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  • Stock market today: Dow futures fall as Trump pushes tariffs and pressures Powell

    Stock market today: Dow futures fall as Trump pushes tariffs and pressures Powell

    U.S. markets pointed lower on Sunday night as the Trump administration showed no signs of backing off on tariffs or Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

    After Wall Street previously downplayed risks from President Donald Trump’s trade war, investors are starting to take his tariff threats more seriously.

    Trump continued his letter-writing blitz, warning the EU and Mexico on Saturday that they face 30% tariffs unless they reach trade deals by Aug. 1. The EU said Sunday it will delay its retaliatory tariffs that were due to take effect on Monday to give negotiations with the U.S. more breathing room.

    Trump officials have also claimed Powell has mismanaged the Fed and point to renovations of the central bank’s headquarters, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett even indicating that Powell’s job could be at stake. Deutsche Bank said financial markets are underpricing the risk that he could be ousted.

    Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 214 points, or 0.48%. S&P 500 futures were down 0.50%, and Nasdaq futures fell 0.55%.

    The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down 0.6 basis point to 4.417%. Gold was flat at $3,364 per ounce, while the U.S. dollar was up 0.2% against the euro and down 0.12% against the yen.

    U.S. oil prices rose 0.58% to $68.85 per barrel, and Brent crude climbed 0.16% to $70.79.

    Key economic indicators are due in the coming week. The consumer price index will come out on Tuesday and the producer price index is due on Wednesday, offering fresh clues as to how much tariffs are impacting inflation.

    That comes as tariffs have yet to trigger a spike in prices, though many companies are still drawing down inventories that were stockpiled prior to the duties going into effect.

    Also on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve’s beige book survey of business and economic conditions will be issued, while retail sales will be available on Thursday, and housing starts come out on Friday. Those datasets will also provide insights into how consumers and companies are responding to tariffs.

    Several Fed policymakers will speak this coming week amid intense pressure from the White House to lower interest rates.

    Earnings seasons get going in earnest over the coming week, with Wall Street eager to find out how much of the tariff are impacting margins. The top U.S. banks will report second-quarter results, starting with JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo on Tuesday. In the tech sector, streaming leader Netflix and chip giant TSMC report on Thursday. Among industrials, results from Alcoa, GE Aerospace and 3M are also due.

    On Thursday, Delta Air Lines beat earnings and revenue forecasts while also reinstating its 2025 profit outlook because demand had stabilized.

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  • GoldenEar Unveils T44 Slim Tower Loudspeakers: Big Sound From Small Footprint

    GoldenEar Unveils T44 Slim Tower Loudspeakers: Big Sound From Small Footprint

    GoldenEar, now part of PML (Paradigm, Anthem, and MartinLogan) since January 2025, just rolled out its first product under new ownership: the T44 hybrid floorstanding loudspeaker, the newest member of its T Series.

    The T44 takes GoldenEar’s established acoustic tech and shrinks it into a more compact, room-friendly design than its bigger brother, the T66, while still incorporating a powered bass section into each speaker. This design allows the T44 to deliver powerful bass down to the 32 Hz, along with a wide soundstage and crystal clear imaging.

    Made for modern living spaces like apartments, condos, and smaller rooms, the T44 offers a practical option for high-quality sound where space is limited. Whether it’s in a secondary listening room or a media setup, the T44 fits in without fuss, providing dynamic sound through its smart driver arrangement and self-powered bass section. It’s a straightforward answer for anyone needing serious sound without the bulk.

    From Zoltan Balla, VP of Marketing at PML Sound International: “With the T44, we set out to reimagine what’s possible in a smaller form factor,…Don’t let its size fool you—the T44 is a powerhouse in disguise. From richly textured detail to bold, room-filling dynamics, it delivers the kind of sonic performance you’d expect from speakers twice its size and price. Tailored to blend beautifully into any space, the T44 ensures the only thing that stands out is the sound.”

    Key Features

    goldenear-t44-cutaway

    What sets the T44 apart is its combination of advanced audio technologies packed into a compact design. It features GoldenEar’s signature folded ribbon tweeter for crisp, detailed highs, a custom-voiced mid-bass driver that delivers balanced and natural midrange, and an integrated powered bass section that provides deep, controlled low-end without taking up extra space. Together, these elements make the T44 a standout choice for powerful, full-range sound in a smaller footprint.

    Folded Ribbon Tweeter

    goldenear-t44-tweeter-midrange

    For precise high-frequency reproduction, the T44 uses a High-Gauss HVFR (High-Velocity Folded Ribbon) tweeter. Unlike traditional dome tweeters that push air forward, this folded ribbon diaphragm moves air by rapidly squeezing it—similar to an accordion. This design reduces distortion and delivers a smoother, more extended frequency response for clearer, more detailed highs.

    Custom-Voiced Mid-Bass Driver

    The T44 features a single 4.5″ cast-basket mid/bass driver engineered for clear, detailed sound reproduction. This driver forms the heart of GoldenEar’s signature sound, delivering realistic midrange performance that captures the nuances of music and dialogue with naturalness and depth.

    Integrated Powered Bass Section

    goldenear-t44-passive-radiator

    As a hybrid design, the T44 combines passive midrange and tweeter drivers with a powered woofer section. The bass is driven by a single quadratic woofer powered by an advanced 56-bit DSP amplifier, supported by two passive radiators. This setup delivers tighter, more controlled bass that extends deeper—eliminating the need for an external subwoofer.

    From GoldenEar’s Regional Sales Manager, Chris Volk: “By integrating a powered bass section, the T44 eases the workload on your amplifier, which means greater clarity, control, and headroom for the midrange and highs. It’s an incredibly efficient design that pairs exceptionally well even with lower-powered components like tube amps or compact integrated systems, without sacrificing any of the full-range performance GoldenEar™ is known for.”

    Bi-Wiring

    goldenear-t44-rear-inputs-angle

    The T44 is equipped with Dual binding posts that provide versatile connectivity options, allowing for bi-wiring to enhance audio performance. By separating the high and low-frequency signals, bi-wiring reduces interference and improves clarity, delivering a cleaner, more detailed soundstage for discerning listeners.

    Acoustically Optimized Enclosure

    The T44’s curved, inert cabinet design reduces unwanted coloration while enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Available in high-gloss Piano Black and Santa Barbara Red finishes, the speaker delivers a sleek look that matches its sound quality.

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    Though a floorstanding speaker, the T44’s compact profile allows for easy placement in apartments, studios, or secondary listening spaces. It fits where larger towers can’t or would overwhelm the room, all without compromising on audio performance.

    Cast Aluminium Base

    goldenear-t44-base

    The T44’s full-footprint cast aluminum base provides stability and durability, anchoring the speaker securely in place. Equipped with adjustable outrigger spikes and pads, it can be adapted to both carpeted and hard surface floors, minimizing vibrations.

    Comparison

    t44-t66
    T44 vs. T66 (not to scale)
    T44 (2025) T66 (2023)
    Product Type Floorstanding Tower Speaker Floorstanding Tower Speaker
    Price Piano Black – $4,899/pair (USD)

    Santa Barbara Red – $5,299/pair (USD)

    Gloss Black – $6,900/pair (USD)

    Santa Barbara Red – $7,200/pair (US)

    Speaker Design 5-driver, 3-way hybrid floorstanding speaker with active bass 6-driver, 3-way hybrid floorstanding speaker with active bass
    Enclosure Type Sealed Sealed
    Tweeter 1 x High-Gauss HVFR High-Velocity Reference Folded Ribbon Tweeter 1 x High-Gauss Reference High-Velocity Folded Ribbon AMT Tweeter
    Mid-Range/Upper Bass 1 x 4.5” High-Definition Cast-Basket MVPP™  2 x 4.5″ High-Definition Cast-Basket 
    Woofer 1 x 5” x 9” Long-Throw Quadratic Bass Driver 1 x 5″ x 9″ Long-Throw Quadratic Bass Driver
    Passive Radiators 2 x 8” x 12” Quadratic Planar Back-Wave-Driven  2 x 8″ x 12″ Quadratic Planar Back-Wave-Driven
    Passive Radiator Surface Area 30.45 in² (196.49 cm²) 53.36 in² (344.3 cm²)
    Frequency Response 32 Hz – 25 kHz typical
    (-6 dB on axis @ 29 Hz, anechoic bass response)
    29 Hz – 25 kHz typical (-6 dB on axis @ 29 Hz, anechoic bass response)
    Sensitivity – Room/Anechoic 92 dB / 89 dB 1W/1M @ 4Ω (2.83V/1M 91dB 1W/1M @ 4Ω (2.83V/1M)
    Nominal Impedance Nominal 4Ω (Compatible with 8Ω) Nominal 4Ω (Compatible with 8Ω)
    Recommended Ampifier Power 20-400 watts 20-500 watts
    Speaker Dimensions (WDH) 7.5  x 14.75  x 40.4 inches (with base, no spikes) 

    19.1 x 37.6 x 102.6 cm (with base, no spikes) 

    7.5 x 14.75  x 48.8 inches (with base, no spikes)

    19.1 x 37.6 x 124.1cm (with base, no spikes)

    Base Dimensions (WD) 11.8  x 17 inches 

    30 x 43.2 cm

    11.8  x 17 inches 

    30 x 43.2 cm

    Net Weight 60 lbs (27.2 kg) 60 lbs (27.2kg)
    goldenear-t44-rear-angle

    The Bottom Line

    GoldenEar’s T44 builds on the strengths of the T66 with a slightly smaller footprint tailored for tighter spaces like apartments and studios. Its hybrid design pairs passive tweeter and midrange drivers with a powered woofer that eliminates the need for an external subwoofer. While it requires connection to external power and a line-level input from your AVR or receiver, this setup delivers deeper, tighter bass than you’d expect from a compact floorstander. This approach isn’t unique—brands like Definitive Technology use similar designs—but it’s an effective solution for those wanting big bass impact without sacrificing space.

    Availability & Pricing

    The GoldenEar T44 will begin shipping mid-July 2025 and will be available through Authorized GoldenEar Dealers.

    • Piano Black – $4,899.99/pair (USD)
    • Santa Barbara Red – $5,299.99/pair (USD)

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  • FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Awards: Cole Palmer named best player, Desire Doué wins best young player

    FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Awards: Cole Palmer named best player, Desire Doué wins best young player

    Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been crowned the best player at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup 2025, after a stellar performance in the final inspired the English club to a 3-0 win over French champions Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey on Sunday (13 July).

    The 23-year old English man scored twice and set up another in a player-of-the-match performance in the men’s football final, before picking up the award, which was handed to him by U.S. President Donald Trump.

    Throughout the competition, he scored a total of three goals and contributed another two assists to inspire Chelsea to the title.

    His teammate, Robert Sanchez, picked up the Golden Gloves award for the best goalkeeper in the tournament. Even though he conceded five goals in Chelsea’s seven games, he made a string of fine saves that helped the Blues to victory.

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  • Fifth place for the #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 6-hour race in São Paulo.

    Fifth place for the #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 6-hour race in São Paulo.

    São Paulo. BMW M Team WRT secured fifth place with the #20
    Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 at the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance
    Championship (FIA WEC) in São Paulo (BRA). René Rast (GER), Sheldon
    van der Linde (RSA), and Marco Wittmann (GER) delivered strong
    performances both in qualifying, where they achieved fifth place,
    and in the 6-hour race. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 fell back early in
    the race due to technical issues. In the LMGT3 class, both BMW M4
    GT3 EVO crews demonstrated fighting spirit in a challenging race.

     

    Sheldon van der Linde drove the qualifying session on Saturday,
    stepping in for Robin Frijns (NED), who was competing in Formula E at
    the same time, and secured fifth on the grid. During the race, car #20
    consistently remained in the front midfield but was slightly set back
    by a drive-through penalty. In the final stint, van der Linde closed
    the gap to the Peugeot ahead and secured fifth place with an
    impressive overtaking manoeuvre shortly before the finish. Wittmann,
    returning to the FIA WEC, proved to be an excellent substitute for
    Frijns. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Kevin Magnussen (DEN),
    Raffaele Marciello (SUI), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL), started from
    eighth place but had to return to the pits after just a few laps due
    to brake issues. Following a 45-minute repair, the trio finished the
    race in 17th place.

     

    In the LMGT3 class, the two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs were unable to keep up
    with the leaders throughout the weekend. Despite flawless performances
    and the determination of the drivers and teams, they could not
    overcome the deficit. Starting from 14th and 17th on the grid, the
    best results in the race were tenth place for car #46 and twelfth for
    the #31 car.

     

    Comments after the race:

     

    Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport):
    “Congratulations to BMW M Team WRT and the car #20 crew
    on a strong weekend. Sheldon van der Linde impressed in qualifying and
    with his spectacular overtaking manoeuvre against the Peugeot at the
    end. René Rast delivered two excellent opening stints, and Marco
    Wittmann was an outstanding substitute for Robin Frijns. It was a
    solid performance, and we extracted the maximum that was possible for
    us here. The early brake issues with car #15 are very frustrating and
    unfortunate for the drivers and the team. We will thoroughly analyse
    this afterwards. I feel sorry for our LMGT3 crews. They showed great
    fighting spirit during the race, but ultimately, given the performance
    levels of the different cars this weekend, we had no chance of
    achieving top positions. This is especially bitter for Augusto Farfus
    and Pedro Ebrahim at their home race. Many thanks to everyone involved
    for their efforts! Now, after some intense weeks, we’ll take a
    breather and aim to come back even stronger at the next race in Austin.”

     

    Vincent Vosse (Team Principal, BMW M Team WRT):
    “Fifth place for car #20 is the result of an almost
    flawless race by our team. Even without the drive-through penalty,
    there wasn’t more in it. That made us the ‘best of the rest’ here.
    That’s good, but we want to be on the podium. Unfortunately, it wasn’t
    enough this time. We’ll need to carefully analyse the cause of the
    brake issues with car #15. At the moment, we can’t say anything
    definitive. In the LMGT3 class, we probably had the best-executed
    races we’ve ever had in the FIA WEC with both cars. Finishing tenth
    and twelfth says it all, I think.”

     

    René Rast (BMW M Team WRT, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, 5th
    place):
    “We can be satisfied with the result. It was a
    calm weekend. We got the maximum out of it; there wasn’t more in it.
    Our pace wasn’t where we wanted it to be, but we were error-free and
    had a good strategy. Overall, it’s fine, but unfortunately, we were
    still a bit too slow this time.”

     

    Kevin Magnussen (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 17th
    place):
    “It was an unfortunate race for us. The brake
    issue took away all our chances very early on. Unfortunately, these
    things can happen. We’ve had some bad luck a few times this season.
    Hopefully, we can bounce back in the remaining races.”

     

    Valentino Rossi (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 10th place):
    “Of course, tenth place isn’t what we came for. We
    wanted more, we wanted to fight for the podium, but considering our
    pace and how much we struggled in practice, it’s not bad. The race was
    good; we didn’t make any mistakes, and the team did a great job. We
    got the best possible result. But it is what it is. Everyone gave
    their maximum, even if the performance and pace weren’t fantastic.
    We’ll push again next time.”

     

    Augusto Farfus (The Bend Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 12th
    place):
    “It’s incredibly frustrating when you and your
    crew deliver a perfect race and simply have no chance to keep up with
    the leaders. Unfortunately, this was evident throughout the weekend. I
    loved racing in front of my fans in my home country again, but I would
    have liked to present myself as more competitive on the track. Under
    the given circumstances, that was impossible.”

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  • PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9: Major Additions in July 2025 Update, New Game Modes, Vehicles, Monsters, and More | Esports News

    PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9: Major Additions in July 2025 Update, New Game Modes, Vehicles, Monsters, and More | Esports News

    PUBG Mobile World of Wonder 3 (Image via Krafton)

    The July 2025 release of PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9 marks a major leap forward for both gameplay innovation and user-generated content. This dynamic update enriches the game’s creative landscape, introduces new combat elements, and adds vibrant seasonal content designed to engage and inspire players of all types.

    Major Additions in PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9

    1. Summer Showdown and the Ink Blaster

    Leading the charge is the Summer Showdown map—a vibrant, festive arena that captures the spirit of the summer season. It debuts alongside the all-new Ink Blaster, a colorful weapon that allows players to paint both the map and their enemies. This tool introduces a unique twist to combat, where painting territory becomes a strategic objective, encouraging coordination and team play.

    2. Astro Den: A New Creative Setting

    World builders can now explore Astro Den, a brand-new cosmic-themed area within the WOW editor. With its futuristic atmosphere and celestial visuals, creators can design imaginative maps that feel out of this world, expanding the potential for immersive, space-inspired gameplay.

    3. New Vehicles for Custom Maps

    Two fresh vehicles are now part of the creative toolkit: a pickup truck and a sidecar motorcycle. These additions not only diversify gameplay but also offer map creators new possibilities for mobility-focused map designs and fast-paced action sequences.

    4. New Monster Lineup

    PUBG MOBILE | World of Wonder Version 3.9 Brings Exciting New Features

    The PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9 update amps up the excitement with four new monsters, perfect for adding intensity to custom matches:– Giant Ice Dragon: A menacing boss with powerful, dynamic attacks.– Smog Zombie: Brings long-range threats to your encounters.– Splitter Zombie: Launches poisonous orbs, demanding quick strategic shifts.– Mech Hounds: Fast, unpredictable foes that elevate the tempo of battles.These enemies offer creators diverse ways to craft challenging experiences in custom modes.

    5. Skill Editor and Templates

    A powerful new skill editor has been rolled out, giving creators the ability to build custom abilities from scratch. For those less familiar with design, skill templates are also available, offering ready-made blueprints to speed up development and encourage creativity across all experience levels.

    6. Creation Center Upgrades and Monetization Tools

    The Creation Center now includes personal dashboards for players and dedicated pages for creators to showcase their work. With the co-creation wallet, creators can view earnings and manage their financial details. An expanded incentive program provides real-world rewards and bonuses for high-performing content, motivating more users to build and share innovative maps and modes.

    7. Expanded Profile Customization

    Players now have more ways to express themselves through newly added profile decorations. These visual updates allow users to personalize their accounts and highlight their accomplishments and creations in-game.

    Other Major Features in PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9

    Beyond the World of Wonder, PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9 update features a massive TRANSFORMERS collaboration, bringing beloved characters like Optimus Prime and Megatron into the fold. The themed mode includes robot-versus-robot battles, transformation abilities, and special arenas tailored to the crossover. Additionally, the update introduces a Ranked Arena system with 28 competitive tiers, a revamped 3D Social Hub packed with mini-games and emotes, and new additions to both Classic and Home modes.

    The Impact of PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9

    World of Wonder has always been PUBG Mobile’s creative core, and this update raises the bar significantly. With new tools, monsters, vehicles, and financial incentives, players now have more control and motivation than ever before to craft compelling content. This evolution supports a growing ecosystem of creators and players, turning PUBG Mobile into a hybrid platform for both competitive gameplay and user-generated innovation.Also read: 5 best Spirit Empress decks in Clash RoyaleWhether you’re splashing paint with the Ink Blaster, facing off against a Giant Ice Dragon, or designing your dream map in Astro Den, PUBG Mobile World of Wonder Version 3.9 delivers a bold mix of fun, challenge, and freedom. This update strengthens PUBG Mobile’s position not just as a battle royale title—but as a thriving hub for creativity and community in 2025 and beyond.


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  • Niall Horan, Amelia Woolley’s romance steals spotlight at Wimbledon final

    Niall Horan, Amelia Woolley’s romance steals spotlight at Wimbledon final



    Niall Horan, Amelia Woolley’s romance steals spotlight at Wimbledon final

    Niall Horan and his longtime girlfriend Amelia Woolley turned heads at Wimbledon over the weekend as they cosied up during the men’s final. 

    The couple looked smitten as they enjoyed the match from the AELTC’s Parkside Suite on Sunday, joining a sea of stars at the championship’s grand finale.

    Niall, 31, kept things classy in crisp white polo and navy blazer, while Amelia, 28, looked like she stepped right out of a fashion shoot in a white milkmaid-style dress and full-glam makeup. 

    The two couldn’t hide their smiles as they cheered from their seats, surrounded by other big names like Nicole Kidman and Anna Wintour who were spotted catching up in the Royal Box.

    The former One Direction singer seemed completely at ease next to Amelia, an account manager as they soaked up the summer sun and the game’s electric atmosphere.

    Though the pair first sparked dating rumours in 2020, they didn’t step into the spotlight as a couple until a year later at Niall’s Horan & Rose Gala. 

    Since then, they’ve kept their relationship mostly under wraps, but when they do show up together, they make it count.

    However, this latest outing gave fans a rare look at Niall and Amelia’s chemistry and judging by the smiles, they’re still going strong.

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  • England look to crowd to spur them to final-day Test win against India | England v India 2025

    England look to crowd to spur them to final-day Test win against India | England v India 2025

    England have called on a sell-out day-five crowd to roar them to victory at Lord’s after a raucous atmosphere towards the end of Sunday spurred them to take four India wickets and set up a cliffhanger conclusion to the third Test.

    England were bowled out for 192 to leave India chasing 193 and England 10 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Though the first-innings centurion KL Rahul was unbeaten on 33 at the close, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair and Shubman Gill were all dismissed cheaply before Ben Stokes uprooted the off stump of Akash Deep, the nightwatcher, with the final ball of the day to leave the tourists 58 for four overnight.

    “The buzz around the ground really gave the boys the lift they needed,” said Marcus Trescothick, the team’s assistant coach. “And a couple of late wickets gave them that hope that we’re bang on the money. So it will revolve around the first hour of the day, how positive India can be, how dominant we can be with the ball, and how many early wickets we can get.

    “If we can create some form of atmosphere that’s very similar to that – it may not start the same way, it might take a wicket to get it going, we might need Joe [Root] to wind them up again. But the support has been brilliant throughout, both teams are really well supported, and it’s great that we have that.”

    At times the rancour seen towards the close on Saturday spilled out again, with Mohammed Siraj aggressively celebrating the early dismissal of Ben Duckett, and India borrowing some of the delaying tactics previously deployed by Zak Crawley as they sought to limit the number of overs bowled before stumps. This undercurrent of aggression seems to be supercharging the motivation of both teams.

    Washington Sundar is congratulated by Shubman Gill after taking the wicket of Ben Stokes. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

    “It definitely helps in this situation, having that competitive edge from both teams where they’re desperate to win,” Trescothick said. “I have no problem at all with what goes on. There was a bit on [Saturday] night, there was a similar situation tonight. Of course both teams know there’s always lines you can’t cross, but I don’t think it’s really been troubled too much in this game and it definitely helps the atmosphere.”

    Washington Sundar, who took four wickets in an innings for the first time in a Test outside India, said his side were “sitting pretty” and that he was “looking forward to tomorrow in every way”, with the release of their more competitive spirits helping his teammates to thrive

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    “I would say the aggression is always inside of us, in both dressing rooms,” he said. “There was an incident that happened and it sort of came out last evening, and it did come out quite a bit today as well. So it’s all the more interesting for all of us. It’s sport and everyone is quite aggressive and quite intense in their own ways – no matter the sport if you’re an athlete it’s a common fact, it’s always inside of an individual.”

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  • Recovering Giorgio Armani Says He Will Be Back in September

    Recovering Giorgio Armani Says He Will Be Back in September

    The founder of Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani issued a message as he turned 91 on Friday to say that he will be back in September, after a health problem forced him to miss the Milan and Paris fashion shows in recent weeks.

    It was the first time Giorgio Armani has missed one of his catwalk events. His company said last month he was recovering at home, without elaborating on his health, while Italian newswires reported that he had been in hospital for some days.

    “In the last few weeks I strongly felt the embrace of those who were thinking of me,” Armani said in an open letter published by several Italian newspapers, mentioning family, colleagues, employees, the press and people on social media.

    “Today, on my 91st birthday, I want to thank all of you for the closeness you have shown me. It wasn’t easy for me not to hear your applause live. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I’ll see you again in September,” he added.

    The next Milan fashion week is scheduled to run from Sept. 23 to Sept. 29.

    By Alvise Armellini; Editors: Gianluca Semeraro and Michael Perry

    Learn more:

    Giorgio Armani Posts 24% Profit Drop in Tough 2024, Steps Up Investments

    The Milanese group was hit by declining revenues and a slight increase in operating costs but said it retained a long-term approach amid a sharp downturn in luxury demand.

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  • Japan election could further hamper BOJ's drive to raise rates – Reuters

    1. Japan election could further hamper BOJ’s drive to raise rates  Reuters
    2. Market Braces for Pivotal 20-Year Japan Bond Sale as Yields Rise  Yahoo Finance
    3. Japan’s Surging 30-Year Yield Is Flashing Warning Sign for Risk Assets: Macro Markets  CoinDesk
    4. Long-term JGBs rally ahead of 20-year auction as election weighs  Business Recorder
    5. Treasury Yields Rise as Global Markets React to Tariffs Delay  MSN

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  • Boarded flight for Karachi, but landed in Saudi Arabia

    Boarded flight for Karachi, but landed in Saudi Arabia


    KARACHI:

    In arguably one of the most bizarre cases in air travel history, a Karachi-bound passenger was mistakenly boarded onto a Jeddah-bound flight, resulting in a 15-hour ordeal that ended with questioning by Saudi authorities and a struggle to return home.

    Malik Shahzain, an electrical engineer and resident of Korangi, was returning to Karachi from Lahore on the night of July 7 after learning that his child had fallen ill. However, due to what he described as a “serious and irresponsible error” by ground staff at Lahore airport, he was instead flown to Jeddah aboard an AirSial flight.

    Speaking to The Express Tribune, Shahzain recalled how he arrived at the airport around 9pm and approached airline staff with his boarding pass for the Karachi-bound flight. At the time, two AirSial aircraft were parked on the tarmac — one scheduled for Karachi and the other for Jeddah — both reportedly departing at 10pm.

    “I handed over my boarding pass and was directed to the international departures gate. I was seated at window seat 17F without being informed I had boarded the wrong flight,” he said.

    Two hours into the flight, Shahzain got concerned and asked a flight attendant when the plane would arrive in Karachi. To his shock, he was informed that the aircraft was en route to Jeddah.

    Panic ensued among the crew, who informed the captain about the situation. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the airline staff tried to manage the incident discreetly but failed. Saudi customs and security officials boarded the aircraft and escorted Shahzain away for interrogation.

    “I was taken about 800 metres from the plane, questioned repeatedly, and even my water bottle was examined,” he said. A Bengali-speaking member of the Saudi security team acted as a translator during the inquiry.

    After explaining the situation and presenting his documents, Shahzain was released when authorities accepted that the incident had occurred due to negligence on the part of the airline. He was placed on a return flight to Lahore with instructions for AirSial to ensure his safe arrival in Karachi.

    However, the trouble did not end there. “Upon reaching Lahore, I was told to arrange my own ticket to Karachi,” he said.

    With only Rs15,000 in hand and the ticket priced at Rs23,000, he had to contact his factory’s Karachi office to purchase the ticket on his behalf.

    Shahzain said that while his 11kg luggage was correctly sent to Karachi and received later, the airline had yet to issue an apology or accept responsibility. He stressed that his intention in sending a legal notice was not to demand financial compensation but to seek accountability.

    “This mistake could have had far worse consequences had it involved someone who couldn’t explain themselves — perhaps an illiterate or poor traveller from a remote area,” he said. “It’s not just about embarrassment; such incidents damage the country’s image.”

    He called for proper training and accountability for airline staff, arguing that simply reprimanding those responsible is not enough.

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