CAPE CANAVERAL (United States): Blue Origin&#39;s New Glenn rocket exploded while on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, US media reported Thursday. &quot;We experienced an anomaly during today&#39;s hotfire test,&quot; the company said in a brief statement posted to X, adding that &quot;all personnel have been accounted for.&quot; Video from the incident shows smoke emerging from beneath the rocket before it fully combusts into a massive fireball.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 297px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2060182822170902622&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=f97d0ae85c8d94d844b46d4d70da19e771007333&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Florida congressman Mike Haridopolos, whose district includes Cape Canaveral, said in a statement on X that he has been in contact with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman regarding the explosion. &quot;I am grateful there were no reported injuries and thankful for the first responders, engineers, and launch crews who acted quickly,&quot; Haridopolos said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 273px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2060172114796204539&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=f97d0ae85c8d94d844b46d4d70da19e771007333&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The explosion is the latest setback for the space exploration company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos. Last month, the New Glenn rocket failed a mission to deliver a communications satellite into the correct orbit, prompting an investigation.

Gadgets

A space rocket launched by the exploration company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos exploded just before takeoff, while the company said the anomaly occurred during today's hotfire test.

Blue Origin rocket explodes on launch pad: US media

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is meeting US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday as Islamabad and Washington continue diplomatic engagement on regional peace, security and bilateral cooperation.&nbsp;The meeting follows Dar&rsquo;s engagements at the United Nations Security Council and other meetings in New York, where he participated in discussions on international peace, security and global governance.&nbsp;The talks come amid heightened diplomatic activity surrounding the Middle East crisis, maritime security concerns and ongoing efforts to preserve the Iran-US ceasefire framework.&nbsp;Pakistan has remained actively engaged with Tehran, Washington, Gulf states and other international partners in recent months as negotiations continue on broader regional stability and the reopening of maritime trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, the two sides are expected to review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.&nbsp;&ldquo;The discussions will also focus on strengthening cooperation in key priority sectors, as well as Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said in a statement.&nbsp;The ministry said the visit reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to &ldquo;further deepening its longstanding and broad-based partnership with the United States.&rdquo;&nbsp;This is a developing story&hellip;

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is meeting US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday as Islamabad and Washington continue diplomatic engagement on regional peace, security and bilateral cooperation

Pakistan FM meets Rubio to discuss regional peace during Washington talks

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s long-standing effort to diplomatically isolate Pakistan has yielded the opposite result, with Islamabad emerging as an increasingly influential geopolitical and diplomatic actor, according to a report by Al Jazeera.&nbsp;The report recalled that in September 2016, following the Uri attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, Modi publicly vowed to isolate Pakistan internationally.&nbsp;&nbsp;Addressing a rally in the southwestern state of Kerala, he said India would intensify efforts to ensure Pakistan remained isolated on the world stage.&nbsp;Nearly a decade later, however, Al Jazeera noted that Pakistan has strengthened ties with major global powers, including China and the United States, while expanding its diplomatic role in regional and international affairs.&nbsp;The report highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s growing engagement with the administration of US President Donald Trump, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir both visited the White House over the past year.&nbsp;According to Al Jazeera, Pakistan has also emerged as an important diplomatic interlocutor between Washington and Tehran amid continuing regional tensions, further enhancing Islamabad&rsquo;s international relevance.&nbsp;The report pointed to the May 2025 military confrontation between Pakistan and India as another moment that elevated Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic profile.&nbsp;During the conflict, US President Donald Trump publicly announced a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pakistan promptly acknowledged Washington&rsquo;s role in securing the truce, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanking Trump for his &ldquo;leadership and proactive role.&rdquo;&nbsp;Islamabad later nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, a move that, according to the report, further strengthened ties between Pakistan and the United States.&nbsp;In contrast, Al Jazeera noted that New Delhi resisted acknowledging third-party mediation and maintained that the ceasefire resulted solely from bilateral military communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump, however, repeatedly asserted that the United States had brokered the truce and claimed his administration had helped avert a potentially wider conflict in South Asia.&nbsp;The report said Pakistan also gained an advantage in shaping international perceptions during the crisis.&nbsp;Analysts cited by Al Jazeera argued that India failed to present convincing evidence linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack that triggered the escalation.&nbsp;Michael Kugelman of the Atlantic Council told Al Jazeera that Pakistan appeared to have won &ldquo;the global battle of narratives.&rdquo;&nbsp;The report further noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s military performance during the confrontation attracted significant international attention, particularly Islamabad&rsquo;s claims regarding the downing of multiple Indian fighter aircraft, including Rafale jets.&nbsp;According to Al Jazeera, India&rsquo;s delayed acknowledgment of aircraft losses reinforced perceptions that Pakistan had effectively held its ground militarily against a much larger adversary.&nbsp;On the diplomatic front, the report highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s deepening strategic partnership with China.&nbsp;During PM Sharif&rsquo;s recent visit to Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping described relations between the two countries as &ldquo;unbreakable,&rdquo; underscoring what the report characterized as the enduring strength of bilateral ties.&nbsp;Al Jazeera also pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s expanding engagement with regional countries, including Bangladesh following political changes in Dhaka, while noting that India&rsquo;s regional diplomacy has faced challenges amid the continued paralysis of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).&nbsp;Analysts cited in the report argued that New Delhi&rsquo;s approach toward Pakistan had undermined prospects for broader regional integration in South Asia.&nbsp;Former Pakistani envoy Masood Khan told Al Jazeera that Pakistan&rsquo;s recent diplomatic gains in Washington were the result of &ldquo;astute diplomacy,&rdquo; particularly in the aftermath of the May 2025 conflict.&nbsp;The report concluded that despite years of Indian efforts to isolate Pakistan through international forums and counterterrorism narratives, shifting geopolitical realities have repositioned Islamabad as an increasingly important regional actor with growing influence in Washington, Beijing, and wider international diplomacy.

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-standing effort to diplomatically isolate Pakistan has yielded the opposite result, with Islamabad emerging as an increasingly influential geopolitical and diplomatic actor, according to a report by Al Jazeera

Pakistan gains diplomatic ground as India isolation drive falters: Al Jazeera

CHARSADDA: Despite summer heat, tens of thousands of visitors are flocking to the annual Eid fair at Sardaryab in northwestern Pakistan, where a decades-old riverside tradition comes alive with food, rides, and festivities. The three-day Eid fair at Sardaryab is in full swing on the banks of the Kabul River.&nbsp;It is one of the largest and most vibrant fairs of its kind in Pakistan&rsquo;s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Sardaryab, normally a quiet yet scenic recreational spot in the Charsadda District, becomes the focal point of the region&rsquo;s holiday celebrations.&nbsp;For three days during Eid, the riverbank transforms into a massive fair that continues a tradition spanning decades.&nbsp;Dock for local fishermenGeographically, Sardaryab holds unique significance.&nbsp;It sits at the point where the Kabul River merges with the Swat River.&nbsp; This confluence creates a vast waterfront that naturally offers a refreshing contrast to the sweltering heat of the surrounding urban and agricultural areas. Historically, the location was far quieter than it is today.&nbsp;Famous for its fresh fish, it once served as a dock for local fishermen who harvested their catch from the merging waters.&nbsp;&nbsp;Popular weekend destinationEventually, small makeshift huts began appearing along the river&rsquo;s edge, serving freshly caught fish either deep-fried or grilled over coals.&nbsp; Over time, its reputation grew as entrepreneurs began opening proper riverside fish restaurants, turning it into a popular weekend destination for people across the province.&nbsp; Today, that commercial evolution has expanded into a full-scale holiday extravaganza.&nbsp;During Eid, the influx of people is overwhelming.&nbsp; Visitors travel from neighboring regions, including Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, and the tribal districts.&nbsp;Wazir Khan, a visitor traveling with friends, noted that the fair attracts people from far and wide.&nbsp; &ldquo;The three-day Eid fair has started. People come from far away to visit this place. I came from Mohmand District myself,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. Because of this massive regional draw, the infrastructure is pushed to its limits. Normally, Charsadda Road is adequate for regular traffic, but during the three days of Eid, congestion becomes severe.&nbsp; Lines of motorcycles and cars stretch for miles as families patiently make their way toward the waterfront.&nbsp;Loud, colorful, and fast-paced The atmosphere at the fair is loud, colorful, and fast-paced.&nbsp;To beat the summer heat, vendors set up stalls every few yards, selling cold drinks from large cauldrons filled with huge chunks of ice.&nbsp; Local street foods such as chapli kebab, tikka, and, of course, fried fish are available at nearly every corner.&nbsp;Many makeshift stalls also spring up around the fair, selling toys, sunglasses, stickers, souvenirs, temporary tattoos, and other assorted goods.&nbsp; Stallholders like Sadiq Khan, who has been visiting the fair for the past 50 years, temporarily set up shops selling watches, keychains, and other knickknacks, relying on the holiday rush for their livelihood.&nbsp; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been coming here since I was 20 years old. Now I&rsquo;m 72,&rdquo; he said, showcasing how integral the fair is to the local economy.&nbsp;Boat and amusement ridesFor entertainment, crowds gravitate toward hundreds of traditional wooden boat rides that crisscross the wide river confluence in a myriad of pastel colors.&nbsp; On land, amusement rides &mdash; including three massive, creaking Ferris wheels &mdash; tower over the crowds, creating a classic fair atmosphere.&nbsp; Families also flock to the numerous pirate ship rides and merry-go-rounds.&nbsp;Thousands of daily visitorsThe scale of the modern festival is immense.&nbsp;According to Police Sub-Inspector Bilal Khan, the single-day turnout can easily reach between 30,000 and 40,000 people.&nbsp; Managing a crowd of this magnitude requires a highly coordinated, multi-agency security operation. &ldquo;We have the local police department, additional personnel from other regions, Civil Defense, Rescue 1122 personnel, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and Special Branch officers to maintain law and order and manage the heavy flow of people,&rdquo; said Khan, adding that interagency cooperation is essential for an event of this scale. Despite the challenges, the festival remains peaceful, lively, and cooperative.&nbsp;It has become an important part of the local identity.&nbsp; For elders in the community, the fair serves as a reminder of simpler times that has successfully endured into the modern era, while for younger people, it is an excuse to let loose and have fun.&nbsp; Despite the high temperatures this year, the mood remains festive and joyous as crowds continue to flock to Sardaryab.

Culture

The three-day Eid fair at Sardaryab is in full swing on the banks of the Kabul River; it is one of the largest and most vibrant fairs of its kind in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Sardaryab Eid fair draws thousands despite summer heat in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reiterated its strong call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a renewed commitment to diplomacy to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, warning that continued military escalation is deepening humanitarian suffering and threatening regional stability. Speaking at the UN Security Council (UNSC) emergency meeting on Ukraine, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, expressed grave concern over the recent surge in fighting and its devastating humanitarian consequences, said a post shared on X on Friday by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2060218922490822667&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3bec0d243caf210461b8c609a12cae439162fc93&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Ambassador Ahmad reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s principled position on adherence to international law and international humanitarian law, emphasizing that all parties must fully comply with their obligations, including the protection of civilians and diplomatic compounds under international customary and treaty law.&nbsp;&lsquo;Imperative of peaceful settlement&rsquo;&ldquo;The recent escalation demonstrates yet again the imperative of peaceful settlement,&rdquo; the ambassador stated, underscoring that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace. Pakistan stressed that military means cannot deliver sustainable peace and called on all sides to agree to an immediate and complete ceasefire to create the necessary space for meaningful negotiations. Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing support for a negotiated resolution, Ambassador Ahmad emphasized the importance of respecting the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and addressing the legitimate security interests of all parties concerned.&nbsp;US-facilitated dialogue processHe also expressed hope that the US-facilitated dialogue process would resume at the earliest opportunity to help advance efforts toward a peaceful settlement. Highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s support for international peace initiatives, Ambassador Ahmad recalled Pakistan&rsquo;s vote in favor of UN Security Council Resolution 2774 adopted in February last year and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s continued support for all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, durable and peaceful resolution of the conflict. &ldquo;Every passing day with continuation of hostilities only deepens the misery of the people in the region and distances the parties further from the much-needed peace,&rdquo; he concluded.

Ambassador Ahmad emphasizes the importance of respecting the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and addressing the legitimate security interests of all parties concerned.

Pakistan calls for ceasefire, renewed commitment to diplomacy in Ukraine

GENEVA: Making the digital world safe for children is an urgent priority, the United Nations said Friday, adding that those responsible for online harm must be held to account. UN rights chief Volker Turk said states had to force tech giants to embed child safety, and said child harm was the direct result of business practices and design choices. &quot;The digital world that connects children to learning, community, and creativity also exposes them to real risks to their safety, privacy, and well-being,&quot; Turk said in a statement. &quot;Online harms to kids&#39; safety, privacy, and wellbeing are not innate or inevitable; they result from design choices and business practices that undermine safety, including addictive design features, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and persistent notifications from apps. &quot;Enhancing protection of children online is an urgent priority that we need to make sure not only gets done -- but that it gets done right,&quot; he added. The UN high commissioner for human rights called for tougher measures by countries and tech firms to make online platforms safe places for children, through better regulation, oversight, and accountability. &quot;Blanket social media bans are not a one-off panacea,&quot; Turk added. &quot;Simply limiting access to platforms that remain unsafe cannot stand as the endpoint in effectively protecting children.&quot; He called for platforms to be made safer by design and ensure that data is protected, while &quot;those responsible for harm can held to account&quot;. Micro-targeting of kidsTurk said simply focusing on age restrictions would leave unaltered the designs and algorithms that made the platforms unsafe in the first place. Tech giants must embed safety &quot;by design, instead of shifting the burden to parents and children&quot;, he said. The UN rights chief also said experience so far showed that bans could be easily circumvented and voiced concern that such bans could even end up pushing children to riskier, even less monitored platforms. His office produced a set of 10 guidelines entitled &quot;Getting Children&#39;s Safety Online Right&quot;. These included ensuring the maximum protection of children&#39;s data as a default setting, while the &quot;micro-targeting&quot; of children for commercial purposes, based on a digital record, &quot;should not be permitted&quot;. They said emerging concerns, such as restrictions on artificial intelligence chatbot use or addictive design features, may warrant age restrictions. Measures should be subject to independent oversight, with legal consequences that serve as deterrents, the guidelines said. There should also be access to remedies for children whose rights are violated. &quot;Whatever regulations are adopted, it is essential to avoid inadvertently causing further harm. For example, age verification done wrong can both fail at its goal and endanger the privacy of both kids and adults,&quot; said Turk.

Volker Türk says states have to force tech giants to embed child safety, adding child harm is the direct result of business practices and design choices.

UN says protecting children online 'urgent priority'

PARIS: Global betting revenue for the upcoming World Cup is likely to be &quot;in excess of $50 billion&quot;, betting expert Darren Small told AFP, for an event he labelled &quot;the biggest circus in town.&quot; The revenue will be significantly higher than the 2022 edition, partly because the quadrennial football fiesta has been enlarged to 48 teams from 32 in Qatar. Another factor, according to Small, Managing Director of Managed Trading Services at Sportradar, is that punters have become more &quot;interested in the celebrity of a player&quot; than in the old days of betting simply on a team. Sportradar Group AG is a global sports technology company that says it creates immersive experiences for sports fans and bettors. &quot;We expect a lot of interest around the player props and what we call bet builders or custom bet options,&quot; Small told AFP in an interview. &quot;So we&#39;re anticipating that that&#39;s going to be a big drive for us. We&#39;re going to see a lot more interest on that. &quot;So players scoring left foot, right foot, number of passes, tackles, whatever the numbers are. &quot;Then subsequently the customers taking that and building out narratives like stories of &#39;I think this game will be X team to win with both teams to score, player X scoring with his head and there being 15 corners&#39;.&quot; &quot;The sheer size and scale of this tournament will ensure it is the biggest betting event ever,&quot; David Stevens, head of Public Relations at English bookmaker Coral, told AFP. Stevens said Bet Builder was &quot;one of the fastest growing areas of our business&quot; which sates the appetite of a &quot;new, younger customer base&quot; who are looking &quot;for more dynamic betting opportunities.&quot; Small said most money in bets already placed with Sportradar&#39;s 250 sports books clients across the globe has gone on Argentina and France. However, Stevens said there remains a considerable number of people hoping England end a 60-year wait for a second World Cup. &quot;They are in fact third favourites, behind only France and Spain, and should Thomas Tuchel end 60 years of hurt, we bookmakers will be facing a significant payout,&quot; he said. &quot;However, the increasingly global nature of our business means an England victory would not be as costly as it would have been a decade ago, for example.&quot; Peculiar not sinisterAbout the individual stars, great interest surrounds the Golden Boot for top scorer, with French star Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian hitman Erling Haaland attracting lots of money. &quot;In excess of 20% of our volume and our tickets... have been struck on Haaland so far,&quot; said Small. However, Small is more intrigued by another name that features for the moment in the top 10 of potential top scorers, thanks to bets placed. It is fair to say that Port Vale, who have just been relegated to the fourth tier of the English league, have not had many players represent them at a World Cup finals. However, the club&#39;s New Zealand striker Ben Waine is the one where the money is being placed. &quot;We&#39;ve seen a bit of a run on New Zealand&#39;s centre forward into the top 10 of the betting for the World Cup,&quot; said Small. &quot;It&#39;s really strange, as in peculiar not sinister.&quot; Both Small and Stevens agree that the geographical spread of the matches at a tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico presents problems. &quot;The only challenge that we have is obviously times, from the European audience perspective,&quot; said Small. &quot;The West Coast games will put a bit of pressure on that because they&#39;re going to be difficult to follow for the people who are trying to follow from Europe. &quot;But we&#39;ve also got a very active South American region now with Brazil and others.&quot; There has been little interest in a US win, but should they cause a huge upset, then their captain might face competition from President Donald Trump as to who holds the trophy aloft. &quot;Should the USA defy odds of 40-1 and lift the trophy, expect very short odds about the President being at the center of the celebrations!&quot; said Stevens.

Football

According to experts, the betting revenue of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be significantly higher than the 2022 edition, partly because the quadrennial football fiesta has been enlarged to 48 teams from 32 in Qatar.



Global betting revenue for FIFA World Cup likely to exceed $50 billion

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan TV Digital has released a special documentary, &ldquo;Pakistan Equal Among Powers,&rdquo; to mark Youm-e-Takbir, commemorating Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear tests conducted on May 28, 1998. Youm-e-Takbir is observed as a national day in Pakistan in remembrance of the Chagai-I and Chagai-II nuclear tests, which made Pakistan the seventh nuclear-armed state in the world and the first in the Muslim world to acquire nuclear weapons capability. The documentary brings together accounts from key figures associated with the 1998 tests, including former Information Minister Mushahid Hussain, former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan, nuclear scientist Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, academic Lawrence Freedman and author Feroz Hassan Khan.&nbsp; Through interviews and archival footage, it traces the events leading to Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to conduct the tests despite international pressure and the prospect of economic sanctions. Recalling the period before the tests, Mushahid Hussain said Pakistan faced intense diplomatic pressure, including &ldquo;five calls from President Clinton, three calls from Tony Blair,&rdquo; urging Islamabad not to respond to India&rsquo;s nuclear tests. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in archival remarks featured in the documentary, said world leaders repeatedly urged Pakistan not to conduct nuclear tests.&nbsp; &ldquo;India has done it, but you should not,&rdquo; he recalled being told. The film also revisits the operation at Chagai through the testimony of Dr Samar Mubarakmand, who led the nuclear test team.&nbsp; Describing the moment of detonation, he said the team chose to say &ldquo;Allah-o-Akbar and press the button&rdquo; instead of a conventional countdown. In its concluding message, the documentary argues that Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear capability fundamentally altered its strategic position.&nbsp; &ldquo;The bomb did not make Pakistan wealthy. It did not make Pakistan safe from every threat. It made Pakistan addressable in the first language. It made Pakistan equal among powers.&rdquo; The documentary was released as Pakistan marked the 28th anniversary of Youm-e-Takbir, a milestone widely regarded in the country as a defining moment in its national security history.

Security

Pakistan TV Digital has released 'Equal Among Powers,' a special Youm-e-Takbir documentary featuring key policymakers, diplomats and scientists, revisiting Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear tests and their impact on the country's strategic standing.

‘Equal Among Powers’ revisits Pakistan’s historic nuclear decision

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s strong commitment to multilateralism, equitable global governance, and international cooperation while addressing the Meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Governance on Thursday. Speaking on the topic &ldquo;Reforming and Improving Global Governance; Working Together to Address Global Challenges&rdquo;, Dar commended China&rsquo;s leadership for its steadfast commitment to strengthening multilateralism and revitalizing international cooperation amid growing global uncertainty. Highlighting the challenges confronting the international community, the deputy prime minister referred to protracted conflicts, climate emergencies, rising inequalities, debt distress, food and energy insecurity, and governance challenges posed by emerging technologies. He said unilateralism and the selective application of international law were undermining global stability and weakening confidence in collective action, stressing the urgent need for renewed solidarity and a stronger global governance system anchored in the principles of the United Nations Charter.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 877px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2060066787627348103&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=f97d0ae85c8d94d844b46d4d70da19e771007333&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Dar emphasized that Pakistan and China stood united in support of a just and inclusive international order based on international law and centered on the United Nations.&nbsp; He described Pakistan-China relations as an enduring partnership built on mutual trust, strategic cooperation, and shared perspectives on key global issues. The deputy prime minister expressed Pakistan&rsquo;s full support for President Xi Jinping&rsquo;s Global Governance Initiative, calling it a timely and forward-looking framework to address contemporary global governance challenges. He also stressed the importance of reforming the UN Security Council to make it more democratic, representative, and accountable, particularly by ensuring adequate representation of small and medium-sized states. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to international peace and cooperation, Dar said Pakistan would continue working closely with China and other global partners to promote equitable development, uphold international law, and strengthen multilateral cooperation worldwide.

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, UN reforms, and China’s Global Governance Initiative during the Group of Friends of Global Governance meeting held on May 28, 2025.

Pakistan FM reaffirms support for China’s global governance vision at UN meeting

HONG KONG: Asian stock markets surged and oil prices receded on Friday, boosted by optimism that the United States and Iran will reach a deal to end their war that has hobbled global energy supplies. Oil markets have whipsawed this week as investors parse the chances of a breakthrough agreement between Washington and Tehran that could potentially resume normal shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Those hopes had been briefly dashed by new US military strikes on Iran Wednesday night, countered by <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/oil-prices-bounce-higher-after-new-us-strikes-on-iran" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tehran&#39;s Revolutionary Guard&#39;s</a> targeting of an American airbase in the region. But by Thursday evening, negotiators had edged toward a deal to extend their fragile ceasefire for 60 days, though approval from President Donald Trump was still needed, US sources told AFP. That news reversed a sluggish start for shares on <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/oil-falls-asian-stocks-climb-on-hopes-of-usiran-hormuz-deal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wall Street</a>, with major indices closing higher on the day. During Friday morning trading in Asia, the price of Brent crude was down 0.9% to around $93 a barrel, while primary US benchmark West Texas Intermediate shaved 1.1% to just below $88 a barrel. Leading indices on stock exchanges in Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei surged by more than two percent, while Sydney was up by one percent. Hong Kong&#39;s gains were more muted, while Shanghai&#39;s main benchmark had lost 0.4%. Wall Street&#39;s advances on Thursday came despite several gloomy indicators, with the Federal Reserve&#39;s preferred inflation gauge rising in April to its highest since 2023 and first quarter economic growth being revised lower. The combination of persistent inflation and slowing growth lowers the chances of interest rate cuts by the Fed, despite Trump&#39;s repeated calls for lower rates to boost the economy. Still, &quot;recession risks are easing as oil prices moderate and the probability of worst-case scenarios fades&quot;, wrote Matthew Martin of Oxford Economics. &quot;While reduced risks from the war have helped, the improvement in equity prices is mostly because of a robust earnings season. The driver is overwhelmingly AI-related capital expenditure,&quot; he said. Global AI bullishness has driven a historic rally, this week pushing the market capitalizations of chipmakers Micron and SK hynix across the $1 trillion threshold. In Europe, observers are awaiting a key gathering of leaders on Friday to discuss ways to address gaping trade deficits with China. European Union commissioners will hold a debate on what the 27-nation bloc should do to defend the continent&#39;s companies from what Brussels describes as unfair competition from Chinese rivals.&nbsp;Key figures at around 0230 GMT&nbsp;Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.9% at $92.89 a barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.1% at $87.92 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.0% at 65,997.44 points Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.3% at 25,080.86 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4% at 4,081.82 Euro/dollar: FLAT at $1.1647 from $1.1647 on Thursday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3442 from $1.3441 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.30 from 159.25 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.65 pence from 86.66 pence New York - DOW: UP 0.1% at 50,668.97 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.8% at 10,425.96 (close)

Business

Oil markets have whipsawed this week as investors parse the chances of a breakthrough agreement between Washington and Tehran that could potentially resume normal shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

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