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Rock’s wildest frontman prepares for one last show

Ian Youngs

Culture reporter

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Fans are waiting to see what state Ozzy Osbourne is in on stage on Saturday

Ozzy Osbourne has somehow made it through decades of drink, drugs and debauchery – not to mention jail, life-threatening accidents and Parkinson’s disease – but is now preparing to perform for devoted fans one last time.

Black Sabbath made an indelible mark on music by forging the sound that became known as heavy metal – and on top of that, Ozzy practically invented the image of the wild rock star.

Swigging, snorting and shagging his way around the globe in a semi-conscious daze in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, he ensured his place in the rock ‘n’ roll hall of infamy by biting the heads off some poor unsuspecting creatures along the way.

Then in the 2000s, he and his family were catapulted to a new form of fame when they unwittingly pioneered reality TV as cameras captured the foul-mouthed (but affectionate) dysfunction of their home life.

The “Prince of Darkness” has threatened to retire before – but with health problems taking an increasing toll, Saturday’s farewell gig really does look like being his swansong.

Ross Halfin

The original Black Sabbath members will perform together for the first time in 20 years

The 76-year-old will reunite with his original Sabbath bandmates to headline an all-day stadium show featuring groups they have influenced over the years – including Metallica, Slayer and members of Guns N’ Roses and Rage Against the Machine. It has, not unjustly, been described as the greatest heavy metal line-up ever.

Titled Back to the Beginning, the show at Villa Park in Birmingham will really take the band back to their roots.

The football ground is a stone’s throw from Ozzy’s childhood terraced home in the suburb of Aston. On match days, the young Ozzy and his friends would charge match-goers half a shilling to “mind” their cars.

He has joked that his first job in the music industry was as a car horn tuner in a factory in the area, before getting work in a slaughterhouse, which allowed him to play practical jokes in pubs by putting cows’ eyeballs in peoples’ pints.

But he wanted to escape the drudgery of a day job so put an advert for a band in a record shop. That eventually led him to form Black Sabbath with schoolfriend and guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.

Other groups had summoned up a sound similar to heavy metal, but Sabbath really set the template with their combination of pounding rhythms, deep rock riffs and imagery of fantasy and horror.

Black Sabbath murals have been painted in Birmingham in the build-up to the gig

“They started from absolutely nothing to be global superstars,” says fan Joe Porter, 47, from Birmingham, while admiring murals of the band that have been painted in the city in advance of the gig.

“If you watch their early concerts, they’ve got basic [equipment] – one PA, one small drum set, a bass and a guitar and that’s it. The sound they could make from those four instruments was like there’s 20 people on stage.

“And Ozzy’s like a madman on stage, but really he’s just a normal bloke.”

Their appeal crosses generations, judging by the crowd at Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero, a new exhibition in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

“They started the year my mum was born, in ’68,” says 21-year-old Byron Howard-Maarij. “I’m a massive metal fan, so the fact that the originators are coming back to where it all started, it’s really exciting.”

Another fan, Riley Beresford, 25, from Nottingham, has inherited a copy of Sabbath’s 1970 single Paranoid as a family heirloom from his grandmother. “She got Paranoid on seven inch and it got passed down to my mum, and now it’s passed down to me. It’s going through the family.”

He adds: “They made heavy metal, didn’t they? Obviously the music’s great, but him being wild, it just adds to it even more. There’s no-one else like him, really, is there?”

Fan Byron Howard-Maarij is among those who have visited the new exhibition dedicated to Ozzy

“I think the reason people love Ozzy is he’s still very genuine,” says Toby Watley, director of collections at Birmingham Museums.

“He sees himself as a working class lad from Aston. He hasn’t really changed. What you see is what you get. It’s not going through a Hollywood lens and being glamorised in any way. People really love that and respect it. And it’s something that Birmingham can be really proud of.”

The exhibition features artefacts loaned by Ozzy and wife Sharon, including gold discs and awards such as his three Grammys and two Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame trophies (one for being inducted with Sabbath, the other as a solo artist).

They reflect his musical success, while pictures and videos of him on stage give a small glimpse of that wilder side.

“You never quite know what’s going to happen next, and I think people like that,” Mr Watley adds. “He’s not someone who attempts to stick to the rules. He will do it his own way, in his own style. I think that’s a big part of the appeal.”

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Some of his antics have become legendary.

The most notorious was biting the head off a live bat while on stage in Iowa in 1982. He had been catapulting raw meat into the audience on tour, which prompted fans to throw things on stage in return. He claims he thought the bat was fake before he took a bite.

He has not attempted to use the same excuse about the two doves whose heads he bit off during a record label meeting the previous year.

His other exploits included being arrested for urinating on Texas war monument the Alamo while wearing one of Sharon’s dresses; getting thrown out of the Dachau concentration camp for being drunk and disorderly while on a visit during a German tour; pulling a gun on Black Sabbath’s drummer while on a bad acid trip; blacking out and waking up in the central reservation of a 12-lane freeway; and massacring the inhabitants of his chicken coop with a gun, sword and petrol while wearing a dressing gown and pair of wellies.

Getty Images

Black Sabbath suggested their 2016 tour would be The End

That all added to Ozzy’s legend, but in reality most of his behaviour was not very appealing or glamorous. He was a wreck, and the drink and drugs gave him a Jekyll and Hyde personality.

In 1989, he woke up in jail to be told he had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for strangling Sharon. He could not remember anything about it. She dropped the charges.

In 2003, by now supposedly off drink, he broke his neck after falling off a quad bike, and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s the same year. In 2019, he suffered a spinal injury in a fall.

Fans are waiting to see what state he is in on stage on Saturday.

When he was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist last year, he had to sit on a large black throne – suitably adorned with skulls and a giant bat. The same throne has appeared in photos of rehearsals for this weekend’s gig in Birmingham.

His body has survived more abuse than virtually anybody else’s on the planet – but age and medical realities are catching up with him.

Sharon has said the concert will definitely be his final show.

He and his fans are likely to be forced to accept that is the case, although in the past he has found it impossible to stay out of the spotlight for long.

“You know the time I will retire?” he said in a 2020 documentary. “When I can hear them nail a lid on my box. And then I’ll do an encore.”

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July 3, 2025
Dizal’s ZEGFROVY® (sunvozertinib) Receives FDA Accelerated Approval as the Only Targeted Oral Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations
- ZEGFROVY is the only approved targeted oral treatment for NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins
- Approval follows the U.S. FDA’s Priority Review and is supported by the pivotal WU-KONG1 Part B study, in which ZEGFROVY demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits to patients
SHANGHAI, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dizal (SSE:688192), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel medicines for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ZEGFROVY^® (sunvozertinib) for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations (exon20ins), as detected by an FDA-approved test, whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

ZEGFROVY, which has received Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA, is the only approved targeted oral treatment for NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins. This indication is approved under Accelerated Approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

“We are proud to have developed ZEGFROVY, a first-in-class oral therapy that offers a more effective treatment option with enhanced safety and ease of administration for NSCLC patients with EGFR exon20ins,” said Dr. Xiaolin Zhang, CEO of Dizal. “The accelerated approval of ZEGFROVY marks a significant milestone that underscores our commitment to developing groundbreaking new medicines for patients with high unmet medical needs around the world.”

ZEGFROVY is an oral, irreversible EGFR inhibitor with uniquely designed molecular structure targeting a wide spectrum of EGFR mutations with wild-type EGFR selectivity. In August 2023, ZEGFROVY received accelerated approval in China. Today’s FDA approval follows Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Priority Review granted by both the U.S. FDA and the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

The FDA approval is supported by data from the multinational pivotal study WU-KONG1 Part B (WU-KONG1B), aiming to investigate the efficacy and safety of ZEGFROVY in relapsed or refractory NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins. The study results were featured as an oral presentation at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

“As the world’s only approved targeted oral therapy for EGFR exon20ins NSCLC, ZEGFROVY has expanded the treatment paradigm in this therapeutic area that has long lacked convenient and effective treatment options,” said Pasi A. Jänne, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School and lead principal investigator of WU-KONG1B. “Research findings from WU-KONG1B have demonstrated ZEGFROVY’s significant therapeutic effects with consistent efficacy across both Asian and non-Asian patient populations. Its convenient once-daily oral dosing substantially improves administration convenience and patient adherence, which is an increasingly critical factor as lung cancer care shifts toward chronic disease management. The U.S. approval of ZEGFROVY^® marks a landmark in scientific advancement and represents a meaningful milestone in addressing the long-standing unmet medical needs of this underserved patient population.”

“ZEGFROVY has demonstrated breakthrough therapeutic value in the treatment of EGFR exon20ins NSCLC, as shown in a rigorous multinational clinical trial. Its potent antitumor activity, manageable safety profile, and convenient oral administration position it as an optimal treatment option in clinical practice,” said Prof. James Chih-Hsin Yang, MD, PhD, National Taiwan University Cancer Center Hospital and the Co-lead principal investigator of WU-KONG1B. “The approval of ZEGFROVY in major global markets not only offers new hope for patients, but also reinforces our commitment to patient-centered research and the continued advancement of precision medicine in lung cancer.”

“In NSCLC, EGFR exon20ins represent the third most common type of EGFR mutation. EGFR exon20ins are particularly challenging to treat due to their unique spatial conformation, diverse mutation subtypes, and high heterogeneity. As a result, patients face a poor prognosis and limited treatment options,” said Prof. Mengzhao Wang, MD, PhD, lead principal investigator of the China-based pivotal study WU-KONG6 of ZEGFROVY and principal investigator of WU-KONG1B at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, “The results of the WU-KONG6 study demonstrated ZEGFROVY’s clinical benefit superior to current options and lead to the drug’s approval in China. The U.S. approval of ZEGFROVY will enable more patients around the world to benefit from this drug.”

The FDA simultaneously approved Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Oncomine™ Dx Express Test as a next-generation sequencing (NGS) companion diagnostic (CDx) for ZEGFROVY to identify NSCLC patients with EGFR Exon20 insertions. NGS testing is recognized as a critical technology in cancer genomic profiling, facilitating the rapid and precise detection of DNA mutations in tumor cells. Combined with the Ion Torrent™ Genexus™ Dx System, the test delivers NGS results in as little as 24 hours to help inform more timely treatment decisions in patients with EGFR exon20ins NSCLC.

Additionally, Dizal has completed enrollment for its multinational phase III pivotal WU-KONG28 study, evaluating ZEGFROVY versus platinum-based doublet chemotherapies in treatment naïve NSCLC patients with EGFR exon20ins across 16 countries and regions. At the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, Dizal reported that ZEGFROVY, as a single oral agent, achieved a confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 78.6% and a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 12.4 months in the first-line setting. With its potent antitumor activity and favorable safety profile, ZEGFROVY demonstrated strong potential as an optimal first-line treatment for patients with EGFR exon20ins NSCLC.

About ZEGFROVY^®(sunvozertinib)

ZEGFROVY is an irreversible EGFR inhibitor discovered by Dizal scientists targeting a wide spectrum of EGFR mutations with wild-type EGFR selectivity. ZEGFROVY is approved in the U.S. and China for the treatment the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations (exon20ins), whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The China approval is based on the results of the pivotal WU-KONG6 study in platinum-based chemotherapy pretreated NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins. The U.S. approval is supported by WU-KONG1 Part B, a multinational pivotal study investigating the efficacy and safety of ZEGFROVY in the same indication.

In addition, ZEGFROVY also demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity in NSCLC patients with EGFR sensitizing, T790M, and uncommon mutations (such as G719X, L861Q, etc.), as well as HER2 exon20ins.

ZEGFROVY showed a well-tolerated and manageable safety profile in the clinic. The most common drug-related TEAEs (treatment-emergent adverse event) were Grade 1/2 in nature and clinically manageable.

WU-KONG28, a phase III, multinational, randomized study assessing ZEGFROVY as a first-line treatment for patients with EGFR exon20ins NSCLC, has completed enrollment across 16 countries and regions.

Pre-clinical and clinical results of ZEGFROVY were published in peer-reviewed journals Cancer Discovery, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

About Dizal

Dizal is a biopharmaceutical company, dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. The company aims to develop first-in-class and groundbreaking new medicines, and further address unmet medical needs worldwide. Deep-rooted in translational science and molecular design, it has established an internationally competitive portfolio with multiple assets in global pivotal studies and two leading assets: ZEGFROVY, approved in both the U.S. and China, and golidocitinib, approved in China. To learn more about Dizal, please visit www.dizalpharma.com, or follow us on Linkedin or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, and “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to Dizal, are intended to identify certain forward-looking statements. Dizal does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections, and understandings of the management of Dizal with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond Dizal’s control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Dizal’s competitive environment, and political, economic, legal, and social conditions.

Dizal, the Directors, and the employees of Dizal assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained on this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turnout to be incorrect.

Contacts

Investor Relations: [email protected]
Business Development: [email protected]
Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Dizal Pharmaceutical
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July 3, 2025
Subsidies hide real price countries pay for continued coal use

Some countries have increased coal use not just because coal is “cheap” (“Why the world is not quitting coal”, The Big Read, June 18), but because coal is backed by state interests that continue to protect, subsidise and promote its use.

In China, coal-heavy regions including Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang offer guaranteed annual operating hours for coal plants, securing a steady revenue stream and economic base. This policy has helped drive a surge in new coal plant permits and construction, largely pushed by state-backed coal mining interests. In India, government policy has long supported coal use through long-term power purchase agreements with fixed payments and artificially low prices for domestic coal, helping shield coal power from competition. Long-term capacity payments for new coal plants in neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh have driven power prices so high that broad swaths of the population are installing solar panels for some economic relief.

In the US, uneconomic dispatch — that is, using coal power when cheaper options are available — has cost ratepayers an estimated $2bn annually in higher energy costs.

The Trump administration is expanding this approach by forcing an ageing Michigan coal-fired power plant to stay online despite assessments by the grid operator, the utility and the state authorities that the plant is not needed.

In Brazil, coal powers less than 2 per cent of the country’s electricity supply, yet Brazil’s Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is currently debating extending $16bn worth of subsidies through to 2050 for just two coal plants, propping up their continued use.

Coal persists not because it is cheap, but because its real price is hidden — passed on from protected coal interests to the public through subsidies, higher energy bills and public debt.

Re-evaluating these long-standing coal subsidies could help the world finally quit coal.

Christine Shearer
Project Manager, Global Coal Plant Tracker, Global Energy Monitor, Covina, CA, US

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July 3, 2025
‘Massive’ investment in R&D leads China’s Honor to launch world’s thinnest foldable phone

Chinese smartphone brand Honor launched what promises to be the world’s thinnest foldable phone—just 4.1 millimeters thick when unfolded—on Wednesday as it seeks to regain lost ground in China’s competitive phone market.

The Magic V5’s thinness is made possible by innovations in its silicon-carbon battery, which stacks cells just 0.2 millimeters thick to create a battery that’s as thin as a bank card. The new phone is also light: At just 217 grams, the Magic V5 weighs less than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Behind these innovations is a “massive” amount of research and development, Hope Cao, Honor’s product expert on foldables, told Fortune ahead of the Magic V5 launch.

Honor invested 1 billion Chinese yuan ($139 million) towards researching its silicon-carbon battery technology. The company invests over 10% of its total revenue towards R&D each year.

“In terms of materials, structure, craftsmanship…everything is extremely costly from an R&D perspective,” Cao said.

Foldables represent a small but rapidly expanding segment of the Chinese smartphone market. Sales in this category grew by 27% last year, according to Counterpoint Research. Book-type foldables, which open along the longer edge to create a larger screen, are particularly popular.

Cao suggests this aligns with Chinese consumer preference for versatile devices for both work and entertainment. A larger screen means more space for productivity apps, meaning users can do their work on a foldable smartphone rather than a laptop. The rise of “short dramas”—soap operas designed to be watched on a phone and easily shared on social media—are also pushing shoppers to invest in larger displays.

Honor was once Huawei’s budget smartphone division. U.S. sanctions forced the Chinese tech giant to offload the company in late 2020. The company had a 13% share of China’s smartphone market in the first quarter of 2025, according to Counterpoint, close behind Vivo, Oppo and Apple.

China’s budget brands are now venturing into the premium market, seeking growth from selling higher-value phones, rather than a larger volume of cheaper models.

Still, the return of Huawei to the smartphone market in 2023 is weighing on Honor’s business. Counterpoint Research puts Huawei in first place in China’s smartphone market, alongside Xiaomi.

Huawei’s success is also weighing on Apple, whose iPhone once dominated the Chinese market. Local smartphones now offer designs and features that Apple’s tried-and-true iPhone is struggling to match. Apple plans to release a book-style foldable phone in 2026, The Information reported last year.

The iPhone maker is also struggling to launch its AI services in China. Earlier this year, Alibaba announced that it was going to be Apple’s local partner to offer Apple Intelligence to users. Yet the deal has reportedly drawn scrutiny in both Washington and Beijing.

AI is quickly becoming a key differentiator for Chinese smartphones, including those designed by Honor. The Chinese company is experimenting with on-device AI, or services that run on the phone as opposed to the cloud. Honor plans to invest $10 billion over the next five years to develop AI for its product lineup, which it hopes to expand to include PCs, tablets and wearables.

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July 3, 2025
4 privacy tweaks I make with every router

Your router is the gateway between your Local Area Network (LAN) and the wild west of the Internet, and it should be your first line of defense for your privacy. But routers, even custom ones running OPNsense, are set up to get you online, not for your privacy. Even going through a basic checklist of security fixes will get your network more secure, but it only goes part of the way towards making your browsing more private.

For that, there are a few things I like to change every time I set up a new router. The biggest of these is to set up a self-hosted DNS server that enables encrypted DNS. Otherwise, your ISP (or Google) can see what your DNS requests are and use that data for targeted advertising, and nobody likes the thought of that. Some overlap with good security measures, and there are also things you can do on your devices to protect your privacy, like turning off telemetry and using a privacy-focused browser.

Related

6 overlooked router settings that can improve your network security

You can make your home network much more secure with a few changes.

4

I host my own DNS server

Privacy by design with no ISP snooping

It should come as no surprise that your ISP is spying on you, as is Google, MSN, and probably every website you visit. It’s concerning, to say the least, how easily our private information is being used for targeted advertising and other things. However, by knowing that, you can plan countermeasures to minimize the amount of identifying information leaked while you use the internet.

That’s why the first thing I change on any router is the DNS servers, specifically to a DNS server that I’m self-hosting. This could be Unbound, Technitium, or Pi-hole set up with DNSCrypt, but it’s non-negotiable because encrypted DNS requests stop the ISP from snooping. If you have an Eero mesh, Eero Secure also gives you encrypted DNS records (that filter all outgoing DNS requests, even those not pointed at the Eero DNS server), but you have to be okay with Amazon being in charge of that, and that’s a dealbreaker for many.

You don’t have to use DNSCrypt; DNS-over-TLS and DNS-over-HTTPS also work if your DNS server supports them. You’ll also want DNSSEC support so your DNS resolver can trust the results it gets back. Without it being encrypted, everyone on your local Wi-Fi network, your ISP, and transit providers can all see the data contained in your DNS queries and responses, which include the UDP port used, the IP addresses and URLs involved, if any HTTPS traffic happened (indicated visiting other pages on that URL), and more.

Unencrypted DNS queries can be hijacked, which is often done by ISPs to redirect users to advertising pages or block content they don’t want them to see. Any firewalls along the route could also intercept, block, or modify DNS traffic, so keeping it encrypted with DoT or DoH is essential for privacy on the web. Services like Cloudflare DNS and Quad9 support encryption while having no-logging policies, so your identity is kept private. And since you’re running the DNS resolver, you can block known trackers, malware domains, and even ads.

Related

Forget about Pi-hole, I switched to this more powerful self-hosted alternative

Technitium is my new bestie.

3

Disable UPnP, NAT-PMP, and WPS

These vulnerable features could mean your network is no longer private

I don’t know about you, but privacy to me also means not leaving the proverbial door open for attackers to look around. Unfortunately, many consumer routers have features enabled by default that make it trivial for anyone to invade the privacy of your home network, and those are also on my list of things to change.

Thankfully, Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) doesn’t exist on most newer devices. However, it’s still available and makes an easy way for an attacker to crack your Wi-Fi password, because a six-digit PIN code is several orders of magnitude easier than a long password. Turn that off, then turn off UPnP and NAT-PMP (if your router supports it), because those make it easy for any IoT device inside your network that might have been pulled into a botnet by malware able to open ports to the internet.

Related

4 reasons you should consider disabling UPnP in your router

You probably don’t need it anymore, and it’s a security nightmare.

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4 reasons you should disable NAT-PMP on your router right now

This Apple-centric alternative to UPnP is no longer necessary.

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4 reasons you should turn off Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) right now

WPS used to be a quick way to pair Wi-Fi devices, but you shouldn’t use it anymore.

2

Isolate the guest network

It shouldn’t be able to talk to the rest of my network or devices

Even if you aren’t running a VLAN for your IoT devices so they can’t access the data on your main computers, you should still be running a guest network for any visitors who may want to use your internet. It’s part of being a good host, but you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy by giving out the password to your Wi-Fi network.

For this to be truly effective, you’ll want to enable Client or AP Isolation (depending on how your router manufacturer names it), so that any of these guest devices won’t be able to see your devices or connect to each other. The guest network is simply so they’re not running down cellular data caps while at your home, and you can add bandwidth limits to ensure all your guests get passable service, and remove the network once everyone goes home, so they can’t connect to your network unless you know they’re using it.

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6 tips to securely share guest Wi-Fi with friends

Make guest access easy backed by robust security

1

Turn off legacy device support

If it’s insecure, I don’t want it on my network

Wi-Fi has evolved substantially since its inception, and your home network isn’t private if you still have legacy devices connected. These legacy protocols include WEP, WPA, and TKIP, and they shouldn’t be used on your home router. The best Wi-Fi security you can use is WPA3 with AES, which you should look for when you next plan a router purchase.

However, it’s also important to look for any devices you may have that cannot use WPA3. Anything that uses WEP or TKIP encryption lulls you into a false sense of security because Wi-Fi cracking tools can brute-force these in minutes. WPA3 includes features that eliminate the way attackers can figure out passwords based on handshake data or force devices off the network to continually get the handshake data they need.

Enabling WPA3 on any new Wi-Fi router is one of the first things I’ll do, and it’s easy to handle because it’s done at the same time as adding Wi-Fi passwords and which wireless bands are being used. I’ll also turn off support for 802.11a/b/g/n because almost every device on my network uses Wi-Fi 5 or newer, and I’ve replaced most of the devices that only use 2.4GHz. That doesn’t make it more private, but it does show me which older devices I really should replace, as they’re often using insecure methods that slow down the rest of my network.

Related

7 systems running on legacy tech in 2024

It’s slightly sobering how many super-critical industries or systems still run on older technology.

These steps are just the start of keeping your information private online

Keeping your data and network private is a never-ending task as companies and individuals create new ways to access our data. It’s essential to know the why behind turning off default settings or installing new software, as the tools change, but the basic tenets don’t. Encryption is good, but it needs to be used in every part of the chain, from web browsers to DNS requests, and every network segment in between. Physical privacy methods also have digital counterparts, and finding the ones that work for you is more important than using the most popular options. And above all, regular check-ins to see if new digital fingerprinting methods have been developed and how to outwit them.

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July 3, 2025
The #1 Late-Night Snack for Weight Loss
Late-night snacks can support weight loss—what matters most is choosing balanced, nutrient-dense options.

A top pick is cottage cheese with fruit and nuts, offering protein, fiber, healthy fats, and sleep support.

Aim for snacks with under 200 calories, over 7 grams of protein, and fiber to keep you full and satisfied.
You may have heard that eating before bed is a no-no if weight loss is a goal. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. And, there’s science to prove it.

A small snack can benefit cardiovascular and metabolic health, as well as promote muscle protein synthesis. You don’t have to avoid snacking at night. And that advice stands if you’re aiming to lose weight. It’s the quality of your snack that matters.

So when you’re looking for a late-night bite, read on. We talked to registered dietitians about what late night snack they’d choose to support weight loss.

The Best Late-Night Snack for Weight Loss

Dig into this creamy Cottage Cheese Snack Jar with Fruit when hunger strikes at night.

If you haven’t embraced the cottage cheese craze, here’s your opportunity. The best late-night snack for weight loss that dietitians swear by is the trendy staple that has social media buzzing. This recipe for a cottage cheese snack jar adds diced peaches and chopped pecans for a sweet and crunchy snack.

“Cottage cheese and fruit is an amazing and delicious late-night snack,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, M.S., RDN, founder of Nutrition Starring You and author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook. “The slow-digesting protein, fiber from the fruit and unsaturated fats from a sprinkle of nuts is a fabulous combo to help balance blood sugar, feed your muscles while you sleep and provide an antioxidant boost,” she explains.

Here’s more about why this snack staple is such a superhero before bed.

It Contains Sleep-Promoting Tryptophan

Just like turkey on Thanksgiving, dairy foods are a great way to up your intake of tryptophan, says registered dietitian and certified personal trainer Nicole Rodriguez, RDN. Tryptophan is a naturally occurring amino acid that plays an important role in the production of serotonin and sleep-regulating melatonin for sleep. Thanks to this and other amino acids found in dairy, foods like cottage cheese may help support sleep quality.

It’s High in Protein

Dairy is a powerhouse when it comes to high-quality protein, meaning it contains a complete package of essential amino acids. A ½-cup serving of 1% fat cottage cheese provides 14 grams of protein for just 80 calories and 1 gram of total fat. In fact, research shows that pre-sleep protein, specifically casein, can help your body build muscle when you are engaged in a strength training program. This supports earlier research that suggested that higher-protein diets may also help with appetite and weight management. Choosing a low-fat dairy food like cottage cheese is a great way to add a solid source of protein into your nighttime routine.

It’s Packed with Vitamins and Minerals

Cottage cheese contains calcium, magnesium, zinc and B vitamins. Magnesium and zinc, in particular, play an important supporting role in helping convert tryptophan in dairy foods into melatonin (that circadian rhythm-regulating good sleep hormone).

One caveat when it comes to cottage cheese is its sodium content. Traditional cottage cheese is rather high in sodium, with a ½-cup serving clocking in at 459 milligrams, 20% of the recommended daily limit. If you are trying to reduce the sodium in your diet, choose a no-salt-added cottage cheese or compare the sodium content between brands and pick a lower-salt product.

It Has Fiber

While cottage cheese on its own lacks fiber, the addition of fruits and nuts gives it a nice fiber boost. This recipe supplies 3 grams of fiber. Plus, when some of that fiber comes from fruit, you’re in luck. “The addition of fruit can satisfy sweet cravings that you may be trying to minimize while pursuing a weight-loss goal,” says Rodriguez.

It Has Fat

Healthy fat sources contribute to snack satiety and satisfaction, says Rodriguez. The Cottage Cheese Snack Jar with Fruit has 2 tablespoons of chopped pecans, though you can change up the nuts if you’d like. Other ideas include slivered almonds, walnut pieces or chopped pistachios.

What to Consider When Choosing a Late-Night Snack

Late-night snacks do not have to involve heading to the pantry to grab potato chips or cookies. (Classic TV munchies, of course.) Those snacks taste good, but there are better choices that align with weight loss. “While I encourage my patients to embrace an ‘all foods fit’ philosophy, nighttime presents its own challenges,” says Rodriguez. For example, eating spicy, fatty or fried foods can cause indigestion, while foods with a lot of added sugars can cause blood glucose spikes. Both of these can disrupt your sleep, and lack of sleep can affect your appetite and may make weight loss more difficult.

But there are two nutrients you should focus on when it comes to nighttime nibbles: protein and fiber, says Harris-Pincus. These provide staying power, she says. “Sticking with these options will help to keep blood sugar levels more stable and offer an opportunity to maximize your nutrient intake for the day.”
- Here are the nutrition parameters to focus on when finding a late-night snack:
- Calories: Aim for roughly 200 calories per snack, depending on your personal energy needs, to avoid feeling overly full before bed.
- Protein: Make sure your snack choice has protein. Aiming for 7 or more grams provides a good source of protein.
- Fiber: Fiber helps keep you fuller for longer, and can also support your weight-loss goals through offering satiety, meaning you’re less likely to mindlessly munch. Aim for a snack that provides some fiber, ideally 3 or more grams.
- Fat: Fat is your friend; it also helps to satiate you. Choose a snack that packs a little bit of unsaturated fat to help provide that staying power until your morning meal.
Cottage Cheese Recipes to Try

Our Expert Take

You can enjoy a late-night snack, even if weight loss is on your radar. Consider your individual calorie, protein and nutrient needs as you explore what foods will satisfy you as well. Dietitians recommend pairing low-fat cottage cheese with fruit and nuts for a late-night option that provides protein, fat and fiber, all nutrients that support weight-loss goals.
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July 3, 2025
NEPRA cuts basic power tariff by Rs1.15/unit

ISLAMABAD:

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has decided to reduce power tariff by Rs1.15 per unit, offering a big relief to consumers, using 100 to 500 units per month, according to a notification sent to the government for final approval and implementation.

Nepra has issued its decision to reduce the basic price of electricity for the entire country. As per the decision, the maximum tariff for domestic consumers will be Rs47.69 per unit. However, the tariff for domestic lifeline consumers, using up to 50 units per month has been maintained at Rs3.95 per unit.

According to the Nepra notification, tariff for lifeline consumers, using 51 to 100 units per month, is Rs7.74.

A rate of Rs10.54 per unit has been approved for protected domestic consumers using 1-100 units and Rs13.01 for protected domestic consumers, using 101-200 units.

For the non-protected domestic consumers, Nepra fixed the tariff at Rs22.44 for 1-100 units per-month category; Rs28.91 for 101-200 units; Rs33.10 for 201-300 units; Rs37.99 for 301-400 units; Rs40.20 for 401-500 units; Rs41.62 for 501-600 units; Rs42.76 for 601-700 units and Rs47.69 for above 700 units.

According to officials, Nepra has sent its recommendations to the federal government for the implementation of the new rates. After the approval of the Nepra recommendations, the government would announce the reduction of the power tariff, they added.

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July 3, 2025
Marshall Middleton II Boasts Extended 30+ Hours Playtime

Marshall is introducing the second iteration of its Middleton portable Bluetooth speaker, the Middleton II, which boasts extended play time of up to 30+ hours per charge.

Available with 360° True Stereophonic multidirectional sound, the Marshall Middleton II can not only run for more than a day, it can also recharge in just 20 minutes. You get deeper bass and more refined performance at maximum volume, says Marshall. It’s also compact enough to be thrown into a bag and durable enough to be taken anywhere with an IP67 dust and water-resistance rating.

It also has a built-in microphone for making speakerphone calls and offers support for LE audio. Control playback using the multidirectional control knob: twist or press to play, pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, or answer calls. It can also double as a portable power bank.

The Marshall Middleton II will be available in Canada through Erikson Consumer in Q3 and sell for $399.98.

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July 2, 2025
French court finds three ex-Ubisoft execs guilty of harassment charges

A French court has found three former Ubisoft executives, Tommy François, Serge Hascoët, and Guillaume Patrux, guilty of “moral and sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault” following a recent hearing. This verdict concludes a key part of what became known as the ‘Ubisoft Scandal,’ which began in 2020. The scandal initially revealed a party-like atmosphere at Ubisoft that allegedly involved harassment and potential assault. Five years after the initial revelations, these three executives, who had resigned from the company, have now received their sentences. The sexual harassment trial began which began last month, focuses on determining the accountability of the executives identified as central to the misconduct.

What the French court said about the three ex-Ubiosft execs

According to a report by French publication Liberation, the court said: “Tommy François, Serge Hascoët and Guillaume Patrux were found guilty of moral and sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault by the Bobigny criminal court.”The report mentions that the court “handed down suspended sentences of up to three years in prison against three of the video game giant’s former executives.”A suspended sentence means the executives will not serve prison time unless they commit further offences, which could then activate the court’s authority to enforce incarceration.“The most heavily sentenced is the former vice-president of the editorial department, Tommy François. He received a three-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 30,000 euros, the sentence requested by the prosecutor for the charges of moral and sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault,” the report added.Serge Hascoët received a suspended sentence of eighteen months and a 45,000-euro fine.Meanwhile, former game director Guillaume Patrux “was sentenced to twelve months in prison with a suspended sentence and a fine of 10,000 euros for his violent and intimidating behavior towards the small team where he worked.”The court findings describe the behaviour of the three as including “sexist jokes, humiliations, and uncomfortable or vulgar behaviour towards certain employees.”These claims align with earlier reports suggesting the company’s headquarters had a “Boys’ club atmosphere.”

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July 2, 2025
PM lauds KSA’s role in truce with India

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday appreciated the efforts by Saudi Arabia for peace in the Middle East as well as its significant role in the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India.

The prime minister said this in a meeting with Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad Nawaf bin Saeed Al Malkiy, while fondly recalling his warm and cordial telephone conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince on June 24 to discuss the regional situation.

He conveyed his respectful regards to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The prime minister told the ambassador that as Pakistan had assumed the rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July, it would count on Saudi Arabia’s support to ensure that its tenure was conducted smoothly and successfully.

The Saudi ambassador thanked the prime minister for Pakistan’s role in peace and stability in the region.

FBR

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday applauded the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for achieving a historic 42% increase in federal tax revenues during the fiscal year 2024-25 – the highest surge in the past decade.

The prime minister chaired a high-level weekly review meeting on the digitization and reform agenda of the FBR, whereas during the briefing, it was revealed that reforms and enforcement of new tax laws enabled the government to collect an additional Rs 865 billion in revenues compared to the previous year, an eightfold increase.

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July 2, 2025