And then there was just one: Apple . That’s how I felt about last week where the market took a huge number of stocks out and shot them, including some of ours — more on that when we get to Thursday’s Monthly Meeting for Club subscribers — but the sellers could not stop Apple, the most unlikely of winners for this moment, and one that defined last week’s tape. Why did Apple’s glorious run unfold as it did? That 13% weekly advance, its best in more than five years, was the result of a short squeeze plain and simple, and it couldn’t be contained. Going into last week, Apple had everything a short-seller wanted. It was the most likely of stocks to expect a monster rollover. But it backfired into one of the most remarkable short-squeezes I have ever seen. Let’s use the Apple squeeze as a bizarre metaphor for the market itself, which, judging by the major averages, appears to be a paradise for the longs. But the averages are distorted by the positive action in a handful of stocks, Apple being the most notable. Case in point: the traditional market-cap weighed S & P 500 climbed 2.4% over the past week while a modified version of the index that assigns each company the same influence, known as the equal-weight S & P 500 , advanced merely 0.8%. Apple’s move last week was just so dazzling that it obscured everything else that was happening, and most of the action that was obscured was negative. As impossible as it might seem, leading into last week, a $3 trillion company became the object of every short-seller’s desire. I don’t cavort with many short-sellers — I don’t cavort much with any money manager, lest they know what I am working on. But the anti-Apple chatter on Wall Street ran so deep that you couldn’t avoid it: Apple’s stock was headed to $175. How could that be? Why was this short considered such a layup? Let’s dissect. AAPL .SPX YTD mountain Apple’s year-to-date stock performance versus the S & P 500. First, good short-sellers like to go after either the most white hot of companies — in the current moment, that’s a name like Palantir — or companies with a stock that is already rolling over, like that of Apple. Short-sellers are betting a stock will decline in value. They borrow shares and promptly sell them back into the market, with the intention of buying them back once they’ve dropped in price. If that happens, they then returned the borrowed shares and profit off the difference. However, if their targeted stock goes up in price, a short-seller may decide to “close out” the trade and buy back shares, adding fuel to the rally. Palantir is a dangerous short bet because it’s more of a sports team with a rabid fanbase than it is a company or a stock. The software provider is seen as being a pure artificial intelligence consultant, which is very important in a market that thirsts for pure AI plays. Palantir seems to have the ability to report any numbers it wants to, including numbers that give it the best “Rule of 40” score anyone has ever seen. Palantir has somehow convinced everyone that once it wins a contract, the client immediately starts saving — and making — money. The Palantir buyers believe it because Palantir has convinced them that it has a mysterious, even magical, AI formula. Betting against magic is real perilous to a short-seller’s health, as we have learned endlessly for those who bet against this monster. Which brings me back to Apple. As much as Palantir has a modus operandi that is all in on AI, Apple has an M.O. that is regarded as AI-less to an extreme. What do we hear about Apple and AI? First, we hear how they’ve failed to develop anything we want or even consider generative AI. Announced to much fanfare last June, its suite of AI software tools dubbed Apple Intelligence is widely ridiculed and key features like an AI upgrade of Siri have been delayed. Second, we hear that they seem to not realize how important it is to have an AI strategy in this technological race. We also see the headlines about the company losing people who might, or might not, be working on AI, which may be the reason they seemingly have no AI strategy. In this tape, it’s a must to have AI. That’s obvious. We in the media cannot resist asking business leaders questions like, “How are you using AI?” And we ask it to any CEO, no matter how clueless they may be about AI and how little they might need AI. Because they know the AI question is coming, they are ready for it. Most of the time their answers sound rehearsed, kind of like when I delivered my lines playing Lieutenant Rooney in “Arsenic and Old Lace” as a junior in high school. We accept their by rote answers and move on knowing that the AI box was now checked — by both of us, questioner and questionee. You can’t get that box checked with Apple. Therefore, you have the start of an amazing short bet given that there is no AI answer in sight. Worse, the best way for Apple to get high-quality AI was to get paid to take someone else’s AI model and incorporate it into its devices. You give Apple money, and it gives you their massive base of iPhone users and bragging rights, worth a huge amount of money. But that route may no longer be open to them because of a crucial win by the Biden-era Justice Department against Alphabet last year, one where a federal judge deemed Alphabet and its search-engine business violated Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which outlaws monopolies. The lawsuit was initially filed in October 2020 during the first Trump administration. Recall that Google pays roughly $20 billion a year to Apple to make its search engine the default on Apple’s devices. At one point, Apple might have been waiting for any of the generative AI-infused search engines to come along and pay them $20 billion to do the same thing to block any other comer. However, that kind of relationship may be kaput because of the Justice Department’s win against Google. We are awaiting a remedy ruling from Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. That decision could come down any day now, maybe even this week. As part of that ruling, it is expected that Apple will no longer be able to receive Google’s $20 billion in what is basically free money. That decision could hurt Apple’s bottom line. and it will make things painfully obvious that Apple isn’t going to get $20 billion from, say, Perplexity, to be Apple’s AI search bot. That payment would become the object of the most obvious antitrust case in the world. Even this Justice Department would sue Apple for making that deal. So what do the short-sellers know about AI and Apple? Mainly they know that it doesn’t have a strategy — in itself a great reason to short it — and second, they know it isn’t going to get anyone to pay it for sending Safari users to their AI bot. I think many big short-sellers have also been betting against Apple precisely because that remedy ruling is imminent and the ruling could mean that Apple could immediately lose that $20 billion from Google. There’s a lot of money to be made being short Apple when this ruling comes down. But the federal-court cavalry didn’t arrive in time for last week’s squeeze. The Google case has forced Apple either to develop its own AI or buy an AI company, presumably Perplexity because it is the one that seems the most unencumbered. Apple is legendarily unwilling to buy anything big. I know it because I begged them to buy Netflix several times when the putative target was worth about $25 billion to $50 billion, and Apple’s management seemed determined to rule that out along with anything else that came to mind. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook did recently tell me in a call to discuss its quarterly earnings that Apple is willing to do a big acquisition. So don’t take it off the table just yet. Nevertheless, the combination of not getting paid the $20 billion from Google — and perhaps paying an outrageous amount to buy Perplexity outright — is not something you want to buy the stock of Apple for. That, of course, is only one very complex reason to be short. The other one seemed even more of a layup than the lack of an AI strategy: the wrath of President Donald Trump. Apple’s manufacturing approach had been all about China, which was helpful as the company courted the Chinese consumer. But that, of course, was not the only place made-in-China iPhones were destined. They were headed to the U.S. No one could match the Chinese for both quality and price. We keep hearing that the supply chain is there and the supply chain is the best there is. But when Trump returned to office in January and started going after China, Apple pivoted to ramp up iPhone production in India at global scale. Apple’s key supplier Foxconn first started making iPhones in India in 2019 and some of the supply-chain issues that arose during the Covid-19 pandemic contributed to additional emphasis being placed on India as a production hub. Then came Trump 2.0, and Apple leaned even further into India as the source of its U.S.-bound iPhones. Ultimately, Apple wants to make all of the phones it is shipping to the U.S. in India, and its Chinese phones are meant to be sent to the rest of the world to minimize tariffs all the way around. What Apple didn’t count on was not only that the president didn’t want iPhones made in China, he also didn’t want them to be made in India. Until most recently, India was thought to be a decent ally and a good, getting-to-be great place to build phones. Then it became evident that Trump didn’t like that India had become somewhat of a weird ally/client state of Russia because of Russian oil, and that the president did not want any iPhones made anywhere but the U.S. He was quite vocal about his displeasure. When I interviewed Cook and asked him about his relationship with Trump after Trump had called him out for doing business in India, he said the relationship was a good one. If you were short Apple and you listened to my endless iterations on air of that proclamation of friendship, you would have thought twice about staying short. But I am sure the shorts thought it nothing but dross. It turned out the relationship was, indeed, a good one, and after Apple committed another $100 billion in U.S. investments was pledged on top of the previous $500 billion, it morphed into a great one — great enough to make Apple exempt from tariffs. It could be a double win because Samsung, with 30% of the U.S. market, will see its phones marked up by tariffs, which could make the iPhone cheaper, or at least not as expensive as it has been, versus its Korean opponent. Sure, you may not think it matters and it is awfully difficult even for the government to spend $600 billion unless the money goes to the Pentagon or the interest on the national debt. But all that matters is that Trump endorsed Apple’s actions. Oh, and if you needed one more reason to be short: Apple had a very good last quarter, but it was presumed that the success of the quarter came from pull-through to beat the tariffs and it wasn’t regarded as consequential. A panned upside surprise. So, let’s wrap up the metaphor: Apple has no AI strategy and even if it gets one, it will have to pay through the noise for it, perhaps endlessly, as you need all the chips that fellow Club name Nvidia makes to have a winning AI offering. The shorts were hoping that the remedy phase would be done and Google would have to suspend payments to Apple. They figured Apple would have earnings cut big by the Indian tariffs. And numbers were expected to come down anyway. Sell, sell, sell. Now we know that the remedy phase ruling is still out there — and so is a potential earnings shortfall — but it looks like the shorts couldn’t ride things out. Plus, the longs were attracted to a once-expensive stock that hadn’t gotten this cheap in ages. I’ve had an own-don’t-trade philosophy toward Apple for ages but even I was struck about the run from $210 a share to $220 in after-hours trading early last week when Trump blessed Apple’s largesse. But that’s what happens when the shorts start to panic. All of this occurred at a time that most of the market was rolling over except, weirdly, medical technology names — check out Becton Dickinson , Medtronic and our Abbott Labs — and some scattered retailers, including Club-owned TJX Companies , a heavily shorted stock for no reason other than the chart. Of course, looking back, the window to win as a short-seller is always on the verge of being closed when you’re betting against companies with good management teams and great balance sheets. In the case of Apple, though, the negatives we just ran through were too juicy to ignore. It just seemed like Apple’s fall was destined. It was a natural decline that had only just begun, a safe short in a lousy tape. Instead, it turned out to be the best long in a terrible tape. And that’s how the Apple squeeze unfolded, taking the entire averages up with it. Sure, the averages were helped by Nvidia’s strength, but that’s done by longs, not shorts. Will other stocks follow Apple’s lead next week? I think that given it was a squeeze, that seems unlikely. But what could have been more unlikely than Apple being at $229.35? Nothing that I have ever heard of. That’s for certain. (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long AAPL, NVDA, ABT and TJX. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
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NING Service Experience Centers Launch in Shanghai and Bangkok, Setting a New Benchmark for the NEV Aftermarket
On August 10th, NING Service, an independent aftermarket brand under CATL, celebrated its first anniversary alongside the 10th anniversary of CATL’s after-sales business. The NING Service Brand Day themed “Now Action” was officially launched, with the flagship experience center in Shanghai and the first overseas directly-operated store in Bangkok, Thailand, opening on the same day. Leveraging its continuous innovation in battery maintenance technology, a globally leading service network and talent system, and a full battery lifecycle ecosystem, NING Service addresses the pain points of new energy vehicle consumers, leading the new energy vehicle aftermarket into a new phase.
A Decade of Dedication: Building a Robust Triangle of Service-Talent-Standard
“As the global energy structure transition accelerates, China’s new energy industry has entered a critical turning point for large-scale development. In NEV industry, existing service systems struggle to meet new demands such as testing of the battery system, electric drive and power electronics, as well as the battery health assessment. As a pioneer in the field of new energy services, NING Service always places customer needs at the forefront, driven by technological innovation and aiming for win-win cooperation to promote high-quality development in the new energy aftermarket,” said Li Wei, President of CATL’s Aftermarket Business Department.
Originally established in 2015 as CATL’s After-Market Business Department, NING Service officially upgraded to an independent brand in 2024. Leveraging CATL’s globally leading expertise in power battery technology, NING Service provides comprehensive chain services including battery inspection, maintenance, and recycling through directly-operated experience centers, authorized service providers, and a global service network for both enterprises and consumers. After ten years of efforts, NING Service has built a robust presence across 75 countries, operating more than 1,100 service outlets and managing 67 spare parts warehouses with a total area exceeding 370,000 square meters.
Building on 24 various industry standards led or involved by CATL’s after-sales team, and supported by self-developed service systems covering passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, energy storage product lines and 6 major application scenarios, NING Service has fulfilled the promise of “general faults repaired within 8 hours, complex faults within 72 hours”, firmly holding the top position in the industry. Globally, CATL’s overseas service network has achieved 24-Hour response, ensuring seamless service experience for global customers.
Furthermore, NING Service collaborates with partners to establish professional new energy detection and repair training bases across 18 provinces and municipalities in China, addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the national new energy aftermarket. It has cultivated over 8,600 industry specialists, building a complete talent ecosystem encompassing talent supply, cultivation, and management layout, continuously injecting fresh blood into the industry.
Breaking Technical Barriers: Ending the “Replace-Only, No Repair” Maintenance Dilemma
While bottom-impact incidents involving battery packs in new energy vehicles are relatively uncommon, they often result in severe damage requiring full pack replacement- a costly repair. Additionally, third-party repair processes pose safety risks, making it difficult to ensure vehicle and user safety. To address this issue, NING Service has innovatively launched its CTP repair service. Utilizing CATL original equipment components, the service strictly adheres to CATL’s technical standards and quality requirements and comes with official warranty coverage, ensuring safe and reliable repairs. The repair service is significantly more affordable than full pack replacement, saving substantial repair costs for users and breaking the industry’s “replace-only, no repair” deadlock for CTP batteries.
During the battery pack repair process, NING Service consistently upholds standardized operating protocols – conducting repairs in a professional and dust-free environment with constant temperature and humidity while rigorously following the original equipment manufacturer’s meticulous inspection and repair procedures. This stringent system precisely ensures the reliability of cell-level repairs, effectively eliminating the risk of secondary damage caused by improper handling or substandard parts, thereby safeguarding battery performance and safety at their core.
Additionally, to further enhance service professionalism and safety, NING Service has independently developed a non-destructive testing device. This device can complete fault detection in just 15 minutes, achieving an accuracy rate of over 90%. Utilizing ultrasonic guided wave technology, the device enables precise internal damage detection without the need to disassemble the battery pack, effectively avoiding secondary damage that could result from disassembly and inspection. This not only ensures battery safety and longevity but also saves time and repair costs for users. The non-destructive testing device is expected to be officially launched by the end of this year.
Leveraging the triple advantages of OEM’s technology, genuine parts assurance, and authoritative certification, NING Service has successfully overcome the industry-wide challenges of “difficult and expensive battery pack repairs”, providing customers with professional solutions that are both reliable and cost-effective.
Closed-Loop Ecosystem: Comprehensive Management Across the Battery’s Full Lifecycle
NING Service is committed to providing new energy users with services that span the entire lifecycle of a battery – “from production and usage to recycling and regeneration”. By integrating a professional battery health assessment system comprising 45 online analyses and 28 offline inspections, NING Service delivers authoritative battery testing and maintenance, helping users promptly identify potential risks, extend battery lifespan, and simultaneously enhance transparency and residual value in the used vehicle market. At the same time, leveraging the globally leading circular supply chain of Brunp Recycling, a CATL subsidiary, NING Service has established a “72-Hour Express Recycling” network, achieving triple the regional coverage rate of third-party platforms. By establishing an efficient green recycling supply chain, NING Service actively fulfills its commitment to sustainable development.
In the future, consumers will be able to easily complete the recycling of retired batteries through NING Service’s platform. Recovered batteries will undergo strict screening and classification, followed by tailored processing based on their condition and performance – either repaired and remanufactured, cascade utilized, or broken down for reusable raw materials. Through this model, NING Service not only provides consumers with a convenient recycling channel but also maximizes battery lifecycle extension and minimizes resource waste.
Moreover, adhering to the philosophy of “co-creation”, NING Service collaborates with high-quality industry partners to expand into diversified business areas such as electric vessel operations and the low-altitude economy. This collaborative approach extends the boundaries of service offerings and creates new growth opportunities. Through an open partnership model, NING Service not only drives its own sustainable business growth but also injects fresh vitality into the broader new energy industry.
As a key strategic move by CATL in the aftermarket services sector, NING Service not only provides vehicle owners with superior technical support but also sets a new benchmark for the new energy industry through its closed-loop ecosystem approach. Currently, NING Service’s flagship experience centers have been established in seven domestic cities in China, including Wuhan and Guangzhou. The store in Bangkok, Thailand, spanning over 2000 square meters and integrating CATL’s global service standards, marks its first overseas location and serves as a crucial step for CATL’s global technology deployment and service coordination. Looking ahead, NING Service will continue to drive innovation in maintenance technology, service models, and network expansion, injecting new momentum into the healthy, stable, and orderly development of the new energy vehicle aftermarket.
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Kojima Productions’ OD is Still in Development, Microsoft Confirms
Over a month later, the impact of Microsoft’s mass layoffs, affecting Undead Labs, Turn 10 Studios, and many more, can still be felt. Avalanche’s Contraband has ceased active development four years after its announcement, and alleged departures on the Xbox publishing side have created concern over future collaborations.
However, as confirmed by a Microsoft spokesperson speaking to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Kojima Productions’ OD is still in the works. It follows a report by Windows Central’s Jez Corden about the project being safe following the layoffs.
Plans can always change, but the studio continues to work on the psychological horror title. Director Hideo Kojima is focusing on building Physint, which remains in the conceptual stages, but he has mentioned how OD will be “totally different” and divisive.
Announced in 2022, OD stars Sophia Lillis (It and It: Chapter Two), Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), and Udo Kier (Melancholia, Halloween). Jordan Peele is also on board as a writer alongside Kojima. A release date remains unconfirmed, so stay tuned for more updates.
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Linux 6.17-rc1 Released With Many New Features But No Bcachefs Changes
Linus Torvalds just released the Linux 6.17-rc1 kernel a few hours ahead of his typical release regiment due to currently being in Europe. That marks the end of the Linux 6.17 merge window with many exciting changes merged this cycle. This is notable with Linux 6.17 expected to power Ubuntu 25.10 and other late 2025 Linux distribution releases.
I will have up my feature overview of Linux 6.17 in the next day or two. But for some quick highlights of the Linux 6.17 merge window: Intel Xe3 graphics for Panther Lake are no enabled by default, standardizing the keycode for the “Performance Boost” key on relevant laptops, the gconfig kernel configuration editor is updated to using GTK3, various file-system performance improvements, more Rust language additions, Attack Vector Controls makes it easier administering relevant CPU security mitigations, SR-IOV for Intel Battlemage graphics cards and multi-GPU prep work for Project Battlematrix, new ARM and RISC-V SoC support, and many other changes. Again our Linux 6.17 feature overview for a more comprehensive look at the changes merged over the past two weeks will be published in the coming days.
Linux 6.17 was another busy cycle but not being merged were any updates for the Bcachefs file-system. There was a Bcachefs pull request submitted with new feature code but it wasn’t merged and no comment by Linus Torvalds. Though there was some suggestion that Torvalds is letting Linux 6.17 stay this cycle so people can migrate off of it and have enough notice and to then remove it from the mainline kernel in Linux 6.18… We’ll see if Linus says anything about Bcachefs in the Linux 6.17-rc1 announcement (still waiting for Torvalds to post his commentary to the kernel mailing list while v6.17-rc1 is already tagged in Git). The RISC-V feature changes were rejected this cycle too as another notable upset.
In any event, Linux 6.17-rc1 is now available for testing. I’ll have up my Linux 6.17 feature overview shortly and begin firing off more benchmarks of Linux 6.17 Git. Linux 6.17 stable should be out around the end of September or early October if an extra release candidate is warranted.
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26 Gaza aid-seekers killed as Netanyahu faces growing criticism over expanding war
At least 26 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid in the Gaza Strip, hospitals and witnesses said, as families of Israeli hostages called for a general strike to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to expand military operations in the territory.
Mr. Netanyahu on Sunday (August 10, 2025) sought to defend a new military offensive in one of Gaza‘s most populated areas amid growing condemnation at home and abroad, declaring that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”
He spoke to foreign media minutes before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Gaza. Notably, Mr. Netanyahu said he has directed Israel’s military in recent days to “bring in more foreign journalists” — which would be a striking development, as they haven’t been allowed into Gaza beyond military embeds during 22 months of war.
“Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza,” Mr. Netanyahu asserted. He also pushed back against what he called a “global campaign of lies” — and said Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, one of Israel’s strongest backers, had “buckled under” by announcing that Germany won’t authorize exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza until further notice.
Mr. Netanyahu said there is a “fairly short timetable” in mind for next steps in Gaza, but didn’t give specifics.
The Prime Minister, who has asserted that there is “no starvation in Gaza,” did acknowledge hunger there, saying, “there was a problem with deprivation, no question about it”. Israel wants to increase the number of aid distribution sites, he said, but gave no details.
Hospital officials said they received bodies from areas where Palestinians were seeking aid — either along food convoy routes or near privately run aid distribution points across Gaza.
The dead include 10 who were killed while waiting for aid trucks close to the newly built Morag corridor which separates the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, said Nasser hospital.
A further six persons were killed while waiting for aid in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and the Shifa hospital in Gaza City which received the casualties.
In central Gaza, witnesses said they first heard warning shots before the fire was aimed toward crowds of aid seekers trying to reach a food distribution site operated by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. AP cannot independently confirm who fired the shots. The Awda hospital in the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp said four people were killed by Israeli gunfire.
“First, it was in the air, then they started to fire at the people,” said Sayed Awda, who waited hundreds of meters (yards) from the GHF site in the area.
Six other aid seekers were killed while trying to reach GHF sites in Khan Younis and Rafah, Nasser hospital said.
The U.S. and Israel backed the foundation months ago as an alternative to the U.N.-run aid system, but its early operations have been marred by deaths and chaos, with aid-seekers coming under gunfire near the routes leading to the sites.
Responding to Associated Press inquiries, the GHF media office said, “There were no incidents at or near our sites today and these incidents appear to be linked to crowds trying to loot aid convoy.”
Israel’s military also said there were no incidents involving Israeli troops near central Gaza aid sites.
Seven people were killed in airstrikes, local hospitals reported — three people near the fishermen’s port in Gaza City and four people, two of them children, in a strike that hit a tent in Khan Younis. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes but has accused Hamas of operating from civilian areas.
Hunger deaths mount, toll among children hits 100
Israel’s air and ground offensive has displaced most of the population and pushed the territory toward famine. Two more Palestinian children died of malnutrition-related causes on Saturday (August 9, 2025), bringing the death toll among children in Gaza to 100 since the war began.
A total of 117 adults have died of malnutrition-related causes since late June when the ministry started to count this age category, it said.
The toll from hunger isn’t included in the ministry’s death toll of 61,400 Palestinians in the war. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, doesn’t distinguish between fighters or civilians, but says around half of the dead have been women and children.
The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties.
Labour strike urged in Israel over looming Gaza City offensive
The prospect of expanding the war has sparked outrage both internationally and within Israel, where bereaved families and relatives of hostages still held in Gaza urged companies to declare a general strike next week.
Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday (August 9, 2025) night in what local media called one of the largest anti-government protests in recent months.
The families and their supporters hope to pressure the government to reverse its decision to take over Gaza City, warning that expanding the war will endanger their loved ones.
Of the 251 people abducted when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing about 1,200, around 50 remain in Gaza, with 20 Israel believed to be alive.
Lishay Miran-Lavi, whose husband Omri is among the hostages, also appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff to halt the war.
“The decision to send the army deeper into Gaza is a danger to my husband, Omri. But we can still stop this disaster,” she said.
Also, on Sunday (August 10, 2025), Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz toured the northern part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He said Israel’s military would remain in the area’s refugee camps at least until the end of the year.
Approximately 40,000 Palestinians have been driven from their homes this year in the West Bank’s largest displacement since Israel captured the territory in 1967. Israel says the operations are needed to stamp out militancy, as violence by all sides has surged since Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023, attack ignited war in Gaza.
Mr. Katz on Sunday (August 10, 2025) said the number of warnings about attacks against Israelis in the West Bank had decreased by 80% since the operation began in January.
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Qaiser extends apology to nation for Gen Bajwa's extension – Samaa TV
- Qaiser extends apology to nation for Gen Bajwa’s extension Samaa TV
- PTI ‘apologises’ for Bajwa’s extension The Express Tribune
- Extending Gen Bajwa’s tenure a historic mistake: Asad Qaiser The News International
- PTI seeks apology from nation for supporting General Bajwa’s extension 24 News HD
- PTI made mistake granting Bajwa extension: Asad Qaiser The Express Tribune
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This tiny spacecraft could race to a black hole and rewrite physics
It sounds like science fiction: a spacecraft, no heavier than a paperclip, propelled by a laser beam and hurtling through space at the speed of light toward a black hole, on a mission to probe the very fabric of space and time and test the laws of physics. But to astrophysicist and black hole expert Cosimo Bambi, the idea is not so far-fetched.
Reporting in the Cell Press journal iScience, Bambi outlines the blueprint for turning this interstellar voyage to a black hole into a reality. If successful, this century-long mission could return data from nearby black holes that completely alter our understanding of general relativity and the rules of physics.
“We don’t have the technology now,” says author Cosimo Bambi of Fudan University in China. “But in 20 or 30 years, we might.”
The mission hinges on two key challenges — finding a black hole close enough to target and developing probes capable of withstanding the journey.
Previous knowledge on how stars evolve suggests that there could be a black hole lurking just 20 to 25 light-years from Earth, but finding it won’t be easy, says Bambi. Because black holes don’t emit or reflect light, they are virtually invisible to telescopes. Instead, scientists detect and study them based on how they influence nearby stars or distort light.
“There have been new techniques to discover black holes,” says Bambi. “I think it’s reasonable to expect we could find a nearby one within the next decade.”
Once the target is identified, the next hurdle is getting there. Traditional spacecrafts, powered by chemical fuel, are too clunky and slow to make the journey. Bambi points to nanocrafts — gram-scale probes consisting of a microchip and light sail — as a possible solution. Earth-based lasers would blast the sail with photons, accelerating the craft to a third of the speed of light.
At that pace, the craft could reach a black hole 20 to 25 light-years away in about 70 years. The data it gathers would take another two decades to get back to Earth, making the total mission duration around 80 to 100 years.
Once the craft is near the black hole, researchers could run experiments to answer some of the most pressing questions in physics. Does a black hole truly have an event horizon, the boundary beyond which not even light can escape its gravitational pull? Do the rules of physics change near a black hole? Does Einstein’s theory of general relativity hold under the universe’s most extreme conditions?
Bambi notes that the lasers alone would cost around one trillion euros today, and the technology to create a nanocraft does not yet exist. But in 30 years, he says that costs may fall and technology may catch up to these bold ideas.
“It may sound really crazy, and in a sense closer to science fiction,” says Bambi. “But people said we’d never detect gravitational waves because they’re too weak. We did — 100 years later. People thought we’d never observe the shadows of black holes. Now, 50 years later, we have images of two.”
This work was supported by funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
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No proof of Pakistani jet losses, says Chinese expert
Listen to article Prof Cheng Xizhong of China’s Charhar Institute on Sunday debunked Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh’s claim that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had shot down five Pakistani jets and a large aircraft during Operation Sindoor, branding the assertion as baseless and unsupported by credible evidence.
Prof Cheng described the statement as groundless and widely questioned by the international community, reported PTV World. Emphasising the need for verifiable proof, he noted that India has failed to provide photographs of wreckage, radar data, or any corroborating material.
In contrast, Pakistan had promptly issued comprehensive technical reports following the engagement. He termed Singh’s remarks “comical, implausible, and unconvincing,” calling them an exercise in “self-amusement.”
Three months since the hostilities ended, India has yet to substantiate its claims, while Pakistan’s evidence remains on record and publicly available. Prof Cheng also cited corroborations from global leaders, senior Indian politicians, and foreign intelligence agencies affirming that India had suffered significant aerial losses.
Read More: Defence minister refutes IAF chief’s claim of shooting down Pakistani jets
He insisted that no Pakistani fighter jets were downed; rather, Pakistan’s forces had effectively deployed air defences, shooting down six Indian fighter jets and neutralising S-400 air defence systems—facts he described as indisputable.
The comments followed Air Chief Marshal Singh’s statement on Saturday at an event in Bengaluru, where he claimed India had downed “at least five fighters” and one larger aircraft—possibly a surveillance plane—using the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. He cited electronic tracking data as confirmation.
“We have at least five fighters confirmed killed, and one large aircraft,” Singh said, adding that the larger aircraft was shot down at a distance of approximately 300 km (186 miles). He did not specify the types of fighter jets downed but stated that Indian airstrikes also targeted another surveillance aircraft and “a few F-16s” parked in hangars at two air bases in Pakistan.
In contrast to Singh’s statement, the Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian aircraft during the May conflict, including three Rafale jets, in response to Indian missile attacks. A day later, a senior French intelligence official confirmed to CNN that one Indian Air Force Rafale had been downed by Pakistan—possibly marking the first known combat loss of the French-made aircraft.
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In response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed Singh’s remarks as “implausible” and “ill-timed,” accusing the Indian military leadership of engaging in politically motivated narrative building. He noted that while Pakistan had immediately shared detailed technical briefings with the international media, India had waited three months before issuing its claim.
“The belated assertions made by the Indian Air Force Chief regarding the alleged destruction of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor are as implausible as they are ill-timed,” he said in a statement.
He further criticised Indian military leaders for being used as “the faces of monumental failure caused by the strategic shortsightedness of Indian politicians.” Asif invited India to resolve the matter through transparency, suggesting an independent audit of both countries’ aircraft inventories.
“If the truth is in question, let both sides open their aircraft inventories to independent verification—though we suspect such transparency would only expose the reality India seeks to obscure,” he added.
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Tom Holland Recaps First Day Back in Spider-Man Suit for Brand New Day
Slipping into the Spider-Man suit is nothing new for Tom Holland, but he admits putting it on for the first time for the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day felt “different this time.”
Filming for the fourth Sony/Marvel film began earlier this month, and the actor took to Instagram on Sunday to share a recap of “day one” back in the iconic super suit.
“My fourth ever day one on Spider-Man,” he said in the minute-long video (below). “You know, it’s funny putting the suit on. It feels different this time somehow. It’s also the first time we’ve ever had fans on set for day one. So, it’s really exciting to share this with them.”
Holland added, “I’m just going to do my best. Hopefully get it right. No pressure.”
On Aug. 3, The Crowded Room actor revealed his brand-new Spider-Man costume, which depicts a larger spider on his chest, compared to his previous suits in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Far From Home (2019) and No Way Home (2021).
At the end of the new Instagram video, Holland says after doing a stunt, “Wow, that was a really good one. That felt sick.”
In addition to Holland, it was previously announced that Mark Ruffalo would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Bruce Banner/the Hulk in Brand New Day, as well as Michael Mando as the Scorpion and Jon Bernthal as the Punisher. Sadie Sink was also added to the cast.
Most plot details are being kept under wraps on the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed superhero pic, though Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers returned to pen the script. At the end of No Way Home, Spider-Man’s real identity as Peter Parker was erased from everyone’s memory, including friends, family and his girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya).
Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31, 2026.
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Yu Kisang breaks out as Korea beat Lebanon anew to advance
JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Yu Kisang submitted his best showing in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 to date as Korea shot the lights out to beat Lebanon, 97-86, to reach the Final Phase, Sunday night at the King Abdullah Sports City.
In just his first stint in the continental conclave, the 24-year-old guard erupted for 28 points behind an excellent 8-of-12 clip from beyond the arc as he played a crucial role in their blazing start to set up the lopsided show.
He contributed two triples in the East Asian side’s eight made threes in just the first quarter alone toward a 26-12 lead, before the rest of the crew broke away for good in the ensuing frame to cruise to the victory.
By halftime, the Koreans already had 13 treys and eventually finished with 22, which is now the most by a team in a game in this year’s tournament, eclipsing the 20 made by Japan in their rout of Guam earlier in the day.
More than the statistical feat, Team Korea have clinched the no. 2 spot in Group A and are bound to face Group B’s no. 3 team in Guam in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals, the full schedule of which to be announced soon.
“We survived the group of death,” exhaled head coach Ahn Joonho. “We’ve fought every game, and we’re going to fight even more throughout the tournament, and we’re going to go back home as legends.”
Star winger Lee Hyunjung came up big once again with 28 points as well after going 7-of-13 from downtown, alongside 6 rebounds and 5 assists plus a steal and a block to finish with an efficiency of 34.
Yang Junseok flirted with a double-double after tallying 10 points and 8 assists, with the troika of Lee Seounghyun, Ha Yungi, and Jeong Seongwoo providing significantly as they chipped in at least 6 points.
And that collective effort made the absences of key forward Yeo Junseok and Lee Junghyun because of injuries hardly felt, as they all took care of business and ensured that the team advances to the Final Phase.
It’s worth noting, too, that this is Korea’s third straight win against the Cedars in FIBA play. Their first two wins came during the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers.
Now they have the advantage in their head-to-head, 7-6, following the win.
“We were down two players tonight because of injuries, but the rest of the 10 players stepped up and went by our slogan of ‘One Team Korea.’ And they were able to fill all the shoes of the players missing,” Ahn said.
Omar Jamaleddine, on the other hand, finished with 15 points and 6 rebounds to lead the Lebanese, who fell to their second loss in a row and will settle for a no 3 finish in Group A with a 1-2 record.
Ali Haidar made 14 points and 7 rebounds. Sergio El Darwich had 13 points while Ali Mansour and Amir Saoud added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Cedars, who will face Japan in the Final Phase’s first round.
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