Latest news with #WLF
The Print
2 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Why is Pakistan going all out on crypto? There's a Donald Trump angle
Crypto is already widely popular in Pakistan, with around 20 million users —far more than the 420,000 people who invest in the capital market—placing the country among the global top 10 for crypto trading. In a surprising move, in late April, Pakistan partnered with World Liberty Financial (WLF), a company linked to the US President Donald Trump's family. WLF has promised to help Pakistan develop blockchain tools, tokenise assets, and provide crypto industry guidance. However, details of the deal remain vague. New Delhi: As its economy remains in shambles and ever dependent on IMF bailouts, a desperate Pakistan is trying hard to find a new window of growth. And this new life line is coming in the form of cryptocurrency and a company that has links to US President Donald Trump. In February 2025, the government formed a Crypto Council, and on Tuesday, it upgraded this into a full regulatory body called the Pakistan Digital Asset Authority. This new authority will oversee and regulate digital assets like crypto and blockchain-based technologies. The government now aims to regulate and tax the sector, attract foreign investment, and legitimise the ecosystem through the newly formed Pakistan Digital Asset Authority (PDAA), led by Bilal Bin Saqib—a Forbes 30 Under 30 and MBE awardee. Pakistani-British entrepreneur Saqib's appointment signals Pakistan's push to align with global trends. With global crypto exchange platforms like Binance and Stacks showing interest, Pakistan is also allocating power for data centres to support crypto mining and AI. Saqib is tasked with creating a FATF-compliant crypto framework, launching Bitcoin mining, regulating it, and integrating blockchain into governance and finance. However, questions are being raised about policymaking and governmental control. Hussain Nadeem, a policy strategist and Pakistani AI expert, posed a few questions to Bilal Bin Saqib, who earlier headed the Pakistan Crypto Council and will now lead the PDAA. In a long post on X, he asked if there was a white paper on crypto advancement in Pakistan, how much of governmental/army control there would be and whether there were public discussions on policymaking in crypto post the tie-up with Trump's company. Nadeem's questions point toward larger policy hiccups. Industry experts, however, are confident of the prospects of crypto in Pakistan. 'The founders of WLFI recently visited Pakistan and expressed strong interest in supporting our crypto ecosystem. With their stablecoin valued at over $2 billion, WLFI is a significant global player. While the details of our collaboration will be announced soon, possibly at the upcoming Bitcoin Vegas Conference, their visit alone signals growing international confidence in Pakistan's crypto ambitions,' Ali Farid Khwaja, chairman at KTrade Securities and a domain expert, told ThePrint. Geopolitical concerns There are also geopolitical implications. An article from The Economist's May edition pointed out that many in India interpreted the US-Pakistan crypto deal as Pakistan's way to win Trump's favour, which perhaps even led to Trump declaring the ceasefire. In late April, Texas-based logistics firm Fr8Tech made headlines by pledging up to $20 million to buy $TRUMP, a cryptocurrency launched by Donald Trump. The firm, linked to World Liberty Finance, also promised to help Pakistan develop blockchain products and provide crypto industry advice—raising eyebrows globally. Meanwhile, the Trump family's deep ties to crypto via promotion, regulation, and investor perks like exclusive dinners are drawing the industry into US politics. While this gives crypto unprecedented visibility, critics in The Economist article, warn that its association with a partisan figure could ultimately harm its broader legitimacy. Nadeem too, in his criticism, compared the new crypto push to the Pakistan Army's involvement in Special Investment Facilitation Council, which is a federal body under the Pakistan government but one that is effectively run by the Pakistan military, including 36 active military officers. Established in 2023, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, SIFC aims to increase foreign investment and ease business but heavy military presence in the council has sparked concerns over civilian-military power balance. Calling it a 'great disservice to the country', Nadeem said 'Crypto is the new SIFC' 'The way this regime is approaching Crypto, it has unfortunately become a new con that has politics, not public good, as an end goal…. The regime has only ONE interest in Crypto: Access to the Trump White House, and sadly this hype is all about that, nothing more,' he wrote on X. Even Indian analysts are issuing words of caution. Pakistan's growing crypto adoption highlights a significant shift in the region's digital strategy—one India should closely monitor given the potential geopolitical and economic impacts, distinguished fellow at the Council on Strategic and Defence Research, C Raja Mohan, wrote in a recent column for The Indian Express. Khwaja, however, is hopeful for crypto's prospects in Pakistan and is not worried about governmental control overriding the positive impacts. Since the Crypto Council was announced just three months ago, Pakistan has attracted significant attention from some of the top names in the crypto industry. Binance, World Liberty Finance, crypto billionaire Justin Sun, and Stacks, a New York-based token with a $2 billion market cap, have all publicly announced engagements with Pakistan, he said. 'This surge of inbound interest from major global players is driving investment and prompting the government to actively facilitate regulations, aiming to position Pakistan as both a regional and global leader in crypto,' Khwaja said. He also added that, unlike before, when interest was often met with scepticism, the government is embracing these opportunities. 'It's not about trying to force development; companies are coming forward saying, 'We want to invest,' and Pakistan is responding. Similarly, in the US, President Trump has expressed a strong desire for the country to lead globally in this space, reflecting how quickly things are evolving worldwide,' he added. (Edited by Theres Sudeep)
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘The Last of Us' Season 2 finale review: A somewhat jumbled set-up for Season 3
The finale of the second season of Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann's The Last of Us, 'Convergence', tries desperately to tie the disparate elements from earlier episodes to partial success. While there is the sound and fury of the elements indicated in the title, it does not come together cohesively to complete any arc. There are episodes including the second one, 'Through the Valley', featuring Joel's (Pedro Pascal) horrific death at the hands of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), in the midst of an attack by the ravaging hoards of the infected, that feel like a mini movie, and others were nothing much happens. The Last of Us Season 2 (English) Creators: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Kaitlyn Dever Episode: 7 Runtime: 50 minutes Storyline: Ellie finally catches up with Abby and acknowledges a terrible truth about herself 'Convergence' comes after the lovely, contemplative, achingly poignant 'The Price' where we see the bond between Joel and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) flower, wither and promise to bloom again over Ellie's birthdays through the years. On her 15th birthday, Joel gives her a handmade guitar. For her 16th, he takes her to an abandoned museum where Ellie is fascinated with the thought of space travel. On her 17th birthday, Joel gruffly exclaims at all teenage stuff coming at once — drugs, tattoos and sex. On her 19th birthday, Ellie goes out on her first patrol. The way Joel deals with Eugene (Joe Pantoliano), who has been bitten, after swearing to Ellie he will take him back to town to say goodbye to his wife, Gail (Catherine O'Hara), finds Ellie figuring out the truth about the carnage at the hospital. When nine months later after the New Year's Eve party in Episode 1, Ellie confronts Joel about the fate of the Fireflies at the hospital, Joel confesses the truth, insisting he would do it again. It is Ellie's reply that she could never forgive him but would like to try that creates the poignancy as Joel's death put paid to that rapprochement. The introduction of Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright), the former FEDRA officer who kills his squad and joins the WLF, and the Seraphite cult, is a sufficiently brutal lead-up to the big confrontation in the finale. That the payoff is not as satisfying is putting it mildly. That bullet fired at the end and the fade to black is as clumsy a cliffhanger as there could be and the switch to Abby's perspective, while echoing the game, seems ill-judged as far as pacing goes. Even though Mel's (Ariela Barer) death is cruel and underlines the causalities of conflict, it is good that Ellie does not kill Alice, the WLF dog, like in the game. There is only so much brutality one can take. The production value remains gorgeous and the aquarium and island shots in the pelting rain are spectacular as is Ellie's desperate boat ride. Ramsey does their best to capture the hurt and hatred as well as the goofiness of a young person on the threshold of adulthood as Ellie, while Pascal's Joel is the brother, father, friend anyone would want. Wright's Isaac, while terrifying, is frustratingly underwritten. Isabela Merced brings fire and fun to Dina, proving an effective foil to the impetuous Ellie. Season 2 of The Last of Us lurches from crisis to crisis, with long lulls of running and shooting doing nothing to move the story along. Maybe instead of splitting Part II of the eponymous game into many seasons, the makers could have opted for a longer second season with a mid-season break. The Last of Us is currently streaming on JioHotstar
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Explained: Here's what happened to Ellie and Abby at the end
The Last of Us Season 2 finale follows Ellie's intense pursuit of Abby. The story moves across Seattle, revealing new conflicts, emotional decisions and consequences. With Season 3 confirmed , the narrative promises to expand further. What Happened in Finale? Ellie travels through Seattle looking for Abby. She confronts Jesse, who realizes Ellie is in a relationship with Dina. Jesse also learns that Dina is pregnant. During her search, Ellie kills Owen and Mel. As Mel was pregnant, her death deeply affected Ellie. Owen had drawn a gun, forcing Ellie to act. Also Read: Dancing Boy Viral Video: Watch funny trending clip of young boy's dance to Pitbull song and read hilarious comments on the post As the episode ends, Abby finds Ellie and Tommy. Abby kills Jesse and holds Tommy at gunpoint. Ellie offers herself in exchange for Tommy's life. Abby fires at Ellie as the scene cuts to black. The final moment shows the rising tension between Ellie and Abby, leaving the outcome unknown. Ellie's journey includes brief encounters with the WLF and the Seraphites. These groups are at war, but details remain unclear. Isaac is looking for Abby. The Seraphites nearly kill Ellie before their camp is attacked. Abby's group has bandages and a wounded Seraphite. Jesse seems to let one of them die. Live Events Also Read: The Cleaning Lady Season 4: What to expect in Episode 10? Here's release date, time and where to watch Ellie remembers Joel's death and her own violent actions. She starts to understand that revenge may not lead to peace. She relates Mel's death to how she would feel if Dina were hurt. Jesse reminds Ellie that saving people matters more than revenge. Ellie is ready to stop fighting, but Abby is not. Abby reminds Ellie that she once spared her life. Ellie was choosing to walk away, but Abby seeks justice. The outcome is left uncertain, setting the stage for Season 3. FAQs Has The Last of Us been renewed for Season 3? Yes. HBO confirmed Season 3 of The Last of Us on April 9 before Season 2 even finished airing. What will Season 3 of The Last of Us be about? Season 3 will likely show Abby's point of view during the Seattle conflict. It may cover events shown from Ellie's perspective in Season 2.
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Thriller's season 2 finale hailed 'perfect ending' despite crushing fans
Warning: spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 2 finale. The Last of Us fans have been left emotional wrecks after watching the season 2 finale of the post-apocalyptic thriller. And with two years to wait until season 3, who knows how long it'll take for them to recover from the gut-wrenching turmoil of the final episode, which some viewers called 'perfect'. In the last episode of the series, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) continues on her search to hunt down Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), after watching the militia member murder her surrogate father Joel (Pedro Pascal) in a devastating earlier scene. She manages to track down Abby's accomplices Mel (Ariela Barer) and Owen (Spencer Lord), both of whom she shoots and kills – which also results in the death of Mel's unborn baby, after Ellie is unable to go through with delivering the child. Ellie is rescued by Jesse (Young Mazino) and Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), who take her back to the theatre where she's been hiding out with Dina (Isabela Merced). To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But while it appears for a moment as though they're safe, Jesse is brutally shot dead when Abby breaks into the theatre, threatening Ellie, Dina and Tommy at gunpoint while seeking vengeance for Mel and Owen's deaths. Before viewers can find out what happens next in Ellie's face-off with Abby, the show ends with a flashback to a couple of days prior from Abby's point of view at the headquarters for the militia group WLF in Seattle. This implies that the third season will follow the same timeline as the second, but instead show Abby's perspective before she and Ellie cross paths once more. Several fans couldn't have given the season two finale higher praise. 'I thought 49 minutes was gonna be rushed but it was actually perfect,' @taylorsversion wrote on X. 'Has some of the most epic scenes I've seen on TV. 'I'm not sure how to feel about Ellie being portrayed as way more sensitive than in the game. Perfect ending.' Metro's TV Editor Sabrina Barr shares her thoughts on the final episode of The Last of Us season two… The first season of The Last of Us was like lightning in a bottle, a show that will always be imprinted on my mind as one of my favourite TV-viewing experiences ever. So it was always going to be a tall order for the second season to match its quality. In my opinion, the creators of the series, the performers and the talented members of the crew behind the production have done a brilliant job. But for me, it didn't quite have that same magic that had fans across the globe transfixed during the release of season one, unable to look away from the horror unfolding. That doesn't mean to say that I don't think the second season is utterly fantastic and one of the greatest shows of the year – and the finale is a testament to that, in my eyes. Bella Ramsey once again knocks their performance as Ellie out of the park, depicting the young girl's devastation over the blood on her hands and the grief that's motivating her to survive and seek revenge. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces when Jesse was shot dead, a brutal demise for a selfless character who deserved so much more, and had so much promise for helping to make the world a better place. Despite not being in most of the season, Kaitlyn Dever is a complete scene stealer as Abby, and her face-off against Ellie in the final moments of the finale had me on the edge of my seat. Two years feels like an agonising wait for season three, but it's one I'll happily endure for what I know will be another showcase of masterpiece TV. 'Amazing finale,' @MovieManiac89 added. 'Very similar to the game with added moments. Bella Ramsey is a powerhouse. Can't believe we have to wait a year & some for season 3. A seven-episode season is too short!! 😭😭.' @CaptainKaye42 said that the finale 'crushed' them, stating: 'What happens to Ellie in this episode is just so brutal, as she's caught in the cycle of violence. 'Also, Jesse gets a great moment to shine, putting his selflessness on full display. Looking forward to season 3, after THAT cliffhanger!' Another fan called @DaltonPaz2003 admitted that they wished there were more episodes in the season, but they found the cliffhanger 'effective'. 'Just finished the finale for #TheLastOfUs. It was good from beginning to end,' @SpookyBS said. 'It is a solid conclusion to this season, and now the 2-year wait has begun 😭.' Several fans felt heartbroken by Mel's death in particular in the finale, praising Ariela for her stellar performance. 'Oh Mel, you didn't deserve it,' @fiore__xx tweeted, while @noradominick wrote: 'Mel's death was hard in the game but somehow the show made it even more gut wrenching. 'Between Ariela Barer's performance and Mel begging Ellie to save her child it hurt, but also with the added context in the show of what Anna went through when Ellie was born too.' More Trending @umbrllathv also shared: 'Mel's death is just sadder every time you look at it like the show version just made it worse. I'm so upset she deserved so much better.' Following the release of the first season of The Last of Us in 2023, it's currently expected that the third season will come out in another two years' time, in 2027. This is looking even more likely due to the fact that the third season hasn't been filmed yet. View More » The Last of Us season 2 is available to stream on Sky and NOW. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Dark Netflix series 'perfect' for Bank Holiday bingeing soars to number 1 MORE: WWE breaks 23-year tradition with fans shocked over 'mind blowing' twist MORE: Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson dies aged 79 after Alzheimer's diagnosis
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'The Last of Us' Season 3: Everything we know so far from the game
'The Last of Us' Season 3: Everything we know so far from the game Show Caption Hide Caption Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal discuss father-daughter relationship 'The Last of Us' stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal reveal they didn't enjoy their character's estrangement in season 2. Spoiler alert! The following contains details from "The Last of Us" Season 2 finale on HBO, as well as the video game "The Last of Us Part II." Well that's one way to end a season of TV. The seventh and final episode of "The Last of Us" Season 2 on HBO brought our hero, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), to the brink. In a single episode she: nearly drowns, is almost lynched, kills two people including a pregnant woman, and is rescued but then immediately hunted down by her enemy Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), who Ellie was on a mission to kill. And just when the final confrontation between Abby and Ellie reaches a bullet-charged climax, the scene ends. All of a sudden we've flashed back three days and the camera's focus is solely on Abby, waking up in a football stadium-turned-compound for her militia, the Washington Liberation Front. So what does all of this mean for Season 3? Producer Craig Mazin promises, "all of it will become clear," but clues can also be found in the video game that this season and the next are based upon, "The Last of Us Part II." We break down what can you expect in Season 3 if the series continues to follow the game as closely as it has in the past. Spoiler alert: Ramsey may have some time off from killing fungal zombies for awhile. Kaitlyn Dever will take center stage in 'The Last of Us' Season 3 Get ready for Kaitlyn Dever to become the main star of "Us" in Season 3, which, if the game is any indication, will likely include very little of Ramsey's Ellie. The Season 2 finale's closing scene, showing Abby waking up at the WLF's headquarters on "Seattle Day One," implies the series will retain the controversial structure of the game, which divides its narrative evenly between Ellie and Abby. In the game, players spend hours controlling Ellie on her quest for revenge against Abby for the murder of Joel (Pedro Pascal), as depicted in the show. This culminates in a confrontation between Ellie and Abby in the theater which − in a moment that made millions of gamers throw their controllers across the room in frustration − abruptly cuts to black mid-scene. The game then jumps back in time and has the player assume control of Abby to follow everything she was up to during the three days that Ellie and Dina (played by Isabela Merced in the series) were in Seattle. From there, players stick to Abby's perspective for nearly the entire remainder of the game. It takes hours for the story to loop back around to the theater, where Ellie's fate is finally revealed, and the game ends not long after that. Game vs. Show: All the major 'The Last of Us' Season 2 changes Precisely how much of next season is devoted to Abby will depend on whether producers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann decide to finish adapting "Part II" — which would also mean ending the show, given there are no more games in the series — in Season 3. If so, the resolution of the Season 2 cliffhanger could likely happen around two-thirds of the way through the season. But if the game is turned into yet more seasons, as Mazin has suggested, it's possible Ramsey would not be in Season 3 whatsoever until around the finale. Abby's now-deceased friends will return for supporting roles Fans should also anticipate a shakeup to the supporting cast, given the shift to Abby means characters like Dina and Tommy (Gabriel Luna) will be absent for the next stretch of the story. But Abby's friends Nora (Tati Gabrielle), Owen (Spencer Lord) and Mel (Ariela Barer), who were tortured and/or murdered by Ellie in Season 2, return for key roles in the second half of the game, as does Manny (Danny Ramirez), who joined them on the mission to kill Joel (Pedro Pascal). In the Season 2 finale, WLF leader Isaac (Jeffrey Wright) learns that Abby's entire crew has gone AWOL, and that will be a big part of her storyline in Season 3. Because that story takes place at the same time as Season 2, it will shed new light on certain peripheral details already seeded into the second season, such as the fact that a medical procedure appears to have been performed at the aquarium not long before Ellie arrived. Owen's relationship with Abby will also be a major focus. It's explored in flashbacks in the game, which could potentially get their own episode like the Joel and Ellie flashback episode of Season 2. The war between the Seraphites and the WLF will be explored further In Season 2, viewers received glimpses of a war between Abby's militia and a religious cult known as the Seraphites, but they were infuriatingly vague. This conflict will become central to the next part of the story, so it's safe to say Wright will return as Isaac. In the Season 2 finale, we see Isaac set out to lead an attack on the Seraphites, which begins off screen as Ellie sets out to find Abby. In "Part II," this attack made for one of the most epic, visually stunning sequences in the game, meaning a battle episode on par with "Game of Thrones" could be in store for Season 3. Also keep an eye out for casting news about a pair of crucial new characters: Lev and Yara, brother and sister Seraphites who Abby meets along her journey. In particular, the role of Lev, a trans boy, could be a star-making role for a young actor around age 13. Don't expect any more Pedro Pascal Pedro Pascal almost certainly won't return for any of Season 3, though if the show had followed the game more closely, he may have. Whereas the show devoted a flashback episode to revealing what happened between Joel and Ellie during the time jump before Season 2, the game sprinkled those flashbacks all throughout the story and saved some for the second half. In fact, Joel and Ellie's emotional porch conversation from the Season 2 episode "The Price" is the penultimate scene at the very end of the game. It's possible the show could replace that with a new flashback scene in a future episode. But more likely, fans truly have seen the last of Joel. And given Pascal's busy schedule, including Marvel's new "Fantastic Four" movie, a new Ari Aster film at the Cannes Film Festival and more future projects, it's not that surprising that his time in the apocalypse may be over and done for good.
