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  • Air Chief Marshal thanks NA speaker for backing forces during Indian aggression

    Air Chief Marshal thanks NA speaker for backing forces during Indian aggression

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    Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu has expressed his gratitude to National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for the parliament’s strong support of the armed forces in the face of Indian aggression.

    In a letter addressed to the Speaker, the Air Chief praised the parliamentary leadership’s role in fostering national unity, saying the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) values the show of solidarity from lawmakers.

    “Speaker Sadiq’s efforts to strengthen national cohesion in the wake of Indian hostility are commendable,” wrote Chief Marshal Sidhu. He added that the support of parliament and the people gave strength to the armed forces and helped thwart the enemy’s intentions.

    The Air Chief also termed the tributes extended by the parliament and national leadership “unforgettable,” and said PAF’s success is a result of divine blessings and the unity of the nation.

    Sidhu reaffirmed that PAF is fully prepared to defend the country’s borders and considers this duty a sacred responsibility. He also pledged continued cooperation toward achieving national goals.

    His letter was in response to one sent earlier by Speaker Sadiq, who had written to Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Sidhu, lauding the armed forces—particularly the PAF—for their professionalism and bravery in responding to Indian actions.

    Read: Attacks on innocent civilians unmasked India’s ugly face: DG ISPR

    The Speaker had also conveyed the parliament’s unwavering support for the military and acknowledged its role in defending the country with courage and distinction.

    Previously, members of the National Assembly paid tributes to the armed forces, especially PAF for giving a swift and decisive response to Indian aggression.

    Speaking in the lower house, they strongly condemned the cowardly attack by India, calling it a shameful act, and reiteriated that Pakistan is fully prepared to respond to any aggression with full force.

     

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  • PlayStation’s ‘Helldivers 2’ Coming to Xbox in August

    PlayStation’s ‘Helldivers 2’ Coming to Xbox in August

    The crossplatform walls are slowly but surely coming down more and more, as Sony Interactive Entertainment’s “Helldivers 2” makes its way to Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console this August.

    Formerly a PlayStation and PC exclusive title, the third-person co-op shooter developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by PlayStation will launch for Xbox Series X and S on Aug. 26.

    “Helldivers 2” is a described as a “cooperative, third-person feast of destruction where players and up to three squadmates step into the boots of an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty, and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest, and most explosive tools in the galaxy.”

    The game launched for PlayStation and PC in February 2024 and was a critical and commercial hit.

    “We know gamers have been asking for this for some time and we are so excited to bring more Helldivers into our game,” “Helldivers 2” game director Mikeal Eriksson said in a statement Thursday. “We have so much more in store for the future months and years – and the more players we have the more stories we can tell! The fight for Super Earth has only just begun.”

    “Helldivers 2” is coming to Xbox on the heels of Xbox’s releasing one of its current hottest titles on PlayStation: “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.” Microsoft really kicked off industry-wide conversations surrounding breaking down the barriers for console-exclusive titles early last year and has continued to tease future developments with PlayStation and Switch 2 since. But we have yet to see much movement from the PlayStation and Nintendo direction, with the “Helldivers 2” release on Xbox marking a significant moment.

    Watch Thursday’s announcement trailer revealing “Helldivers 2” will be coming to Xbox in the video below.

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  • IMF Rejects Pakistan’s Crypto Mining Power Subsidy Plan

    IMF Rejects Pakistan’s Crypto Mining Power Subsidy Plan

    Pakistan’s plan to use surplus electricity for crypto mining has hit a roadblock after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reportedly rejected a proposal to offer subsidized power to energy-intensive industries, including Bitcoin miners.

    Pakistan’s Secretary of Power Fakhre Alam Irfan told the Senate committee on energy that the IMF claimed such measures could distort the energy market and worsen existing issues in the country’s fragile power sector, according to a report from Urdu-language news outlet Independent Urdu.

    Although Pakistan has excess electricity, particularly during winter, the IMF remains concerned that pricing schemes could disrupt the market balance, per the report. Irfan said all significant energy policies must be approved by the IMF.

    The Power Division’s November 2024 plan proposed a marginal-cost tariff of 22–23 Pakistani rupees (about $0.08) per kilowatt-hour for industries like copper smelting, data centers, and crypto mining. Officials argued the scheme would boost electricity demand and help absorb surplus capacity.

    Source: Bitcoin Archive

    Related: Strategy’s Michael Saylor to help Pakistan with crypto pivot

    IMF cites risk of economic imbalances

    The IMF reportedly dismissed the plan, comparing it to sector-specific tax breaks that have historically created economic imbalances in Pakistan, the report said.

    Irfan noted that the proposal hasn’t been shelved entirely and is under review by the World Bank and other international partners. He said that the government is working on refining the plan with input from these institutions.

    Cointelegraph reached out to the IMF for comment but had not received a response by publication.

    In May, Pakistan earmarked 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin (BTC) mining and AI centers as part of a digital transformation initiative led by the Pakistan Crypto Council and supported by the Ministry of Finance.

    At the time, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced tax incentives for AI centers and duty exemptions for Bitcoin miners to attract investors.

    Saqib first proposed using the country’s runoff energy to fuel Bitcoin mining at the Crypto Council’s inaugural meeting back in March. The meeting included lawmakers, the Bank of Pakistan’s governor, the chairman of Pakistan’s Securities and Exchange Commission and the federal information technology secretary.

    Related: Can Bitcoin fix Pakistan’s energy problem? The 2,000 megawatt mining strategy explained

    Pakistan eyes DeFi yields to grow Bitcoin reserve

    Saqib announced plans for a national Bitcoin reserve during the Bitcoin 2025 conference, revealing that a discussion with Strategy’s Michael Saylor reaffirmed his conviction in the move.

    Saqib has also said the country intends to expand its Bitcoin holdings using yield generated through decentralized finance protocols.

    Magazine: Bitcoin vs stablecoins showdown looms as GENIUS Act nears