey for the squad’s No. 2 scoring option.

    However, even when Ivey suffered an early-season leg injury, Harris didn’t step up his usage. Cade Cunningham just took over more responsibility, scoring the ball at will and dishing equally to many of his teammates.

    Fantasy Outlook

    This year, Harris could take even more of a backseat. Ivey will be healthy, and Ausar Thompson may be ready to step up his game as a playmaker. The veteran should still be a decent source of fantasy value, but he has little upside.

    Paul George, 76ers (ADP: 76.4)

    88th in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    George was set to have a big role with the 76ers last year as effectively the team’s third option behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Fantasy managers expected him to take a small step back but still be an efficient and well-rounded two-way player.

    But George’s 2024-25 was essentially ruined by injury. When he played, he wasn’t himself. He also underwent offseason knee surgery this summer, but his ADP had already taken a dramatic fall before that.

    Fantasy Outlook

    If George can stay healthy, there’s a lot of value at his current draft slot. But there seems to be a sentiment from fantasy managers that he won’t get back to his All-Star self – maybe some of that is due to age as well. He’s still, in theory, one of Philly’s Big 3.

    Joel Embiid, 76ers (ADP: 47.4)

    50th in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    After two seasons of 65+ regular-season appearances, fantasy managers were ready to trust Embiid ahead of 2023-24. But then a meniscus issue limited him to 39 games, starting the injury-concern cycle over again. Managers soured, drafting him at the end of the first round last season.

    More knee issues led to Embiid playing only 19 games last year, and he needed surgery in April. He was nowhere near his former self when playing and produced some of the worst numbers of his career.

    Fantasy Outlook

    Despite buzz that he’ll be ready for the start of 2025-26, fantasy managers are taking a hard step back. Does he even have first-round upside on a per-game basis anymore? There are more questions than ever before, and managers should probably secure another center before drafting Embiid or immediately after.

    D’Angelo Russell, Mavericks (ADP: 109.1)

    114th in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    Russell was expected to have another strong campaign with the Lakers last season following a quality 2023-24 campaign. Playing next to LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves would limit his potential, but he was still viewed as a solid fantasy option.

    Russell quickly fell out of favor amid shooting struggles and defensive issues and was eventually dealt to the Nets, where his role increased overall. But appearances and good performances were fairly inconsistent.

    Fantasy Outlook

    This summer, Russell agreed to a two-year deal with the Mavericks, partially a stopgap for the team while Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. Russell should play at least half the season as Dallas’ starting point guard, but fantasy managers aren’t convinced that will be worth a significant investment. There’s upside to be had in the short term.

    Lauri Markkanen, Jazz (44.5)

    73rd in Top 150 fantasy rankings

     

    Markkanen’s ADP had fallen marginally last season from the year before amid Jazz’s winning struggles. Still, managers were willing to shoot for the upside and draft the forward around pick 30.

    That plan backfired, as he never found his footing, dealt with injuries, and then was rested down the stretch. It was the worst season Markkanen has had since reviving his career.

    Fantasy Outlook

    Fantasy managers are backing off this year. The Jazz are still projected to be at the bottom of the Western Conference, and it’s possible opposing defenses only care about stopping Markkanen. There’s undoubtedly bounceback potential at his current ADP, but there’s a reason it is where it is.

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  • Bilawal calls China-Pakistan ties a ‘generation-to-generation’ bond – Pakistan Today

    1. Bilawal calls China-Pakistan ties a ‘generation-to-generation’ bond  Pakistan Today
    2. President Zardari pledges support for Chinese new energy vehicles  Dawn
    3. President arrives in Urumqi  The Express Tribune
    4. President Zardari attends signing ceremony of three MoUs in Shanghai  ptv.com.pk
    5. Beijing, Islamabad sign MoUs to advance agricultural, environmental initiatives in Pakistan  Arab News PK

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  • The new 14-inch Wacom One ups the display size, but not the price

    The new 14-inch Wacom One ups the display size, but not the price

    Wacom has announced its beginner-friendly graphics tablet, the Wacom One 14. The obvious upgrade from its 2023 predecessor is a larger 14-inch IPS display, which gives digital artists a bit of extra space for their sketching. The bezels have been trimmed down to accommodate the bigger canvas, while keeping the design thin and compact enough to easily throw the Wacom One in a backpack.

    The 1920 x 1080 HD display’s textured surface is supposed to replicate the feeling of drawing on paper, with an anti-glare coating that with an anti-glare coating that theoretically allow you to use it outdoors with minimal frustration. It’ll resist fingerprints too, but unlike other tablets in Wacom’s lineup, this one lacks multitouch tech. It’s designed to be used strictly with the included battery-free pen, which has a 16ms response time and clips to the top of the tablet for easy access. It’s pressure-sensitive and has two customizable buttons.

    Given it’s marketed at amateurs just getting started on their artistic journey, you get a selection of bundled software that includes Skillshare lessons and a trial for Clip Studio Paint Pro. You can also use Foxit to edit and annotate PDF files, making the Wacom One a good pick for teachers who don’t need the additional functionality of an .

    You connect the Wacom One 14 to a Mac or PC by either using the provided USB-C cable, or via a Wacom converter to which you connect separate cables if your device isn’t equipped with Thunderbolt or DisplayPort Alt Mode. You can pick one up now for $300.

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  • New NOVA podcast dives into deepfakes’ dangers, life’s origins and everything in between

    New NOVA podcast dives into deepfakes’ dangers, life’s origins and everything in between

    We’re living in a time when science is reshaping how we understand everything, from the origins of life to the future of machine intelligence. One podcast is diving deep into those mysteries.

    “Particles of Thought” tapped astrophysicist and author Hakeem Oluseyi to explore questions that are as mind-bending as they are important scientifically. Oluseyi joined GBH’s All Things Considered host Arun Rath to talk about the podcast’s latest episodes. What follows is a lightly edited transcript of their conversation.

    Arun Rath: I’m excited to talk about this because there are science podcasts out there, but “Particles of Thought” is a different kind of science podcast. I know science teaching and communication is a passion of yours, so explain what’s different about “Particles of Thought.”

    “It’s a real conversation between an expert and a fan who knows nothing — but I do know a little bit because I’m a trained scientist.”

    Hakeen Oluseyi, host of NOVA’s “Particles of Thought”

    Hakeem Oluseyi: It’s sort of a look behind the curtain of what happens when you have scientists just conversing about their wild ideas, right? So it’s a combination of what you know, but one thing that’s characterized my career is ignorance.

    I say that because I had a very humble upbringing; I was raised in Mississippi and was educated — my early education — there, from middle school through college. I found myself at Stanford University, and I … You know, it was obvious that I was not as well-educated as most around me. Maybe equally talented, but as far as the knowledge in my mind, I didn’t have it, right?

    I was never ashamed of that. I was never ashamed of being ignorant, never ashamed of asking questions. And it turned out that — sometimes people feel like [other] people will see you as being stupid if you have questions. It’s the opposite, right? Everybody appreciated me for the questions that I asked.

    I just want to know. I find the people fascinating, I find their research amazing and I have been curious about this natural world that we live in. So, instead of being the guy with all the answers or an interviewer that just asks question after question, this is a real conversation. It’s a real conversation between an expert and a fan who knows nothing — but I do know a little bit because I’m a trained scientist, but I think of myself as knowing nothing.

    Rath: I love that. That’s a great way to learn, and it helps all of us learn along the way. The latest episode is called “The Deepfake Detective,” and it features a conversation with Hany Farid, a leading expert on digital misinformation. Here’s a clip.

    Hany Farid, pre-recorded: Deepfakes is an umbrella term for using machine learning AI to wholecloth create images, audio and video of things that have never existed or happened.

    For example, I can go to my favorite deepfake generator and say, “Give me an image of Hakeem in a studio doing a podcast with Professor Hany Farid.” And actually, it would do a pretty good job — because you have a presence online, I have somewhat of a presence online, [the generator] knows what we look like. And it would generate an image that’s not exactly this, but something like that.

    Or, I can say, “please” — by the way, I still say please when I ask AI for things. One of my students told me that this is a good idea because when the AI overlords come, they’re gonna remember you were polite to them. I actually really like this advice.

    Rath: You know, I’ve got to tell you, I do the same thing. I say “please” and “thank you” with ChatGPT. But coming back to deepfakes, here, I thought I knew deepfakes, but you go deep on this. Tell us about why you wanted to dive deep into this right now.

    Oluseyi: Well, this is very relevant, right? This is something that’s taking the world by storm. And people can’t tell anymore what’s real and what’s fake. We’re at the beginning of this, so it’s only going to get better — AI is only going to get better at reproducing reality.

    So, what can you do? What happens in this conversation is Hany goes into a lot of tips and tricks that aren’t at the forefront of your mind, necessarily, if you’re not an expert in this. But the second he tells you what these tips and tricks are, it’s obvious.That’s a way of getting to the bottom of it.

    But I think that we’re in a time now where the internet is becoming more and more a part of our lives, even though it’s already central to everything, every element of our lives. Even our appliances are connected to Wi-Fi. And as we go forward, there are so many security issues.

    We’ve had identity theft in the past. We’ve had things like phishing, where people send you a message imitating someone that you may know, you click on a link, and now you’re compromised. Well, imagine what havoc deepfakes can wreak.

    As a society, as we are here choosing our leaders, choosing how we’re going to live our lives and educate our children, we need to know that we’re getting solid information from actual experts who are using evidence-based methods to determine what’s real. And also, if we’re viewing something, right? If we’re viewing a video that appears to — if you remember, go back to the Martian invasion that was a fictional radio show —

    Rath: The Orson Welles version of the H.G. Wells [novel “War of the Worlds”].

    Oluseyi: Yeah, exactly right. That created a panic, allegedly, throughout society.

    Now, imagine if you have an actual video of something horrible happening to our nation, for example, right? You can send people into a tizzy.

    I want to not only know for myself: A second goal is to help the listeners. Not just appreciate how awesome this stuff is, but to equip you to deal with the world we’re living in today and what’s coming next.

    Rath: Obviously, as a journalist, misinformation is a huge concern of mine, and I think that people who rely on traditional news sources may not have a sense of how bad things are out there. Could you give some examples of some of the scarier sorts of deepfakes that are going around right now?

    Oluseyi: Well, we’ve already seen it in politics, right? We’ve seen [deepfakes] where politicians are made to look as if they’re incredibly ill or weakened.

    And then, sometimes, it’s just funny. There was a famous meeting between President [Donald Trump] and President [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] of Ukraine, and in this deepfake, they begin with a conversation and end up tussling in fisticuffs. Completely deepfake.

    But, in another context, in another world, in the not-too-distant future — when this becomes much better, and we’re perhaps at a geopolitical tipping point — something like this could send us over the edge if people don’t really understand that what they’re seeing is fake.

    We see now, in America, we have this political violence becoming more and more prevalent in our society, unfortunately. And people are triggered by what they see and hear on social media. It would be awful if some event, some deepfake, influenced people to take horrible actions. That is one of the many threats that this deepfake trend poses for us.


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  • CME Group to Launch Options on Solana and XRP Futures

    CME Group to Launch Options on Solana and XRP Futures

    CHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, today announced plans to launch options on Solana (SOL) and XRP futures on October 13, 2025, pending regulatory review.

    With the launch of these new products, clients will have the ability to trade options on SOL, Micro SOL, XRP, and Micro XRP futures, with expiries available every day of the business week, every month and every quarter.

    “The launch of these options contracts builds on the significant growth and increasing liquidity we have seen across our suite of Solana and XRP futures,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products. “Available in two different sizes, these contracts will offer a wide range of market participants – from institutions to sophisticated, active, individual traders – additional choice and greater flexibility to manage their exposure to two market-leading cryptocurrencies.”

    “As one of the biggest liquidity providers in the ecosystem, the Cumberland team is excited to support CME Group’s continued expansion of crypto offerings,” said Roman Makarov, Head of Cumberland Options Trading at DRW. “The launch of options on Solana and XRP futures is the latest example of the move beyond the staples of bitcoin and ether and demonstrates continued demand from the market to have exposure to a broader set of products.”

    “The rise of digital asset treasuries and other access vehicles for crypto has only accelerated the need for institutional hedging tools on Solana and XRP,” said Joshua Lim, Global Co-Head of Markets at FalconX. “FalconX is proud to partner with CME Group to improve market efficiency and broaden the derivatives liquidity available to our clients across an expanded universe of crypto assets.”

    Since their respective launches, CME Group’s suite of Solana and XRP futures have become some of the company’s most quickly adopted futures products. Trading highlights include:

    • More than 540,000 Solana futures contracts ($22.3 billion in notional) have traded since launch on March 17.
    • Record monthly Solana futures average daily volume (ADV) of 9,000 contracts ($437.4 million in notional) and average daily open interest (ADOI) of 12,500 contracts ($895 million in notional) in August 2025.
    • More than 370,000 XRP futures contracts ($16.2 billion in notional) have traded since launch on May 19.
    • Record monthly XRP futures ADV of 6,600 contracts ($385 million in notional) and record ADOI of 9,300 contracts ($942 million in notional) in August 2025.

    For more information on these products, please visit www.cmegroup.com/cryptooptions.

    As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, cryptocurrencies, energy, agricultural products and metals.  The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform.  In addition, it operates one of the world’s leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing. 

    CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.  NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.  COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec is a trademark of BrokerTec Americas LLC and EBS is a trademark of EBS Group LTD. The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P DJI”). “S&P®”, “S&P 500®”, “SPY®”, “SPX®”, US 500 and The 500 are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones®, DJIA® and Dow Jones Industrial Average are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. These trademarks have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. Futures contracts based on the S&P 500 Index are not sponsored, endorsed, marketed, or promoted by S&P DJI, and S&P DJI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

    CME-G

     

    SOURCE CME Group

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  • Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe targets his “fastest race” in Berlin Marathon debut

    Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe targets his “fastest race” in Berlin Marathon debut

    Sabastian Sawe: I want to express myself at the highest level in Berlin

    Fast forward to 2025, and Sebastian Sawe is now an established road racer and two-time marathon winner.

    He set a marathon world lead on his debut at the 2024 Valencia Marathon with a time of 2:02:05.

    That was just 12 seconds slower than the late Kelvin Kiptum‘s record-breaking debut on the same course in 2022.

    Some five months ago, Sawe won his first World Marathon Major, blowing away the leaders at the London Marathon.

    The 30-year-old is in good spirits days ahead of what could be another monumental race in his career.

    “Berlin will be a good race for me, if I will feel like I have given all my best,” the 2023 world half marathon champion said.

    “I can’t predict what will happen, but I hope for good conditions to express myself at the highest level possible.”

    Kipchoge was the last of the seven men to break the marathon world record in Berlin. That was a year before Kiptum blazed to the 2:00:35 world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

    As he tapered his training, Sawe kept a close eye on the men’s marathon at the ongoing World Championships in Tokyo. After two hours of intense racing, both the men and women’s marathon ended with a sprint for the tape.

    Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu won the race by just 0.03 seconds, while Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya topped the women’s race by 0.2 seconds.

    Sawe is a strong finisher, but he hopes he can control and dictate the pace from start to finish in Berlin.

    “Finishing a marathon in a sprint is no longer something so unusual,” he said.

    “This is probably due to the high level of competitors nowadays. Of course, when it comes to tactical races like a World championship, I think it is easier to have a sprint finish.”

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  • Cherotich takes leap of faith to break steeplechase championship record in Tokyo | News | Tokyo 25 – worldathletics.org

    1. Cherotich takes leap of faith to break steeplechase championship record in Tokyo | News | Tokyo 25  worldathletics.org
    2. Other Sports: Yavi looks to make history  Gulf Daily News
    3. Africans shine on Day Five of 2025 World Championships in Tokyo  The Eastleigh Voice
    4. TOKYO2025: Faith Cherotich conquers rich field to end Kenya’s six-year 3,000m steeplechase drought  mozzartsport.co.ke
    5. Faith Cherotich heads to biggest race of her life against Bahrain’s Yavi in 3000m steeplechase  Daily Nation

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  • Doha summits call for Israel to be restrained

    Doha summits call for Israel to be restrained

    Doha summits call for Israel to be restrained

    Representatives of the 57 Arab and Muslim states gathered at the summit to express their unconditional support for Qatar (AFP)


    Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, arrived in Qatar on Tuesday, a day after Doha hosted two summits, one for Gulf Cooperation Council leaders and the other for members of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to discuss Israel’s attack on Doha on Sep. 9 and express support for Qatar. Coming a week too late and passing by Israel first to express solidarity there, his reassurances may not have the desired effect.


    While the GCC gathering was behind closed doors, the wider summit was public, lasting several hours. Representatives of the 57 Arab and Muslim states, accounting for about 2 billion people, gathered in the tiny emirate to express their unconditional support for Qatar. Without exception, speakers roundly condemned Israeli leaders for the unprovoked violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and expressed disappointment that the US, a friend of both Israel and Qatar, had failed to prevent it.


    Qatar has been mediating the conflict between Israel and Hamas, together with Egypt and the US, and has hosted Hamas interlocutors at the explicit request of Washington, consistent with Israel’s wishes. Israel has never asked Qatar to expel Hamas’ representatives.


    The statements issued following the two summits reinforced those sentiments and suggested several ways to go about preventing future similar attacks, which Israeli leaders have suggested are likely, despite public US statements to the contrary.


    The GCC leaders, in particular, were specific on the likely course of action they envisioned.


    Without exception, speakers roundly condemned Israeli leaders for the unprovoked violation of Qatar’s sovereignty



    Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg


    First, since Qatar and other GCC countries are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty they signed in 2000, the leaders expressed “full solidarity” with Qatar and their readiness to invoke the treaty to support any measures requested by Doha. They put “all their capabilities” at Qatar’s disposal on any course of action it deems necessary to “safeguard its security, stability and sovereignty against any threats.”


    Second, they stressed that “GCC security is indivisible,” as the GCC Charter and Mutual Defense Treaty stipulate. They directed the Joint Defense Council and the Higher Military Committee to urgently convene in Doha to “assess the defense posture of GCC states and sources of threat in light of Israel’s aggression against Qatar.” They also directed the GCC Unified Military Command to activate “mechanisms for GCC joint defense and deterrence.”


    Third, they warned that the “wanton Israeli aggression against the brotherly state of Qatar” represented a “direct threat” to regional security and stability and undermined efforts for regional peace. Continuing such aggressive policies threatens the future of “existing agreements and understandings” with Israel, as such aggressions carry “dangerous repercussions for the entire region.” This is a clear reference to the need to reassess agreements already in place between Israel and several Arab and Muslim countries, something made explicit in the public session by Egypt and other countries with long-standing agreements with Israel.


    Fourth, GCC leaders called on the UN Security Council, the wider international community and specifically its “key players” — a reference to the US in this case — to condemn Israel’s aggression, which threatens international peace and security. They called on them to take “decisive steps” to stop and deter Israel’s aggression, which has “eradicated” respect for international law and the authority of international institutions. They called for international sanctions against Israel to deter future attacks.


    Fifth, linking Israel’s attack on Qatar to its actions in Gaza, the GCC leaders said that the Sep. 9 attack could obstruct Doha’s “relentless” efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire, release hostages and detainees, and resume humanitarian aid.


    The US needs to take decisive action to ensure it does not happen again despite Netanyahu’s statements to the contrary



    Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg


    While both the GCC and Arab and Islamic summits generally avoided direct criticism of the US, the disappointment with its inaction was palpable. There was a shared belief that the US could have prevented the attack on Qatar and, now that it has happened, it is not enough that Washington distances itself from this unrestrained behavior. Instead, it needs to take more decisive action to ensure that it does not happen again despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements to the contrary.


    Rubio’s trip to the region appeared aimed at reassuring Qatar and its neighbors of US support. But the fact that it came a whole week after the attack blunted that message. That was made worse by media coverage of his visit to Israel, including his expressions of “unconditional support” and participation in digging a controversial tunnel that Israel is building under Al-Aqsa Mosque.


    Construction of the tunnel is in clear breach of international law, which considers East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and prohibits changing the legal and historical status quo in the holy city. The digging of the tunnel is also seen by Muslims the world over as undermining the foundations of Islam’s third-holiest place.


    The irony was not lost on many that the US secretary of state decided to go first to Israel, the aggressor, to declare his solidarity, after which he visited Qatar, presumably also to show support.


    Blind support for Israel is undermining the US role in the region and damaging its global reputation. There is no doubt that Washington has a lot of reassuring to do not only in Qatar, but in the region at large. Equally important, it needs to take constructive action, which so far it has avoided, to end the conflict in Gaza and on the wider Israel-Palestine issue. It needs to join the global consensus to end this conflict once and for all.


    • Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent those of the GCC. X: @abuhamad1

    Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News’ point of view

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  • Stockport Oasis fan ‘injured after slipping at Wembley Stadium’

    Stockport Oasis fan ‘injured after slipping at Wembley Stadium’

    Sarah Spina-MatthewsNorth West

    Handout A middle-aged man and woman take a selfie. In the background is a set of stairs and people milling around. Handout

    Michael Hargreaves says he slipped and fell on the stairs at the Wembley Stadium during an Oasis concert

    An Oasis fan has spoken about being seriously injured in an “excruciating” fall down some stairs at Wembley Stadium during one of the band’s reunion gigs.

    Michael Hargreaves, of Stockport, said he broke his elbow after falling down stairs that were “slippier” than “any other concert I’ve been to” on 3 August, and having to miss most of the band’s set to get first aid and go to hospital.

    Lawyers Slater and Gordon said Mr Hargreaves was unsure when he would be able to return to work as a self-employed plumber and gas engineer after being warned he could face “lifelong consequences of the injury to his dominant right arm”.

    A Wembley spokesperson said all incidents were “investigated thoroughly”.

    Mr Hargeaves said the pain when he slipped and hit the floor was “excruciating”, according to the law firm.

    “And then I saw the blood. I knew something was seriously wrong, it genuinely felt like my arm had detached at the elbow.”

    The Wembley spokesperson said Mr Hargreaves was treated onsite at the London venue and advised to go to hospital immediately, but he discharged himself to return to the concert.

    Handout A middle-aged man sits in a chair with his arm bandaged and in a blue sling. Handout

    Michael Hargreaves broke his elbow in the fall and had to have emergency surgery

    Mr Hargreaves, who went to the show with his wife Theressina, agreed he was determined to see Oasis, but had to leave after a few songs due to the pain from his injury, his lawyers said.

    “They gave us some seats to watch Oasis, but I think once the shock had worn off, I realised the amount of pain I was in,” Mr Hargreaves said in comments issued via the lawyers.

    “I just couldn’t stay, and knew I needed to get to hospital.”

    The 53-year-old had emergency surgery and said he was now doing physiotherapy, but had been told he may never be able to straighten his arm properly again.

    “I’ve always worked, I’ve worked for 35 years, and the thought of now having to claim benefits just to pay the bills is really awful,” he said.

    ‘Up in the air’

    As a regular concert goer, Mr Hargreaves estimates he has been to Wembley about 65 times. “The floor was slippier than I’ve ever known it at Wembley, or at any other concert I’ve been to.

    “I was walking down some stairs with a drink in each hand for me and my wife and the next thing I knew I was up in the air. It all happened so quickly.”

    His legal representative Matthew Tomlinson at Slater and Gordon said the firm was investigating the cause of the incident.

    But the firm cited reports of other Oasis fans who had attended the Wembley shows saying the floor was “like an ice rink”.

    Another fan, Lee Claydon, died after falling from a height at the Oasis show the night before. An inquest into the cause of his death has been opened and adjourned for a further pre-inquest hearing, set for 19 November.

    The Wembley Stadium spokesperson said: “All accidents and incidents that take place at Wembley Stadium are reported and investigated thoroughly.

    “On this occasion the guest was taken to the medical centre and assessed by a doctor who treated a wound and advised he be transferred to hospital immediately for an x-ray and further examination.

    “The guest refused the medical advice provided and discharged himself so he could return to the concert.”

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  • Scientists invent new sunscreen made from pollen

    Scientists invent new sunscreen made from pollen

    Sunscreen made from pollen could protect beachgoers from sunburn while minimizing harm to coral reefs, a new study finds.

    Researchers found that a gel made from the pollen of camellia flowers (Camellia sinensis) blocked ultraviolet (UV) light about as well as existing commercial sunscreens, such as those made with oxybenzone or octinoxate. But unlike these conventional options, the pollen-based gel didn’t cause coral bleaching in a laboratory experiment. Coral bleaching is the process by which corals expel the symbiotic algae living within them, leaving the corals more vulnerable to environmental stress.

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