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  • Study Highlights Rate of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use for Heart Failure

    Study Highlights Rate of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use for Heart Failure

    Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use for heart failure in US ambulatory cardiovascular care is low, rises over time, and is shown to be highly variable across practices, according to new data, and efforts to make SGLT2i therapy use improvements may be warranted.1

    These data resulted from a recent study published in JAMA looking into the temporal change, prevalence, and variability of SGLT2i implementation among individuals with heart failure held in ambulatory cardiovascular care.

    Abdelghani El Rafei, MD, MS—from the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus’s Division of Cardiology—authored this analysis alongside a team of investigators. El Rafei and coauthors highlighted that

    “[We] sought to characterize (1) trends in use of SGLT2i therapy by different left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) categories (HFrEF vs HFmrEF or HFpEF), (2) factors underlying SGLT2i therapy prescription, and (3) variation across practices among patients with [heart failure],” El Rafei et al wrote.1

    Design and Notable Findings

    The investigative team’s aim was to look into how frequently SGLT2i were prescribed to individuals with heart failure held in outpatient cardiology clinics. The team conducted their study using a retrospective cohort trial design, with the research spanning from July 2019 – June 2023. The study’s population consisted of patients with heart failure enrolled in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) registry—a nationwide database established in 2008 within the US to systematically gather outpatient cardiovascular care quality metrics.

    El Rafei and colleagues’ data analysis took place between February 2024 – January 2025. Their primary focus was on both patient-level and practice-level prescription SGLT2i therapy rates among patients. Those deemed eligible to be participants were adults in the age range of 18 years or older who had at least a single clinical encounter for heart failure during the study period and had documented SGLT2i prescribing data.

    759,915 individuals with heart failure were included in total from 191 clinical sites in the US. All subjects had a mean [SD] age of 70 [14] years. El Rafei et al noted that 47.3% had been women, 14.6% identified as Black, and 82.7% as White. Among these individuals, 10.1% were prescribed an SGLT2 inhibitor. Among those with available ejection fraction (EF) data, prescription rates were 17.9% for those with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and 8.9% for those with heart failure with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF) or preserved EF (HFpEF).

    Overall, the investigative team concluded that SGLT2i use rose from 4.6% in Q3 2019 to 16.2% in Q2 2023. Among those with HFrEF, the team found increases in usage from 5.1% to 28.5%, whereas for those with HFmrEF or HFpEF, such increases were from 4.5% to 12.8% over the same period (P < .001).

    Prescriptions of SGLT2i therapy took place less frequently among those labeled as older adults (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.75–0.77), among women (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.77–0.81), and among subjects showing higher systolic blood pressure (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.77–0.79). Patients with a history of type 2 diabetes, however, were shown by El Rafei and coauthors to be significantly more likely to be given an SGLT2i (OR: 3.21; 95% CI: 3.15–3.28).

    After adjusting for both patient- and practice-level variables, the investigators found that substantial variation in SGLT2i prescribing patterns continued to appear among all clinical sites. Individuals given treatment at practices in the 90th percentile of prescribing had a 4.40-fold higher likelihood of receiving an SGLT2i compared to those at 10th percentile practices (adjusted OR: 4.40; 95% CI: 3.76–5.52).

    “In a nationwide study of outpatients with [heart failure], a majority eligible for SGLT2i therapy did not receive it, particularly those who were older, female, or with higher blood pressure,” the investigators concluded.1 “There was a significant increase in SGLT2i use over the study period, less among patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF compared with those with HFrEF, with substantial variation in use across practices.”

    El Rafei et al added that systematic efforts to make improvements to SGLT2i therapy use may be necessary in the future.

    References

    1. El Rafei A, Gosch K, Manning ES, et al. Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use for Heart Failure in US Ambulatory Cardiovascular Care. JAMA Cardiol. Published online July 09, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2025.2145.
    2. Abdel Jawad M, Spertus JA, Ikeaba U, et al. Early adoption of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor in patients hospitalized with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. JAMA Cardiol. 2025;10(1):89-94. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.4489.

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  • Kashmir issue cannot be wished away as it demands an immediate attention

    Kashmir issue cannot be wished away as it demands an immediate attention

    Nearly a century ago, 22 unarmed and peaceful Muslim protesters were gunned down by the armed forces of Hari Singh, the last ruler of the tyrannical Dogra dynasty, outside the Central Jail in the capital city of Srinagar. They had gathered there to hold vigil during the trial of their hero, Abdul Qadeer, who was being tried by Hari Singh’s kangaroo court. That historic massacre of July 13, 1931, came to be mourned and memorialised as Martyrs Day by Kashmiris everywhere. That event marked the beginning of the popular uprising against the tyrannical rule of the ruling dynasty under the protectorate of the British monarchy.

    Unfortunately for Kashmiris, the tyranny would not end there, and in 194,7 Hari Singh’s rule would end, but not until he had surrendered to the invading Indian armed forces. Kashmiris lost their final opportunity to establish a free and democratic state of their own.

    Kashmiris have continuously given immense sacrifices under post-independence India. Massacres after massacre have continued to take place under Indian occupation, ethnic cleansing and colonisation. Indian state under Modi’s Hindutva has abolished even the celebration of Martyrdom from the Kashmiri calendar since the annexation of Kashmir on August 5, 2019, but the people of Kashmir have vowed to resist, no matter the cost.

    The world powers need to understand that the Kashmir issue cannot be wished away. It demands immediate attention to establish the process leading to a peaceful resolution. Kashmiri sacrifices – physical, mental and economic – cannot be erased from memory or history.

    Freedom is not offered on a platter. The Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar will always remind us of the sanctity of those who sacrificed for truth and justice, and for freedom.


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  • Kendrick Lamar and SZA gig at Birmingham’s Villa Park

    Kendrick Lamar and SZA gig at Birmingham’s Villa Park

    Susie Rack

    BBC News, West Midlands

    PA Media SZA, in a red leather trousers, jacket and boots and Kendrick Lamar in jeans, white trainers, a black jumper and blue bomber jacket, perform on a blue stage. The photo is taken from above.PA Media

    SZA and Kendrick Lamar performed the half-time show at the Super Bowl in February

    Days after Birmingham rocked out to heavy metal legends Black Sabbath, it is preparing to welcome two more critically acclaimed musical superstars.

    Kendrick Lamar and SZA perform at Villa Park on Thursday as part of their Grand National Tour of 13 European stadiums.

    Their tour was reported last month to have become the highest-grossing co-headline tour ever, making in excess of $250m on the North American leg alone.

    Roads are closed around the venue, with doors opening at 16:30 BST. The show starts at 19:00 and is expected to run until 22:30.

    The rapper and R&B singer-songwriter’s powerful half-time performances at the Super Bowl in February were broadcast to a TV audience of more than 130 million.

    After Birmingham, the pair will perform dates in Cardiff and London, before further shows in Europe, South America and Australia.

    Reuters Kendrick Lamar, in blue denim jacket and jeans and heavy silver chain pendant, poses with give golden gramophone shaped awards in his hands in a press room, in front of a black hoarding. Reuters

    Rapper Lamar won five Grammy Awards in February, including Best Music Video, and Song Of The Year

    What will the set list be in Birmingham?

    The joint headliners are expected to alternate performances, and come together for duets such as ballad All the Stars.

    According to Setlist.fm, their gig at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday showcased a 52-song playlist.

    Lamar opened with Wacced Out Murals and performed five tracks before SZA arrived on stage with 30 for 30 then Love Galore.

    The show closed with another duet, Gloria.

    What can I bring to Villa Park?

    Concert-goers are asked not to bring a bag where possible, and anything larger than A4 size will not be allowed.

    Sealed plastic water bottles under 500ml are permitted for seated customers, but bottle tops will be removed on entry and any other food or drink confiscated.

    Small cameras, sun cream and walking aids can be brought, but a banned list of items includes alcohol, umbrellas, flags and banners, glass and pyrotechnics.

    Smoking and vaping is also banned in the stadium, although there are extended outdoor concourses on stands.

    Staff will be carrying out searches, the venue confirmed.

    Reuters SZA leans into a microphone, clutching a transparent award. She has curly red hair around her shoulders and is wearing a black low-cut dress.Reuters

    SZA won the award for Favorite R&B Song for Saturn during the 2025 American Music Awards in May

    How can I get to the Villa Park gig?

    Road closures are in place around the stadium from 13:00 and will remain until about midnight or once the areas are clear,

    Trinity Road will be shut between the junctions with Witton Lane and Nelson Road, and Witton Lane from Witton Island to Trinity Road.

    Residential areas around the stadium do not allow parking and parking at the stadium is unavailable, organisers said.

    However, there are car parks within a 45-minute walk or in the city centre, with an official shuttle bus running from Dudley Street, near New Street Station, to Villa Park for £7.50 each way.

    Transport for West Midlands warned buses and trains in the area would be busy and some buses would be diverted away from the area post-concert.

    There will be additional trains running to Witton and Aston stations, which are about a five- and 15-minute walk from the venue.

    The last train leaves from Witton to Rugeley Trent Valley at 23:32 and to Birmingham New Street at 23:48.

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  • The Porsche factory team aims to play to its strengths in Brazil

    The Porsche factory team aims to play to its strengths in Brazil

    The factory team returns to Brazil for round five of the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (11–13 July) with fond memories: in 2024, both Porsche 963 finished on the podium at the 6 Hours of São Paulo. Manthey 1st Phorm arrives in Brazil leading the LMGT3 class. The team from the Eifel region, located close to the Nürburgring, most recently won its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    The preview

    In 2024, the two Porsche 963 treated more than 70,000 fans with some gripping race action in Brazil. Finishing second and third, Porsche Penske Motorsport solidified its position at the top of the championship leaderboard. This year, Porsche returns to the storied Formula 1 circuit in São Paulo sitting third in the overall standings. In the No. 5 car, France’s Julien Andlauer joins forces with Denmark’s Michael Christensen. The No. 6 sister car is shared by reigning World Endurance champions Kévin Estre (France) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium). Customer team Proton Competition also fields a Porsche 963 in the top-tier Hypercar class.





    “We’re hoping for a fair and balanced competition over the entire six-hour distance,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “Last year, we secured podium finishes with both cars. If we reach our full potential next weekend and execute everything flawlessly, a similar result should be within reach – that’s what we’re aiming for. It would be fantastic if the championship battle in the second half of the season proves to be as thrilling as it was last year. The teams, drivers, and fans all deserve that.”

    “After the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there wasn’t much time to catch our breath. Now, the next round of the World Endurance Championship is already upon us,” says Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, as he looks ahead to the fifth race of the year. “Following a challenging start to the WEC season, we’re eager to finally build on last year’s results. Our team, drivers and cars are all prepared for the challenge. Since the regulations were introduced in 2023, the Porsche 963 has proven itself to be the fastest of all LMDh cars. We want to stay on this trajectory and finish on the podium again – ideally, of course, by securing our first WEC victory of the season in São Paulo.”

    Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, FIA WEC, Sao Paulo, Preview, 2025, Porsche AG




    Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh

    “It was disappointing to leave Le Mans without the win, especially after our team executed a perfect race,” states Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “Still, the fact that three of our Porsche 963 finished in the top eight, including second overall, motivates us to take home maximum WEC points from the next four rounds. The manufacturers’ title is within reach, so this is the new target.”

    Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, FIA WEC, Sao Paulo, Preview, 2025, Porsche AG




    Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport

    Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell will not compete in Brazil. Instead, the French/Australian duo will shift its focus to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where they currently lead the driver standings after six rounds. Like last year, Brazilian local hero Felipe Nasr will once again be on standby in São Paulo as a reserve driver for the factory team.

    In the top Hypercar class, the German customer team Proton Competition runs another Porsche 963. In the No. 99 hybrid prototype, driving duties will be shared between Switzerland’s Neel Jani, Nico Pino from Chile, and Argentinian Nico Varrone.

    Porsche 963, Proton Competition (#99), Neel Jani (SUI), Nico Pino (CHL), Nico Varrone (ARG), FIA WEC, Sao Paulo, Preview, 2025, Porsche AG





    LMGT3 class: Manthey 1st Phorm aims to defend its points lead in Brazil

    Customer squad Manthey 1st Phorm arrives at round five of the FIA WEC with strong momentum, after recently securing the LMGT3 class win at Le Mans with the Porsche 911 GT3 R. In the No. 92 entry, factory driver Richard Lietz (Austria) teams up with American Ryan Hardwick and Italy’s Riccardo Pera. The trio currently leads the drivers’ championship heading into the second half of the season. Iron Dames will once again field a matching Porsche 911 GT3 R with the all-female crew Rahel Frey (Switzerland), Michelle Gatting (Denmark), and Célia Martin (France).

    Porsche 911 GT3 R, Manthey 1st Phorm (#92), Ryan Hardwick (USA), Richard Lietz (AUT), Riccardo Pera (ITA), FIA WEC, Sao Paulo, Preview, 2025, Porsche AG





    The race

    The 6 Hours of São Paulo is contested at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, located on the outskirts of the sprawling metropolis. The 4.309-kilometre circuit has hosted more than 40 Formula 1 Grands Prix since its construction in 1942. The FIA WEC previously held three races at the anti-clockwise track between 2012 and 2014, with Porsche claiming its first win with the legendary 919 Hybrid there in 2014. In 2024, the World Endurance Championship made its long-awaited return to Brazil.

    This is the second time the FIA WEC visits São Paulo in the month of July. While Central Europe enjoys the height of summer, Brazil is in “deep” winter. In Interlagos, the average high temperature for the coldest month of the year hovers around 23 degrees Celsius. Statistically, the chance of rain is significantly lower than during the previous events in September and November between 2012 and 2014.

    Porsche 911 GT3 R, Iron Dames (#85), Rahel Frey (SUI), Michelle Gatting (DNK), Célia Martin (FRA), FIA WEC, Sao Paulo, Preview, 2025, Porsche AG





    Driver comments before the race

    Julien Andlauer (Porsche 963 #5): “I’m already looking forward to returning to Interlagos. It was a fantastic event last year: a superb track and a first-class atmosphere. I hope we can finally be more competitive in Brazil than we were in the first four races of the season. A podium finish would do us a world of good. The track has been resurfaced since last year, which will affect tyre grip and wear – hopefully to our advantage.”

    Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 963 #6): “I had a short break after my stints in the 24-hour races at Le Mans and the Nürburgring, but now it’s finally time to get going again. São Paulo is a circuit steeped in tradition, and it’s a lot of fun to drive. I enjoy the overseas races on the calendar, so I’m really looking forward to this one. At Le Mans, we clearly saw an upward trend compared to the earlier races of the season. We want to build on that trend in Brazil.”

    Neel Jani (Porsche 963 #99): “Last year, we experienced very cool temperatures in Brazil. The forecast for the coming weekend promises warmer conditions, which is a good sign. In 2024, we got caught in a few incidents and also experienced some brake issues on our Porsche 963. This time, we’re aiming for a clean run. The Interlagos circuit just outside São Paulo is a world apart from Le Mans: it features many tight corners, and the cars often run very close together. Strong traction will be key to setting competitive lap times.”

    Célia Martin (Porsche 911 GT3 R #85): “After the intensity and emotion of Le Mans, I feel more motivated than ever heading into the 6 Hours of São Paulo. The hunger is still there, stronger than ever. With Porsche and the Manthey team behind us, we’re ready to give absolutely everything. We’re coming in focused, united, and determined to leave it all on the track.”

    Riccardo Pera (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): “After our class victory at Le Mans, we’re now also leading the championship. The atmosphere and motivation couldn’t be better. I’m really looking forward to Brazil, as it will be my first time racing on that fantastic circuit. We need to continue just as we did last time – if we manage another clean race without any incidents, we can maintain our position at the top of the overall standings.”

    Porsche racing cars and drivers in São Paulo

    Hypercar class (Porsche 963):
    Porsche Penske Motorsport #5: Julien Andlauer (FRA), Michael Christensen (DNK)
    Porsche Penske Motorsport #6: Kévin Estre (FRA), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)
    Proton Competition #99: Neel Jani (CHE), Nico Pino (CHL), Nico Varrone (ARG)

    LMGT3 class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
    Iron Dames #85: Rahel Frey (CHE), Michelle Gatting (DNK), Célia Martin (FRA)
    Manthey 1st Phorm #92: Ryan Hardwick (USA), Richard Lietz (AUT), Riccardo Pera (ITA)

    The schedule (local time = CEST -5 hours)

    Friday, 11 July
    11:00 – 12:30 hrs: Free practice 1
    15:45 – 17:15 hrs: Free practice 2

    Saturday, 12 July
    10:10 – 11:10 hrs: Free practice 3
    14:45 – 14:57 hrs: Qualifying LMGT3
    15:05 – 15:15 hrs: Hyperpole LMGT3
    15:25 – 15:37 hrs: Qualifying Hypercar
    15:45 – 15:55 hrs: Hyperpole Hypercar

    Sunday, 13 July
    11:30 – 17:30 hrs: Race 6 Hours of São Paulo

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  • MAYBELLINE NEW YORK NAMED FIRST-EVER OFFICIAL COSMETICS PARTNER OF WWE®

    MAYBELLINE NEW YORK NAMED FIRST-EVER OFFICIAL COSMETICS PARTNER OF WWE®

    Maybelline to Serve as Presenting Partner of WWE’s All-Women’s Premium Live Event Evolution on Sunday, July 13 in Atlanta

    July 10, 2025 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), and Maybelline New York, the number one cosmetic brand in the world, announced today a new partnership in which the beauty brand will become the first-ever Official Cosmetics Partner of WWE.

    The new agreement commences with Maybelline serving as the Presenting Partner of Evolution – the all-women’s Premium Live Event on Sunday, July 13 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

    “WWE is excited to collaborate with Maybelline, a partner that not only leads the beauty industry but also shares our vision for highlighting amazing individuals across the roster,” said Brit Santypal, Senior Vice President of Partnership Marketing, TKO.

    “Maybelline New York is proud to partner with WWE and have the opportunity to put our products to the ultimate test,” said Amy Whang, President of Maybelline New York. “As the presenting sponsor of Evolution, we’re not just showing up in the ring; we’re supporting a global community that inspires confidence and self-expression, both in and out of the spotlight.”

    In addition to the Presenting Partner designation at Evolution, Maybelline will receive center mat ring branding, a custom vignette and social media integrations. The partnership and activation strategy were developed in collaboration with Beauty Co-Lab, L’Oréal’s media agency of record.

    “Maybelline continues to lead the way by moving at the speed of culture — connecting beauty with entertainment in bold, inclusive, and unexpected ways,” said Delphine Hernoux, CEO, Beauty Co-Lab. “At Beauty Co-Lab, we’re proud to have helped shape this milestone partnership with WWE, which reflects the kind of innovative thinking that keeps the brand ahead of the curve.” 
     

    About WWE®

    WWE® is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, The CW and Netflix. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to all premium live events, a variety of original programming and a massive video-on-demand library. Netflix is the exclusive home for WWE programming around the world, other than select international markets. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

     

    About Maybelline New York

    Maybelline New York is the number one cosmetic brand in the world, available in over 120 countries. By combining technologically advanced formulas with on-trend expertise and New York City edge, Maybelline New York’s mission is to offer innovative, accessible, and effortless cosmetics for all. In 2020, Maybelline introduced Brave Together, a long-term program to support anxiety and depression worldwide. Brave Together provides critical one-on-one support, an online education hub, a variety of programming to help destigmatize the conversation around mental health and has committed to donate $20 million over the next five years to global and local organizations. For more information log on to www.maybelline.com or www.maybelline.com/bravetogether.

     

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  • EA SPORTS College Football 26 Launches Worldwide, Bringing Saturday Gameday to Life Like Never Before – EA IR

    1. EA SPORTS College Football 26 Launches Worldwide, Bringing Saturday Gameday to Life Like Never Before  EA IR
    2. We simulated the 2025 Cy-Hawk game in EA Sports College Football 26: Who won? See here  The Des Moines Register
    3. College Football 26 Season 1  Electronic Arts Home Page
    4. EA Sports College Football 26 review: Second installment is a massive upgrade  USA Today
    5. Predicting Oklahoma’s two-deep depth chart based on CFB26 ratings  Stormin in Norman

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  • Luma AI Has Big Hollywood Dreams

    Luma AI Has Big Hollywood Dreams

    The AI Hollywood race is intensifying as Luma AI, which is behind one of the more novel of a new wave of video generators, says it’s planting a flag in Los Angeles.

    The Northern California company is starting Dream Lab LA, a studio space where it hopes to explain its mission to the entertainment business while recruiting and training filmmakers to use its tools. The news is the latest move from what is becoming an onslaught of AI video models (basically, products that let a person create or change a video without staging a physical shoot) into the filmmaking space.

    “We need even higher levels of intelligence in creative work, and that’s what Luma is committed to building,” Amit Jain, the company’s CEO, said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

     As part of the announcement Luma has hired Verena Puhm, a producer and writer with BBC and CNN credits, to head up the lab, as well as the L.A.-based filmmaker Jon Finger to work as creative workflow executive.

    The lab will be a kind of combined meeting, co-working and educational venue where creatives can come together to produce content using the Luma tool.

    “It’s access, honestly,” Puhm said in an interview. “We want to provide a creative R&D space…to educate the filmmakers and educate the studio partners.” She and Jain said the process will be two-directional, allowing the company to garner intel on the best way to build future tools for Hollywood as well.

    The lab, whose location executives said will be announced shortly, aims to open this summer.

    Luma’s moves are part of the larger aim of making Hollywood a more automated and digital place, where films created by humans are augmented — or supplanted, according to skeptics  — by machine-created video.

    Like many AI video firms, Luma has informal arrangements with a number of the big Hollywood studios to use its tools. (Much of it is still in production but expect a lot more AI to creep up in your favorite movies and TV shows in the coming year.)

    But the company’s model also mixes in a consumer component; it has a monthly $30 subscription service for individuals who want to create their own AI video. Luma is similar in this regard to Moonvalley, another startup that announced its own consumer-facing model this week.

    Luma burst onto the scene in early 2024 with Dream Machine, a shortform video-generation tool that one-upped OpenAI’s Sora in slickness and flexibility. The company has since raised $100 million, including from Amazon, to go along with the $73 million it had previously raised.

    Jait’s firm has put an emphasis on “multimodal” tools — essentially allowing audio and video prompts instead of just text with the aim of giving users more control. One of the latest such tools is Modify, which can transform an ordinary shoot into something more extravagant.

    On a video call Finger demonstrated a few use cases, including a woman sitting in a modern Los Angeles garage that became a woman riding a horse in an old Western town, or two men sitting at a backyard table who were suddenly in a Medieval alehouse. Period movies, among others, just got a whole lot cheaper. “Right now we bang our heads against the Hollywood wall,” Finger said. “Now I can finally get the shot I need to get.”

    While few doubt Hollywood will use these tools, which ones will dominate remains an open question. Luma competes with other startups like Runway AI, which has formal deals with a number of Hollywood entities, and established players like Google’s Veo line, which has been trained on many years of Google and YouTube videos and has been an impressive run lately. And of course the legality of the whole enterprise is in question given Disney’s lawsuit against Midjourney and other copyright challenges to the trained models.

    Jait says he sees the tools supercharging the quantity of productions and thus, as a result, increasing the possibility of groundbreaking work.

    “Right now you’re changing your ad creative every six months when it should be done every six seconds,” he said. “Why are you making 5 movies a year when you should be making 50, you should be making 100?”

    “This changes the economics,” he added, “so drastically.”

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  • Why scientists are so excited about the newfound interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (op-ed)

    Why scientists are so excited about the newfound interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (op-ed)

    Aster G. Taylor is a Ph.D. candidate in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a 2023 Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellow.

    Darryl Z. Seligman is a National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow/Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University.

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  • Pak army chief to replace Asif Ali Zardari as president? Minister clears air

    Pak army chief to replace Asif Ali Zardari as president? Minister clears air

    Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday rejected rumours regarding the possible ouster of President Asif Ali Zardari and termed it a “malicious campaign”.

    Naqvi’s statement was in reaction to speculation on social media platforms that army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was set to replace Zardari as president of the country.

    “We are fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the chief of army staff,” Naqvi asserted in a post on X, but stopped short of naming anyone.

    “I have categorically stated that there has been no discussion, nor does any such idea exist about the president being asked to resign or the COAS aspiring to assume the presidency,” he said.

    He went on to say that President Zardari “enjoys a strong and respectful relationship with the leadership of the armed forces”.

    He quoted President Zardari as having “clearly” stated, “I know who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who stands to benefit from this propaganda.”

    Naqvi stressed that Munir’s “sole focus” was Pakistan’s strength and stability, and “nothing else”.

    “To those involved in this narrative, do whatever you wish in collaboration with hostile foreign agencies. As for us, we will do whatever is necessary to make Pakistan strong again,” Naqvi added.

    Munir was elevated to the post of army chief in 2022 for a tenure of three years, but last year the government increased the tenure term to five years. The government can also extend it by another term.

    Zardari was elected last year as president for a five-year tenure as a quid pro quo for supporting the candidacy of Shehbaz Sharif for the post of prime minister.

    Both Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have maintained good working ties with the establishment. Bilawal was asked to head the delegation which visited various world capitals to explain the circumstances of the recent India-Pakistan conflict, which, observers said, showed the trust he enjoyed of the powerful circles.

    – Ends

    Published By:

    Abhishek De

    Published On:

    Jul 10, 2025

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  • Gay referee says football has to ‘drive out hate’

    Gay referee says football has to ‘drive out hate’

    Archie Farmer

    BBC News, South West

    FA A picture of Ryan wearing a pink referee shirt running. He is wearing a microphone on his face and is wearing a watch on both of his wrists. FA

    Ryan Atkin has refereed both in the English Football League and National League

    A football referee from Plymouth is calling on clubs to do more to tackle homophobia and racism within the game.

    Ryan Atkin, who has refereed both in the English Football League and National League, shared his experience of coming out as a gay man in the world of sport.

    In August 2017, he became the first man refereeing in England’s professional leagues to come out as openly gay.

    He appeared on an episode of the LGBT Sport Podcast this week to urge football to do more to combat prejudice.

    “Football must take positive steps and it must take it now to drive the hate out”, he said.

    “So many football clubs have top of the range security so people shouldn’t be able to hide anymore.

    “Just because you’re a paying member of public attending a football game, it doesn’t give you the right to abuse other people.”

    ‘Football must do more’

    Mr Atkin said: “Is homophobia or racism taken seriously? It says it is but actually, what are the consequences?

    “Football must do more, it has to take a hard line to it.

    “Why do people think it’s acceptable to come to a sporting event and use racist or homophobic chants?

    “Protect your club, protect your players, protect your image – that for me is really key.”

    He added: “You want to be judged on your profession or your sport, not your sexuality.

    “I’m a referee who happens to be gay.”

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