mark zuckerbergs 300m
|

Mark Zuckerberg’s $300m superyacht faces scrutiny after ignoring distress call from stranded vessel in Alaska

Questions have been raised regarding Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg after his $300 million vessel reportedly ignored a call to assist a stranded boat off the coast of south-east Alaska.

The 387-foot luxury yacht, named Launchpad, was positioned closer to the helpless 21-foot skiff than the commercial cruise vessel that ultimately stepped in to provide aid.

According to an eyewitness account shared on Bluesky by a traveler on the Wilderness Legacy (operated by UnCruise Adventures), the captain informed guests that maritime authorities had tried reaching the billionaire’s vessel first.

The passenger noted that their vessel performed the rescue after the US Coast Guard tried contacting Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht, which sat at a shorter distance, and reported that the crew repeatedly ignored the radio broadcasts.

Representatives for Zuckerberg and his partner, Priscilla Chan, have strongly disputed the claim that the crew knowingly ignored a distress signal.

Spokesperson Brian Baker clarified to Forbes that neither Zuckerberg nor Chan were present on Launchpad during the incident. He further stated that the crew was monitoring a different radio frequency at the time and maintained that rescue operations were already under way by the time the message was reviewed.

The small skiff had been left immobilised after running out of fuel while traveling between Petersburg and Juneau.

Zuckerberg, who heads Meta Platforms, has not issued any personal statement concerning the event.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Ukraine accuses Russia of launching North Korean missiles in deadly regional strikes

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deploying North Korean ballistic missiles during a series of overnight attacks across Ukraine that left at least seven people dead in Zaporizhzhia. Local officials in Zaporizhzhia reported that the strikes hit the city’s Zaporizhstal metallurgical plant with guided bombs and missiles, killing seven employees, injuring 24 others, and forcing the facility to suspend operations. The barrage was part of a broader aerial offensive involving 120 Russian drones and multiple missile launches that disrupted power supplies in Kharkiv and Kherson while damaging civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy. In response, Ukrainian forces launched retaliatory deep-space strikes targeting critical Russian supply and industrial assets. Ukrainian drones struck facilities belonging to online retailer Wildberries in the Voronezh region, as well as a petrochemical plant in western Siberia. The long-range campaign follows a strike on the Tanevo oil refinery in Tatarstan, located over 680 miles inside Russian territory, which killed 13 people and injured dozens. Zelensky warned that Moscow’s growing reliance on North Korean weaponry and troops presents a expanding international security threat. Western military intelligence previously noted that thousands of North Korean soldiers had been deployed to support Russian units in the Kursk region, where allied forces suffered heavy casualties during autumn combat.

  • | |

    Vance pledges military, diplomatic pressure on Iran

    The United States will use military, economic and diplomatic measures to bring the conflict with Iran to an end, Vice President JD Vance has said, stressing that Washington remains committed to preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In a television interview, Vance said negotiations with Iran remain difficult due to internal divisions within the country’s leadership. He claimed that while some factions in Iran want to end the conflict through diplomacy, others continue to support confrontation, making negotiations more complicated. Despite the challenges, Vance expressed confidence that a settlement could eventually be reached, although he acknowledged the process would take time. He said the US hopes regional stability will improve and global oil prices will ease once tensions decline. The vice president reiterated that the United States would continue using every available tool, including military strength, economic sanctions and diplomatic engagement, to achieve what he described as a lasting resolution. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he still prefers diplomacy over military action. Speaking at a public event, Trump said he would rather reach an agreement with Iran than resort to war, but warned that military action remains an option if negotiations fail. Trump also dismissed reports suggesting the United States is facing shortages of key military ammunition. He insisted that the country has substantial stockpiles of weapons and said defence manufacturers are rapidly expanding production to meet future requirements. The president further warned that individuals responsible for leaking classified information about US military capabilities would face legal action, saying authorities were actively pursuing those involved. The developments come as tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil exports. At the same time, eight leading international shipping organisations have urged the United Nations to oppose any proposal to impose mandatory transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In a joint letter addressed to the UN and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the organisations warned that introducing tolls would undermine the internationally recognised principle of free navigation and could increase shipping costs, fuel prices and inflation worldwide. The maritime groups also cautioned that allowing such charges could create a dangerous precedent for other international waterways and disrupt global trade. The appeal follows recent discussions between Iran and Oman on future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials said the two countries have reached preliminary understandings on several issues related to maritime traffic, although they clarified that the agreement does not mean the waterway will be fully reopened under a new system. Separately, reports in US media claimed President Trump had questioned senior defence officials over alleged shortages of military munitions during a recent Cabinet meeting. According to the reports, concerns over weapon supplies had influenced military planning regarding Iran.

  • | |

    AJK orders re-polling at 23 stations in Bagh

    MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has ordered re-polling at 23 polling stations in two constituencies of Bagh district following disruptions during the third phase of the AJK elections. Re-polling will take place on August 15. It will cover nine polling stations in LA-15 Bagh Central and 14 polling stations in LA-16 Bagh East. The decision was taken after voting at several polling stations either failed to start on time or was disrupted and later cancelled. The four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli went to the polls on August 10. Elections in other parts of Poonch Division had earlier been delayed because of law and order concerns. In LA-15, PPP candidate Sardar Ziaul Qamar was leading according to unofficial results. He had secured 16,637 votes. PML-N candidate Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas was in second place with 15,015 votes. Jamaat-i-Islami candidate Brigadier (retd) Dr Mohammad Khan had received 12,259 votes. The nine polling stations scheduled for re-polling have more than 5,000 registered voters. Their votes could have a significant impact on the final result. Former AJK prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who contested the constituency on the PTI ticket in the 2021 election, appeared to have fallen out of contention. A close contest was also reported in LA-16 Bagh East. PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar was leading with 19,515 votes. PPP candidate Sardar Qamaruz Zaman had secured 16,290 votes. The 14 polling stations where re-polling has been ordered reportedly account for around 7,200 votes. Meanwhile, the Election Commission announced the preliminary result for LA-14 Dhirkot. Sajid Iqbal Abbasi of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu Party defeated Muslim Conference president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan. Abbasi secured 40,522 votes, while Attique received 19,637 votes. The result marked a major setback for the Muslim Conference, which has historically been one of the region’s prominent political parties. The result of LA-17 Haveli also became controversial. PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz demanded a recount and alleged irregularities in election documents. Aziz claimed that Form-24 documents from different polling stations had been altered. Election officials began examining the complaint. Ballot papers and other election material were also reportedly moved under security to Muzaffarabad for further counting and verification. Aziz called on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to support a recount. He claimed that results signed by presiding officers showed him leading by around 8,600 votes. However, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan, citing the Election Commission, reported that PPP candidate and AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore had won the LA-17 seat. The AJK elections are being held in three phases. The polls have taken place amid political tensions and law and order concerns in several parts of the region. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has so far secured 24 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party has won 10 constituencies, according to the available results. The first two phases also witnessed allegations of electoral irregularities, clashes and political disputes. Both major parties have traded accusations over the conduct of the elections. The third phase was originally planned across all 11 constituencies of Poonch Division. However, voting was allowed only in Bagh and Haveli because of security concerns.

  • |

    Banks, SBP and PSX to remain closed for three days

    Banks and other financial institutions across Pakistan will observe a three-day closure from August 14 to August 16 in connection with Independence Day and the regular weekend holidays. According to a circular issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the central bank, commercial banks, financial institutions and the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) will remain closed on Friday, August 14, which has been declared a public holiday on account of Independence Day. The closure will be followed by the regular weekend holidays on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, respectively. As a result, banking and stock market activities will remain suspended for three consecutive days. The holiday schedule is expected to affect routine banking operations, including branch-based customer services and other in-person transactions. Customers who need to visit bank branches or carry out services that require physical processing have been advised to plan their transactions accordingly. However, the closure will not affect digital banking facilities. The SBP said automated teller machines (ATMs), internet banking and other online banking services will continue to operate during the holidays. Customers will therefore be able to access cash through ATMs and use digital channels for eligible transactions throughout the three-day break. Regular banking and financial market operations are expected to resume on Monday, August 17, when banks, financial institutions and the stock market reopen after the Independence Day holiday and weekend.

  • |

    Pakistan’s exports post strong growth at start of FY2026-27, rising over 31% in July

    Pakistan recorded a strong increase in exports at the start of the new fiscal year, providing a positive signal for the country’s external trade performance despite continued regional uncertainty and global economic challenges. According to the latest trade data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country’s exports witnessed a sharp month-on-month increase during July 2026, reflecting improved demand for Pakistani products in international markets and stronger export activity across key sectors. The official figures show that exports reached $2.939 billion in July 2026, compared with $2.242 billion in June 2026, representing a 31.09% increase on a monthly basis. The substantial rise marks a promising beginning to the fiscal year 2026-27 and is being viewed as an encouraging development for the country’s economy. On a year-on-year basis, exports also recorded healthy growth. Compared with July of the previous year, Pakistan’s exports increased by 9.54%, indicating sustained improvement in export performance despite geopolitical tensions and volatility in international markets. Economic observers believe the rise in exports reflects the impact of government efforts to support exporters, improve industrial production, and expand access to international markets. Higher shipments from sectors such as textiles, food products, leather goods, sports equipment, surgical instruments, and information technology services are expected to have contributed to the overall increase. The latest trade figures are likely to strengthen the government’s confidence in its export-led growth strategy, which aims to reduce the trade deficit, improve foreign exchange earnings, and support macroeconomic stability. However, analysts caution that maintaining this momentum will require continued policy support, competitive energy prices, stable exchange rate management, and greater diversification of export products and destinations.

  • | |

    Tight security marks peaceful Chehlum procession

    The main Chehlum procession concluded peacefully in Karachi on Tuesday after passing through its designated route under comprehensive security arrangements. Thousands of mourners participated in the annual religious procession to mark Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, which commemorates the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Law enforcement agencies implemented an extensive security plan to ensure the procession was held without any untoward incident. The event concluded successfully after participants reached the designated endpoint. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conclusion of the procession. He praised the Sindh Police, Pakistan Rangers, and other security agencies for their coordinated efforts to maintain law and order throughout the day. The chief minister also appreciated the cooperation extended by procession organisers, religious scholars, volunteers, and participants. He said their collective efforts helped ensure the religious event remained peaceful and well-organised. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also commended the police for their professional performance. He said the successful completion of Chehlum processions reflected effective planning and strong coordination among all institutions responsible for security. A comprehensive security strategy had been put in place ahead of the event. More than 11,000 police officers and personnel were deployed across Karachi to protect Chehlum processions, religious gatherings, and imambargahs. Security officials remained on high alert throughout the day. Additional police personnel were stationed along the procession route and at sensitive locations across the city. Rangers and other law enforcement agencies also assisted in maintaining security. Authorities carried out continuous patrolling, snap checking, and picketing in different areas. Officers were instructed to remain present in their respective jurisdictions and ensure strict monitoring of important public places, government buildings, private installations, and religious sites. To facilitate security arrangements, several major roads along the procession route remained closed. Traffic police introduced a detailed diversion plan to reduce inconvenience for commuters. Motorists were advised to use alternate routes through Lasbela Chowk, Nishtar Road, Kashmir Road, Shahrah-i-Quaideen, Martin Road, Bahadur Yar Jang Road, Soldier Bazaar, and other connecting roads. Traffic police personnel remained deployed across the city to guide commuters and manage the flow of vehicles.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *