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  • Don’t Let These Last-Minute Prime Day Sales on Excellent SSD Storage Slip Away

    Don’t Let These Last-Minute Prime Day Sales on Excellent SSD Storage Slip Away

    Amazon Prime Day is hours from being over, but you can still take advantage of deals, and there’s one collection that looks particularly cart-pleasing. SanDisk is offering a bunch of its flash storage options with discounts anywhere from 15% to 40%. You can see the full list here, but my favorite is the SanDisk Extreme Pro 2TB for $170, an upgraded model to the Extreme SSD we picked as the best external hard drive. It’s down 38% today from its usual $273 list price.

    These SanDisk Extreme models have tough weather resistance ratings so photographers, GoPro fans and many others can take them along on adventures. When reviewing the similar Extreme model, CNET’s David Carnoy said, “Sarah Tew, CNET’s photographer here in New York, shoots tons of products for me. But rarely have I seen her as excited about a product as SanDisk’s new Extreme Portable SSD.”

    Carnoy praised the Extreme’s IP55 rating (which this Pro model upgrades to IP65) and extra-speedy transfer speeds which he tested with his own work videos.

    If you’re looking for something smaller and keychain-friendly for the office or study room, the Extreme Pro USB model is nearly 40% off as well, down to $90 with a chapstick design that fits easily in any pocket.

    Or if you were thinking more about internal storage, I’ve got a deal for that too: This massively powerful 8TB SanDisk WD_Black SSD is 40% off, saving you a whopping $340 on your next big PC upgrade, ideal for media centers or professionals who work with a lot of content.

    There are plenty other SanDisk deal too, from microSD cards to laptop plugins, all in one spot for this Prime Day Sale.

    SanDisk black internal SSD held up against a blackground.

    SanDisk sales extend to internal upgrades, too.

    SanDisk

    Top deals available today, according to CNET’s shopping experts

    Curated discounts worth shopping while they last.

    Why these SanDisk deals are great

    SSD storage can be expensive, especially for the bigger upgrades, and it’s rare to find so many discounts in one spot. There’s a deal for every kind of user with SanDisk’s well-known brand quality backing each of them up.

    Grab these deals while they are still there as the end of Amazon Prime Day counts down. 


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  • Pak set to bar hockey team from India events

    Pak set to bar hockey team from India events


    LAHORE:

    The Pakistan government is likely to reject a request from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to allow the national team to compete in two major hockey events in India, citing escalating political tensions between the two countries.

    Pakistan is scheduled to participate in the Asia Cup, set to be held in Rajgir, India, from 27 August to 7 September. The PHF has formally sought clearance from the government to send the squad. Later this year, Pakistan is also due to compete in the FIH (International Hockey Federation) Junior World Cup, scheduled for November in Chennai. However, sources said the Shahbaz Sharif-led coalition government is unlikely to grant permission.

    A senior official told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net), “There is no chance the Sharif-led government will allow the national hockey team to travel in this geo-political situation.”

    According to sources, members of the coalition government believe it would be unsafe to send the team after the recent military flare-up between the neighbours Sources indicated that if the government declines permission, the PHF plans to formally request the FIH and Asian Hockey Federation to relocate both events to a neutral venue such as Malaysia or Oman.

    The official said: “PHF will try to get the events out of India, but there are very slim chances of that happening because Malaysia and Oman do not have the funds to bid for the tournaments, which require close to 100,000 dollars.

    Pakistan last toured India in 2023 for the Asian Champions Trophy, finishing fifth among six teams, with India winning the title. No security incidents were reported during that tournament.

    Reports from India have suggested that their sports ministry was prepared to grant Pakistan permission to participate, and Hockey India confirmed it already had approvals from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry.

    But ever since these reports surfaced, sections of the Indian media have launched scathing criticism of the clearance, fueling serious apprehension within Pakistan’s sporting circles.

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  • Daily Research News Online no. 38518

    Daily Research News Online no. 38518

    Outra Launches Free Property Market Intelligence Tool

    July 11 2025

    London-based property and household intelligence company Outra has launched a new dashboard service providing estate agents with access to hyper-local market insights, free of charge.

    <! pod><! pod>The customised dashboard offers granular property and market data of a kind the firm says is ‘typically only available via expensive subscriptions.’ Each agent receives a dashboard matched to their local area, which it can then refine for a more precise match. Hyper-local data includes granular trends on pricing, transactions, and demand specific to individual neighbourhoods, and the information is update din real time and can be scaled up to wider town, regional or national levels.

    Simon Dawson (pictured), Outra‘s CRO – Real Estate, says the company has a simple goal, ‘to make high-level data available to every estate agent in the country.’ He comments: ‘This dashboard provides agents with tailored insights that help them spot trends faster, allowing them to stay one step ahead of the competition and win more business. By giving agents this kind of firepower, we not only help them do better business but also deliver more value to their clients.’

    The new service can be found online at www.outra.co.uk/market-insight .

    All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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  • Pak reach U-18 Asia Cup hockey final

    Pak reach U-18 Asia Cup hockey final

    Pakistan have advanced to the final of the Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025 following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Malaysia in the semifinal at the National Hockey Training Centre in Dazhou, China, on Friday.

    The tightly contested match concluded in a shootout after both teams remained deadlocked during regular play. In a tense finish, the Green Shirts held their nerve to secure a 4-3 win in the penalty shootout.

    Pakistan capitalised on the pressure, with Malaysia missing two crucial attempts during the decisive shootout, while the Green Shirts only failed to score once.

    The victory caps a remarkable run for the young Pakistani squad, which has shown exceptional form throughout the tournament. They began their campaign with a resounding 8-0 win over Hong Kong, followed by a crushing 9-0 victory against Sri Lanka.

    In their third match, they defeated Bangladesh 6-3, virtually securing a place in the semifinals.

    In the quarterfinals, Pakistan outclassed China 2-1 in a commanding performance to seal a place among the final four.

    It is pertinent to mention that the Green Shirts will face Japan in the grand finale of the tournament on Sunday at the same venue.

    Pak beat China in quarter-final

    Earlier, continuing their unbeaten run in the U-18 Asia Cup 2025, Pakistan secured a commanding 2-1 victory over China to qualify for the semi-finals.

    The Green Shirts got off to a flying start to the high-stakes clash as Hassan Shahbaz netted the opener in just the 11th minute through a field goal.

    The scoreline remained intact at 1-0 until halftime despite four penalties shared between the two teams in an eventful second quarter.

    The goal drought eventually culminated late in the third quarter when Ali Hanzala doubled Pakistan’s lead through another well-executed field goal.

    China, however, were quick to pull one back as Jiaxing Lin converted a penalty corner in the same minute.

    The hosts then made several efforts to net the equaliser but Pakistan goalkeeper Ghulam Mustafa denied them any chance of forcing their way back into the game, ensuring the scoreline remained intact at 2-1.

    The victory extended Pakistan’s unbeaten run to four matches as they topped Group A standings with 12 points and a goal difference of 21, scoring 25, while conceding only four.

    The Green Shirts will face Malaysia in the semi-final, scheduled to be played at the same venue on Friday.

    Pakistan started their Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a ruthless 8-0 victory over Hong Kong before routing Sri Lanka 9-0.

    They then faced Bangladesh in their third match and prevailed 6-3, which had put them within touching distance of semi-final qualification.

    Squad:

    Mohammad Usman, Atif Ali, Asam Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah Farooq, Abdullah Awan, Zubair Lateef, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Ali Taj, Ghulam Mustafa, Ali Hamza, Ali Hamzad, Aamir Sohail, Adeel Afzal, Mohammad Zaman, Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Shaheer, Hasan Shahbaz, Yaseen Jamshaid

    Team Management:

    Shafqat Malik (Manager), Mukhtar Ahmed, Touseeq Ahmed, Masood-ur-Rahman (Coaches).

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  • Jennie, Missy Elliott, and More Star in Adidas Originals Campaign

    Jennie, Missy Elliott, and More Star in Adidas Originals Campaign

    Welcome to the Week in Fashion, Bazaar’s at-a-glance guide to what the industry is talking about.


    Jennie, Missy Elliott, and More Lead New Adidas Originals Campaign

    “The Superstar has always been more than just a sneaker—it’s a symbol of originality and a spark for cultural change,” Annie Barrett, the Vice President of Marketing at Adidas Originals said in a new statement.

    Earlier this week, a new campaign titled “Superstar: The Original” was launched in support of the game-changing sneaker. Adidas Originals recruited a roster of stars, including Missy Elliott, Jennie, Mark Gonzales, Anthony Edwards, GloRilla, Teezo Touchdown, and Gabbriette to model the silhouette and capture its global influence.

    “From street corners to global stages, it’s been worn by those who don’t wait for permission to lead,” Barrett added. “This campaign isn’t about looking back—it’s about spotlighting a new generation of Originals who are building what’s next, unapologetically.”

    Along with a series of stark black-and-white shots, the campaign also consisted of a short film directed by Thibaut Grevet and narrated by none other than Oscar-winner Samuel L. Jackson.

    This new campaign marks the beginning of an Adidas Originals world tour, which will consist of a series of starry performances from high-profile musical stars, as well as other key events that will celebrate the brand’s signature products. Learn more about that here.

    Troye Sivan Teams Up With Henry Zankov for Debut Textile Collection

    In case you didn’t know, Troye Sivan is venturing outside of the world of music. He may be known for his pop hits, but back in 2023, the Australian singer launched a lifestyle brand called Tsu Lange Yor (Yiddish for “to long years”) with his brother, Steele Mellet. Now, the brand is teaming up with revered knitwear designer Henry Zankov for a new line of luxurious textiles.

    “On the day I moved into my house, I draped one of @zankov’s blankets over the sofa (you can see it in basically all the pics I’ve ever posted – it’s the black and white one),” Sivan wrote on Instagram. “It’s become part of the fabric of the home and slept with me mannyyyy a night on the couch. This @tsulangeyor x @zankov collaboration is about creating that same kind of enduring, simple beauty – pieces that feel like you’ll have them forever.”

    The collection will consist of a throw, a sweater, and a beanie offered in hues of sandstone, charcoal, and elephant blue—all made from Australian Merino wool and cashmere. You can sign up for early access to the capsule here.

    An Off-Broadway Play Based on the Life of Lee McQueen Is Coming to NYC

    The life of Lee Alexander McQueen is getting the theatre treatment. A new Off-Broadway production, titled House of McQueen, will begin previews this August and open on September 9. Luke Newton, known for playing Colin Bridgerton on the smash Netflix series Bridgerton, will portray the iconic designer, while Broadway veteran Emily Skinner will portray McQueen’s mother, Joyce.

    The logline on the show’s official website reads: “House of McQueen is a visceral new Off-Broadway play that dives into the mind of Alexander McQueen, where fashion becomes art, pain becomes beauty, and the runway is a battlefield. Step into the world of a genius who dared to wear his heart on his sleeve and paid the price.”

    Other members of the cast include: Catherine LeFrere, Denis Lambert, Jonina Thorsteinsdottir, Joe Joseph, Fady Demian, Spencer Petro, Margaret Odette, Tim Creavin, Cody Braverman, Matthew Eby, and James Evans.

    Directed by Sam Helfrich, the play was also produced by Rick Lazes with creative direction from McQueen’s nephew, Gary James McQueen. It will run through November at the Mansion in Hudson Yards. Get your tickets here.

    Musée des Arts Décoratifs Unveils Exhibition Dedicated to Paul Poiret

    Famed couturier and fashion designer Paul Poiret is being celebrated with a new major monograph at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

    Open from June 25, 2025 through January 11, 2026, “Paul Poiret: Fashion Is a Feast” is an exhibition that commemorates the designer, who is credited with the dismissal of corsets from popular fashion, thanks to his revolutionary designs and free-flowing silhouettes.

    Fashion is a Feast is an immersive journey into the creator’s rich universe, from the Belle Époque to the Roaring Twenties,” the museum shares. “It explores [Poiret’s] creations in the fields of fashion, decorative arts, perfume, celebration, and gastronomy. Through 550 works (clothing, accessories, fine and decorative arts), the exhibition highlights his lasting influence and reveals the extent of his creative genius. It is a fascinating journey into the world of a man whose legacy continues to inspire contemporary fashion designers, from Christian Dior in 1948 to Alphonse Maitrepierre in 2024.”

    You can get your tickets to see the exhibit here.

    Mikey Madison, Pharrell, and Other Stars Celebrate Tiffany & Co. Opening in Ginza

    WWD//Getty Images

    The stars turned out on Thursday night as Tiffany & Co. unveiled its largest Asia flagship yet, in the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo, Japan.

    A number of celebrities attended the exclusive event, including Oscar-winning Anora star Mikey Madison, who also serves as an ambassador for the luxury jewelry house. Other notables attendees were Pharrell Williams, Anderson .Paak, ENHYPEN members Jake and Sunghoon, Ai Tominaga, Baifern, Ryosuke Yamada, Riho Yoshioka, Miho Kannno, Haruka Igawa, Kotaro Yoshida, Rinko Kikuchi, Juri Ueno, Sho Wad, and Atsuro Watabe.

    The Ginza flagship was inspired by Tiffany & Co.’s iconic Fifth Avenue storefront, The Landmark, and it was designed by Jun Aoki, who gave the build a crystalline facade in, what else, but a Tiffany Blue shimmer.

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  • 20 Best Prime Day Fitness Tracker Deals and Smart Ring Sales (2025)

    20 Best Prime Day Fitness Tracker Deals and Smart Ring Sales (2025)

    In the northern hemisphere, it’s hard not to spend the winter in a state of slumbering sloth, just waiting for sunshine and good times to start again. Conveniently, Prime Day fitness tracker deals (all four days of them) drop right in the middle of summer, which makes this a great time to pick up the smartwatch or smart ring that you just didn’t have the cash for at Christmas.

    This year, you have four whole days to shop the Amazon deals, but if you don’t want to take that much time, I’ve highlighted the sales on some of our favorite fitness trackers and smart rings. Not a subscriber yet? Perhaps our list of the best Amazon Prime Perks can convince you to sign up. Deal hunters should also check out our Best Amazon Prime Day Deals roundup and Prime Day liveblog.

    Updated July 11, 2025: We’ve added new deals on the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Garmin Fenix 8, pulled dead deals, and checked all prices.

    WIRED Featured Deals

    Fitness Tracker Deals

    The Best Smart Ring

    Photograph: Simon Hill

    As you might expect with my job, I am frequently asked what fitness tracker to get, and this year, more often than not, I have told people to just buy an Oura Ring 4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) . You don’t have to wear it on your wrist, the battery life is longer than most trackers, and Oura issues interesting, meaningful software updates regularly. This is the first time it’s gone on sale, and you should get it.

    The Best Fitness Tracker

    Fitbit Charge 6

    Courtesy of Fitbit

    Fitbit has faced pretty stiff competition over the years (most notably from the Apple Watch), but its flagship Charge line is still the best overall fitness tracker for the money. Even tracking multiple activities a day, the battery lasts over a week. The updated app looks great, and multiple Google integrations make the Fitbit Charge 6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) easier to use than ever.

    The Best If You Have an iPhone

    Two views of an Apple Watch Series 10, a smartwatch on someone's wrist, showing the difference of the screen in direct and indirect sunlight

    Photograph: Adrienne So

    The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best fitness tracker for iPhone users. It still doesn’t have blood oxygen sensing due to a patent dispute, but it’s otherwise a solid fitness tracker. The standout feature is sleep apnea notifications. The watch uses an accelerometer and machine learning to check if you have breathing disturbances at night. The Series 10 is also thinner, lighter, easier to wear, and charges faster than previous models.

    An Affordable Garmin Running Watch

    Digital wristwatch with screen showing stats for recovery, HRV and distance covered, on red rubber background

    Photograph: REI

    If you’re not looking to spend big, Garmin’s Forerunner 165 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great compromise. It offers all the basics, from an altimeter to track your mileage accurately to a blood oxygen sensor. The battery life is decent, and you’ll get extras like Garmin’s Morning Report, a wake-up feature that tells you the basics of your sleeping stats, weather, and more. —Ryan Waniata

    The Best Analog Fitness Tracker

    Withings ScanWatch 2

    Photograph: Withings

    Before I even started this job, I had purchased the original Withings Steel HR, which was the first of Withings’ gorgeous fitness trackers that don’t even look like regular fitness trackers. The Scanwatch 2 follows in that tradition with a comprehensive suite of health features and Withings’ new cardiac-focused health features, like Cardio Check-Up, which lets you send your cardiac data instantly to Withings’ board of certified cardiologists.

    A Luxury Tracker

    A wrist wearing a black Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED, a digital wristwatch for fitness tracking with the watchface screen showing distance and timer

    Photograph: Adrienne So

    Garmin’s Fenix 8 is loaded with features, not the least of which is its massive and incredibly bright AMOLED screen. WIRED editor and fitness expert Adrienne So called it “the best outdoor sports watch money can buy” thanks to its litany of features that work with both Android and iPhones, from Garmin’s proprietary off-grid maps for sports like golfing and skiing, to leakproof buttons for scuba, and even a built-in flashlight. If you want a killer luxury outdoor tracker, this is it. —Ryan Waniata

    The Best Kids’ Watch

    Child's wrist with a digital wristwatch and the screen showing the time and game points earned

    Photograph: Adrienne So

    I have personally convinced many parents in my life to buy the Fitbit Ace LTE (7/10, WIRED Recommends) for their kids. It’s a Fitbit, so it works even if one parent is Android and the other is Apple (if so, why?), and the $10/month subscription includes data, so you don’t need to fuss with adding service to your cell plan. Fitbit Arcade incentivizes my kids to keep their watches on and charged, and I like Google’s included kids’ safety features.

    Best Ring for Samsung Fans

    3 metallic rings in black, silver and gold from to right

    Photograph: Samsung

    The Samsung Galaxy Ring (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is slim and lightweight, with decent sleep tracking, the ability to auto-detect workouts, and accurate cycle and heart rate tracking. You need a Samsung watch or phone to take full advantage, but Samsung’s devices are slick when used together.

    A Great Garmin

    Garmin Forerunner 255 smartwatch

    Photograph: Garmin

    Garmin is known for its Forerunner series of running watches. The Forerunner 255 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the older version of the Forerunner 265 that we recommend in our roundup, but Garmins age well, and the older version does have some features to recommend it over the newer one, like better battery life.

    The Cheapest Tracker You Should Buy

    Front view of Amazfit Active 2 smartwatch, showing the large display screen both outdoors and indoors

    Photograph: Adrienne So

    It may be cheap, but the Amazfit Active 2 (6/10, WIRED Reviewed) is no slouch on the sensor front with a photo plethysmography (PPG) sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometric altimeter, ambient light, and temperature sensor to track your sleep, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation. It also boasts tons of workout modes, long battery life, and 5 ATM water resistance.

    The Most Affordable Apple Watch

    Multiple Apple Watch SE models with different watch faces and bands

    Photograph: Apple

    While it’s not the most exciting Apple watch, the SE series is the cheapest way to try out an Apple fitness tracker. The SE uses watchOS 11, which can connect to the Vitals app, which makes it easy to check your heart rate and respiration in a dashboard without hunting through the Health or Fitness apps. It has the last S8 chip, which is what the Series 8 has, and features like Crash Detection to call your emergency contact and emergency responders if you’ve been in a car accident. The SE series doesn’t have the latest health features, like the ability to check your skin temperature, and the display is noticeably smaller than Apple’s other options, but for the price this is hard to beat, especially on sale.

    Samsung’s Flagship Smartwatch

    Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    Samsung

    Galaxy Watch Ultra

    Samsung’s flagship smartwatch is a no-brainer for folks in Samsung’s ecosystem. The Galaxy Watch Ultra boasts dual-band GPS, excellent health and activity monitoring features, and two-day battery life. It’s tough, too, with a titanium case and 10 ATM/IP68 ratings. Samsung announced a newer version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, but it’s actually the same watch with 64 GB of storage and a new color, so it’s smart to snag this one for half its MSRP.

    A No-Subscription Smart Ring

    The Ultrahuman Ring Air, a black smart ring, resting on the charger beside an image of it worn on a person's finger

    Photograph: Simon Hill

    While the Oura Ring 4 is undoubtedly the champion of smart rings, you’ll be paying $8 a month if you want the full experience. The Ultrahuman Ring Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends), though, comes with an included “lifetime subscription,” meaning you’ll have full access to your data and analytics when you pick one of these up. It’s the first time the price has dropped this low too, so if ever there was a time, it’s now.

    The Cheapest Fitbit

    FitBit Inspire 3

    Photograph: Amazon

    Here’s proof that reliable tracking doesn’t have to be expensive. The standout feature of the Fitbit Inspire 3 is its incredibly long battery life. We’re talking up to 10 days! The teeny, tiny AMOLED screen is super bright, making it easy to see your stats despite its tiny size.

    A Stylish Garmin

    View looking down at digital wristwatch with purple trim, band, and background on person's wrist while one finger taps the screen

    Photograph: Adrienne So

    Most Garmin watches aren’t likely to win any beauty prizes—they’re chunky, with an emphasis on the technical over aesthetic. The Lily 2 is the exception. It’s Garmin that looks more like, well, a nice watch. You can even get it with a leather band. It’s one of the smallest Garmins and battery life is on the short side—three to four days. But it has a Pulse Ox sensor, a beautiful Corning Gorilla Glass lens, a metal bezel, and standard Garmin features like Body Battery and fall detection.

    The Best Wear OS Smartwatch

    Person's wrist wearing a Google Pixel Watch 3, a smartwatch with the screen showing time, date, and health metrics such as heart rate and number of steps walked

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    Slick looks, Fitbit integration, and bags of features, the Google Pixel Watch 3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best Wear OS watch for folks with an Android phone. It’s no slouch as a health and fitness tracker, with electrocardiogram readings, sleep tracking, heart rate readings, blood-oxygen measurements, and stress tracking.

    The Best for Samsung Phones

    Two Samsung Galaxy Watch 7s side by side

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    Samsung phone owners should consider this wearable as it offers excellent health and fitness tracking and some exclusive features that only work when paired with a Samsung phone, such as FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection. It’s a great discount but that’s partly because the new one has just arrived.

    For Serious Health Tracking

    Fitbit Sense 2 smartwatch

    Photograph: Fitbit

    It might be a little long in the tooth, but the Fitbit Sense 2 is probably still the best for serious health tracking and the closest to a competitor for the Apple Watch. It has ECG functionality, and can track your stress. There’s also built-in GPS, an SpO2 sensor, and a skin temperature sensor, too.

    The Best Heart Rate Monitor

    Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor

    Photograph: Polar Electro

    While fitness trackers generally have built-in heart rate monitors, a separate strap on your bicep or around your chest is far more accurate when things get sweaty and intense during a tough workout. Polar’s strap has a comfortable buckle connector and silicone dots to keep it in place.

    A Smart Scale

    Withings weight scale

    Photograph: Withings

    Withings

    Body Comp Smart Scale

    If you still have a humble bathroom scale, it may be time to upgrade to one that has fancy new tricks, like tracking your vascular age and visceral fat. The Withings Body Comp connects directly to the Withings app (so you don’t need to have your phone nearby) and shows a staggering amount of data, everything from your weight to muscle mass, heart rate, pulse wave velocity, and weird things like the air quality and your body water percentage.


    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

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  • PSX extends record rally on investor interest

    PSX extends record rally on investor interest

    Listen to article


    KARACHI:

    The benchmark KSE-100 index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed the week at a new record high on Friday to settle at 134,300 points as bullish sentiment prevailed amid robust corporate results and continued institutional inflows.

    Investor activity was particularly fueled by strong earnings of UBL, which posted a 99% year-on-year (YoY) surge in 1HCY25 earnings per share to Rs26.07 and declared a higher-than-expected dividend of Rs19 per share.

    Market breadth remained positive, with 55 stocks advancing and 45 declining. UBL (+2.4%), Hubco (+1.6%) and Millat Tractors (+2.76%) were the top contributors to the day’s gains, collectively lifting the index by over 300 points. Meanwhile, pressure in select banking names such as Bank AL Habib (-3.3%), MCB Bank (-1.04%) and HBL (-1.22%) limited the upside.

    At close, the benchmark KSE-100 index posted a gain of 517.42 points, or 0.39%, and settled at 134,299.77. Trading activity remained strong, with volumes reaching 765 million shares and a traded value of Rs40 billion.

    Analysts at Topline Securities attributed the day’s momentum to rising mutual fund allocations to equities, shifting away from fixed income, as shown in the National Clearing Company data.

    With macroeconomic indicators improving and remittances hitting a record $38.3 billion, sentiment continued to remain bullish, setting the stage for a potential test of 136,000 in the sessions ahead.

    Traded value-wise, UBL (Rs2.32 billion), DG Khan Cement (Rs1.64 billion), Attock Refinery (Rs1.61 billion), Hubco (Rs1.44 billion), The Bank of Punjab (Rs1.24 billion) and Maple Leaf Cement (Rs1.19 billion) dominated the trading activity, Topline said.

    “Stocks closed at a new all-time high in the earnings season rally as investors weighed surging forex reserves that reached $20 billion and upbeat auto sales data, which showed a 38% YoY growth for FY25,” said Arif Habib Corp MD Ahsan Mehanti.

    The revision in development spending to Rs1.05 trillion for FY25 and record remittances played the role of catalysts for the new peak at the PSX, he added.

    Arif Habib Limited (AHL) wrote in its report that the KSE-100 index enjoyed another solid week, gaining 1.8% week-on-week, on the back of strong corporate earnings and investor interest.

    On Friday, 55 stocks advanced while 45 declined, where UBL (+2.4%), Hubco (+1.6%) and Millat Tractors (+2.76%) contributed the most to index gains. In contrast, Bank AL Habib (-3.3%), MCB Bank (-1.04%) and HBL (-1.22%) were the biggest drags.

    UBL announced 1HCY25 earnings per share of Rs26.07, up 99% YoY, and a dividend payout of Rs19 per share. Earnings were in line with expectations while the payout exceeded estimates.

    For the coming week, technical indicators suggest support at around 132,000, with a potential upside towards 136,000, AHL said.

    Overall trading volumes were recorded at 765.1 million shares, compared with the previous session’s tally of 941.7 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs40.2 billion.

    Shares of 477 companies were traded. Of these, 220 stocks closed higher, 228 fell and 29 remained unchanged.

    The Bank of Punjab was the volume leader with trading in 94.1 million shares, gaining Rs0.08 to close at Rs13.08. It was followed by Aisha Steel Mills with 25.1 million shares, gaining Rs0.44 to close at Rs12.11 and Kohinoor Spinning Mills with 23.6 million shares, losing Rs0.20 to close at Rs6.69. Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs350 million, the National Clearing Company reported.

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  • Recap of everything from Friday of TRNSMT 2025

    Recap of everything from Friday of TRNSMT 2025

    THOUSANDS of revellers flocked to Glasgow Green in the sunshine today as TRNSMT Festival 2025 opened its gates.

    The weather took centre stage as soaring temperatures hit 28 degrees, with Saturday’s crowd expected to experience even hotter conditions.

    A warning was in place for people to stay hydrated, and many people were lying in the shade wherever they could.

    People were queuing up at the gates from as early as 7.30am with the hopes of getting up close with Irish band The Script.

    People flooded through the gates at midday (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: LIVE updates from Glasgow’s TRNSMT 2025 festival 


    OUR BEST BITS FROM FRIDAY

    Stacey: 50 Cent!

    Morgan: My highlight would probably be seeing Calum Bowie playing the main stage after doing King Tuts 2 years ago – that was very nice to see as a young wee Scottish talent!

    Donald: Confidence Man bringing the energy, and, of course, the wonderful fashion advice which I’ll be putting to use tomorrow!


    Before the gates opened, news broke that a main stage act had pulled out due to ‘illness’.

    English rock band Wunderhorse will no longer play at TRNSMT, and were due to perform at 2.10pm until 2.50pm on Saturday.

    The gates were opened at midday, and fans flooded into the site. Many headed straight for the stage, others straight to the bar.

    Calum Bowie ‘was the perfect artist to open the main stage at this year’s TRNSMT.’

    James Bay plays TRNSMT Festival 2025. (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: 19 amazing pictures as festival-goers arrive at Glasgow’s TRNSMT 2025 


    Singer James Bay then told his Scottish fans, “when you sing, it sounds beautiful,” during his storming set.

    We also got to some serious reporting and asked the people of TRNSMT for some fashion advice.

    And the responses we received were bold!

    Back at the main stage Glasgow rockers, Twin Atlantic, were ‘truly everything you want at a festival – good fun and great music.’

    Twin Atlantic, were ‘truly everything you want at a festival’ (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: The Script star defies the one thing he was told not to do at TRNSMT 


    Liverpudlian singer Jamie Webster admitted he can’t believe he is sharing the same stage as rapper 50 Cent as he delighted the crowds.

    We also hunted for the cheapest pint at this year’s festival and put it to the test, and found the ice-cold beer to quench a heatwave-induced thirst.

    Kicking off their set with Catch These Fists, Wet Leg immediately commanded the main stage, giving a ‘memorable’ show.


    READ MORE: I asked the Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 crowd for outfit advice 


    Celtic daft rapper Bemz brought immense energy as he headlined the BBC Introducing stage.

    The Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue told his fans at the Glasgow Green it was good to be back on the festival stage.

    Before defying festival organisers, the cheeky star then declared: “I was told not to do this,” before he jumped into the festival crowd to perform Nothing.

    Confidence Man stormed the King Tut’s stage with a blistering set that put some energy into a sun-induced, sweat-soaked audience.

    The electro-pop, synth-laden sound coupled with energetic choreography was perfect for the sunset crowd.

    It felt like as the day cooled off, the TRNSMT crowd finally heated up. ]

    Confidence Man put on a show that was ‘out of this world’ (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: I tried the cheapest pint at Glasgow’s TRSNMT festival 2025 


    Rapper 50 Cent then headlined Friday on the main stage.

    The In da Club global icon drew a huge crowd to top off a stacked bill of superstars.

    Kicking off his set with What Up Gangsta? – there was no chit chat as Fiddy belted out hit after hit, including PIMP, I Get Money, and Candy Shop. Addressing the crowd, he then said: “I have been doing this s**t a long time.”

    And with that, he went back to the beginning for 21 Questions which attracted a sing-along from the packed out TRNSMT crowd as backing dancers pulled off sultry moves.

    He brought the nightclub to the Glasgow Green.

    Smiling from ear to ear, he then declared: “God damn, this weather is amazing.

    “Isn’t this the best weather for an outdoor festival?”

    Recap of everything from Friday of Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 (Image: Newsquest) Many Men (Wish Death) sent the crowd into a frenzy as the bullet sounds echoed through the Glasgow Green.

    “Go Shawty, it’s your birthday,” screamed the crowd as his infectious debut

    In Da Club brought the show to an encore of the Eminem featured Patiently Waiting, the G Unit track Stunt 101, and If I Can’t.

    Stay tuned over the rest of the weekend for all of our coverage.

    Continue Reading

  • Recap of everything from Friday of Glasgow TRNSMT 2025

    Recap of everything from Friday of Glasgow TRNSMT 2025

    The weather took centre stage as soaring temperatures hit 28 degrees, with Saturday’s crowd expected to experience even hotter conditions.

    A warning was in place for people to stay hydrated, and many people were lying in the shade wherever they could.

    People were queuing up at the gates from as early as 7.30am with the hopes of getting up close with Irish band The Script.

    People flooded through the gates at middayPeople flooded through the gates at midday (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: LIVE updates from Glasgow’s TRNSMT 2025 festival 


    OUR BEST BITS FROM FRIDAY

    Stacey: 50 Cent!

    Morgan: My highlight would probably be seeing Calum Bowie playing the main stage after doing King Tuts 2 years ago – that was very nice to see as a young wee Scottish talent!

    Donald: Confidence Man bringing the energy, and, of course, the wonderful fashion advice which I’ll be putting to use tomorrow!


    Before the gates opened, news broke that a main stage act had pulled out due to ‘illness’.

    English rock band Wunderhorse will no longer play at TRNSMT, and were due to perform at 2.10pm until 2.50pm on Saturday.

    The gates were opened at midday, and fans flooded into the site. Many headed straight for the stage, others straight to the bar.

    Calum Bowie ‘was the perfect artist to open the main stage at this year’s TRNSMT.’

    James Bay plays TRNSMT Festival 2025.James Bay plays TRNSMT Festival 2025. (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: 19 amazing pictures as festival-goers arrive at Glasgow’s TRNSMT 2025 


    Singer James Bay then told his Scottish fans, “when you sing, it sounds beautiful,” during his storming set.

    We also got to some serious reporting and asked the people of TRNSMT for some fashion advice.

    And the responses we received were bold!

    Back at the main stage Glasgow rockers, Twin Atlantic, were ‘truly everything you want at a festival – good fun and great music.’

    Twin Atlantic, were 'truly everything you want at a festival'Twin Atlantic, were ‘truly everything you want at a festival’ (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: The Script star defies the one thing he was told not to do at TRNSMT 


    Liverpudlian singer Jamie Webster admitted he can’t believe he is sharing the same stage as rapper 50 Cent as he delighted the crowds.

    We also hunted for the cheapest pint at this year’s festival and put it to the test, and found the ice-cold beer to quench a heatwave-induced thirst.

    Kicking off their set with Catch These Fists, Wet Leg immediately commanded the main stage, giving a ‘memorable’ show.

    @glasgowtimes We spoke to Jamie Webster after his incredible TRNSMT 2025 set. Here is what he had to say about Glasgow, Gerry Cinnamon and 50 Cent. #jamiewebster #jamiewebstermusic #trnsmt #glasgow #scottish #50cent #gerrycinnamon ♬ original sound – Glasgow Times

    READ MORE: I asked the Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 crowd for outfit advice 


    Celtic daft rapper Bemz brought immense energy as he headlined the BBC Introducing stage. 

    The Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue told his fans at the Glasgow Green it was good to be back on the festival stage.

    Before defying festival organisers, the cheeky star then declared: “I was told not to do this,” before he jumped into the festival crowd to perform Nothing.

    Confidence Man stormed the King Tut’s stage with a blistering set that put some energy into a sun-induced, sweat-soaked audience.

    The electro-pop, synth-laden sound coupled with energetic choreography was perfect for the sunset crowd.

    It felt like as the day cooled off, the TRNSMT crowd finally heated up. ]

    Confidence Man put on a show that was 'out of this world'Confidence Man put on a show that was ‘out of this world’ (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris)


    READ MORE: I tried the cheapest pint at Glasgow’s TRSNMT festival 2025 


    Rapper 50 Cent then headlined Friday on the main stage.

    The In da Club global icon drew a huge crowd to top off a stacked bill of superstars.

    Kicking off his set with What Up Gangsta? – there was no chit chat as Fiddy belted out hit after hit, including PIMP, I Get Money, and Candy Shop. Addressing the crowd, he then said: “I have been doing this s**t a long time.”

    And with that, he went back to the beginning for 21 Questions which attracted a sing-along from the packed out TRNSMT crowd as backing dancers pulled off sultry moves. 

    He brought the nightclub to the Glasgow Green. 

    Smiling from ear to ear, he then declared: “God damn, this weather is amazing. 

    “Isn’t this the best weather for an outdoor festival?”

    50 Cent headlined the main stage on FridayRecap of everything from Friday of Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 (Image: Newsquest) Many Men (Wish Death) sent the crowd into a frenzy as the bullet sounds echoed through the Glasgow Green. 

    “Go Shawty, it’s your birthday,” screamed the crowd as his infectious debut

    In Da Club brought the show to an encore of the Eminem featured Patiently Waiting, the G Unit track Stunt 101, and If I Can’t.

    Stay tuned over the rest of the weekend for all of our coverage.


    Continue Reading

  • The mane attraction: How many lions are in Australia and how well are they regulated? | Zoos

    The mane attraction: How many lions are in Australia and how well are they regulated? | Zoos

    Visitors seeking a “prey’s eye view” can get within “clawing range” of lions at one Australian zoo. Or they can experience the “thrill of a lifetime” by standing near enough to a lion to feel its breath as they pass meat through the fence with kitchen tongs. “Want to feed a lion by hand?” You can do that too if you find the right zoo. Visitors can pay $150 to place meat directly on their palm and feed it to a hungry lion through the bars.

    A visit to the zoo is usually considered a fun family day out, and lions are a popular drawcard. While details are not yet clear, the recent maiming of a woman related to the zoo owner in a staff-only area at Darling Downs zoo at the weekend has offered a stark reminder that lions are held in facilities across the country, and encounters with the apex predators can come with risk.

    Zoos can be an important part of conserving the lion as species, officially classed as “vulnerable”, but public fascination with the powerful big cats means they have been the centrepiece of zoos and public spectacle centuries before their status in the wild declined. Lions have been kept in captivity since the Roman empire, skulls belonging to lions have been unearthed in the Tower of London – believed to have been part of the royal menagerie 700 years prior – and in the 1800s live lions were shipped over the oceans to entertain the colonists in Australian zoos. Wallace, one of Melbourne Zoo’s first lions, was famous for his love of classical gramophone music.

    ‘When people think of zoos, they often think of the big cats – tigers and lions,’ says Dr Eduardo J Fernandez. Photograph: Australian Associated Press/Alamy

    Today these kings of the jungle can be found at wildlife parks dotted around Australia – from the famous big city zoos and their open air counterparts to the south coast of New South Wales, the Darling Downs of Queensland and the Victorian Alps. Which begs the question – just how many lions are there in Australia? And how well are the facilities they are kept in being regulated?

    ‘You obviously have to maintain safety’

    “When people think of zoos, they often think of the big cats – tigers and lions,” says Dr Eduardo J Fernandez, animal behaviour program director at the University of Adelaide and an expert in the family felidae, which includes the big cats.

    There are about 100 lions in Australian zoos, according to Zoos and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAAA), along with other big cats.

    Fernandez says standards and protocols – like those covered by the ZAAA accreditation – are critical for both animal welfare and safety, particularly for “any animal that poses potential danger”, which is every species of big cat.

    Accreditation for ZAAA, is a self-assessment process. There are now between 75 and 80 accredited operations in Australia, but ZAAA estimates about 200 licensed animal facilities in the country, which range from wildlife shelters and hospitals to zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums.

    “The better zoos in Australia will be part of the [ZAAA] accreditation scheme,” says Assoc. Prof Alex Whittaker, an animal welfare law expert at the University of Adelaide.

    However, she says, national species-specific regulation or guidance is limited. And while national standards for the care of exhibited animals were endorsed by governments in 2019, they have not yet been adopted across all jurisdictions.

    Research shows the public prefers to see animals kept in modern enclosures with naturalistic exhibits. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

    The rules and oversight of facilities keeping dangerous animals varies by state and territory. In addition to its own zoo-specific laws, NSW sets minimum standards for exhibiting carnivores, including specifications for lion enclosures – fences at least 4.5m in height with 5mm mesh. Similar, but slightly different, rules apply in Victoria.

    Will Meikle, a zoo animal welfare expert was involved in developing NSW laws and standards that regulate the keeping of exotic animals. “From a physical perspective, you obviously have to maintain safety of staff and visitors to the facilities and ensure that the animals are able to be safely held in captivity that they’re not going to escape.”

    But, even carefully designed enclosures aren’t impenetrable. In 2022, five lions escaped their enclosure at Sydney’s Taronga zoo, forcing visitors to hide in safe zones and triggering a review of zoo safety. Later, footage showed the animals managed to scratch and break through a security fence.

    ‘People want to feed the animals’

    Many zoo websites – from large, publicly funded institutions to small regional wildlife parks – promote paid encounters offering the chance to “hand feed” lions and other dangerous carnivores. Such closeup encounters are common at zoos worldwide and considered safe, with 75% offering some sort of human-animal experience, according to a 2019 study.

    “There’s a real interest by people who want to feed the animals,” says Meikle. “If people can’t feed the animals, they want to see somebody feeding the animals, and they want to interact with the animals as much as they can.” These sorts of experiences would usually be covered by an internal operating procedure rather than regulation, he says.

    Fernandez, who has written a book on zoo animal-visitor interactions, says these could be positive from a welfare perspective, but their outcomes are rarely assessed.

    “It’s critical that we evaluate the impact, because there are many instances of different types of interactions that can be good for the welfare of the animal [and] be enriching. But there’s also many instances, historically, that have been detrimental.”

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    And there is evidence the public is deeply concerned about animal wellbeing.

    In 2020-21, researcher Dr Janice Vaz surveyed 375 people, including 164 Australians, for their views on big cats in zoos.

    She found the public preferred to see animals kept in modern enclosures with naturalistic exhibits, suggesting a deeper concern for animal welfare and generally disapproved of direct interactions like feeding or playing with clubs.

    Zoos use enrichment activities to mimic aspects of foraging behaviours, says Fernandez. Photograph: Imago/Alamy

    “It can be a hard task even for people caring for their own house cats to get right, let alone trying to meet the needs of a wild, 130kg+ carnivore,” says feline behaviour researcher, Julia Henning.

    “Lions have evolved to be excellent hunters, and this behaviour is hard wired into them. This means that it is not enough to simply provide them with food, they require an ability to express the behaviours they would usually associate with the food such as hunting, stalking and ambushing.”

    Zoos use enrichment activities to mimic aspects of foraging behaviours, like carcass feeding, says Fernandez, but constantly evaluating and adapting practices is essential.

    There are limitations, and huge variation in the quality of the environment and enrichment provided. Recreating the natural environment is ideal, but a challenge. Fernandez says generally, as lions are a social species, it is good to have a pride of lions held together. In the wild, a lion’s home range might extend to 10,000 hectares. The largest enclosure in Australia, at South Australia’s Monarto Safari Park, is 11-hectares, while the minimum size in Victoria and NSW is 200 to 300 metres-square.

    ‘Inherent risks’

    Incidents, while extremely rare, do occur.

    “There are inherent risks when working with wildlife and certain behaviours can be unpredictable, however zoos and aquariums have policies in place to minimise these risks,” a ZAAA spokesperson says. “The sector is continuously improving its standards, and incidents like this [the 6 July incident] will be followed with careful review.”

    A Biosecurity Queensland spokesperson says authorised animal exhibitors are expected to manage risks with exhibited animals, and the department was “working to gather further information related to the incident”. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is also investigating.

    All incidents should provoke “deep consideration” of how we “house, treat and interact with animals in our care”, says Henning.

    “It should prompt zoos and other organisations to question the need for their encounters.”

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