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  • IDH-Triplet Therapy Shows Excellent Outcomes in IDH-Mutant AML

    IDH-Triplet Therapy Shows Excellent Outcomes in IDH-Mutant AML

    “In summary, these data demonstrate excellent outcomes of IDH-triplet therapy in the treatment of newly diagnosed, [intensive chemotherapy]–ineligible IDH-mutant AML,” according to the study authors.

    Investigational triplet regimens containing venetoclax (Venclexta) demonstrated clinical efficacy among patients with IDH-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are ineligible to receive intensive chemotherapy, according to findings from a pair of phase 1b/2 trials (NCT03471260; NCT04774393) published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.1

    Among all evaluable patients (n = 60), the composite complete remission (CRc) rate was 92%, and the objective response rate (ORR) was 95%. Additionally, data showed a median time to first response and best response of 27 days and 61 days, respectively.

    Among those with IDH1-mutated disease (n = 37), the CRc rate was 86%, and the minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate was 81%; these respective rates were 100% and 95% among patients with IDH2 mutations (n = 23). The CRc rate was 71% in patients with treated-secondary AML (tsAML; n = 17) compared with 98% among those with non-tsAML (n = 43).

    Data showed a median overall survival (OS) that was not reached (NR; 95% CI, 31.3-NR) in patients with IDH1 mutations vs 35.2 months (95% CI, 14.2-NR) among those with IDH2 mutations; the 2-year OS rates were 73% and 65%, respectively. Additionally, the median event-free survival (EFS) in each group was NR (95% CI, 36.8-NR) vs 26.5 months (95% CI, 11.0-NR), with respective 2-year EFS rates of 72% vs 60%. The 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was 24% (95% CI, 0%-43%) in the IDH1-mutated subgroup and 24% (95% CI, 0%-46%) in the IDH2-mutated subgroup.

    In the non-tsAML and tsAML populations, respectively, the median OS was NR (95% CI, NR-NR) vs 10.9 months (95% CI, 7.8-NR), and the 2-year OS rates were 84% and 34%. Additionally, the median EFS was NR (95% CI, 36.8-NR) and 7.7 months (95% CI, 4.8-NR) in each group, with respective 2-year EFS rates of 79% and 34%. At 2 years, the CIR rate was 20% (95% CI, 0%-36%) vs 38% (95% CI, 0%-65%).

    “In summary, these data demonstrate excellent outcomes of IDH-triplet therapy in the treatment of newly diagnosed, [intensive chemotherapy]–ineligible IDH-mutant AML. Enrollment on these trials is ongoing…with expansion to additional clinical sites to augment enrollment and confirm generalizability among academic settings,” lead study author Courtney D. DiNardo, MD, MSCE, from the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, wrote with coauthors.1 “Prospective studies comparing IDH-triplet versus IDH-doublet regimens are warranted.”

    In one of the investigator-initiated phase 1b/2 trials, patients were assigned to receive venetoclax orally each day on days 1 to 14; oral ivosidenib (Tibsovo) daily on days 15 to 28 of the first cycle, followed by days 1 to 28 of each subsequent cycle; and azacitidine (Vidaza) intravenously or subcutaneously on days 1 to 7 of 28-day cycles.2 Treatment persisted until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. This trial only included patients with IDH1-mutated AML.

    In the other trial, patients received oral decitabine/cedazuridine on days 1 to 5, oral venetoclax on days 1 to 14, and oral ivosidenib or oral enasidenib (Idhifa) on days 1 to 28 of 28-day cycles for 12 cycles or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.3 Patients with IDH1 mutations received ivosidenib as part of their regimen, while those with IDH2 mutations received enasidenib.

    The dual primary end points of both trials were the safety and efficacy of the combination regimens. Investigators evaluated efficacy based on CRc within the first 5 cycles of study treatment. Other end points included OS, EFS, CIR, and DOR.

    The median patient age was 71 years (range, 62-87), and most patients were White (92%). Of note, most patients had de novo AML (58%), adverse-risk disease per European Leukemia Network (ELN) 2022 criteria (78%), favorable-risk disease per ELN 2024 guidelines (72%), and IDH1 mutations (63%).

    The median number of treatment cycles was 5 (range, 1-52), and the most common reasons for treatment discontinuation included stem cell transplant (49%), relapse (23%), patient choice (10%), lack of response (8%), and death (5%). Among patients in remission, 16% and 12% required red cell transfusions and platelet transfusions, respectively.

    Any-grade nonhematologic adverse effects (AEs) occurred in 77% of patients, the most common of which included infections (42%), hyperbilirubinemia (27%), diarrhea (20%), and transaminitis (15%). Grade 3 or higher AEs affected 43% of patients and included hyperbilirubinemia (5%), differentiation syndrome (3%), diarrhea (2%), and transaminitis (2%).

    References

    1. DiNardo CD, Marvin-Peek J, Loghavi S, et al. Outcomes of frontline triplet regimens with a hypomethylating agent, venetoclax, and isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitor for intensive chemotherapy–ineligible patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase–mutated AML. J Clin Oncol. Published online June 13, 2025. doi:10.1200/JCO-25-00640
    2. Ivosidenib and venetoclax with or without azacitidine in treating patients with IDH1 mutated hematologic malignancies. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated April 23, 2025. Accessed July 7, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/59ndw64d
    3. Decitabine/​cedazuridine and venetoclax in combination with ivosidenib or enasidenib for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated June 3, 2025. Accessed July 7, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/42rkyns4

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  • At Schiaparelli Fall 2026 Haute Couture, it’s a spectacle

    At Schiaparelli Fall 2026 Haute Couture, it’s a spectacle

    Paris couture week kicked off this morning with Daniel Roseberry’s Schiaparelli Fall/Winter 2026 Haute Couture show. The bi-yearly occurrence pulls a devoted fashion audience and plenty of onlookers, who gather outside the show venue to witness their favorite celebrities arriving in Roseberry’s couture from season’s past. This season, celebrities like Hunter Schafer,Dua Lipa, and recurring friend of the house, Cardi B arrived in a custom couture look (Cardi immediately went viral for posing with a real raven perched in her hands).

    Inside, the spectacle continued. Over the years, the word “spectacle” has received somewhat bad PR. There was a moment, back in 2022, where it felt like everything in fashion was done to garner some kind of viral reaction; the spectacle of designers attempting to one-up each other with show theatrics and ostentatious presentations began to come across as disingenuous and lackluster, especially when the collections suffered as a result of these over-the-top marketing techniques.

    Schiaparelli

    Schiaparelli

    Daniel Roseberry is one designer who never played into this tactic, and yet each season, the craftsmanship upstages any trick he might have in his back pocket. The star of this season’s show was undoubtedly his dedication to truly impressive couture. Threading hyper-realist motifs with surrealist ideas, Roseberry’s vision this season steered from his exploration of technology into the realm of the body and the stuff we are made up of.

    Schiaparelli

    Schiaparelli

    Silhouettes were softer, more intimate, in certain ways. There were suits of wool and silk with broad shoulders, nipped waists, and languid pants. Strapless dresses featured padded, exaggerated hips. Draped silk dresses flowed like water in red and black; one had a plunging open back with crystal hardware that mimicked the look of bones, another red draped chiffon and silk gown evoked drawings of exposed muscles, while another mimicked the imprint of a woman’s body through padded satin. As the model turned her back, what looked like a simple red crystal necklace at the front revealed an interpretation of Carlos Alemany and Salvador Dalí’s functional Royal Heart Brooch, at the nape, which beat on its own accord.

    Schiaparelli

    Schiaparelli

    Elsewhere, old and new collide through black and silver bullfighting suits and a silver version of Elsa Schiaparelli’s sequin “Apollo of Versailles” cape, now lined with hair that was curled in ringlets. And then, an ‘80s-style silver leather suit with exaggerated shoulders—only the shoulders were mini saddles, which appeared later on, enlarged in silk, on the front of a black velvet dress. The ‘30s peeked through in the skirt suits, pillbox hats and all, and a silver partially-sheer evening gown, but the undercurrent of modernity carried through in every touchpoint. Where things started to feel a little too nostalgic, Roseberry would pull back with a sleek, sexy, modern evening gown.

    Schiaparelli

    Schiaparelli

    This is one of the reasons Roseberry has been so successful as a designer. As much as he is someone who loves to dive into the surrealist ideas and references and motifs from Schiaparelli’s archive, his astute ability to hold their hand, confidently, and guide them into a contemporary framework is one that feels endlessly exciting.

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  • Owning 37% in Autosports Group Limited (ASX:ASG) means that insiders are heavily invested in the company’s future

    Owning 37% in Autosports Group Limited (ASX:ASG) means that insiders are heavily invested in the company’s future

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    If you want to know who really controls Autosports Group Limited (ASX:ASG), then you’ll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 37% to be precise, is individual insiders. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

    With such a notable stake in the company, insiders would be highly incentivised to make value accretive decisions.

    Let’s delve deeper into each type of owner of Autosports Group, beginning with the chart below.

    See our latest analysis for Autosports Group

    ASX:ASG Ownership Breakdown July 7th 2025

    Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it’s included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

    We can see that Autosports Group does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company’s stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It’s therefore worth looking at Autosports Group’s earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

    earnings-and-revenue-growth
    ASX:ASG Earnings and Revenue Growth July 7th 2025

    It looks like hedge funds own 5.8% of Autosports Group shares. That’s interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is James Pagent with 23% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 13% and 7.6% of the stock. Nicholas Pagent, who is the second-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Chief Executive Officer.

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  • EU car production can return to post-crisis peak – study

    EU car production can return to post-crisis peak – study

    Europe’s car industry could return to producing 16.8 million cars a year – equal to its post-2008 crisis peak – if the EU maintains its 2035 clean cars target and strengthens industrial and demand policies, a new study finds. That would result in automotive value chain jobs being kept at today’s numbers, according to the report published today by green group T&E.

    The report modelled the impact of maintaining the EU’s 2035 zero-emission goal and implementing new industrial policies to boost domestic EV production such as electrification targets for corporate fleets and support for made-in-EU cars and batteries. In that scenario, the automotive value chain’s contribution (Gross Value Added) to the European economy would increase by 11% by 2035 compared to today.

    Batteries and charging

    Job displacement in vehicle manufacturing could be offset by the creation of more than 100,000 new jobs in battery-making by 2030 and 120,000 in charging by 2035, the study finds. The EU could produce up to 900 GWh of batteries a year (currently 187 GWh) by 2030 if it stands by its zero-emission target and implements supportive industrial strategies. The economic output of the charging sector could increase almost fivefold to €79 billion by 2035.

    But weakening the zero-emission goal – as EU lawmakers are under pressure to do – and failing to put in place comprehensive industrial policies could see the European automotive value chain’s contribution to the economy decline by €90 billion by 2035, the report finds. There could be a loss of up to 1 million jobs compared to today. Up to two-thirds of planned battery investments in the EU could also be lost while the charging industry would be deprived of €120 billion in prospective revenue over the next 10 years.

    Julia Poliscanova, Senior Director for Vehicles & Emobility Supply Chains at T&E, said: “It’s a make or break moment for Europe’s automotive industry as the global competition to lead the production of electric cars, batteries and chargers is immense. Europe’s success hinges on the road that EU politicians take today. Keeping the 2035 zero-emissions goal alongside adopting strong industrial and demand policies is the EU’s best chance to return to greater car production, maintain job levels and increase the economic value of its auto industry.”

    T&E said the EU needed to prioritise electric car industrial leadership across its climate and industrial policies if it’s to maintain the automotive sector’s economic contribution and job levels and to maximise new investment and jobs in the battery and charging sectors. That includes:

    1. Maintaining the 2030-2035 car CO2 targets in the upcoming regulatory review, flanked by EU-wide measures to support demand.

    2. Introducing production aid for EV batteries in both EU and national funding streams, alongside incentives to source EU-made components and materials.

    3. Implementing the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation and electricity market reforms and grids action plans to speed up charger roll-out and grid connections and permitting.

    4. Mainstreaming social conditionality for quality jobs, and strengthening technology and skills transfer provisions in foreign direct investment.

    Three industry associations reviewed the report and support its high-level message on the economic and employment potential of Europe’s electric vehicle transition – which requires both stable targets and stronger industrial and demand policies – without endorsing all aspects of the report:

    Chris Heron, Secretary General of E-Mobility Europe, said: “There are hundreds and thousands of new jobs still for Europe to seize in its electric vehicle transition, but only through political courage and decisiveness. The global race for electric car leadership is already underway, and we can’t let other regions get out of reach. Europe needs to keep the conviction of its 2035 target to guide investment into electric vehicles, batteries, materials, and charging. But it also needs a tangible step up in its industrial and demand policies, to prove to companies it really means business.”

    Ilka von Dalwigk, Director General of RECHARGE, said: “This study echoes what industry leaders have long cautioned: Europe risks losing one of the most strategic sectors of the green transition. The EU’s questioning of the 2035 target and its lack of effective support schemes for battery production endangers one of the most important cleantech industries. This study confirms that if we move on these quickly, we can secure hundreds of gigawatt-hours of locally-made, clean batteries.”

    Lucie Mattera, Secretary General of ChargeUp Europe, said: “The energy transition is a catalyst for Europe’s competitiveness – driving innovation, investment, and new opportunities. The charging infrastructure sector plays a key role in this transformation and is on track to create long-term value and a range of quality jobs across the continent. To fully realise this potential, stable and predictable regulatory conditions such as the 2035 target are essential.”

    About T&E

    T&E is Europe’s leading advocate for clean transport and energy. The non-profit organisation wants to change the way transport is powered, accelerating the transition through zero-emission mobility and energy systems that are affordable and have minimal impacts on our health, climate and environment.

    About E-Mobility Europe

    E-Mobility Europe is the voice for Europe’s collective electric vehicle ecosystem (formerly AVERE), with a membership including national EV associations, vehicle manufacturer, supply chain, fleet owners, and technology providers. E-Mobility Europe advocates for Europe’s successful transition to electric vehicles, in a way that benefits both the region’s people and its industries.

    About RECHARGE

    RECHARGE is the European industry association for advanced rechargeable and lithium batteries. Founded in 1998, it is our mission to promote advanced rechargeable batteries as a key technology that will contribute to a more empowered, sustainable and circular economy by enabling decarbonised electricity and mobility, and cutting-edge consumer products. RECHARGE’s unique membership covers all aspects of the advanced rechargeable battery value chain: From suppliers of primary and secondary raw materials, to battery and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), to logistic partners and battery recyclers.

    About ChargeUp Europe

    ChargeUp Europe is the industry association for the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure sector. Our association works to accelerate the switch to zero emission mobility and ensure that EV drivers can enjoy a seamless charging experience with access to high quality, readily available charging infrastructure across Europe. As of today, our member companies are active in all 27 EU Member States, the UK and EFTA.

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  • Bayern Munich CEO laments transfer news frenzy

    Bayern Munich CEO laments transfer news frenzy

    It is safe to say that Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen does not read the “Transfer News and Rumors” section of Bavarian Football Works.

    Well…at least not publicly. We cannot confirm, nor deny that he could own the BFW screen name “DreesNutts.”

    Anyway, Dreesen admitted to sometimes being “annoyed” by the glut of news, but also accepts that it is just part of the game now.

    “Sometimes you get annoyed. I wish there was less writing and less talking sometimes. But then such a process isn’t unusual for us anymore, because ultimately, transfers are part of our business. It always has been, and it’s certainly become more prominent in recent years,” Dreesen told Sky Germany (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “Perhaps it’s also become more prominent due to the very intensive reporting. But just because a lot is written doesn’t always mean the result is the best.”

    Amen to that. The transfer news game is a tough nut to crack. With so many competing outlets and, there are inevitably some good sources and some bad ones leaking information to the journalists,. When you factor in some intentional red herrings being mixed in, it can create a tidal wave of news — something Dreesen surely tries to avoid reading.

    Bayern Munich is still plowing through names to play wing, so let’s focus on those — plus a discussion on Max Eberl’s statements on Kim Min-jae and João Palhinha. Let’s talk about all of that and more on the Bavarian Football Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:

    • Real Madrid youngster Rodrygo could be the latest winger on Bayern Munich’s radar. The Brazilian would probably cost a fortune, but could the answer to Bayern’s problems at wing. Is it possible for Bayern to outbid Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal FC, and Liverpool FC for the potential superstar?
    • If not Rodrygo, should Bayern Munich take a look at RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons?
    • Is Bayern Munich serious about selling João Palhinha and Kim Min-jae? If so, what does that mean for roster moves this summer? RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba has been mentioned as a defensive replacement for Min-jae, but Bayern Munich could just not replace Palhinha. Is that smart?

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  • Relativity Scales Generative AI Availability Across Asia

    Relativity Scales Generative AI Availability Across Asia

    RelativityOne users in five more countries will be empowered with enhanced document review and privilege identification capabilities

    CHICAGO, July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Relativity, a global legal technology company, today announced that two of its generative AI solutions, Relativity aiR for Review and Relativity aiR for Privilege, will now be made available to all RelativityOne instances located in Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Expanding on its previous availability, legal, investigation, and compliance teams in Asia will be equipped with the generative-AI powered document review solution and privilege review solution to help navigate the full spectrum of legal data challenges while reaping the benefits of better infrastructure and privacy.

    “Asia’s diverse legal landscape presents unique and evolving challenges, and legal teams across the region need technology that can keep pace,” said Chris Brown, Chief Product Officer at Relativity. “Whether it be for litigation, regulatory responses, or internal investigations, Relativity aiR products provide the necessary features to manage large volumes of data more effectively. As adoption grows across the globe, and real-world use cases continue to demonstrate impact, Relativity’s customers and partners can feel confident in the power and practicality of AI in their workflows.”

    Enhancing the capabilities of legal teams across Asia with intelligent tools

    Customers and partners in five additional countries will now be able to leverage aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege to deliver exceptional efficiency and accuracy in document and privilege review. This regional expansion underscores Relativity’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that align with the evolving needs of legal professionals in Asia and across the globe.

    “Customers in Asia are facing a perfect storm — small teams, complex and diverse data sources, multilingual review, and constant pressure from clients to cut costs,” said Stuart Hall, Principal at Control Risks. “The launch of Relativity aiR in Asia couldn’t be more timely, offering Control Risks’ customers a real opportunity to simplify and streamline cross-border investigations and disputes with smarter tools and workflows.”

    The introduction of Relativity aiR products in Asia is bolstered by the region’s growing demand for secure, scalable legal technology. Built within RelativityOne, these AI tools allow firms to harness the power of automation without compromising security or performance. By operating in a cloud-native environment, legal and compliance teams can eliminate the burden of managing physical infrastructure, standardize workflows across jurisdictions and redirect resources toward strategic analysis.

    In response to the growing volume of investigative matters, organizations will be able to utilize aiR for Review to support a wide range of use cases beyond litigation — including internal investigations into fraud, bribery, corruption and whistleblower complaints. Legal and compliance teams can also rely on the tool for Know Your Customer (KYC) reviews, cross-border data transfer assessments and anti-money laundering efforts. Its versatility extends even further, supporting M&A due diligence, risk assessments, trade secret theft inquiries, white-collar investigations and HR-related matters.

    For organizations concerned with data protection, Relativity’s cloud-native products, including aiR, offer peace of mind with enterprise-grade security and privacy controls. Backed by the company’s in-house security team, Relativity embeds protection into every stage of its product lifecycle. This security-first approach ensures that as firms adopt cutting-edge AI tools, their information is properly safeguarded.

    Looking ahead, Relativity remains focused on empowering users through innovation, delivering rich insights and addressing their most pressing needs. In the coming months, new capabilities will be introduced within aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege. One upcoming enhancement is aiR for Review’s prompt kickstarter capability, which will greatly reduce manual work related to prompt criteria development. Soon, users will be able to upload case background documents — such as review protocols or disclosure requests—and an expert prompt that drives aiR for Review will automatically be produced, allowing users to accelerate analyses. This feature produces a comprehensive matter overview, including key people, organizations, term descriptions and relevance criteria. From there, teams can refine prompts as needed, accelerating the review process and enabling practitioners to take immediate action.

    Additionally, aiR for Privilege users will soon be able to find privileged content faster by automating context building that the AI uses to make decisions. Furthermore, a brand-new entity classifier will more accurately identify and classify the entities within each case. This enhancement will help better identify and define the roles of individuals and organizations in a matter, improving precision and efficiency in privilege review.

    Unlocking new possibilities for innovation

    To achieve their goals with greater precision and reduced overhead, more than 200 customers have embraced aiR for Review, while over 140 have chosen aiR for Privilege to support their workflows. The scalability and transparent natural language reasoning of this industry-leading technology help customers secure faster results while uncovering deeper insights from data.

    KordaMentha, an independent and trusted advisory and investment firm working across industries throughout Australia and Asia Pacific, has transformed its legal discovery approach since adopting aiR for Review. The solution has surfaced insights that conventional methods would have overlooked entirely. A recent case study highlights how aiR for Review enabled a defensible and comprehensive review under a tight disclosure deadline, in total saving 25+ days and reducing costs by 85%. With subject matter experts leading the process, KordaMentha was able to uncover several unanticipated findings that drove organizational change.

    “Whether as a renowned center for international arbitration, a market with extensive regulatory and investigative demands, or a source of exponential data growth, Asia is a dynamic region uniquely suited to Relativity’s aiR suite,” said Roman Barbera, Partner at KordaMentha. “Building on RelativityOne’s proven ability to navigate diverse languages and data types, aiR delivers exceptional scalability and insight. We’re excited to deploy this trusted and secure AI solution in a region where KordaMentha is already deeply embedded, and where the need for fast, intelligent and defensible data analysis continues to grow.”

    In addition to the current aiR product availability, Relativity aiR for Case Strategy, a cutting-edge solution that makes it faster and simpler for litigation attorneys to extract facts, craft case narratives and prepare for depositions and trial, is currently in limited general availability and is expected to become generally available to all regions with access to aiR products later this year.

    For more information about the expansion of aiR availability in Asia, please register for the webinar “Transforming Legal Work in Asia: Introducing Relativity aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege,” taking place on July 22. The webinar will offer a first-hand look at aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege through live demonstrations and real stories from early adopters who’ve already transformed their practices. Request a demo from the Relativity team here.

    About Relativity
    Relativity makes software to help users organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its SaaS product, RelativityOne, manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. Relativity has more than 300,000 users in approximately 40 countries serving thousands of organizations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 198 of the Am Law 200. Please contact Relativity at [email protected] or visit www.relativity.com for more information.

    Media Contact: [email protected]

    Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/445801/new_Relativity_logo_Logo_v2.jpg 

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  • Grimes calls Elon Musk’s X ‘a prison’ while slamming social media: 'The entire thing is a theatre' – San Francisco Chronicle

    1. Grimes calls Elon Musk’s X ‘a prison’ while slamming social media: ‘The entire thing is a theatre’  San Francisco Chronicle
    2. Elon’s Ex Returns to Social Media to Slam X as ‘Poison’  The Daily Beast
    3. Grimes States It’s ‘Absolutely Clear’ That X, Social Media, Is ‘Toxic’  SE7EN.ws
    4. Grimes admits that it’s “profoundly clear” that her ex’s website X is “poison”  AV Club
    5. Grimes Says Elon Musk’s X Platform Is ‘Poison’: ‘The Entire Thing Is Theatre’  People.com

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  • Karachi lose top-tier status in domestic structure revamp

    Karachi lose top-tier status in domestic structure revamp

    PAKISTAN DOMESTIC NEWS

    For context, the Karachi sides – 21-time winners of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – hold a stature in Pakistan’s domestic cricket comparable to Mumbai in India © PCB

    Following a major overhaul of the domestic cricket structure by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Karachi have lost their place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – the country’s premier first-class competition. As part of the revamp, the PCB has reduced the number of participating teams from 18 to eight, resulting in the exclusion of both Karachi teams.

    For context, the Karachi sides – 21-time winners of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – hold a stature in Pakistan’s domestic cricket comparable to Mumbai in India, who have claimed the Ranji Trophy a record 42 times.

    Last year two teams from Karachi – Karachi Whites and Karachi Blues – had taken part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. This year they have been relegated to the non-first class Hanif Mohammad Trophy, where they will play with 10 other regional sides in a pool format.

    “It was a surprise for me that such a big region, such a big team that has always dominated first-class cricket has been relegated. Karachi has produced a lot of top players over the years. With the top eight teams playing in the First-Class competition and Karachi not being one of them, I don’t think it’s a good decision -110 percent a Karachi team should be there,” Karman Akmal, a former keeper-batsman of Pakistan, said.

    “There is a lot of talent in the region. What is the fault of all the boys if they don’t get to play First-Class cricket? If you were planning to introduce this model, you should have informed all teams in advance-perhaps for the 2026-27 season. Suddenly announcing such a decision and not trusting anyone is not the right approach.

    “Our system is not strong. There is no merit, and the quality of cricket is lacking. These are three serious concerns for Pakistan cricket. It’s not a good sign. Our cricket has been struggling, and whoever comes into the PCB tries to create a domestic model in their own way. This is not an ideal approach. Until professional people are brought in, things will remain this way-we’ve been seeing it for the last six or seven years.” He went on to add, “But we are used to it now. The quality of cricket is not improving. So yes, it is a surprise for me that there is no Karachi team.”

    However, Rashid Latif, also a former keeper-batter and captain of Pakistan team, did not see anything wrong in the PCB move. “The domestic structure has been changing over the last six-seven years and the number of teams are also changing. The Karachi teams have a chance to qualify for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. I am a Karachiite myself and I can say I am comfortable with the decision.”

    The Hanif Mohammad Trophy will be held from August 15, with the top two teams qualifying for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Multan, Quetta, D.M. Jamali, AJK, and Larkana are the other 10 teams who will feature in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy alongside the Karachi sides.

    Meanwhile, the six teams that have earned a direct berth for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy are Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur. Along with the two teams qualifying from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, the eight teams will compete in a single-league format comprising 29 matches, which will run from September 22 to November 7. Sialkot are the defending champions of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

    © Cricbuzz


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  • Following This Diet Can Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s, No Matter Your Age – SciTechDaily

    1. Following This Diet Can Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s, No Matter Your Age  SciTechDaily
    2. Editorial: Lifestyle and Environmental Influences on Alzheimer’s Disease  Frontiers
    3. ‘Mind’ diet is good for cognitive health – here’s what foods you should put on your plate  The Hindu
    4. What You’re Eating Could Be Giving You Brain Fog — Especially If You’re 40 Or Older  HuffPost
    5. These evening foods and drinks could harm your brain health and increase Alzheimer’s risk  Times of India

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  • Govt seeks private sector talent for key ministries

    Govt seeks private sector talent for key ministries


    ISLAMABAD:

    In a major shake-up, the government seeks dynamic private sector talent to revamp key ministries, inviting experts to lead federal secretaries’ posts in economic affairs, finance, and energy, signalling a significant shift beyond traditional bureaucracy.

    The government has issued advertisement over the weekend to hire seven “dynamic” private sector individuals for the posts of federal secretaries. However, the advertisement did not name the divisions, the qualification criteria and job descriptions.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also constituted a ministerial committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, to finalise new nominees for appointment of Grade-22 bureaucrats as executive directors to the World Bank in Washington and the Asian Development Bank in Manila.

    The government has invited applications from “dynamic and experienced professionals for the role of Principal Accounting Officers (PAOs), Technical Advisers, Head of Organizations in key economic areas”, states the advert. A two weeks’ deadline is given for submission of the applications.

    The advertisement, posted at the Establishment Division website, did not name the divisions, qualification criteria and the job descriptions. However, it suggested that the government is set to hire seven federal secretaries from the private sector to run the economy-related ministries.

    These are Finance Division, Petroleum Division, Power Division, Planning Division, Industries and Production Division, National Food Security Division and Vocational Education and Training. These divisions are currently headed by officers from the all-powerful Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS).

    Currently, Imdad Ullah Bosal is the finance secretary, Momin Agha, petroleum secretary, Fakhre Alam Irfan, power secretary, Awais Manzur Sumra, planning secretary, Saif Anjum, Industries secretary and Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry is serving as the national food security secretary.

    When contacted, Economic Affairs and Establishment Minister Ahad Khan Cheema said that no specific positions had been finalised yet, adding that the government wanted to build a pool of specialists for key positions, especially in economic ministries.

    Pakistan’s economic ministries are mostly run by the officers from the PAS and there has been criticism that many of them do not have the requisite experience to understand the complexity of the economic matters.

    To address this weak governance issues that were presumably blocking foreign investment, the military and civilian leadership set up the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The SIFC was also now being converted into a division, like any other division.

    There is also a view that a private sector individual with no experience of the public sector cannot effectively lead these ministries. The nature of work is such that sometimes the secretaries must lobby with the prime minister to get the decisions done, particularly in cases where the relevant ministers are not very effective.

    Another challenge that the bureaucrats face is that their ministers sometimes lack understanding or the courage to take the right decisions. The federal secretaries are often seen filling the federal ministers’ shoes. Sometimes, the bureaucrats also do not get support from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

    The government recently reshuffled the education secretary despite his phenomenal work in the field of public sector education.

    “A bad workman quarrels with his tools,” said Fawad Hasan Fawad, former secretary to the prime minister and former privatisation minister, while commenting on the advertisement to hire federal secretaries. “This will not work,” he added.

    “Public sector finance is a different horse, which can’t be run by those who don’t understand the constraints of public sector and the overriding responsibility of managing cash flows of a permanently deficit economy running on dole outs and begging bowls,” Fawad commented.

    A year ago, the government had hired the information technology secretary from the private sector. The government has not yet released any performance report about the working of the IT sector to determine whether the experience remained successful or not.

    The government plans to sign the “performance-based contracts” with the selected individuals for two years. The advertisement stated that the selected individual’s grade and compensation will be determined in accordance with the government rules and aligned with market-competitive rates, including applicable allowances and privileges for the position.

    Candidates must have a minimum of 20 years of relevant post-qualification experience and the maximum age limit is 60 years at the time of appointment, which may be relaxed in exceptional cases as per orders of the competent authority, according to the Establishment Division.

    The Establishment Division website shows that the government has invited applications to hire a PAO for the financial sector. The candidate must have experience “in public finance, economic policy, fiscal management, or related sectors and “proven experience in managing large budgets, tax policy, debt management, and familiarity financial sector regulation”.

    The candidate must have proven ability to lead budget preparation, tax reform initiatives, and public expenditure management reforms. The experience requirement clearly indicates that the government wants to hire the finance secretary.

    Likewise, for the petroleum sector, the candidate must have experience in the petroleum, energy, mining, or public administration sector and proven familiarity with upstream and or downstream petroleum operations, regulatory frameworks, mining sector oversight, or energy sector policy formulation.

    For the power sector, the candidate must have experience in the power sector, energy management, or public administration and proven experience in overseeing power generation, transmission, distribution, and regulatory frameworks.

    For the planning and development sector, the candidate must have experience in development planning, public sector reform, infrastructure coordination, economic policy, or large-scale project management.

    For industry, a minimum of 20 years of experience in industrial development, public administration, manufacturing sector management, investment promotion, or economic planning and for food security, experience in agriculture policy, food security, rural development, or public administration is sought by the government.

     

    Selection for Washington

    The prime minister also constituted a ministerial committee to consider the suitable and eligible officers of BS-22 for nomination against the positions of the executive director at the World Bank and the executive director at the ADB, according to a notification.

    These positions became vacant after Pakistan’s executive director to the World Bank Dr Tauqir Shah was made Adviser to the prime minister, while the tenure of the incumbent executive director at the ADB Noor Ahmad expired last week. Ahmad has been asked to continue till the filing of his position.

    Some retired bureaucrats were also in the run, which have now been excluded from the selection process. Among the top contenders are Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal, Economic Affairs Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz and Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, said the sources.

    Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will chair the ministerial committee, which includes Economic Affairs and Establishment Minister Ahad Cheema, Climate Change Minister Dr Musaddiq Malik and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Kayani.

    The committee will consider suitable and eligible officers of BS-22, having relevant work experience and skill set. The suitable and eligible officers will have a skill set of policy analysis and decision making, leadership, collaboration, knowledge of operations of multilateral financial institutions, excellent communication and diplomacy skills, and social networking ability.

    The committee will send its nomination of suitable officers for both positions to the prime minister for his consideration and approval, according to the notification.

     

     

     

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