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  • AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney by Jeff Foster

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney by Jeff Foster

    Midjourney was my first real text-to-image AI tool experience starting back in 2022. I’ve watched it evolve as the industry swelled with competition and lots of other image, animation and video tools popping up almost weekly since. By January 2023, the tools started to evolve to a place where they made us sit up and take notice, as I outlined in my first AI Tools article, AI Tools Part 1: Why We Need Them.

    But after years of progress and lots of testing, Midjourney has now raised the bar yet again, with the introduction of their new video tool, and I’m pleasantly surprised at what it can do so quickly and sensibly. Here’s what I’ve explored so far…

    Frame from Noir style short clip created in Midjourney Video

    Midjourney Animate

    Midjourney announced the new video animation feature and the output is quite impressive!

    I’ve been using a lot of different animation and video generation tools the past few years, as you may know if you’ve been following my AI Tools series here on ProVideo. But this is the most seamless and quickest workflow I’ve yet to engage with.

    Most generators require a starting image – like a keyframe if you will. I almost always start with an image I’ve generated in Midjourney and then gone to another tool to animate it. (You can see my last article, AI Tools: Generative AI for Video & Animation Updates for more examples of the workflow). But now in Midjourney, you can either generate a new image as your source, or start with your own photo.

    First – the details and specs…

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 43

    Currently, everyone with an account can access the Animate option, but only the Pro and Mega plans can use the Relax mode, and videos consume 8x more time to process than images, but it does provide you with 4 variations to choose from in each round.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 44

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 45

    Video Output Sizes & Formats

    Note that the maximum resolution at the moment is 480p (832×464) and the sizes vary depending on aspect ratio of course.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 46AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 47

    You can export your video in a compressed MP4 for social use, or a larger RAW MP4 H.264 version (still compressed but less) and animated GIF. You can link to the completed video’s URL as it stays in the cloud in your account.

    This is the Codec data from a “RAW” files downloaded from Midjourney:

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 48

     

    Midjourney Video Test Drive

    Of course I had to dive in and absorb all I could with this new feature and I spent a couple days running it through the paces.

    Starting off, I tried using some simple prompts for various news reporters to be used as B-roll. (I’d use something like this in a pinch to put on a screen in a shot that simulated a newscast on TV, for instance). The quality is good enough for the scale it provides (480p) but in no way intended for full-screen in this initial roll-out.

    My first step was to get some figures to animate. I entered short prompt descriptions for Midjourney to generate some examples. It’s funny what AI thinks about ages at times. And some of the results are just so wrong they’re HILARIOUS!

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 49

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 50

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 51

    After selecting the subject I wanted for each shot, I let Midjourney decide on the motion with the Auto Animate option. Each pass provides you with four different videos to choose from so you can extend out many options.

    I created this video to show you the selections and results for each subject.

    I did the same with these other examples from ChatGPT prompts and explain the process for each example.

    (Note: the VO says 840p when I know damn well it’s 480p! Linguistically dyslexic I guess!)

     

    Photo to video

    Testing out the photo to video feature in Midjourney, I used an old image of my 80’s hair rock & roll days. So much hair product back then!

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 52

    I uploaded the photo as the first frame and I let Midjourney do the work from there. I extended it just once more to make about an 8 second clip. I exported it as an animated GIF (not JIF) since there isn’t any audio. If only I was really that cool on stage!

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 53

     

    Using Midjourney for Storyboarding and Previz

    Currently, I see Midjourney as a tool for creativity and helping you bring your ideas to life. Not necessarily as an end product, but to realize how the written word can be visualized on the screen.

    This could be an amazing tool for screenwriters trying to sell a treatment, or for storyboarding scenes and shots for locations, sets, lighting and blocking.

    I created a short scene completely with AI tools in just a few steps – with two different variations to show how seamlessly Midjourney responds to prompts and extensions.

    I started with ChatGPT asking for ideas for projects to do and this was one of the results I followed.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 54

    I was happy with the resulting images so I went with one I liked and decided to build a story around what the character ended up doing with my extended prompts.

    I must say, this was one of the most satisfying and creative projects in an intuitive workflow that I’ve done in years. And it really only took a few hours from start to finish, because I had no preconceived idea what it was going to be – and I was going to let the AI Tools be my partners as my writers, actors, sound FX, staging and camera ops. I really felt like a director of sorts.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 55

    Each render pass provides 4 different variations based on the first frame (or continues from the last pass with each extension up to 4x). It’s very subjective to decide what take you want to use, but that’s part of the storytelling aspect. In my case, I started with the ChatGPT original prompt and then instructed the action to the end of the prompt with instructions.

    Each pass I would add a new instruction or direction. Mostly the camera moves and angles were determined by Midjourney but those can be directed more closely as well. However, it doesn’t always follow instructions for action, but you can often fool it by rewording instructions. Sometimes though, the mistakes can actually change the story and you follow a different rabbit down the hole.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 56

    I’m including a few GIFs below showing the order of the process and the subsequent renders for each prompt instruction, and decision I made from those render result to continue on building my scene.

    Prompt (with selected start image): film noir style, trench coat detective under a streetlamp in heavy rain, black and white with subtle color tint, glistening cobblestone, intense contrast, 1950s urban alley setting, moody and mysterious, he’s holding a lit cigarette and looks around like he’s waiting on someone

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 57

    Prompt change/addition:  he starts to cross the street while the camera follows his movement and he flicks the cigarette down on the street. (He didn’t cross the street but I went with it)

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 58

    Prompt change/addition: a woman appears from the shadows on the right and runs up to him urgently. (more like a slow saunter, but it works)

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 59

    Prompt change/addition: the couple kisses and embrace.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 60

    You’ll have to watch the video below to see what Variation 2 ended like!

    So I needed to add sound to this short scene and I needed a voice over to narrate in an appropriate tone and voice.

    I started with ChatGPT again and my AI script writing partner and I came up with some good lines. (You’ll hear both versions in the video below).

    I used the script text in ElevenLabs using their new v3 Alpha model for a more natural speech delivery and I found a great voice that really fit the time period.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 61

    I also used ElevenLabs to produce my sound FX and music bed.

    AI Tools: Video & Animation Come to Midjourney 62

    Everything mixed easily in Adobe Premiere Pro in just minutes. And here’s the result(s)

    For more detailed info about Midjourney video options and usage instructions, visit their website.

     

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  • Diljit Dosanjh & Hania Aamir starrer Sardaar Ji 3 sets new box office benchmark in Pakistan – Firstpost

    Diljit Dosanjh & Hania Aamir starrer Sardaar Ji 3 sets new box office benchmark in Pakistan – Firstpost

    Diljit Dosanjh, who plays the lead role in the film along with Canadian Indian actor Neeru Bajwa, posted clips of the response of the Pakistani audience in theatres to the film.

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    Punjabi film ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, has achieved a record-breaking opening in Pakistan, surpassing previous box office records held by Bollywood movies.

    The movie stirred controversy in India due to the casting of Pakistani actress Aamir amid the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict.

    The producers didn’t release the film in India. Released internationally on June 27, the film garnered approximately PKR 9 crore (approx $500,000) in Pakistan over its opening weekend, setting a new record for the highest three-day gross by an Indian film in the country.

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    Nadeem Mandviwalla, a prominent exhibitor and distributor who owns a multiplex in Karachi, confirmed the film’s exceptional performance. He noted that the movie had already raked in around PKR 9 crore in its opening weekend.

    “I think this is the best opening ever for any Indian or Pakistani film in our theatres,” Mandviwalla said.

    Dosanjh
    , who plays the lead role in the film along with Canadian Indian actor Neeru Bajwa, posted clips of the response of the Pakistani audience in theatres to the film.

    Mandviwalla said the success of Sardaaji was a breath of fresh air for the Pakistani entertainment industry, particularly for the cinema house owners.

    “I think despite the high ticket rates and the weather, the audience has come out because of the summer holidays and because Pakistani people still want to watch quality films on the big screen,” he said.

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  • Seven West Media acquires Southern Cross Media Group television assets

    DLA Piper has advised Seven West Media (ASX:SWM) on its acquisition of Southern Cross Media Group Limited’s (ASX: SXL) television licenses and associated assets operating in Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill, Mt Isa and Remote, Central and Eastern Australia.  

    The acquisition largely completes Seven West Media’s national broadcast network and opens new markets to Seven. 

    The cross-practice DLA Piper team was led by M&A partner David Holland, who was supported by senior associates Conor Dolphin and solicitors Donna Kwon and Andrew Bell (all Corporate). Real Estate counsel was provided by partner Stephanie Lambert, senior associate Winnie Liang and solicitor Jordan Brewer. Tax guidance was provided by partner Eddie Ahn. 

    David Holland said: “This is an important strategic acquisition for Seven West Media, which not only completes their national broadcast footprint but also positions them strongly to expand into new regional markets.” 

    “Our team worked closely with both parties to navigate the complexities of this deal, ensuring a smooth process and a transaction that is immediately accretive to Seven West Media’s earnings,” David added.

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  • Goldman’s stock surges to another record, as the ‘big winner’ of Fed’s stress tests

    Goldman’s stock surges to another record, as the ‘big winner’ of Fed’s stress tests

    By Steve Gelsi

    Bank stocks have outperformed the stock market with Goldman Sachs’ stock up 23% and JPMorgan Chase’s up 22% in 2025 while the S&P 500 has gained 5.1%

    Bank stocks finished a strong first half of the year on Monday on the heels of a fresh bill of health in the U.S. Federal Reserve’s annual stress test.

    Monday marked the first regular trading day after the U.S. Federal Reserve said the U.S. banking system would remain sound in the face of a simulated recession, after its review of bank balance sheets.

    KBW analyst David Konrad said the results of the Fed’s stress tests “were remarkably strong” due to higher preprovision net revenue generated by the group, as well as a reduction in counterparty trading losses.

    Estimates for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), Wells Fargo (WFC) and M&T Bank Corp. (MTB) stress capital buffers – money that banks must keep on hand in case of shocks to the financial system – will go down more than other banks, Konrad said.

    See related: Wells Fargo clears another Fed hurdle as banks pass stress tests.

    This may free up capital either for lending or possibly for share buybacks or dividends to stockholders.

    Bank of America Corp. (BAC), Citigroup Inc. (C) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) also fared well in the Fed’s stress test, Konrad said.

    Citi analyst Keith Horowitz said Goldman Sachs emerged as “the big winner” due to its “much better-than-expected” improvement in stress capital buffers.

    Improvement in banks’ preprovision net revenue, lower trading and counterparty losses, and better credit-card performance contributed to Goldman’s results, he said.

    Goldman’s stock (GS) was the biggest gainer among the U.S.’s six largest banks by market capitalization on Monday, rising 2.5% for its third straight record close.

    The stock is now up 23.6% in 2025. That’s well ahead of the 5.1% rise by both the S&P 500 index SPX and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, as well as the 3.5% gain by the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA.

    Jefferies analyst Daniel Fannon said common equity tier-one ratios – which include stress capital buffers – will fall an average of 100 basis points for the 16 largest banks in the Fed’s stress test.

    Goldman Sachs’ common equity tier-one ratio will fall 240 basis points, while M&T Bank’s ratio will fall by 120 basis points as the biggest drops in Jefferies’ banking coverage.

    While Wall Street analysts are already projecting lower stress capital buffer requirements for the banks, these figures don’t become official until August.

    Banks may tweak their dividend increases or request a review from regulars in moves that could alter their final stress capital buffer requirements.

    Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski said it’s unlikely that lower capital requirements will translate directly into money returns for shareholders.

    “Capital has generally not been the gating factor in decisions about deploying capital for customers,” Kotowski said in a research note. “We doubt that banks will go hog-wild on buybacks. They will want to see these metrics stick for another year or two before accepting them as the new normal.”

    Meanwhile, financial stocks continued their winning ways on Monday to cap off a strong first-quarter performance.

    JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s stock (JPM) advanced by 1%, also for a record close, and to build up its 2025 gain to 20.9%.

    Wells Fargo & Co.’s stock (WFC) was up by 0.9% on Monday, to trade 1.4% below its Feb. 6, 2025, record close of $81.42. It has risen 14.1% this year.

    Bank of America Corp.’s stock (BAC) rose 0.4%, to bring its year-to-date gain to 7.7%, while Citigroup Inc.’s stock (C) rose 0.9%, with a year-to-date advance of 20.9%.

    Morgan Stanley’s stock (MS) inched 0.1% higher, while its year-to-date rise is at 12%.

    The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF XLF was up 0.8% on Monday and was headed for a record close. It’s risen 8.4% in 2025.

    -Steve Gelsi

    This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. 

    
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  • ROYAL CARIBBEAN IS BRINGING THE HOLIDAY HEAT TO THE BRISBANE HEAT

    ROYAL CARIBBEAN IS BRINGING THE HOLIDAY HEAT TO THE BRISBANE HEAT

    ROYAL CARIBBEAN IS BRINGING THE HOLIDAY HEAT TO THE BRISBANE HEAT

    The holiday brand will bring more unforgettable family experiences to cricket fans in a new holiday partnership with Brisbane Heat and Queensland Cricket for the 2025-26 season

    SYDNEY, 1 July 2025 – Royal Caribbean has hit it for six and entered a new partnership as the Official Holiday Partner of the Brisbane Heat and Queensland Cricket for the 2025-26 season. Known for more than 50 years of delivering memorable adventures for families sailing from Australia and around the world, Royal Caribbean will make this summer one to remember for Brisbane Heat fans. Through the partnership, BNE Heat members can make the most of the season with Royal Caribbean exclusive deals, sneak peek product updates and weekend getaway giveaways, along with family-focused community and fan event experiences throughout the summer season.

    “We’re excited to announce the coming together of two iconic brands, as we partner with the Brisbane Heat to create engaging and unforgettable fan experiences both on and off the field,” said Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean. “As Royal Caribbean prepares for the upcoming Australian summer season of memory-maxing holidays, our goal is to provide unmatched experiences and entertainment to Queensland families in between monumental cricket games. We look forward to partnering with the Heat to create unforgettable moments for cricket lovers and holidaymakers this summer.”

    Fans will see the partners unite on and off the field, with Royal Caribbean serving as the presenting partner of the Gabba Park ‘Fan Zone’, as well as creating ‘The Royal Caribbean Countdown,’ set to be a fan-favourite moment, all starting in December 2025.

    Reflecting on the partnership, Heat General Manager, Commercial, Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Pete Lock, mirrored this sentiment by suggesting there were clear synergies between Royal Caribbean and the Brisbane Heat.

    “The Heat brings families together every summer. The start of summer holidays is when the Women’s Big Bash League and Big Bash League thrive, and it is a natural fit with Royal Caribbean, as it is also the peak time for travel, entertaining holidaymakers in beautiful locations,” said Lock. “We are very pleased to be on board with Royal Caribbean and look forward to working alongside them to make summer even more special for our Heat members and fans.’’

    The partnership comes on the heels of the Australian sailing season kicking off with an action-packed summer of adventures, including the long-awaited return of Voyager of the Seas to its new home in Brisbane. Aussie holidaymakers can choose from a line-up of 45 getaways to the South Pacific, New Zealand and along the eastern seaboard, sailing between November 2025 and April 2026, offering something for everyone in the family.

    To celebrate Royal Caribbean as the Official Brisbane Heat Membership Partner, the holiday brand is hosting a pre-season competition for members to win the ultimate family holiday as well as an exclusive member offer on 2025/26 sailings. For competition details, holidaymakers can visit www.brisbaneheat.com.au.

    About Royal Caribbean  
    Royal Caribbean, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line’s game-changing ships and exclusive destinations revolutionize vacations with innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 22 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including the line’s top-rated exclusive destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. 

    Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visit www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com, call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor.  

    About Brisbane Heat
    The Brisbane Heat is one of the eight founding franchises of the Big Bash League, Australia’s premier T20 cricket competition. Known for their vibrant teal uniforms and passionate fan base, the Heat have become a staple of summer cricket in Queensland. The team plays its home matches at the iconic Gabba, a venue renowned for its electric atmosphere and rich cricketing history.

    Related Images

    The amplified Voyager of the Seas features adventures for vacationers of all ages to make memories, including The Perfect Storm duo of racing waterslides, the FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf and more. 

    The amplified Voyager of the Seas features adventures for vacationers of all ages to make memories, including The Perfect Storm duo of racing waterslides, the FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf and more. 

    The amplified Voyager of the Seas features adventures for vacationers of all ages to make memories, including The Perfect Storm duo of racing waterslides, the FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf and more. 

    The Perfect Storm duo of racing waterslides and the signature FlowRider surf simulator are among the thrills vacationers can enjoy on Royal Caribbean's Freedom and Voyager of the Seas.

    The Perfect Storm duo of racing waterslides and the signature FlowRider surf simulator are among the thrills vacationers can enjoy on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom and Voyager of the Seas.


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  • Royal train’s journey ends after 156 years as King Charles III seeks to cut costs

    Royal train’s journey ends after 156 years as King Charles III seeks to cut costs

    The 156-year-long journey for the royal family’s private “royal train” is set to come to an end after King Charles decided to scrap it in a bid to reduce costs. The decision taken by Buckingham Palace to decommission Britain’s royal train, a service dating back to Queen Victoria, comes as maintenance and storage were getting costlier by the day.

    Victoria, King Charles’ great-great-great-grandmother, commissioned the first royal rail carriages back in 1869. The Royal Family will still travel on regular train services. According to the BBC, the annual report revealed that 141 helicopter trips were taken in 2024, costing £475,000 ($652,348).

    According to Reuters, the latest incarnation is made up of nine carriages, the most recent of them added in 1986. The royal train was used just twice during the financial year 2024-25, with the two journeys together costing almost 80,000 pounds ($109,869).
    Speaking on the end of the royal train, James Chalmers, the king’s treasurer, said the monarch had now agreed that the train, which critics had long said was a waste of money, would reach the end of the line in 2027.

    “The royal train has … been a part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved, but in moving forward we must not be bound by the past,” Chalmers, officially known as the Keeper of the Privy Purse, told reporters.


    “The time has come to bid the fondest of farewells, as we seek to be disciplined and forward-looking in our allocation of funding.” While the king had fond memories of the train, palace officials said it would require significant funds to pay for its long-term use, although it was not clear how much scrapping it would save.The announcement came as Chalmers, on Monday, June 30, 2025, unveiled the annual report of the Sovereign Grant, the government handout that covers staffing costs, upkeep of royal palaces, and travel expenses and is currently set at 12% of the profit from the Crown Estate, a property portfolio belonging to the monarchy.In November 2024, the Sunday Times and a TV documentary accused Charles and his elder son, Prince William, of making millions from the country’s health service, army, and schools from charges imposed by the monarch’s Duchy of Lancaster estate and the heir’s Duchy of Cornwall estate.

    William Bax, the chief executive of the Duchy of Cornwall, acknowledged that criticism as he detailed its annual report on Monday, saying they were making changes at a time of “reflection and evolution.” Bax said they intended to end or reduce rents charged to some community groups and charities, while the report showed William’s personal income from the Duchy had fallen slightly to just under 23 million pounds.

    Anti-monarchists said the annual reports were misleading, claiming that the monarchy’s price tag amounts to more than half a billion pounds. “The cost of the monarchy is out of control, and these reports receive almost no political scrutiny,” Graham Smith, chief executive of campaign group Republic, said.

    Chalmers said the global significance of the royals could not be underestimated, citing a Global Perceptions Survey that found the monarchy the single biggest influence on perceptions of the UK among international audiences.

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  • Apple eyes AI boost with Anthropic or OpenAI as it rethinks Siri’s future

    Apple eyes AI boost with Anthropic or OpenAI as it rethinks Siri’s future

    Apple is considering using artificial intelligence (AI) technology from Anthropic or OpenAI to power a new version of Siri, sidelining its own in-house models in a potentially blockbuster move aimed at turning around its flailing AI effort.

    The iPhone maker has talked with both companies about using their large language models for Siri, according to people familiar with the discussions. It had asked them to train versions of their models that could run on Apple’s cloud infrastructure for testing, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

    If Apple ultimately moves forward, it would represent a monumental reversal. The company currently powers most of its AI features with home-grown technology that it calls Apple Foundation Models and had been planning a new version of its voice assistant that runs on that technology for 2026.

    A switch to Anthropic’s Claude or OpenAI’s ChatGPT models for Siri would be an acknowledgment that the company is struggling to compete in generative AI – the most important new technology in decades. Apple already allows ChatGPT to answer web-based search queries in Siri, but the assistant itself is powered by Apple.

    iPhones on display at an Apple store in the Huangpu district in Shanghai. Photo: AFP

    Apple’s investigation into third-party models was at an early stage, and the company had not made a final decision on using them, the people said. A competing project internally dubbed LLM Siri that uses in-house models remains in active development.

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  • New study shows immense impact of public health on life expectancy

    New study shows immense impact of public health on life expectancy

    The current landscape of public health in the United States is marked by a far-reaching attack on foundational scientific principles and institutions, threatening decades of progress in combating preventable diseases. Recent actions by the Trump administration, such as the abrupt dismissal of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) members and the appointment of individuals who have publicly expressed skepticism about established vaccine science, have generated profound concerns in the medical and public health communities. 

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly questioned vaccine safety, notably by halting US funding to Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, accusing it of “ignoring the science,” without significant evidence, a move experts describe as “stunning and calamitous” and potentially costing “hundreds of thousands of children’s lives a year.” This politicization of public health measures, coupled with the spread of misinformation, risks eroding public trust and undermining critical immunization programs.

    Amidst this contentious environment, a recent study published in JAMA Network Open titled “All-Cause Mortality and Life Expectancy by Birth Cohort Across US States,” by Holford et al. (2025), which analyzed 179 million deaths in the US across states and birth cohorts over more than a century, offers important insights into the social value of sustained public health investments. 

    This study emphasizes the utility of analyzing cohort life expectancy, a measure that more accurately reflects the “lived experiences of populations” by tracking how early-life exposures and risk factors shape health outcomes as a group ages. The cohort perspective highlights how public health interventions’ impacts can follow individuals throughout their lives.

    The study, alongside other sources, underscores a period of “large gains in life expectancy” and an “unprecedented decline in mortality” in the United States during the 20th century. Between 1900 and 1950, every US state experienced a substantial increase in life expectancy. These gains continued into the 1970s. This remarkable achievement was not accidental but resulted from a combination of deliberate public health actions and medical innovations:

    • Public health improvements: Significant strides were made in public health infrastructure, including improvements in sanitation and the provision of clean water.
    • Medical advances: The introduction of life-saving medical treatments, such as antibiotics like sulfa drugs and penicillin, dramatically reduced deaths from infectious diseases.
    • Vaccine programs: The widespread implementation of vaccination programs played a pivotal role. 

    These benefits spread globally as well, with a time lag, as poorer countries sought to catch up. Measles vaccination alone accounted for 93.7 million lives saved—over 60 percent of the total 154 million lives saved by vaccination between 1974 and 2024. DTP-containing vaccines saved an estimated 40 million lives globally over the past 50 years.

    In the US, routine childhood vaccinations for children born between 1994 and 2023 are estimated to have prevented 1.1 million deaths, 32 million hospitalizations, and 508 million illnesses, resulting in nearly $3.7 trillion in societal cost savings. The eradication of smallpox through vaccines is highlighted as a monumental achievement. These factors essentially ended the childhood mortality gap. In 1900, a newborn could expect to live to 48 years of age, but if they survived childhood, life expectancy dramatically increased to 61. By 1980, life expectancy at birth and after childhood were equal.

    Male life expectancy by state in 1900, 1950 and 2000 cohorts. Data obtained from the study and graphics by WSWS. States arranged by highest life expectancy in 2000 cohort. Solid lines show average life expectancy in the US for respective cohorts.

    However, other critical factors in the broader public health initiatives include behavioral changes, such as the decline in cigarette smoking, that have further contributed to improved health outcomes for older adults. This included broader access to healthcare, which further supported these gains.

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  • Ten cases of H5N1 bird flu reported so far in Cambodia this year

    Ten cases of H5N1 bird flu reported so far in Cambodia this year

    PHNOM PENH – Ten cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been detected in Cambodia so fa this year. The two most recent patients are a mother and son from Siem Reap province.

    On Sunday, June 29, the Ministry of Health announced that two additional cases of avian influenza were found in the same area as a 41-year-old woman who had tested positive for the H5N1 virus, as confirmed by the National Institute of Public Health the previous Monday.

    An active field investigation to identify suspected cases and those exposed in Lbeuk village, of Puok district’s Donkeo commune — where the 41-year-old woman resides — revealed two more confirmed H5N1 cases: a 46-year-old woman and a her 16-year-old son.

    The institute confirmed that both individuals tested positive for the H5N1 virus. They are the 9th and 10th cases of bird flu recorded in Cambodia in 2025.

    “These two cases reside approximately 20 metres from the home of the 41-year-old patient. Currently, both patients are in stable condition and are being treated with Tamiflu under close medical supervision,” the ministry stated.

    Interviews revealed that at the homes of the patients, as well as their neighbours and around the village, there were sick or dead chickens and ducks. The patients had reportedly handled and come into contact with the ill poultry, which they then prepared and ate.

    National and subnational rapid response teams from the health ministry, in cooperation with provincial agriculture department officials and local authorities, are actively investigating the outbreak. They are also responding with technical protocols, identifying sources of infection in both animals and humans, locating suspected cases and those exposed, preventing further community transmission, distributing Tamiflu to close contacts, and launching a health education campaign for villagers.

    The 41-year-old woman, the first H5N1 case in the village, had also handled sick and dead poultry at her own home and her neighbour’s, and prepared them as food five days before falling ill.

    The ministry again urged the public to remain vigilant about bird flu, as H5N1 continues to pose a serious threat to public health in Cambodia.

    Anyone experiencing fever, cough, runny nose or difficulty breathing, along with a history of contact with sick or dead poultry in the 14 days before symptoms began, should avoid gatherings and crowded places and immediately seek medical advice and treatment at the nearest health centre or hospital without delay.

    On June 27, officers from the Provincial Livestock and Animal Health Office of the Siem Reap agriculture department, in cooperation with the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI), implemented veterinary measures at the site of an earlier outbreak in Puok district and commune’s Chambak He village.

    The team culled 45 eggs and 16 chickens, and disinfected coops and the surrounding area. Additionally, samples were collected from two whole chickens for further testing.

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  • Apple weighs using Anthropic or OpenAI to power Siri in major reversal: Bloomberg News

    Apple weighs using Anthropic or OpenAI to power Siri in major reversal: Bloomberg News

    An Apple logo is displayed on a smartphone with stock market values in the background.

    SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images

    Apple is weighing using artificial intelligence technology from Anthropic or OpenAI to power a new version of Siri, instead of its own in-house models, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

    Shares of the iPhone maker, which had traded down earlier in the session, closed 2% higher on Monday.

    Apple has had discussions with both companies about using their large language models for Siri, asking them to train versions of their LLMs that could run on Apple’s cloud infrastructure for testing, the report said, citing people familiar with the discussions.

    Apple’s investigation into third-party models is at an early stage and the company has not made a final decision on using them, the report said.

    Amazon-backed Anthropic declined to comment, while Apple and OpenAI did not respond to Reuters requests.

    The company had in March said AI improvements to its voice assistant Siri will be delayed until 2026, without giving a reason for the setback.

    Apple shook up its executive ranks to get its AI efforts back on track after months of delays, resulting in Mike Rockwell taking charge of Siri, as CEO Tim Cook lost confidence in AI head John Giannandrea’s ability to execute on product development, Bloomberg had reported in March.

    At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, Apple focused more on incremental developments that improve everyday life — including live translations for phone calls — rather than the sweeping ambitions for AI that Apple’s rivals are capitalizing.

    Apple software chief Craig Federighi had then said it is opening up the foundational AI model that the iPhone maker uses for some of its own features to third-party developers, and that the company will offer both its own and OpenAI’s code completion tools in its key Apple developer software.

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