High borrowing costs in the domestic bond market are not ‘affordable’ when interest rates in the economy are low, India’s finance minister said on Friday.
“I won’t say I am concerned, but I am observing it,” Nirmala Sitharaman said in an interview with News18 television when asked about the recent rise in bond yields. “Also at a time when interest rates are otherwise low, bond yields becoming unsustainably high has a big bearing on the government.”
TCL unveiled groundbreaking QD-Mini LED TVs, AI-powered smart living solutions and TCL NXTHOME™ at IFA 2025 under the theme ‘Inspire Greatness’.
TCL, a leading LED TV brand in Pakistan and a top global brand in consumer electronics and the world’s No.1 Mini LED and ultra-large TV brand, delivered an inspiring show at IFA 2025 under the theme Inspire Greatness. From cutting-edge audiovisual displays, AI-powered home appliances and smart connected mobile devices to the global debut of TCL NXTHOME™ and a series of sustainable innovations, the exhibition highlighted TCL’s mission to enhance everyday life through innovative products, premium design and vibrant lifestyle experiences.
Featuring a dedicated sports-themed design that brought an athletic spirit to IFA 2025 alongside the brand’s latest technological breakthroughs, the exhibition underscored TCL’s commitment to connecting audiences worldwide. By elevating sports experiences for fans and athletes alike, TCL once again demonstrated how technology can inspire greatness both on and off the field.
Innovative audiovisual display: Immersive entertainment for every viewer
At the heart of TCL’s showcase was its 2025 flagship model, the C8K Premium QD-Mini LED TV. With its CrystalGlow WHVA panel, Virtually ZeroBorder design, advanced QLED technology and Audio by Bang & Olufsen, the C8K combines breakthrough display engineering, immersive design and premium audio in one masterwork. It delivers an unparalleled game-viewing experience that Pakistani cricket and football fans will particularly appreciate.
Since launching the world’s first QD-Mini LED TV in 2019, TCL has reinforced its leadership in display technology. By combining precise Mini LED backlighting with industry-leading QLED technology, TCL offers OLED-class contrast, a wide colour gamut, higher peak brightness, longer lifespan and greater value, especially in ultra-large TV sizes. Importantly, these TVs use low-energy backlights and high-efficiency panels, reflecting TCL’s commitment to sustainability.
Expanding beyond TVs, TCL also introduced its QD-Mini LED technology to an ultra-wide monitor for the first time with the 57R94 Dual 4K, delivering immersive visuals for gaming and productivity.
In audio, TCL presented innovative experiences in collaboration with Dolby. The new Z100 Wireless Free Sound Speaker, when paired with TCL TVs supporting Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, allows users to arrange speakers anywhere for a flexible immersive home cinema experience. TCL also announced that Dolby Vision 2, the next generation of Dolby Vision, will soon be available on TCL TVs, taking entertainment to the next level.
AI-powered smart living: Redefining game-day moments at home
Powering TCL’s IFA portfolio was its human-centric AI, built on Eagle Lab’s Turing Platform. This AI enables smarter more personalised experiences across TCL’s TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, smartphones and more—ideal for Pakistani households seeking convenience and efficiency.
TCL FreshIN 3.0 Air Conditioner: Features AI Health, Voice Control and AI Energy Saving with ultra-quiet performance and QuadruPuri purification, perfect for Pakistan’s summer heat.
Free built-in refrigerator: Equipped with T-Fresh Technology to maintain hygiene and freshness, ideal for quick access to chilled drinks and snacks on match days.
SuperDrum Series Washer and dryer pair: Offers smart Wi-Fi connectivity and Auto Dose technology to save detergent and effort.
Adding companionship to daily life, TCL also introduced TCL AiMe, the world’s first modular AI companion robot, making its European debut. With lifelike expressions, interactive AI and smart living features, TCL AiMe opens new ways to imagine, play and connect.
Vibrant experience with Olympic spirit
As a Worldwide Olympic Partner, TCL brought the excitement of the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics to IFA 2025. A dedicated Winter Olympics Zone featuring mascots Milo and Tina proved to be a highlight for visitors. TCL also showcased Team TCL, its global support programme for athletes and fans, underlining its commitment to sports innovation—a passion deeply shared by Pakistani audiences.
Global debut of TCL NXTHOME™
Making its global debut at IFA 2025, TCL NXTHOME™ embodies TCLArt’s vision to Inspire the Artists of Tomorrow. The showcase integrated smart home solutions and lifestyle appliances with premium collaborations from global partners including Bang & Olufsen, Roche Bobois, Chris Lefteri Design, Castelli 1938 and Alcantara.
From smart freshness in the kitchen, artful design in the living room, cinematic sound in the home theatre, creative energy in the gaming zone to restful relaxation in the bedroom, TCL NXTHOME™ redefines modern living for families worldwide including in Pakistan, where lifestyle, technology and artistry come together.
TCL Electronics
TCL Electronics (1070.HK) is a fast-growing consumer electronics company and a leader in the global television industry. Founded in 1981, it now operates in more than 160 markets around the world. TCL specialises in the research, development and manufacturing of consumer electronics products ranging from TVs, audio and smart home appliances.
This content is an advertisement by TCL and is not associated with or necessarily reflective of the views of Dawn.com or its editorial staff.
ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 will start on September 30. Photo: ICC
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is set to be held in India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2. It is going to be one of the most accessible international sporting events, with ticket prices capped at an unprecedented low of Rs 100 ($1.14). The ICC released the tickets on Thursday in an exclusive four-day pre-sale window, making this the most affordable ICC global event in history.
Fans are allowed to buy tickets for all the matches happening in India and Sri Lanka through the pre-sale window, open via Google Pay at Tickets.cricketworldcup.com until September 8. General sales of tickets will begin on September 9 at 8 PM IST. The announcement came in the backdrop of the ICC’s women-only global partnership with Google, aimed at boosting fan engagement in women’s cricket.
The move marked a significant shift in approach by the ICC, with the cricket council looking to see record crowds filling the arenas and women’s cricket becoming accessible to all.
In the previous edition of the tournament held in New Zealand, tickets were priced at NZD 7 for children (Rs 350) and NZD 17 for adults (Rs 850), nearly eight times higher than the current pricing.
Meanwhile, India’s leading playback singer Shreya Ghoshal will be the star attraction at the opening ceremony in Guwahati on September 30. Ghoshal will also perform the yet-to-be-released tournament anthem “Bring it Home.” The spectacle will precede the high-voltage opener between co-hosts India and Sri Lanka.
A total of eight teams will compete at the event, including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, and South Africa. The 13th edition of the Women’s World Cup will mark the return of the tournament to India after 12 years.
The ICC announced a prize pool of $13.88 million for the tournament – almost four times the 2022 edition.
Guenther Steiner is adding another motor racing category to his CV after being named as the head of a consortium that will acquire the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team.
It marks a full-scale return to management for Steiner, who was replaced as Haas’ F1 team boss by Ayao Komatsu ahead of the 2024 season, having led the operation since their debut 2016 campaign.
Steiner has since been working as a pundit and commentator for various F1 broadcasters, as well as acting as a race ambassador for the Miami Grand Prix, but he will soon assume the CEO role at Red Bull KTM Tech3.
Steiner is working with touring car veteran and sports management specialist Richard Coleman, who becomes Team Principal in place of founder Hervé Poncharal, with the new structure due to take full effect from 2026.
“This is a fantastic opportunity,” said Steiner, who began his motorsport career as an engineer in rallying in the 1980s, before moving up to management roles and then transitioning to F1. “Tech3 is a great team with a huge amount of potential and an impressive legacy.
“Hervé’s impact on the team and MotoGP itself cannot be overstated, and we’re honoured to take over and keep building on those foundations.
“We’re excited to become part of the MotoGP paddock and maximise the potential of the team and the sport as it continues to grow, helping to bring it to new audiences.”
Outgoing Tech3 boss Poncharal, who will move to a consultancy role at the end of the 2025 season, added: “When Guenther approached me with an interest in the team, it seemed to fall into place as the perfect moment to make this change.
“I know that Guenther will lead the team with direction, ambition, and integrity – not forgetting that little bit of rock’n’roll spirit it was founded on. Tech3 will be in good hands to help it grow even more in this new era for MotoGP.”
September is bringing a treat for stargazers: a total lunar eclipse. If you’ve ever wanted to see the Moon turn a deep, reddish hue, Sept. 7 is your chance.
Visible across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, you don’t need much to prepare for this kind of astronomical event, as long as it’s not too cloudy, it’s easy to catch from your backyard.
Here’s everything you need to know about September’s total lunar eclipse.
The total lunar eclipse will take place on Sunday, Sept. 7. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the peak will occur at 7.33 p.m. BST.
Mashable Light Speed
Viewing advice for Sunday’s total lunar eclipse is standard for any astronomical event. Head somewhere dark, as far from light pollution as you can. Binoculars and a telescope aren’t necessary, Emily Rice, an astronomer at Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York, told Mashable, but if you already have them, it won’t hurt to use them.
Lunar eclipses happen during full moons, NASA tells us. They occur when Earth lines up exactly between the Sun and the Moon, its shadow falls on the Moon, making it look darker and sometimes giving it a dramatic red glow for a few hours.
During a total lunar eclipse, as the Moon moves into the central part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra, some sunlight still reaches its surface after passing through Earth’s atmosphere. Shorter wavelengths like blue and violet will scatter (i.e., light being redirected as it passes through the atmosphere), while longer wavelengths (red and orange colors) make it through. That’s why the Moon appears red in color during a total lunar eclipse, according to NASA.
At any one time, a lunar eclipse can be seen from about half of the planet. This eclipse will be happening during the daytime in North and South America, so it won’t be visible to that side of the world.
The next full moon will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
By Ryder Cup Digital On September 5, 2025 13:30 UTC
Before Jeff Maggert ever played a PGA Tour event, the Ryder Cup was already on his radar. For him, making that team meant everything. In the latest episode of Ryder Cup Rewind, Maggert reflects on the raw emotions of his debut, the pressure-packed pairings, and the unshakable belief that defines every great Ryder Cup moment.
From his low-key pairing with Howard Twitty to the chaos and comeback of the final day at Brookline in 1999, Maggert takes us inside the ropes of a week that tested nerves, forged bonds, and brought pride in playing for something bigger than yourself. Plus, yes — that shirt. The one that lives in Ryder Cup infamy.
Chasing the Dream of the Ryder Cup
“Outside the four majors, making a Cup team was really the top of my agenda. And I think every other player’s too. The matches had become really competitive — it was a huge motivation.”
The Moment It All Felt Real
“When I got my first tour bag with my name on it, I was like, wow. And then getting all the Ryder Cup clothes in the mail… it was like, this is pretty cool here.”
Facing First Tee Jitters as a Rookie
“You can prepare all you want, but stepping onto that first tee — it’s a unique experience. The crowd yelling, the nerves… I just told myself to enjoy it.”
From Opponents to Teammates
“It’s a cool feeling. You take a breath, and the guys who usually try to beat you all year? Now they’re trying to help you win for your country.”
Why Golfers Always Believe
“Every golfer believes they can figure out a way to get it done. I think that’s what Ben (Crenshaw) was saying — we’ve got guys who can win this.”
US Ryder Cup team members (L to R) Justin Leonard, (kneeling), Steve Pate, Payne Stewart, Phil Mickelson, Jeff Maggert, Captain Ben Crenshaw, David Duval, Tiger Woods, (back row) Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Hal Sutton and Mark O’Meara touch the Ryder Cup during team pictures 26 September,1999 after winning at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. The US defeated the Europea team 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)Momentum Shift Fueled the Comeback
“The matches just started racking up wins. And fans started thinking, wow — this thing’s going to get really close at the end.”
Yes, the Shirt Is Still Around
“I knew the shirt was in there… just wanted to make sure the moth hadn’t eaten it up. It’s fun to joke about it now, but it was part of the experience.”
Why Keegan Will Fire Them Up
“He reminds me of Lanny Watkins — fiery, intense, and competitive. He’s going to make sure that team is fired up and ready.”
Don’t Overthink. Just Go Play.
“You’ve just got to play your game. Make birdies. Enjoy the moment. That’s why you play golf — to have fun in the big moments.”
OpenAI, the company that’s blamed for disrupting the job market, just decided to get into recruiting. They call it The Open AI Jobs Platform, and its designed to provide economic opportunity for all.
Interestingly, this is the same language LinkedIn used in March of 2008 when they launched LinkedIn Recruiter. and later acquired Lynda.com to build LinkedIn Learning. In 2008 the big workforce challenge was “digital skills” (which seem quaint now), and today it’s all about AI.
So OpenAI’s Jobs Platform includes a series of AI Certification Programs, designed to help us stay relevant and move to Superworker status.
“Now we’re … offering certifications for different levels of AI fluency, from the basics of using AI at work all the way up to AI-custom jobs and prompt engineering. We’ll obviously use AI to teach AI: anyone will be able to prepare for the certification in ChatGPT’s Study mode and become certified without leaving the app. And companies will be able to make it part of their own learning and development programs.”
In a somewhat odd coincidence, this week we also discovered that the US job market is crashing (only 73,000 jobs created in July, and ADP believes only 54,000 were created in August).
This is the lowest level of job growth since the pandemic, and for the first time in decades there are more people looking for work than there are jobs.
Why the slowdown? For the most part, companies are betting that AI will improve productivity. So that bet, coupled with the uncertainty of tariffs and general GDP slowness, means that almost every company is freezing or reducing headcount.
I’d like to make a few comments on all this activity, and also give you my perspectives on OpenAI’s entry into recruitment.
Yes, The Job Market Is Crashing, But Also Reinventing Itself
By “crash” I don’t mean we’re in a crisis, but for white collar workers it’s very tough finding a job right now. Not only are companies reluctant to hire, we’re all nervous about our own AI skills so there is a lot of fear and uncertainty in the job market.
We call this the Superworker effect (read more here): AI automates many tasks and analytical activities, forcing individuals to upskill themselves to stay current. Those who fail to adapt find themselves out of work.
For businesses this is a bonanza: productivity goes up and hopefully costs stay flat. (It’s not as easy as it sounds: AI systems are not free and it takes months to years for the AI re-engineering to pay off, but benefits are coming fast.)
For job seekers, it means you’re fishing in a pond where expectations are high. Employers want AI-ready workers.
We now use AI-based avatar and content technology for all our courses in Galileo Learn and we see at least a five-fold increase in speed, quality, and user experience. Traditional instructional designers: please don’t apply.
(Check out Galileo Learn if you want to see world-class AI-native L&D with 400+ dynamic courses available now!)
For companies, it’s re-engineering time.
Companies like Micron, J&J, Walmart, IBM, and many others are actively redesigning business functions, and it’s complex, culturally challenging (we call it “dynamic organization design”) and requires prioritization. There are almost too many targets to go after!
Over time, however, as I discussed with Taylor Stockton, Chief Innovation Officer at US Department of Labor (podcast), new jobs are created and companies grow on a new productivity curve.
Then there’s this other issue: a growing shortage of workers.
Fewer people are being born; many boomers have retired; and immigration is slow to zero. This creates a job market where fewer people compete for available jobs, which is particularly difficult for front-line work.
Believe it or not, 70% of US jobs are now in front-line, service, transportation, healthcare, or other “mixed collar” roles. In these segments the hiring market is white hot, and that includes jobs in manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, and many other industries. Here companies can’t find people fast enough.
And this demographic trend will continue. BLS analysis predicts that over the next ten years the US workforce will only grow by 3.1%. This is almost 75% less growth than the 13% workforce growth we experienced over the last decade. So one could argue that productivity and AI are here just in time. (Read more here.)
You can already see the unemployment rate ticking up, despite the lack of job growth.
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Transformation in Jobs Themselves
The next trend involved is the huge transformation in jobs themselves, and this impacts your career, wages, and personal development.
As we detail in our Superworker research, companies will no longer define jobs as a “collection of tasks” or “set of processes.” Now, thanks to AI, many white collar jobs can be defined through their outcomes or accountable results. (We call it “accountability-based org design.”)
As AI becomes both manager (directing your priorities) and agentic tool, professionals will be held accountable for results, not activity. This means all jobs become more expansive and important, forcing workers to focus on prompting skills, learning agility, teamwork, and general business acumen.
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If you were a “video editor” you’re now an AI-supported “video producer.” Editing the video is done by machine: it’s up to you to think through the storyline, the timing, select music, and make the whole thing “sing.” The same is happening in HR jobs (HR business partners, recruiters), Marketing (content and lead generation), Publishing (writers, authors), and all areas of Finance and Administration.
This “accountability-based” job design is what we advise companies to do as they consider task automation. You can task-reduce a job and redefine what someone does, but every few months the AI tool gets smarter, so the “task-list” keeps changing and getting smaller.
Instead we want to design our work around “who owns what part of the business process,” enabling each Superworker (working with their Supermanager), to find the best way to get it done.
This used to be called “Job Crafting:” letting each person decide how best to do their work. Now we’re doing job crafting at massive scale, expecting every individual to figure out how to do their work more productively.
And to enable this bottoms-up productivity gain we need to enable, empower, and educate people about AI. And that’s what OpenAI is trying to do.
Can OpenAI Pull This Off
I’ve been studying HR Technology for 30+ years and many companies have tried to nail talent acquisition. Google Jobs was one effort, and even Facebook gave it a try. It turns out it’s quite complex and if OpenAI wants to do it well they have a lot of work to do.
First, OpenAI has to amass a huge amount of job candidate data (that’s every working-age person in the world). That alone is a massive effort – buying data (listen to my podcast on the People Data Market for more) – and then they have to infer skills, experience, potential, and much more.
All that AI-powered effort has been underway at LinkedIn, Eightfold, Lightcast, Draup, Seekout, Indeed, Ziprecruiter, Beamery, SAP, Workday, and hundreds of others. And what you find is that the sheer size and scale of the problem is daunting. Seekout and Eightfold are very good at finding technical people. Draup can find you bio-medical researchers and robotics engineers. And Indeed can help you find nurses.
I’m not saying OpenAI can’t get this into the market, but I hope they focus their efforts. Not only is the data management (and data collection) massive, they have to deal with bias, trust, and validity – themes which they’ve been able to more or less ignore so far. And the buyers of talent acquisition systems are sophisticated, demanding companies – not individuals who hack around with ChatGPT for personal tasks.
We’ll stay close to them and share what we learn, but I can guarantee that Workday, SAP, (both of whom just acquired talent acquisition companies), Oracle, and all the vendors above are not sitting still. So this may be one of the “good ideas” at OpenAI that demands more product management than they realize. But my mind is open.
AI Agents as Learning Tools
And this gets me to my final point, and maybe the most exciting of all (also mentioned in OpenAI’s announcement): AI Agents as Professional Development Tools.
As we detail in our Revolution in Corporate Learning research, companies need to shift from “job-centric training” to “dynamic self-development” as a learning strategy. If the job tasks keep changing, you as an employee have to learn even faster.
Dynamic learning platforms like Galileo Learn, which now has more than 30,000 users, go far beyond giving you a certification. They become your own personal AI Tutor, answering questions and challenging you every day.
We are two years into this effort we’ve seen it all in reality. When you couple the power of a trusted agent with credential-quality training, interactivity, simulation, and role play, the learning experience becomes magical. This is our vision for Galileo Learn, and we’re already delivering it today.
OpenAI clearly wants to go in this direction, so let’s hope they help us all revolutionize corporate L&D.
We all need a 24/7 learning tutor that knows what we need to learn, teaches us, and coaches us for success. This is how AI will best deliver career success, self-confidence, and economic growth in the future.
Additional Information
Galileo Learn™ – A Revolutionary Approach To Corporate Learning
Can AI Beat Human Intuition For Complex Decision-Making? I Think Not.
London
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The Duchess of Kent, one of Britain’s most beloved royals, died on Thursday night at age 92, surrounded by close family, Buckingham Palace announced Friday.
“It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent,” a statement from Buckingham Palace said.
“Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family,” the statement continued.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the British royal family will remember the duchess for her “life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people,” the palace said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sent his “sincere condolences” to the royal family following the death, calling the duchess “one of our hardest working royals.”
“She brought compassion, dignity and a human touch to everything she did,” he added.
The Prince and Princess of Wales said the duchess “will be a much missed member of the family” in a statement posted on X. “The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music,” the post said.
The King has approved a period of royal mourning to take place until the day of her funeral. Details of the funeral and who will attend have not yet been released. The Union Jack over Buckingham Palace was lowered to half mast in a sign of respect following the announcement of the duchess’ death, and the traditional framed announcement was placed on the royal residence’s railings.
During this period of royal mourning, members of the royal family and staff will wear specific clothing until the funeral. Troops on public duties and those working in the Royal Mews and Livery will wear black armbands.
The duchess may not be as well known as other members of the family to the current generation of royal-watchers as she stepped back from royal duties more than two decades ago, in 2002. However, in Britain and to tennis fans worldwide she will be remembered for the part she played at the Wimbledon tennis tournament., where she presented the trophy at the ladies’ singles final for years.
Born Katharine Worsley to an aristocratic family from Yorkshire, the duchess met her future husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1956, while he was stationed at a military barracks in northern England. She married into the royal family five years later, in 1961. Prince Edward was a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Following their wedding, the duchess became a working royal, volunteering for the Passage night shelter for the homeless, and traveling the world as an ambassador for UNICEF. The couple had three children, and another son who was stillborn. In 1994, she became the first royal to convert to Catholicism for more than 300 years.
At Wimbledon, she famously cast aside royal formalities and became a consoling figure for the competition’s finalists – most notably comforting a devastated Jana Novotna following the Czech star’s defeat in the 1993 final.
Five years later, it was a different story when Novotna beat Nathalie Tauziat in the final to win the title, with the duchess on hand to present the trophy.
After stepping back from public duties in 2002, the duchess, who had a deep passion for music and played the piano, organ and violin, taught the subject at a primary school in Hull, northeastern England, for several years. She also founded Future Talent, a charity that seeks to give children equal opportunities to excel in music.
Recently Morgan gave birth to her second child Enzo, five years on from having daughter Charlie.
Having one child while still actively playing and one while retired has made for vastly different experiences for the 36-year-old.
“It’s been so great just being able to take a lot more time this time around with the kids,” she explained to SELF.
“At this time [with Charlie], I was moving to London to play with Tottenham Hotspur; I felt my body stretching in ways I wasn’t used to before.
“[After her second pregnancy], I felt like I took care of my body, but I also gave it the grace to not go for a run or get in the gym… my body responded really well this time around, in being able to give birth and get back to feeling good.”
If she had given birth while still pursuing her career the second time around, Morgan will be well equipped for far better conditions, largely thanks to her own work behind the scenes.
Post-giving birth to Charlie, coming back to the field required major adjustments from both clubs and the NWSL itself.
“It was very difficult because there were no rules, there was no standard for moms in the NWSL or even on the national team,” she said on the Call Her Daddy podcast.
“It was interesting because I was being pulled in a million directions; I was trying to be a great mom, and I was trying to a great soccer player, so now having to write new rules and advocate for all moms [for] the future [of] soccer was a lot at once.
“There were a lot of challenges to work through and a lot of barriers to break down – now in the NWSL, we can proudly be able to stand tall and [know that] you can do it all, have a family and continue playing, which wasn’t always the case.”