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  • Zack Snyder Sets ‘Rebel Moon’ Actors For Next Film ‘Last Photograph’

    Zack Snyder Sets ‘Rebel Moon’ Actors For Next Film ‘Last Photograph’

    EXCLUSIVE: Zack Snyder’s long-awaited passion project, The Last Photograph, is ready for its closeup. The Rebel Moon director has set the drama as his next film and cast Stuart Martin and Fra Fee to star. Snyder worked with both actors on his recent sci-fi franchise Rebel Moon and, after recently securing financing to get the film off the ground, set the two rising stars to headline the film.

    The film begins production this month and will shoot through November in Iceland, Colombia and Los Angeles .Snyder will direct the film from a screenplay by Kurt Johnstad, with Snyder having a story-by credit. Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller will produce through Stone Quarry and continue their creative partnership with Gianni Nunnari who is producing through Hollywood Gang Productions along with co-producer Alisha Stickney.

    Executive producers include Mediaset España, through its film production arm Telecinco Cinema, William Doyle and Jaguar Bite. True North serves as the production service company in Iceland, while Jaguar Bite, run by Juan Pablo Solano and Simon Beltran, serves as the Colombian production service company. Hans Zimmer, Steven Doar and Omer Benyamin are handling the score.

    “The idea of taking camera in hand and simply making a movie in an intimate way is very appealing to me,” said Snyder. “The Last Photograph is a meditation of life and death, embodying some of the trials that I have experienced in my own life and the exploration of those ideas through image making.”

    The project has received approval to obtain the CINA incentive (Audiovisual Investment Certificate), granted by the Colombian government and administered by Proimágenes Colombia: a tax discount equivalent to 35% of the expenditure on audiovisual services in the country.

    The story follows an ex-DEA operative who must return to the mountains of South America in an effort to find his missing niece and nephew, following the brutal murders of their diplomat parents. Enlisting the help of a washed-up junkie war photographer, the only person to have seen the face of the killers, he sets out, determined to find the children and the truth, but soon learns he must also face the ghosts of his past. Their journey into the unknown takes them farther and farther away from civilization, bringing into question everything they believe, while slowly eroding the distinction between real and surreal.

    Snyder has long wanted to make The Last Photograph, but his busy schedule directing big-budget tentpoles has always led to having table the film. Recently, he not only saw a window to fit the film in before focusing on another large production and also had the actors he wanted to star in it after the three had a strong bond working on Rebel Moon together. Once the financing was in place, pre-production was off to the races, and Snyder officially was underway. He is repped by CAA and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

    Martin’s star has been on the rise for some time with not only key roles in Snyder’s two Rebel Moon pics but the Snyder-produced heist thriller Army of Thieves. On the TV side, Martin has the Channel 4 series In Flight. He is repped by UTA, Independent Talent Group, Untitled Entertainment and Sloane Offer Weber Dern.

    Besides the Rebel Moon films, Fee most recently was seen in the Apple TV+ series Prime Target and also had a role in the Marvel series Hawkeye. He is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency, 42, Untitled Entertainment and Goodman Genow Schenkman.

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  • Gold Slips as Traders Track US Diplomacy Before Jackson Hole

    Gold Slips as Traders Track US Diplomacy Before Jackson Hole

    Gold declined as traders weighed US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine and counted down to the Federal Reserve’s annual Jackson Hole gathering, which may yield hints on possible interest-rate cuts.

    Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the central bankers’ meeting on Friday, and his remarks may reinforce investors’ widespread expectations for looser monetary policy. Lower borrowing costs typically benefit the precious metal, a non-yielding asset.

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  • What to know about the phenomenon

    What to know about the phenomenon

    (NEXSTAR) – Just a few weeks after twin meteor showers passed overhead, there’s another astronomical phenomenon set to occur – a “Black Moon.”

    Rising Aug. 23, the Black Moon won’t be as eye-catching as other celestial events this month – in fact you won’t be able to see the moon at all – but its rarity makes it fascinating, according to Space.com. While not an official astronomical term, Black Moon is used to describe “unusual timings of new moon phases.”

    To understand it better, it may help to think about the Blue Moon, of “Once in a Blue Moon” fame. The phrase references the rare “extra” full moon that happens every two-and-a-half years, according to NASA.

    Because the moon’s cycle is 29.5 days, slightly less than the average month, eventually a full moon will fall on the first or second day of the month, allowing for another full moon to occur just before the month ends.

    Conversely, a Black Moon refers to the new moon phase, or as NASA puts it “the invisible phase” when the moon rises with the sun, but is positioned between Earth and the sun. The illuminated side of the moon is opposite Earth, making it impossible to see.

    A Black Moon also happens due to the gap between the lunar cycle and the average length of the calendar month, with the term being used for the third of four new moons in a season, according to Weather Network meteorologist Scott Sutherland. August 23 marks the third new moon of the 2025 summer season, with the fourth falling on Sept. 21, according to Space.com.

    Alternatively, a Black Moon can also mean the second new moon in a single calendar month, a phenomenon that won’t happen again until Aug. 31, 2027.

    For anyone still underwhelmed by the upcoming Black Moon, keep in mind that a new moon also brings the darkest night sky and best chance to star gaze.

    Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

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  • How New Therapies, Patient-Centered Care Are Changing Psoriasis Outcomes

    How New Therapies, Patient-Centered Care Are Changing Psoriasis Outcomes

    Psoriasis affects more than 8 million individuals in the US, presenting not only as a cosmetic problem but also playing a profound role on quality of life.1 Advances in systemic therapies, particularly biologics, have substantially improved outcomes for patients with moderate-to-severe disease. Yet access to these transformative treatments remains uneven.2 Beyond clinical efficacy, effective psoriasis management requires attention to the emotional and social impacts of the disease. Research has shown that higher levels of disease acceptance correlate with better quality of life and reduced symptom severity, highlighting the need for patient-centered, interdisciplinary approaches that integrate psychological support with dermatologic care.3 For managed care organizations, these insights underscore the importance of benefit designs and care models that not only facilitate access to advanced therapies but also support holistic, patient-focused strategies that improve adherence, outcomes, and overall well-being.

    National Psoriasis Awareness Month offers an opportunity to examine how advances in systemic therapy, combined with patient-centered care models, are reshaping the treatment landscape. | Image credit: Sviatlana – stock.adobe.com

    How Psoriasis Treatment Has Evolved

    Recent advances in systemic therapy for psoriasis have expanded treatment options beyond traditional biologics, with a growing focus on small-molecule oral and topical drugs that target key immune pathways.4 With the expanding array of systemic therapies, dermatologists are increasingly adopting a patient-centered approach to selecting treatment.

    Steven Daveluy, MD, board-certified dermatologist, Wayne State University, highlighted how the evolution of systemic therapies has transformed psoriasis care, making treatment far easier and more effective than in the past. Historically, patients with severe disease faced limited options such as phototherapy, tar applications, methotrexate, or cyclosporine—treatments that were often difficult to manage, less effective, and carried significant risks. Today, dermatologists have access to a wide range of highly effective medications with favorable safety profiles, allowing for more reliable long-term disease control with fewer side effects.

    “Now that we have so many highly effective medications that have such great safety profiles, it really is pretty easy to treat even the most severe psoriasis,” said Daveluy, in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®).

    “My approach is completely patient-centric, so I don’t use the same treatment ladder for each patient,” Lauren Eckert Ploch, MD, MEd, FAAD, dermatologist, told AJMC in a written interview. “I discuss the options with my patients to gauge their desire for a systemic vs. topical treatment, and we base our shared decision on how severe their psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are.”

    Clinical decision-making also considers individual risk factors and comorbidities that need to be weighed when tailoring treatment plans for individual patients.

    “I look at malignancy history, joint involvement, and extent of skin disease,” explained Ploch. “I also look at other comorbidities (ie, hypertriglyceridemia, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.) and decide from there.”

    Improving Patient Access and Education

    Despite the substantial improvements in outcomes afforded by biologic therapies, not all patients with psoriasis have equitable access to these treatments. A systematic review of US studies found that disparities in biologics access are influenced by insurance type, race or ethnicity, high out-of-pocket costs, and prior authorization requirements—barriers linked to higher hospital admissions, readmissions, emergency department visits, and treatment delays.2 Beyond these structural challenges, social determinants of health can profoundly affect dermatologic outcomes. During a recent Society for Pediatric Dermatology session, Sarah Coates, MD, FAAD, highlighted how financial hardship, low health literacy, limited access to care, and adverse childhood experiences can worsen conditions such as psoriasis.4

    “The biggest hurdle is cost,” emphasized Ploch. “While there are several new topicals on the market, they’re completely unaffordable and not often covered by plans like Medicare. Extensive areas are best treated with systemic therapy. It’s really difficult to treat full-body psoriasis with a 60 g tube of cream. Insurance coverage is the issue. Some insurances will deny the most appropriate treatment in favor of something else. Sometimes the one they favor is not safe for the patient in question.”

    Daveluy echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that one of the biggest barriers to maintaining patients on systemic therapies is not clinical efficacy but logistical challenges such as insurance changes, lapses in coverage, and pharmacy delays. To address these disruptions, his practice works proactively to educate patients about the potential for formulary changes and the need to alert the office immediately if insurance instability occurs. In some cases, medication samples are provided to bridge gaps in coverage, helping patients avoid treatment interruptions. The care team also assists patients in navigating insurance and pharmacy hurdles, though these processes can still be time-consuming and frustrating. By setting expectations early and encouraging open communication, Daveluy noted, patients are better prepared to handle disruptions and more likely to remain engaged with their care, ultimately supporting adherence and continuity of treatment.

    “I try to inform patients if they have any sort of insurance instability where maybe they lose it for a while to let us know, because we can often give them samples of the medications to get them through so they don’t have to go without and then flare up,” said Daveluy.

    Overall, the evolution of psoriasis care demonstrates the powerful intersection of clinical innovation, patient-centered practice, and health system design. With the availability of highly effective systemic therapies, dermatologists are now able to achieve outcomes that were once unimaginable, offering patients long-term disease control with fewer side effects. Yet these advances cannot fully deliver on their promise without addressing the persistent access barriers rooted in insurance design, cost, and social determinants of health.

    By aligning coverage with patient needs and supporting interdisciplinary, holistic approaches, payers and providers together can help more individuals with psoriasis achieve meaningful, sustained improvements in both health and quality of life.

    References

    1. Psoriasis statistics. National Psoriasis Foundation. Updated December 12, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriasis-statistics/

    2. Wright GC, Okoye GA, Ehrlich AC, et al. US health care disparities in immunology biologics access: a systematic review. Am J Manag Care. 2025;31(8):414-420

    3. Steinzor P. How psoriasis acceptance impacts severity, itch, and quality of life. AJMC. January 10, 2025. Accessed August 14, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/how-psoriasis-acceptance-impacts-severity-itch-and-quality-of-life

    4. Steinzor P. SPD 2025: Research highlights, personalized treatment, and barriers to care. AJMC. August 4, 2025. Accessed August 14, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/spd-2025-research-highlights-personalized-treatment-and-barriers-to-care

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  • The measles surge exposes an alarming health data blind spot

    The measles surge exposes an alarming health data blind spot

    Richard Coffin: ©USAFacts

    When USAFacts recently published updated measles case data, we received an outpouring of public interest—and one repeated question: Why can’t we see the number of measles cases in every state and county?

    Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, and with that milestone came an unintended consequence— tracking and presenting this information publicly in a centralized yet local view has not been a priority of our public health system. While this made sense when cases waned, today, as cases surge, we are left with a patchwork of reporting standards, delayed updates, and blind spots.

    This is not the first time Americans have found themselves questioning what is happening locally during public health crises. At the onset of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control did not have an effective way to collect and present case data from states. Instead, for the first several months of the pandemic, they relied on the data we collected and visualizations we produced at USAFacts to fill in gaps and help Americans understand what was happening in their communities. This data was of extreme national interest—traffic to our website grew from 1.5 million visitors a year to 28 million with the COVID-19 pages bringing in the vast majority of our visitors. The demand was clear: people don’t just want health data—they need it, especially when it is local.

    We are now in a similar moment. The high-level overview of measles cases available from the CDC is insufficient for the American citizen who might be fearful from reading the news and wants to see what is happening where they live. For a dangerous disease like measles—particularly to young children and immunocompromised individuals—this should concern everyone from parents to policymakers to public health officials.

    We know how to do better. During the pandemic, states learned how to mobilize and collect, clean, and share health data with the public. At first, without national standards, they were inconsistent in how they reported, what they presented to the public, and how frequently they updated. Eventually, every state and the CDC produced robust tracking dashboards, but those systems weren’t built to last. As the emergency waned, so too did the urgency for thorough, transparent data reporting.

    We understand the difficulty—collecting national data is hard when we have over 90,000 state and local governments in the United States. But COVID taught us the lesson of how important it is that critical data can be quickly collected, standardized, and presented—a lesson we seemed to quickly forget as evidenced by our current measles tracking resources. The federal government, and in this case the CDC, should present this data to the public and create standards for state reporting to help them in this endeavor.

    The measles surge is not just a wake-up call —it’s a reminder about the fragility of our health data systems. Knowing where and how an infectious disease is spreading is necessary to respond effectively. And the public deserves to easily know what risks exist in their own communities.

    Richard Coffin is Chief of Research and Advocacy at USAFacts, Steve Ballmer’s not-for-profit, nonpartisan civic initiative aimed at empowering Americans with facts by making government data more accessible, understandable, and useable. He joined the organization as its first employee in 2015 and guided it through its initial research and ideation phase, oversaw its launch, and steered its product vision as the organization expanded and evolved. In his role leading research and advocacy, Richard and his team oversee the organization’s research efforts including its publications, standards of analysis, and subject matter expertise.

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  • US tech stocks hit by wave of concerns over future of AI boom – Financial Times

    US tech stocks hit by wave of concerns over future of AI boom – Financial Times

    1. US tech stocks hit by wave of concerns over future of AI boom  Financial Times
    2. S&P 500 closes lower as Nvidia pulls down tech sector, Dow briefly touches record: Live updates  CNBC
    3. Dow Jones Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Tumble as Big Tech Stocks Slide; Dow Slips After Touching All-Time High  Investopedia
    4. Palantir, Nvidia and other AI stars dim as Wall Street falls further from its records  couriernews.com
    5. Tech sector struggles: Microsoft and Nvidia dip while Tesla and Walmart shine  TradingView

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  • Oil prices fall on talks to end Russian invasion of Ukraine – Reuters

    1. Oil prices fall on talks to end Russian invasion of Ukraine  Reuters
    2. Bearish sentiment winning out in anticipation of Russian barrels returning to markets  World Oil
    3. Oil Slips as Trump Urges Putin-Zelenskiy Summit in Ukraine Peace Push  Oil & Gas Middle East
    4. WTI Crude Oil slides toward $62.00 as geopolitical tensions ease and oversupply fears mount  Mitrade
    5. Oil, DAX Forecast: Two trades to watch  FOREX.com

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  • Luka Magic is back: Doncic puts up 28 & 10 in Slovenia’s first win

    Luka Magic is back: Doncic puts up 28 & 10 in Slovenia’s first win

    The official EuroBasket app

    LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) – Any fears that Slovenia fans might have had about a Luka Doncic injury were laid to rest on Tuesday night as the superstar scored 28 points in his team’s 93-81 win over Great Britain – their first in preparation for FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

    Doncic hit 21 points in the first half – with 20 of those coming in his first 10 minutes on court as he moved freely and shot the ball exceptionally – including a flawless 10-for-10 start from the foul line.

    He ended up finishing 7-of-17 from the field and 12-for-14 from the stripe, whilst adding 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and a block.

    Vote Now

    Who will be the next EuroBasket scoring champion?

    His performance at the Stozice Arena certainly alleviated the worries of Slovenian fans, as Doncic came out in the middle of the third quarter against Latvia in Riga on Saturday with a knee injury.

    However, Doncic’s injury wasn’t as severe as initially thought, and his showing against the Brits – who fell to 0-4 in their preparation for EuroBasket – proved that.

    The fans also saw a complete team performance from Slovenia in the win, as they moved the ball beautifully and attacked the basket at will, ending up with 26 makes from the free throw line.

    Despite their overall performances so far in the lead-up to EuroBasket, Slovenia will head to Katowice full of confidence.

    They face Serbia in their final tune-up before they face Belgium, France, Iceland, Israel, and hosts Poland in Group D action.

    FIBA

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  • AMD, Amtech, Broadcom, Marvell Technology, and Semtech Shares Are Falling, What You Need To Know

    AMD, Amtech, Broadcom, Marvell Technology, and Semtech Shares Are Falling, What You Need To Know

    A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after investors took some profits off the table as markets awaited signals on future monetary policy from the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium later in the week.

    The downturn in the market was largely attributed to a significant sell-off in megacap tech and chipmaker shares. Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Broadcom all saw notable drops, dragging down the VanEck Semiconductor ETF. Other major tech-related companies like Tesla, Meta Platforms, and Netflix were also under pressure. A key reason for this trend is that much of the recent market gains have been concentrated in the “AI trade,” which includes these large technology and semiconductor companies. So this could also mean that some investors are locking in some gains ahead of more definitive feedback from the Fed.

    The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.

    Among others, the following stocks were impacted:

    Amtech’s shares are very volatile and have had 23 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

    The previous big move we wrote about was 6 days ago when the stock gained 6.9% on the news that the semiconductor sector continued to rally as a favorable July inflation report boosted investor confidence for a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September. Lower-than-expected inflation data for July increased market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month, with futures markets pricing in a 96.2% probability. A potential rate cut lowers borrowing costs, which is particularly beneficial for growth-oriented sectors like technology and semiconductors as it can fuel investment and expansion.

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  • Oasis blown away by comeback, Noel Gallagher says

    Oasis blown away by comeback, Noel Gallagher says

    Paul Glynn

    Culture reporter

    Getty Images Noel Gallagher on stage in Cardiff on 4 July 20205 as Oasis begin their comeback tourGetty Images

    Noel Gallagher has said he and his Oasis bandmates have been “completely blown away” by the response to their hit comeback tour after 16 years away.

    Speaking to talkSport’s Andy Goldstein about the dates so far in the UK and Ireland, he went on to say he was “proud” of his younger brother, frontman Liam, adding “it’s been great to be back” in a band with him.

    Oasis played at Croke Park, Dublin, last weekend and will head to North America next before returning to the UK for more Wembley Stadium dates in London next month.

    The singer-songwriter admitted it was “difficult to put it into words” so far and added that his legs had “turned to jelly” at the start the first gig back in Cardiff, in July.

    Getty Images Liam and Noel Gallagher with their arms raised aloft together while walking on-stage at their first comeback gig in Cardiff in JulyGetty Images

    Liam Gallagher (left) and Noel Gallagher (right) together as their comeback began in Cardiff

    “Every night is the crowd’s first night,” he noted. “So every night’s got that same energy to it, but it’s been truly amazing.

    “I’m not usually short for words, but I can’t really articulate it at the minute.”

    After breaking the Internet last year when tickets were released, in controversial fashion due to dynamic pricing meaning many fans missed out or paid over the odds, the brothers first re-emerged on-stage together at the packed home of Welsh rugby with their arms both raised aloft.

    It came after many years of solo releases and very public bickering from the estranged Gallaghers.

    The BBC’s music correspondent Mark Savage noted how the band sounded the “best they’ve been since the ’90s” on their return, which he wrote felt “like a reconciliation – or a sigh of relief – as the brothers buried the hatchet of a decades-long feud and reconnected with their fans”.

    ‘Grossly underestimated’

    Getty Images Oasis fans outside Wembley StadiumGetty Images

    Oasis have performed to hundreds of thousands of adoring fans – young and old -from all around the world

    Speaking on Tuesday, in what is thought to be his first public comments about the comeback tour, which has also rolled into their hometown Manchester and Edinburgh, Noel Gallagher said: “I grossly underestimated what I was getting into.”

    “After about five minutes, I was like, alright can I just go back to the dressing room and start this again?

    “I’ve done stadiums before and all that but I don’t mind telling you, my legs had turned to jelly after about halfway through the second song [Acquiese, which sees the brothers duet together]. And I could have done with going back and taking a minute.

    “But it’s been an amazing thing.”

    ‘Proud’ of Liam

    Asked how he had felt about his brother giving him a little hug on-stage at the end of the first gig, Gallagher noted: “We’re not those kind of guys really, you know what I mean?

    “It’s great just to be back with Bonehead [Oasis’s founding guitarist] and Liam and just be doing it again.

    “I guess when it’s all said and done, we’ll sit and reflect on it. But it’s great being back in the band with Liam – I forgot how funny he was.”

    He added that Liam was “smashing it” and that he was “proud of him”, joking that his apparent return to singing form must be down to “AI”.

    The 58-year-old, who has been singing five of the 23 songs each night throughout the tour, continued: “Having fronted a band [Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds] for 16 years. I know how difficult that is.

    “I couldn’t do the stadium thing like he does it; it’s not in my nature. But I’ve got to say, I think, you know, good for you mate. He’s been amazing.”

    He brushed aside an attempt to ask what might happen with the band at the scheduled end of the tour in November.

    Getty Images Oasis playing live in CardiffGetty Images

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