By ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP Business Writer

BANGKOK (AP) — A U.S. judge has ruled that China’s Huawei Technologies, a leading telecoms equipment company, must face criminal charges in a wide reaching case alleging it stole technology and engaged in racketeering, wire and bank fraud and other crimes.

U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly on Tuesday rejected Huawei’s request to dismiss the allegations in a 16-count federal indictment against the company, saying in a 52-page ruling that its arguments were premature.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. accuses Huawei and some of its subsidiaries of plotting to steal U.S. trade secrets, installing surveillance equipment that enabled Iran to spy on protesters during 2009 anti-government demonstrations in Iran, and of doing business in North Korea despite U.S. sanctions there.

During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, his administration raised national security concerns and began lobbying Western allies against including Huawei in their wireless, high-speed networks.

In its January 2019 indictment, the Justice Department accused Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions and charged its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, with fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the company’s business dealings in Iran.

Meng, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, was arrested in Canada in late 2018 on a U.S. extradition request but released in September 2021 in a high-stakes prisoner swap that freed two Canadians held by China and allowed her to return home.

Timed to the Formula One film’s theatrical release, Apple’s latest workouts bring the thrill of racecar driving to fitness

Just in time for the theatrical release of “F1 the Movie,” Apple Fitness+ is inviting users to channel their inner racecar driver with a new collection of high-intensity workouts inspired by the upcoming Apple Original Film.

Now available on Apple Fitness+, the workouts are led by Fitness+ trainers decked out in gear that nods to the aesthetics of the film. Each session is accompanied by music from the official soundtrack, creating a cinematic, high-octane atmosphere in the workout studio.

The 20-minute HIIT workout with Brian incorporates pop lunges, side shuffles and tuck jumps, along with exercises that challenge core stability and quick reflexes, perfect for those looking to train like a pit crew pro.

In the 20-minute Strength workout, Kyle leads a full-body dumbbell session featuring classic power moves like lunges with biceps curls and squats with overhead presses, echoing the strength and endurance required by drivers. On the treadmill, Sherica guides users through a 20-minute sprint-focused routine that includes ten-speed pushes, ranging from 30 to 65 seconds.

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In addition to the new workouts, Apple is also debuting a “Time to Walk” episode featuring F1 The Movie star and Academy Award nominee Kerry Condon. Known for her BAFTA-winning role in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Condon shares reflections on the ripple effect of a small act of kindness and a pivotal moment when setting a professional boundary changed the course of her career. The episode offers a more introspective complement to the intensity of the workouts: a reminder of the emotional endurance required in both racing and real life.

SEATTLE, WA / ACCESS Newswire / July 2, 2025 / Athlete.ai a leader in sports analytics and technology, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Attitude of Gratitude, a premier full-service events company renowned for creating transformative experiences across sports, business, politics, and fundraising sectors.

This collaboration aims to integrate Athlete.ai’s cutting-edge analytics platform with Attitude of Gratitude’s extensive event management expertise, enhancing the planning and execution of sports events nationwide. By leveraging data-driven insights, the partnership seeks to elevate athlete performance, optimize event operations, and deliver unparalleled experiences for participants and audiences alike.

“We are excited to join forces with Attitude of Gratitude,” said Kevin Keranen, CEO of “Their commitment to curating life-changing moments aligns perfectly with our mission to empower athletes and organizations through innovative technology. Together, we will set a new standard in sports event management.”

Attitude of Gratitude, under the leadership of CEO Ryan Silver, has a distinguished history of supporting top companies and brands in creating memorable events. With a portfolio that includes over 128 events nationwide – ranging from youth and college sports tournaments to political fundraising and corporate retreats – the company is dedicated to excellence in every endeavor.

“Partnering with Athlete.ai represents a significant advancement in our ability to deliver exceptional events,” stated Ryan Silver, CEO of Attitude of Gratitude. “I’m thrilled to work with Kevin Keranen and his team. Kevin is an incredible leader and visionary. His team, spearheaded by Alec Kinsky, is fantastic. Athlete.ai is the most innovative technology I’ve seen in the last 20 years in the youth space. It is going to revolutionize youth sports.”

The partnership will initially focus on upcoming basketball tournaments, where analytics will be utilized to assess player performance, inform coaching strategies, and engage fans with real-time data. Future initiatives include expanding the use of analytics across various sports and event types, further solidifying the partnership’s commitment to innovation and excellence.

This alliance marks a pivotal moment in sports event management, combining technological innovation with event planning expertise to create unparalleled experiences for athletes, coaches, and spectators.

About Athlete.ai

Athlete.ai is a leading sports analytics company dedicated to empowering athletes and organizations through innovative technology solutions. By providing actionable insights and performance metrics, it helps clients achieve their goals and reach new heights in sports performance.

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PEARLAND, Texas, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Crunch Fitness today announces the opening of Crunch Pearland in Pearland, Texas. The $5 million, 30,000-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness facility will open its doors in Fall 2025. Operated by Crunch Fitness franchisee The Undefeated Tribe, Crunch Pearland will be located at 2800 E Broadway Street – close to the UPS Store, Chase Bank and Lowes – creating a new fitness offering for residents of Pearland.

Fusing fitness with entertainment to make serious fitness fun, Crunch will offer top-quality cardio and strength training equipment, half-hour circuit training, a functional HITTZone™ training area with indoor turf, spin classes, a dedicated group fitness studio, Hot Yoga Studio, Kid’s Crunch babysitting services, tanning, HydroMassage^® beds, red light therapy, personal training and full-service locker rooms with showers and a sauna.

Founded in 2018 by Tony Hartl, The Undefeated Tribe is one of the fastest growing franchises within the Crunch Fitness system and was selected as Crunch’s Franchise of the Year. The Undefeated Tribe currently has 31 locations, with plans to open 30 more across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Missouri by 2026.

“We are so excited to bring the Crunch Fitness Brand to the Pearland community and offer outstanding and affordable fitness,” said Hartl. “With world-class-equipment and amenities, round-the-clock hours and memberships that start at $9.99 per month, we can’t wait to open our doors to Pearland residents.”

Crunch Fitness ranked #1 in the fitness category for the second year in a row and #32 overall in the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500^® – the world’s most comprehensive franchise ranking. Crunch Fitness continues to expand nationwide and push the bar with innovative offerings for its members.

Prospective members can visit CrunchPearland.com for more information about memberships and to sign up. Crunch Fitness will be offering an exclusive limited time promotion for their founding members. The first 500 members will join for only $1 and get their 1st month free plus get a free 1 hour personal training session and a free gym bag, water bottle and t-shirt.

You can also enter to win a free 1 year all access membership and lock in your Founding 500 rate at https://info.crunch.com/rate-reservations.

Crunch Fitness will be inviting over 100 individuals to join the team to help their community experience fitness, wellness, relaxation, and recovery. Crunch is on the search for Managers, Group Fitness Instructors, Personal Trainers, Customer Service Representatives, Facility Technicians and Babysitters to join a team that believes in being the best place to work and workout. If you are interested in working hard, having fun and making history, please apply today at Epic Crunch Jobs.

About Crunch:

Crunch is a gym that believes in making serious exercise fun by fusing fitness and entertainment and pioneering a philosophy of ‘No Judgments.’ Crunch serves a fitness community for all kinds of people with all types of goals, exercising all different ways, working it out at the same place together. Today, we are renowned for creating one-of-a-kind group fitness classes and unique programming for our wildly diverse members. Headquartered in New York City, Crunch serves three million members with over 500 gyms worldwide in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, and India. Crunch is rapidly expanding across the U.S. and around the globe.

SOURCE Crunch Fitness

In a groundbreaking fusion of technology and sports, Beijing recently witnessed the thrilling climax of the Robo League robot football tournament. This event marked a significant milestone in autonomous technology as humanoid robots competed without human intervention. The tournament was not just a spectacle of cutting-edge innovation but also a precursor to the much-anticipated 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games. As the robots took to the field, they showcased remarkable agility and intelligence, drawing attention from tech enthusiasts and sports fans alike. This tournament highlighted the potential of robotics in redefining the future of sports and everyday life.

The Thrill of Autonomous Soccer

The Robo League tournament in Beijing represented the first fully autonomous robot soccer event ever held in China, capturing the imagination of audiences worldwide. Each team consisted of three humanoid robots, with one substitute, competing in two 10-minute halves separated by a brief intermission. During the match, the robots demonstrated impressive skills, including walking, running, and kicking, all while making real-time decisions without human guidance.

Equipped with advanced optical cameras and sensors, these robots could detect the ball from up to 65 feet away with over 90 percent accuracy, identifying crucial elements such as field lines, goals, teammates, and opponents. The tournament’s executive director, Dou Jing, emphasized that this event was a significant step in merging technological innovation with industrial application. Despite minor limitations, such as challenges in dynamic obstacle avoidance, the tournament was hailed as a success, paving the way for future advancements in autonomous sports.

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Expanding the Horizon of Robot Sports

Looking ahead, organizers plan to broaden the scope of sports played by humanoid robots. The goal is to introduce more intellectual properties and enhance the level of competition. Currently, the soccer level is comparable to that of young children, but expectations are high for future improvements as technology advances. In a notable past event, the Tiangong Ultra robot participated in a long-distance race, completing a 13-mile course, showcasing the potential for diverse athletic applications.

The upcoming 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games, scheduled for August 15-17 in Beijing, promises to be a spectacular showcase of robotic prowess. The event will feature 11 sport categories modeled on traditional human competitions, including track and field, gymnastics, and synchronized dancing. This evolution in robot sports not only highlights technological progress but also offers a glimpse into the future of entertainment and public engagement with robotics.

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Technological Innovation Meets Real-World Application

The Robo League tournament demonstrated the potential for robots to transition from controlled environments to real-world scenarios. By allowing the robots to operate autonomously, the event underscored the strides made in artificial intelligence and robotics. The tournament’s success is a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation in these fields, with applications extending beyond sports into various aspects of daily life.

This competition was more than just a game; it was a platform for showcasing how robots can integrate into society, handling tasks that require agility, precision, and decision-making. As robots become more sophisticated, they hold the promise of revolutionizing industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, and even domestic environments. The Robo League has set the stage for future advancements and collaborations between technology and society.

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The Road to the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games

As Beijing prepares to host the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games, the focus is on showcasing the world’s most advanced humanoid robots. The event will not only highlight sporting competitions but also challenge robots in real-world scenarios, pushing the boundaries of what autonomous machines can achieve. This international gathering will serve as a platform for innovation, collaboration, and inspiration for the next generation of roboticists and engineers.

With a lineup of 11 sport events, the Games are set to captivate audiences and provide a unique opportunity to witness the convergence of sports and technology. This event will build on the foundation laid by the Robo League, furthering the dialogue on how robots can enhance human life and capabilities. As we look to the future, the question remains: How will these advancements shape the relationship between humans and machines in the decades to come?

In conclusion, the Robo League tournament and the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Sports Games represent a remarkable intersection of sports and technology. These events offer a glimpse into a future where robots play a greater role in entertainment and everyday life. As we continue to explore the possibilities, one must ask: How will these innovations redefine our understanding of competition and collaboration in the modern world?

Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article.

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The Trump administration’s sweeping revisions to Title IX policies have upended the landscape of university athletics and education funding, creating both compliance risks and strategic opportunities for institutions and athletic gear companies. With federal funding at stake and legal battles looming, universities and brands must adapt to survive—or thrive—in this shifting regulatory environment. This article explores the financial and reputational stakes for universities, analyzes how athletic gear companies can capitalize on evolving consumer sentiments, and identifies investment opportunities in sectors aligned with policy trends or insulated from backlash.

The Title IX Regulatory Shift: Risks for Universities

The administration’s reinterpretation of Title IX prioritizes biological sex over gender identity, mandating that transgender athletes compete in sports aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The University of Pennsylvania’s recent compliance agreement with the Department of Education exemplifies the consequences of noncompliance: stripping records from transgender athletes, issuing public apologies, and adopting “biology-based” definitions of gender. Universities now face three critical risks:

1. Funding Loss: Institutions reliant on federal grants or research funding risk losing critical resources. For example, Penn’s $175 million funding freeze disrupted research projects and athletics budgets.
2. Legal Costs: Universities in states with conflicting laws (e.g., California) may face lawsuits, diverting resources from core operations.
3. Reputational Damage: Institutions perceived as discriminatory could lose alumni donations and student enrollment, particularly from progressive demographics.

Athletic Gear Companies: Riding the Wave or Swimming Against It

While universities grapple with compliance, athletic gear companies must navigate consumer divides over inclusivity. The policy shift has polarized public opinion, creating opportunities for brands to align with either side or hedge risks through diversity-focused strategies:

Companies Aligning with Administration Policies

• Potential Winners: Brands supporting biological-sex-based eligibility may appeal to conservative markets. For example, Nike could emphasize partnerships with schools adopting strict Title IX policies, leveraging its existing dominance in team sports apparel.
• Risk: Alienating LGBTQ+ consumers and progressive investors.

Companies Betting on Inclusivity

• Strengths: Brands with gender-neutral or size-inclusive product lines (e.g., Lululemon‘s adaptive apparel) or strong sustainability credentials may attract socially conscious consumers.
• Opportunity: Expanding into markets like Europe, where gender identity protections are stronger, or states resisting federal mandates.

Sustainability as a Compliance Hedge

Environmental regulations, such as the EU’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and PFAS bans, intersect with Title IX’s equity goals. Companies like Patagonia (with its circular design ethos) or Arc’teryx (prioritizing repair and recycling services) may thrive by meeting dual demands for sustainability and compliance.

Investment Recommendations

1. Long Positions in Compliance-Focused Brands
2. Nike (NKE): Leverage its scale and institutional ties to secure contracts with universities adapting to Title IX changes. Monitor its stock performance ().

3. Under Armour (UAA): Its performance-driven apparel could appeal to universities prioritizing competitive equity, while its smaller size avoids overexposure to LGBTQ+ backlash.

4. Short Positions or Avoidance of Polarized Brands

5. Lululemon (LULU): While its inclusivity stance may win progressive consumers, it risks backlash in states enforcing strict Title IX policies.

6. Adidas (ADS): Its global footprint exposes it to EU regulations and U.S. political swings; watch for stock volatility ().

7. Sustainability Plays

8. Patagonia (PCLN): Invest in its mission-driven model, which aligns with EPR mandates and appeals to socially conscious consumers.
9. Salomon (part of Kering): Its community-focused stores and cultural relevance (e.g., Paris flagship during the Olympics) position it to capture niche markets.

Conclusion: Balancing Policy and Profit

The Title IX overhaul has created a high-stakes game for universities and athletic brands. Institutions must prioritize compliance to avoid funding losses, while companies need to choose their alignments carefully. Investors should favor brands with agility—those capable of adapting to regulatory shifts, hedging risks through sustainability, or diversifying into inclusive markets. As legal battles unfold and consumer sentiment evolves, the winners will be those that balance regulatory demands with the enduring pursuit of equity.

In short, Title IX is no longer just about bathrooms and locker rooms—it’s about dollars, reputation, and the future of sports.

Data sources: Department of Education OCR reports, NCAA policy updates, company investor presentations, and market research firms.