SAN FRANCISCO: ChatGPT-maker OpenAI on Monday took the first step toward going public on Wall Street, a week after arch-rival Anthropic, as both companies look to raise the massive sums needed to expand. In a social media post, the company led by Sam Altman said it had recently submitted a confidential IPO filing, but had &quot;not decided on timing yet&quot; for any listing.

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he has submitted a confidential IPO filing, taking the company public on Wall Street, but has 'not decided on timing yet' for any listing.

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI files to take company public

MORRISTOWN: Neymar is &quot;recovering well&quot; from the calf injury that has made him a doubt for the start of Brazil&#39;s World Cup campaign, the team said in a statement on Monday. Brazil&#39;s all-time record scorer underwent an MRI scan on Monday which showed he is &quot;making good progress in his treatment&quot; amid hopes that he will be able to play a part for Carlo Ancelotti&#39;s side in the United States. &quot;He will continue to follow the recovery schedule and fitness programme as planned by the Brazil team medical staff,&quot; the Brazilian Football Confederation said. Neymar was diagnosed with a calf injury late last month and has since been in a race to recover fitness for the tournament, with Brazil kicking off their campaign against Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday. He did not take to the field with his teammates for Monday&#39;s workout at Brazil&#39;s base, the new training ground of MLS outfit New York Red Bulls, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Manhattan. Instead he stayed inside to work in the gym. Now 34, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar has been an integral part of Brazil&#39;s last three World Cup campaigns but there was some surprise at his inclusion this time as injuries have prevented him from playing for his country at all since 2023. He has played in just half of his club&#39;s games in the Brazilian league, cup and Copa Sudamericana this year due to various fitness issues. Coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted last week that the player, now with Santos, would be ready for either Brazil&#39;s first or second game and added that he was &quot;in no rush&quot; to bring him back.

Football

Brazil star Neymar is recovering well from a calf injury and remains in contention for the World Cup, with medical scans showing progress as he continues rehabilitation ahead of the tournament.

Brazil's Neymar 'recovering well' after injury ahead of World Cup opener

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple unveiled an artificial intelligence overhaul for the iPhone on Monday, turning to Google for help two years after the company stumbled on a first attempt. The presentation marked Apple CEO Tim Cook&#39;s final appearance at the company&#39;s annual Worldwide developers conference -- Cook will cede the reins to longtime executive John Ternus in September. Cook, who took over as chief executive after the death of Steve Jobs in 2011, appeared to wipe away a tear while addressing the audience of developers and Apple executives, calling his experience &quot;an honor of a lifetime.&quot; Cook two years ago announced at the same conference that Apple was making a major leap to embrace AI, in a program called Apple Intelligence, as the company faced pressure to join the AI race that had engulfed its US tech giant rivals. But its promised rollout never occurred fully, with a much-anticipated upgrade to the Siri voice assistant failing to materialize despite the announcements, drawing a lawsuit from some US customers that the company settled earlier this year. Apple&#39;s more deliberate pace in entering the AI frenzy has won praise from some analysts, who credit the company for staying out of the hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending committed by rivals to build out AI capacity. The company underlined this narrative at the event, saying it was taking its time to get the technology right. &quot;AI is incredibly powerful technology with the potential to shape society in profound ways, and with proper care, unlock meaningful benefits for people everywhere,&quot; Apple&#39;s software chief Craig Federighi said in a launch video. &quot;Still, some appear to be racing forward, seemingly pursuing AI for the sake of AI, without clear regard for the people... that it&#39;s ultimately meant to serve.&quot; Daily limitsThe company again promised a strengthened Siri -- dubbed Siri AI -- with the ability to communicate naturally and track information across apps like Maps and Mail and carry out tasks. &quot;Overall, this was an impressive event that did not disappoint as Cook and Apple finally unveiled an AI strategy that will unleash the true monetization opportunity for AI,&quot; said Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities. Some of the features, including image generation, will have daily usage limits because they rely on powerful server models, the company said. Siri AI would not be available initially Europe and China, two major markets for the company, as it works out regulatory issues. Many of the advances Apple announced on Monday have already been rolled out to individual users by Google, with AI-powered Gemini features added to Gmail, Maps and its Android operating system for smartphones and tablets. &quot;Apple is making an enormous bet on AI -- but their bet is that they don&#39;t need to spend hundreds of billions per year on AI infrastructure...to reap the benefits,&quot; said John Gruber, a closely followed blogger. Instead of building models in-house, Apple hired Google to provide the AI capabilities for its new capabilities, using a version of the search engine giant&#39;s Gemini model rather than any technology developed internally. Google and Apple are already closely tied, with Google paying out tens of billions of dollars every year to be the default search engine on the iPhone&#39;s Safari web browser. Apple also touted its parental controls as tech companies face increasing pressure worldwide on child safety and screen addiction. These included beefed-up time allowance tools for children, with special attention on social media and games. Despite the company&#39;s lack of a competitive AI offering, Apple shares have largely defied gravity over the past two years, and the stock is up about 15 percent this year. In the first quarter of this year, Apple iPhone sales grew by double digits in just about every country where it does business.

Apple unveils a major AI upgrade for iPhones powered by Google’s Gemini technology, revamping Siri and introducing new AI features as CEO Tim Cook prepares to hand leadership to John Ternus.

Apple tries again on AI, turns to Google for help

WASHINGTON: A US federal judge on Monday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing a $100,000 fee on employers filing visa applications for foreign highly-skilled workers. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled in a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic-ruled states that the move usurped taxation powers held by Congress and the fee for the H-1B visas constituted an unlawful tax. &quot;The substance and application of the $100,000 payment reveal that it is a tax, regardless of what the payment is called,&quot; Sorokin wrote in his 42-page ruling. &quot;The President had no power or delegated authority to impose a tax on H-1B petitions,&quot; he wrote. A different federal judge upheld the $100,000 fee in December in a separate case. That ruling is currently being appealed. That lawsuit was brought by the US Chamber of Commerce, a pro-business lobbying group, and the Association of American Universities, which represents 69 US-based research schools. Trump announced the new H-1B visa policy in September, arguing that the system was being abused to replace American workers with people willing to work for less money. The H-1B fee is part of a larger immigration crackdown by the Republican president, who has unleashed a massive push against migrants since returning to the White House. The United States awards 85,000 H-1B visas per year on a lottery system. India accounts for around three-quarters of the recipients. H-1B visa fees previously cost up to $5,000. Tech entrepreneurs -- including Trump&#39;s former ally Elon Musk -- had warned against targeting H-1B visas, saying that the United States does not have enough homegrown talent to fill important tech sector job vacancies.

Business

A US federal judge blocks President Donald Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa application fee, ruling it constitutes an unlawful tax that exceeds presidential authority and falls under Congress’s powers.

US judge blocks Trump's $100,000 fee for skilled visa applications

Web Desk

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr style="line-height: 2;">Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;Netanyahu says told Trump Israel has right to self-defense</li><li>Iran military announces halt to operation against Israel</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2;">Iran says Israel&#39;s actions &#39;can&#39;t be separated&#39; from US policy</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Middle East &#39;does not need an escalation&#39;: EU top diplomat</li><li>Israel strikes Iran, defying Trump&#39;s call for restraint</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;">&nbsp;&lsquo;Not seeking war but defending values&rsquo; says Iran&rsquo;s vice presidentPublished: June 8, 2026 | 02:19 GMT | by Web Desk Iran&rsquo;s Vice President Mohammad Reza Arif said that Israel was &ldquo;forced to beg once again&rdquo; for a ceasefire with Iran after the recent missiles launched from Tehran. &ldquo;We do not seek war, but in defending our soil and our values, we will not hesitate for a moment,&rdquo; he said in a post on X. <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Iran airspace returns to normal: mediaPublished: June 8, 2026 | 01:27 GMT | by Web Desk Iran&rsquo;s civil aviation organizations announced that the country&rsquo;s airspace returned to normal, according to reports from semi-official media outlets such as Tasnim Agency. The reports also mentioned the reopening of Tehran&rsquo;s Imam Khomeini Airport. <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Objective is ending war not normalizing ties with US: GhalibafPublished: June 8, 2026 | 00:30 GMT | by Web Desk Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf blamed recent regional tensions on ceasefire violations by US and Israel, emphasizing that the ongoing talks aimed solely at sustainable peace, rejecting any normalization of ties with the US. &ldquo;Our objective is to end the war and establish lasting security, not to normalize relations with the United States,&rdquo; he said in an audio message addressed to the public. &ldquo;We have no trust in the opposite side,&rdquo; he added. <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Israel says intercepted &#39;suspicious aerial target from Yemen&#39;Published: June 8, 2026 | 23:20 GMT | by AFP Israel&#39;s military said early Tuesday it had intercepted an aerial target from Yemen, but there were no injuries. &quot;A suspicious aerial target from Yemen was intercepted. The incident has concluded. No injuries were reported,&quot; the IDF said, adding that the incident occurred in the region of Eilat. <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"> Trump tells Netanyahu Israel might lose US support over Iran strikes: AxiosPublished: June 8, 2026 | 21:55 GMT | by Web Desk US President Donald Trump told Axios that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he might find himself fighting alone if he went back to war with &zwnj;Iran. &ldquo;I ⁠said, &#39;Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be ⁠on your own very soon&rsquo;.&rdquo; Axios quoted ⁠Trump as telling Netanyahu. This was the second phone call in two days between the US and Israeli leaders, as Trump urged Iran and Israel to halt their exchange of fire over the weekend.&nbsp; Early Monday, Trump also posted on his Truth Social that the two countries &ldquo;must immediately stop &lsquo;shooting&rsquo;.&rdquo; Israel said on Monday it had struck targets across Iran, defying US President Donald Trump&#39;s call to refrain from retaliating against Tehran&#39;s barrage of missiles. The attacks further rattled a fragile April 8 truce as the war entered its 100th day, with the United States struggling to conclude a deal with Tehran to end the conflict. Explosions were heard in three cities, including Tehran, according to Iranian state TV, as the Israeli military said it struck targets in western and central Iran. Trump had sought to rein in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel accused Tehran of making a &quot;grave mistake.&quot; <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"> Read our June 8 live blog for earlier developments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-8-2026" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>

Americas

Middle East

Says he told Netanyahu to better be 'careful' or be 'on your own very soon,' during an interview with Axios; Iran and Israel halt attacks against each other; Iran's speaker parliament says Tehran has no 'trust in the opposite side'; Airspaces re-open in Iran and across the region as airports resume flights.

Trump warns Netanyahu that Israel could lose US support if it strikes Iran

WASHINGTON: The United States issued an updated list Monday of Chinese companies that it believes are aiding the country&#39;s military -- including e-commerce giant Alibaba, search engine provider Baidu and electric vehicle maker BYD. The US Defense Department unveiled the designations just weeks after President Donald Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, with both sides seeking to maintain stability in the bilateral relationship. Trump has since invited Xi to pay a reciprocal visit to Washington in September. But the latest release could fan tensions between the world&#39;s two biggest economies. The Pentagon&#39;s update Monday comes months after it briefly released -- then withdrew -- an earlier version of the list without explanation. The new list is largely similar to the version momentarily published in February, except for two memory chipmakers, which were reinstated to the blacklist after having been removed from it at the time. The re-added companies are ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies. The companies targeted also cover some of China&#39;s key tech giants involved in artificial intelligence, like Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent. Tencent was already previously designated. While the determinations have few immediate legal implications for many of the companies, it is seen as a move that could precede more punitive measures. Other companies that were added include pharmaceutical firm WuXi AppTec and start-up Unitree, which makes humanoid robots.

China

The United States adds Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and other Chinese firms to a Pentagon list of companies allegedly supporting China's military, a move that could pave the way for future restrictions.

Pentagon says Alibaba, Baidu and other tech firms aiding China's military

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan discussed strengthening institutional linkages to promote cultural exchange and people-to-people contact through the media during a meeting between Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Uzbekistan&#39;s Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, APP reported on Monday. &ldquo;Pakistan deeply values its partnership with Uzbekistan and remains committed to turning shared ideas into meaningful outcomes for both nations&rdquo;, Tarar said in a post on X. The minister said that both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in media, film and cultural exchanges, including opportunities for joint productions and digital collaboration. The meeting focused on expanding collaboration between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in film production, including the possibility of joint short films, documentaries and drama series, the report said. The ambassador appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s role in promoting peace in the region and acknowledged Islamabad&rsquo;s efforts in peace-related initiatives and negotiations, according to APP. Tarar said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Uzbekistan and is keen to further expand cooperation in the media, film and cultural fields. He added that such initiatives would require the involvement of experienced production houses, while large-scale film projects could also be pursued through joint funding arrangements between the two countries. The minister stressed the importance of highlighting the shared historical and cultural heritage of Pakistan and Uzbekistan through collaborative media content. &ldquo;Both sides agreed to enhance coordination between their respective social media teams for the development of joint digital content and a coordinated online promotional strategy,&rdquo; said the APP report. It was also agreed to further expand cooperation between media organizations of the two countries. The minister said study visits of journalists from both sides would help promote mutual understanding and professional exchange. He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening cultural and media relations with Uzbekistan through sustained engagement and cooperation.

Culture

Foreign Affairs

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar says both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in media, film and cultural exchanges, including opportunities for joint productions and digital collaboration.


Pakistan leads push for film diplomacy with Uzbekistan

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Monday captain Ben Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson are being investigated for breaking team rules in a nightclub incident after the first Test against New Zealand.&nbsp;It is the latest controversy concerning the England team following a tour of Australia where the side was confronted with allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss concluded in January.&nbsp;&quot;The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men&#39;s Test against New Zealand,&quot; the governing body said.&nbsp;&quot;Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place.&nbsp;&quot;We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.&nbsp;&quot;The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible.&quot;&nbsp;Before the Ashes, white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the eve of a one-day international against New Zealand.&nbsp;As a result, England imposed a midnight curfew on all players and staff.&nbsp;The BBC, however, reported the curfew was still in place despite the first Test being over, and the investigation relates to more than a breach of the curfew.&nbsp;England thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs before lunch on Sunday&#39;s fourth day at Lord&#39;s to go 1-0 up in a three-match series as they enjoyed a comprehensive victory in their first Test match since their humiliating Ashes defeat&nbsp;The second Test, across London at the Oval, starts on June 17.

Cricket

The ECB is investigating England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson for allegedly breaching team protocols during a nightclub incident after the first Test against New Zealand. The probe follows previous concerns over player conduct, with squad decisions pending.

England's Stokes, Atkinson under investigation for nightclub incident

MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday said she could guarantee a peaceful World Cup opening ceremony this week, despite concern over ongoing teacher protests.&nbsp;&quot;We are going to guarantee... that the celebration of the World Cup is well-executed, in peace and tranquility,&quot; she said in her daily press conference.&nbsp;A teachers union has threatened protests at Thursday&#39;s opening game between Mexico and South Africa in the capital if the government doesn&#39;t respond to demands for salary raises and pension reforms.&nbsp;On June 1, police dispersed protesters with teargas and rubber bullets outside the historic Zocalo square where authorities have erected a massive screen for a World Cup fan zone.&nbsp;The streets surrounding the square remain closed off with metal barricades, which Sheinbaum has said are meant to guard against &quot;provocations.&quot;&nbsp;Protesting teachers also toppled commemorative statues of players in downtown Mexico City last week.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says authorities will ensure a peaceful World Cup opening despite teacher protest threats. Recent demonstrations led to clashes with police, barricades around the Zocalo, and vandalized player statues.

Mexico president promises peaceful World Cup opening despite protests

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Monday said that it issued 737 visas to pilgrims from India to participate Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji scheduled in Pakistan from June 10 to 19.&nbsp; Signed in 1974, these pilgrimages occur under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, and as of 2018 the agreement covers 15 such locations in Pakistan and five in India.&nbsp; According to the tradition, the event marks the death of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, believed to be the first martyr for the Sikh cause. During the visit, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan, the pilgrims would visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in the Narowal district. Charge d&rsquo;Affaires of Pakistan to India, Saad Ahmad Warraich said that the issuance of visas was in line with the government&rsquo;s commitment to fully implement the bilateral protocol.&nbsp; Warraich also extended his heartfelt felicitations and wished the travelers a fulfilling pilgrimage. Earlier this year, the high commission in New Delhi granted over 2,800 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for Baisakhi celebrations in Pakistan from April 10 to 19. Islamabad rolled out the red carpet for the pilgrims when they visited the country in April, greeting the visitors with flower garlands, official receptions and visible warmth as Baisakhi celebrations began. Islamabad had extended the courtesy to New Delhi last year, however, the Indian government barred Sikh pilgrims from traveling to Pakistan after the conflict in May.

Signed in 1974, these pilgrimages occur under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, and as of 2018 the agreement covers 15 such locations in Pakistan and five in India. 