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  • The Commodities Feed: Oil lower on prospects of a Zelensky–Putin meeting | articles

    The Commodities Feed: Oil lower on prospects of a Zelensky–Putin meeting | articles

    Oil prices are marginally lower in early morning trading today, following the meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader appears to have pushed for more clarity around US security guarantees and reportedly is willing to offer a $100bn weapons deal in return for such guarantees.

    There was no critical breakthrough. It appears the next step is a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, possibly within two weeks. This will be crucial, marking the first time the leaders meet since the war started. A big sticking point relates to territory. Putin wants Ukraine to concede Donetsk and Luhansk in their entirety — even parts of those regions not currently under Russian occupation. Zelensky has made it clear this isn’t something he would accept. We’ll have to wait until such a meeting to know how much flexibility there is on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides.

    Betting markets aren’t overly convinced that we’ll see a ceasefire before the end of the year. Polymarkets is showing a 38% chance of a ceasefire, well below the peak of 78% seen in March. The modest price action in the oil market this morning appears to fit with this view.

    The other big issue relating to Russia-Ukraine is the secondary tariffs the US placed on India for its imports of Russian oil. The deadline (27 August) to come to a deal before tariffs are introduced is nearing. To make matters worse, trade talks that were set to take place in late August have reportedly been postponed.

    Finally, Ukraine said it attacked Russia’s Druzhba pipeline system, which carries crude oil to parts of central Europe. Both Hungary and Slovakia report disruptions due to the attack. Russian oil flows to both countries via the Druzhba average a little more than 200k b/d.

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  • Iga Swiatek claims first Cincinnati Open title after beating Jasmine Paolini

    Iga Swiatek claims first Cincinnati Open title after beating Jasmine Paolini



     Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the Rookwood Cup after defeating Jasmine Paolini of Italy during the women´s final of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2025 in Mason, Ohio. — AFP

    Iga Swiatek captured her first Cincinnati Open title on Monday by beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5 6-4, with the Pole third seed sending a powerful message ahead of the US Open.

    The six-times Grand Slam winner did not drop a set on her way to the title and was clinical in the final, converting all six of her break points to clinch her 11th WTA 1000 crown and first since last year’s Italian Open.

    She is now the second all-time winner in the WTA 1000 format history, trailing only Serena Williams (23).

    “I want to thank my team. I don’t know why I won tournaments that were like the last ones in terms of where I thought I would be playing well,” Swiatek said.

    “Thank you for forcing me to become a better player and learning how to play on these faster surfaces. I’m shocked and super happy.”

    Paolini made the brighter start, surging to a 3-0 lead and pushing Swiatek to the brink of a double break. Yet the Pole responded with a five-game run and, after squandering her first chance to serve out the opening set, closed it on her second attempt.

    Swiatek carried her momentum into the second set, saving two break points at 4-3 before holding firm to move within one game of the title. She sealed victory at the first opportunity with a big serve, extending her perfect record against the Italian to 6-0.

    The win ensures Wimbledon champion Swiatek will climb back to world number two, securing the second seed for the final major of the year at Flushing Meadows, where singles action begins on Sunday.

    Swiatek is also set to team up with Norway’s Casper Ruud in the new US Open mixed doubles event.

    Earlier in the day, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz claimed the men’s title after top seed Jannik Sinner retired in the first set.

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  • Faulty glucose transport weakens insulin release in Type 2 diabetes

    Faulty glucose transport weakens insulin release in Type 2 diabetes

    Just as smart traffic management ensures smooth vehicular movement during peak hours, our body relies on a molecular traffic system to manage the surge in glucose levels after a meal. Pancreatic β-cells play a major role in this system by taking up glucose from the blood and triggering insulin release into the bloodstream. Inside these cells, glucose uptake is managed by glucose transporters (GLUTs) – proteins that move to the β-cell surface when blood glucose levels rise and facilitate the entry of glucose into the cell to kickstart insulin release.

    A new study from the Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics (DBG), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), shows how this process falters in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and how restoring it could open new therapeutic avenues. The work, carried out by the lab of Nikhil Gandasi, Assistant Professor in DBG, is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

    In humans, GLUT1 is the main glucose “gateway” in β-cells, while in mice, GLUT2 plays that role. The team studied both to understand the process of glucose uptake across systems. Using advanced live-cell imaging, the team tracked GLUT1 and GLUT2 transporters as they were recruited to the β-cell membrane under different blood glucose levels. In healthy cells, rising glucose levels prompt a rapid deployment of GLUTs to the membrane. These transporters are then cycled in and out through clathrin-mediated endocytosis – a process in which cells internalise extracellular material by forming pockets made of the protein clathrin. This ensures a constant supply of transporters at the surface for efficient glucose uptake.

    In β-cells from people with T2D, however, this traffic is poorly managed. Fewer GLUTs reach the membrane, and their cycling is impaired, slowing down glucose entry. This, in turn, reduces the docking of insulin granules to the surface of the β-cell membrane – particularly those “primed” for rapid release after eating – weakening the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.

    Most studies have looked at what happens after glucose enters the β-cell. We focused on the step before that, the actual entry of glucose, and how this is disrupted in diabetes. By understanding the dynamics of these transporters, we can identify new points to intervene and improve β-cell function.”


    Anuma Pallavi, PhD student in DBG and first author of the study

    The findings have important therapeutic implications. Current diabetes treatments largely target insulin action in peripheral tissues like muscle and fat, but this new work points to β-cell glucose uptake as a promising target. Gandasi’s lab has previously identified Pheophorbide A, a plant-derived molecule that can boost insulin release by interacting with glucose transporters.

    “If we can restore proper GLUT trafficking, we may be able to slow down disease progression and personalize therapies based on a patient’s metabolic state,” says Gandasi.

    Source:

    Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

    Journal reference:

    Pallavi, A., et al. (2025). Dynamic GLUT trafficking at high glucose levels enhances insulin secretion: Dysregulation leads to decreased insulin secretion during type 2 diabetes. PNAS. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2425955122.

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  • Aurora Alert: Northern Lights might appear in 14 US states this week; when and where to look – The Times of India

    1. Aurora Alert: Northern Lights might appear in 14 US states this week; when and where to look  The Times of India
    2. Northern Lights Update: Aurora Alert For Monday Night In 16 States  Forbes
    3. Geomagnetic storms may cause summer northern lights in Metro Vancouver  Vancouver Is Awesome
    4. Map shows Oregon, 15 other states, where northern lights could be visible Monday night  OregonLive.com
    5. Northern lights may light up the sky over Washington state tonight, Aug. 18  Kitsap Sun

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  • Evidence of “negative time” observed in quantum experiments

    Evidence of “negative time” observed in quantum experiments

    Scientists just measured something that sounds impossible. When light passes through atoms, it can spend what appears to be less than zero time interacting with them. Yes, negative time. And no, this isn’t science fiction.

    Picture a stadium crowd doing the wave. People stand and sit in sequence, but somehow the wave moves faster than any single person.


    Scientists at the University of Toronto found light doing something similar with atoms, except they measured the part where it got really weird.

    Experiment that shouldn’t work

    Light usually slows down when passing through materials. That’s normal physics.

    But with very short light pulses and the right conditions, the peak of a light wave can exit a material before it seemingly should.

    Scientists have seen this for years but dismissed it as a reshaping effect, not actual negative time. The Toronto researchers weren’t satisfied with that explanation.

    They cooled rubidium atoms to near absolute zero and shot incredibly weak light pulses through them – so weak that they could track individual photons.

    Aephraim Steinberg, a University of Toronto professor specializing in experimental quantum physics, led the work with researcher Daniela Angulo.

    They used two laser beams. One carried the signal they wanted to study. The other acted like a heartbeat monitor for the atoms.

    “This is tough stuff, even for us to talk about with other physicists. We get misunderstood all the time,” said Steinberg.

    Measuring negative time

    Here’s where things get strange. When a photon passed through and excited the atoms, the probe beam detected tiny changes.

    These changes told them exactly how long the atoms remained excited. The answer? Sometimes it was negative.

    “That time turned out to be negative,” Steinberg explained.

    The team discovered that when light pulses experienced what physicists call negative group delay – when the pulse peak exits early – the atoms showed corresponding negative excitation times.

    The two measurements matched perfectly, proving this wasn’t just a visual trick but a real physical phenomenon.

    How negative time actually works

    Before you start planning trips to yesterday, understand what’s really happening. The speed of light remains unchanged.

    “We don’t want to say anything traveled backward in time,” Steinberg said. “That’s a misinterpretation.”

    Light pulses contain many frequencies mixed together, like a chord in music. When these frequencies hit resonant atoms, each gets shifted slightly differently.

    Mix them back together, and the peak can end up ahead of where you’d expect. No single part breaks the speed of light – the wave just reshapes itself through quantum interference.

    The atoms essentially record this reshaping. When the pulse peak shifts forward, the atoms’ response shifts too, creating a measurable negative interaction time. It’s quantum mechanics at its strangest, but it follows all the rules.

    Why scientists care

    This experiment settles a long debate. Some physicists argued negative group delay was just mathematical sleight of hand. Others suspected it represented something physically real.

    Their setup required extraordinary precision. They trapped rubidium-85 atoms in a tiny cloud, sending shaped signal pulses through it, while a probe beam traveled in the opposite direction.

    The signal matched a specific atomic transition in rubidium. The probe stayed slightly detuned to monitor without being absorbed.

    By correlating probe changes with single-photon detections, they isolated effects from individual photons.

    Tests across different pulse durations and cloud densities confirmed their predictions every time. Where theory predicted negative delays, they measured negative times.

    This discovery matters for quantum technology. Future quantum computers and networks need precise control of photon-atom interactions.

    Understanding these timing effects, even negative ones, helps engineers build better quantum systems.

    The work also pushes quantum mechanics into new territory. At quantum scales, particles behave in probabilistic ways that defy everyday intuition.

    What happens next

    This experiment shows that time measurements can get equally weird, though causality never breaks.

    Steinberg acknowledged controversy around their findings, but noted that no scientist has challenged the experimental results.

    “We’ve made our choice about what we think is a fruitful way to describe the results,” he said.

    As for practical uses, Steinberg remains realistic.

    “I’ll be honest, I don’t currently have a path from what we’ve been looking at toward applications,” he admitted. “We’re going to keep thinking about it, but I don’t want to get people’s hopes up.”

    The discovery opens new paths for exploring quantum effects. Sometimes the strangest findings lead to unexpected breakthroughs.

    We now know negative time isn’t just theoretical – it’s measurable, real, and perfectly consistent with physics. It is not the kind that lets you change the past.

    The full study was published in the journal arXiv.

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  • Researchers investigate how citrus bioflavonoid naringin could reduce inflammation and heart risk

    Researchers investigate how citrus bioflavonoid naringin could reduce inflammation and heart risk

    From endothelial repair to anti-inflammatory effects, naringin demonstrates powerful heart-protective actions before reaching clinical trials.

    Systematic Review: Endothelial and Cardiovascular Effects of Naringin: A Systematic Review. Image Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock

    In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers evaluated the cardiovascular and endothelial effects of naringin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruits.

    Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Among the various cardioprotective dietary bioactive compounds, flavonoids have gained significant attention for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. Naringin is a flavanone glycoside mainly found in citrus fruits, especially in mandarin oranges and grapefruit. It has attracted considerable interest due to its multifaceted biological actions and potential cardioprotective role, though its clinical translation is limited by low oral bioavailability (<5%), prompting research into advanced delivery systems like liposomal encapsulation.

    About the Study

    In the present systematic review, researchers evaluated the cardiovascular and endothelial effects of naringin across cellular, animal, and human studies. First, they searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases to identify relevant articles published from January 2000 to June 2025. Original experimental research studies evaluating the effects of naringin on myocardial or endothelial function were included.

    Reviews, editorials, abstracts, and studies without cardiovascular endpoints were excluded. Titles/abstracts were screened, followed by full text analysis based on the Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcomes (PICO) framework. Studies in human subjects, cell cultures, and animal models were retained. Cardiovascular or endothelial function outcomes included myocardial infarct size, blood pressure, markers of endothelial function, and cardiac remodeling, among others.

    Data on study type, dose, model, treatment duration, endpoints, and mechanistic findings were extracted. A narrative synthesis approach was used due to heterogeneity in model systems, study design, and endpoints. A qualitative synthesis was performed to stratify results by primary endpoints (myocardial or endothelial function) and model type (human, cell, animal).

    Naringin Molecular Structure and Citrus Food Sources. The concentration of naringin in plant sources were obtained from Alam et al.

    Naringin Molecular Structure and Citrus Food Sources. The concentration of naringin in plant sources were obtained from Alam et al.

    Findings

    The database search identified 2,884 unique records. The full texts of 165 records were assessed for eligibility, and 62 studies were included. These included 28 in vitro, 29 animal, and five human studies. Eight in vitro studies focused on endothelial cells and showed that naringin had protective effects on vascular endothelial cells via suppression of NF-κB signaling and adhesion molecules (e.g., VCAM-1, ICAM-1). Naringin attenuated inflammation activation and preserved normal function in cultured human endothelial cells.

    Nineteen in vitro studies were on cardiovascular cell types, including five on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and 14 on cardiac cells. Naringin was found to blunt apoptotic and hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocyte and cardiomyoblast models through modulation of PI3K/Akt and Nrf2 pathways. The anti-hypertrophic effect was related to its ability to inhibit downstream ion transporters and carbonic anhydrase II. Moreover, naringin has been shown to protect cardiomyocytes from simulated in vitro ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) by inhibiting ferroptosis and cGAS-STING pathways.

    In a model of hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, naringin reduced oxidative stress, improved cell survival, and preserved mitochondrial membrane potential post-injury. Naringin has been shown to protect cardiomyocytes against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis. Further, naringin has been found to exert anti-atherogenic effects in VSMCs by curbing abnormal migration and proliferation.

    Among animal studies, 15 used metabolic disorder models, with nine specifically focusing on myocardial I/R injury or hypertension. Animal models of endothelial injury and hyperlipidemia have demonstrated the anti-atherosclerotic effects of naringin. In rabbit models fed cholesterol, chronic naringin treatment reduced atherosclerotic lesion development.

    Studies on hypercholesterolemic rabbits reported significant attenuation of aortic atherosclerosis with naringin treatment, associated with reduced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in the endothelium. In an atherosclerosis-prone mouse model, naringin inhibited plaque formation, protected vascular endothelium, and promoted endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression via PI3K/Akt activation.

    Moreover, naringin has demonstrated anti-hypertensive effects linked to renin-angiotensin system (RAS) modulation, preventing cardiac remodeling. Studies on animal models of diet-induced metabolic syndrome have reported that naringin reduces cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis. Beyond ischemia-reperfusion, benefits extended to diabetic cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction, and doxorubicin cardiotoxicity models.

    In addition, naringin has consistently demonstrated cardioprotective effects in animal models of I/R injury and myocardial infarction (MI). For instance, naringin pretreatment significantly improved cardiac function and reduced myocardial damage in a rat model of I/R injury. This cardioprotection was associated with reductions in myocardial oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/GPX4 pathways. In a rat model of MI, naringin pretreatment prevented myocardial necrosis and oxidative stress.

    Naringin was found to improve cardiac function and histology in diabetic cardiomyopathy models and attenuate sepsis and lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial dysfunction in other models. Further, compared to preclinical studies, few studies have examined the effects of naringin in humans. Although still limited, evidence on the cardiovascular effects of naringin in humans stems from dietary intervention studies and clinical trials.

    A randomized controlled trial reported significant improvements in cardiometabolic parameters in adults who received naringin for 90 days, showing a favorable lipid-modulating effect. Notably, one trial also documented improved arterial stiffness (reduced pulse wave velocity) with naringin-rich grapefruit juice. A dietary intervention study of adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia reported that naringin intake for eight weeks did not change plasma cholesterol levels; this lack of effect might be due to insufficient dose or treatment duration, as effective preclinical doses translate to ~1 g/day in humans.

    Conclusions

    In sum, a substantial body of evidence positions naringin as a potent compound with cardiovascular benefits. Preclinical studies have documented its ability to protect the myocardium and improve endothelial function through multi-targeted actions on oxidative stress (Nrf2), inflammation (NF-κB), cell survival (PI3K/Akt), and RAS modulation. It can suppress oxidative stress and inflammation, preserve endothelial integrity, and activate pro-survival signaling in cells.

    Despite the positive findings of naringin, further research is needed to define optimal dosing, improve bioavailability, and validate effects in large-scale human trials to cement its role in clinical practice.

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  • Legendary Trader Peter Brandt Just Mapped Bitcoin’s Next Peak—And It Could Hit $145K by September

    Legendary Trader Peter Brandt Just Mapped Bitcoin’s Next Peak—And It Could Hit $145K by September

    Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

    The veteran analyst who called Bitcoin’s 2017 top is tracking a 75-week pattern that suggests crypto’s current bull run has a precise expiration date

    Peter Brandt has seen enough market cycles to spot patterns that escape most traders. The legendary commodities trader, who predicted Bitcoin’s 2017 peak, just shared a striking analysis that could determine when the current crypto bull market reaches its climax.

    According to Brandt’s latest research, Bitcoin bull cycles follow a remarkably consistent 75-week pattern, give or take two weeks. His analysis reveals that the 2015-2017 bull cycle lasted exactly 75 weeks, and the 2018-2021 cycle also clocked in at 75 weeks with the same margin of error.

    Don’t Miss:

    If this pattern holds for the current cycle that began in 2022, Brandt predicts the bull market top will arrive during the week of Sept. 22, plus or minus two weeks. This puts the potential peak window between Sept. 15 and Sept. 28.

    But here’s where it gets interesting for investors: Brandt isn’t just timing the cycle—he’s pricing it too. His analysis suggests Bitcoin could reach between $125,000 and $145,000 if the historical pattern repeats.

    This isn’t just chart reading—it’s pattern recognition based on multiple completed cycles that Brandt has tracked over several years.

    For retail investors, this analysis offers both opportunity and warning. Bitcoin has already demonstrated its ability to follow cyclical patterns, making Brandt’s framework a valuable timing tool. However, the same pattern that could drive Bitcoin to new heights also suggests a definitive endpoint.

    Trending: ‘Scrolling To UBI’ — Deloitte’s #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share.

    The implications extend beyond Bitcoin itself. If the largest cryptocurrency follows this timeline, it could influence the entire crypto market’s trajectory. Altcoins typically amplify Bitcoin’s movements, meaning the September timeframe could mark peak euphoria across digital assets.

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  • Pakistani Youth Engagement in Stock Market

    Pakistani Youth Engagement in Stock Market

    The Pakistani Stock Market is often perceived as a platform for seasoned investors, yet the real opportunity lies in empowering our youth to participate actively. With nearly 64% of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, this demographic holds the key to expanding the investor base and fostering long-term market growth.

    Young investors are naturally more adaptable to digital platforms, online trading, and innovative financial products. The PSX should take advantage of this by introducing simplified investment accounts, student-friendly trading options, and educational resources that demystify investing. Such measures would not only promote financial literacy but also help cultivate a culture of saving and investment from 

    an early age.

    Moreover, youth-led start-ups could benefit enormously from easier access to equity financing via the PSX. Encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to list on the exchange would create more diverse investment opportunities while driving innovation and job creation.

    If we want a stock market that is resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking, youth engagement must be at the heart of the strategy. By combining technology, education, and opportunity, the PSX can become a true engine of national progress.

    MUHAMMAD NABEEL HAIDER,

    Islamabad.


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  • Australia's Santos flags delay in finalising ADNOC-led offer beyond deadline – Reuters

    1. Australia’s Santos flags delay in finalising ADNOC-led offer beyond deadline  Reuters
    2. Disturbing history behind company in Santos takeover bid  Australian Broadcasting Corporation
    3. Santos reveals four-week delay to ADNOC takeover deal  AFR
    4. Santos does not expect parties to enter binding SIA by 22 August  MarketScreener
    5. Santos Shares Fall After Another Delay in $19 Billion Takeover  Bloomberg.com

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  • Man thinks rabbits with ‘horns and tentacles’ on head are fake, then spots one in Colorado: ‘Frankenstein bunnies’

    Man thinks rabbits with ‘horns and tentacles’ on head are fake, then spots one in Colorado: ‘Frankenstein bunnies’

    Updated on: Aug 19, 2025 07:00 am IST

    Rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus have growth on their heads and faces resembling “horns and tentacles.”

    A man who thought pictures of rabbits with grotesque and hornlike growths flooding the internet were fake was shocked when he spotted one in Colorado. A video shows the man talking about the creature while recording it.

    Snippet from the ‘Zombie bunny’ video captured by the man (L) and a viral pic on the internet (R). (Screengrab (X))

    “This man was in pure disbelief when he spotted one of the infected papillomavirus rabbits with horns called ‘Frankenstein Bunnies’ that were originally reported in Colorado in Downtown Sioux Falls in South Dakota,” an X user wrote while sharing the video.

    In the video, the man is seen recording a rabbit sitting near a bush on the opposite side of a road. Slowly and carefully, the man approaches the animal to show tentacle-shaped growths protruding from their head and face. Throughout the video, the man keeps saying how the scene shocked him.

    (Viewer discretion advised: The video contains abusive language.)

    Over the last few weeks, sightings of rabbits with bizarre growths have been reported in Colorado, Minnesota, and Nebraska. These uncommon facial features of the furry creatures left many uncomfortable, promoting nicknames like “Zombie Bunnies” or “Frankenstein Bunnies”.

    Why are some rabbits growing strange ‘horns and tentacles’ on their face?

    According to wildlife experts, this unsettling condition occurs when a rabbit gets infected with the Shope papilloma virus, named after Dr. Richard E. Shope, a professor at Rockefeller University who discovered this disease in 1930.

    Are ‘Zombie Rabbits’ a threat to humans?

    According to a Forbes report, despite having alarming appearances, these animals pose no threat to humans. Though this virus cannot harm humans or their pet cats or dogs, wildlife and health officials advise people not to touch the infected rabbits.

    Also Read: Nightmarish video of tarantula infected by zombie fungus goes viral: ‘Burn it with fire’

    A spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Kara Van Hoose, told the Associated Press (AP) that the growths initially resemble warts but turn to look more like horns when they grow.

    Usually, the growth doesn’t harm the rabbits. However, growths on the eyes or mouth can disrupt clear vision and interfere with eating.

    News / Trending / US / Man thinks rabbits with ‘horns and tentacles’ on head are fake, then spots one in Colorado: ‘Frankenstein bunnies’


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