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  • President Zardari urges support for flood-hit victims

    President Zardari urges support for flood-hit victims

    ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed profound sorrow over the flood destruction during the intense monsoon weather across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit Baltistan, ARY News reported.

    President Asif Zardari, in his official statement, extended deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured all affected people that the government is with them during this hard time and will assist them by all means.

    Asif Zardari recognised the severe losses and economic burden due to the flood destruction, including the loss of lives, livestock, and crops. He also expressed deep compassion for farmers whose farming income was devastated and emphasised the need for quick recovery efforts.

    President Asif Zardari lauded the tireless efforts of the armed forces and emergency rescue teams for helping the affected people during these national crises. “In this hour of trial, our forces have set a remarkable example of public service,” he stated.

    Asif Zardari directed the Sindh government to be vigilant and remain ready for the incoming surge in flood and stressed proactive measures to minimise further damage.

    President Asif Zardari compared the way people handled the floods in 2010 and 2022 to show how flexible they were, and he stated that the people of Pakistan can face tough situations with bravery and a strong will.

    Asif Zardari’s words during the tough times have given hope to the affected people, farmers and families that the government is with them during this tough time.

    Read More: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods cause huge livestock loss

    Earlier, as a result of flood destruction during the monsoon, the province’s livestock sector not only lost lives, but also faced shocking financial losses.

    According to the KP Livestock Department, the initial estimates of the losses indicate damages exceeding Rs 1.57 billion.

    The department, in its recent report, has mentioned seven flood-affected districts, exposing the death of over 5,000 livestock animals and over 10,000 poultry birds.

  • Toyoake City to implement two-hour smartphone limit for residents

    Toyoake City to implement two-hour smartphone limit for residents

    TOYOAKE: In an innovative move to address rising concerns over extreme screen time, the city of Toyoake in Aichi Prefecture has introduced a viral draft ordinance endorsing that residents limit their daily smartphone use to two hours outside of work and school commitments.

    Mayor Masafumi Koki publicised the proposal during a plenary session of the city assembly, highlighting that the ordinance is unenforceable and carries no legal or financial penalties. “This is not about enforcement, it’s about encouraging better digital habits,” Mayor Masafumi Koki stated.

    The viral ordinance also includes screen time guidelines according to the users’ age, directing elementary school children to stop device use by 9:00 p.m., and middle school students and older by 10:00 p.m.

    These recommendations are compatible with national sleep health guidelines, and their purpose is to reduce the physical and mental health risks related to lengthy device exposure.

    If the ordinance gets approved, the new rule will start on October 1, 2025, making Toyoake the first city in Japan to suggest limits on screen time for everyone.

    This idea comes after a survey by Japan’s Children and Families Agency in March 2025, which found that young people in Japan use smartphones, tablets, and computers for more than five hours a day on weekdays.

    Some people are debating the proposal online, with some saying that the two-hour limit is not practical. However, Mayor Koki explained that the goal of the rule is to encourage families to talk about screen time and promote responsible use of devices, not to take away personal freedoms.

    Read More: Google Phone revamped with Material 3 Expressive design

    Earlier, Google has silently introduced a visual renovation to its default Phone app for Android devices, introducing the Material 3 Expressive design language.

    The update aims to deliver a cleaner, more modern user interface, and it has started mixed reactions among users, as they were stunned by the sudden change in their dialer layout.

  • Anthony Ippolito to portray Sylvester Stallone in ‘I Play Rocky’

    Anthony Ippolito to portray Sylvester Stallone in ‘I Play Rocky’

    Actor Anthony Ippolito has landed the role of a young Sylvester Stallone in ‘I Play Rocky,’ a feature about the making of 1976’s boxing film.

    Developed by Amazon MGM and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Farrelly, the feature will chronicle Stallone’s fight to star in ‘Rocky,’ which he wrote, and it won an Oscar for Best Picture.

    Sylvester Stallone’s dream of writing and starring in the film faced many challenges as several studios rejected to give him the titular role in the film.

    The Hollywood actor reportedly refused offers of up to $360,000 for the script due to his insistence on playing the lead role.

    His determination finally paid off when a studio agreed to buy his script for $35,000 and cast him as the lead in ‘Rocky.’

    The upcoming feature from Amazon MGM will shed light on his struggle and determination to play the titular role in the 1976 film.

    Anthony Ippolito, who portrayed veteran Hollywood actor Al Pacino in ‘The Offer,’ has been roped in to portray Sylvester Stallone.

    Read more: ‘Expendables 4’ makes headlines for the wrong reasons

    Reportedly, the actor had his eyes on the role since the project was announced and sent an unsolicited audition tape directly to the producers.

    After reviewing his audition tape, the makers handed Anthony Ippolito the role to play the younger self of Stallone in ‘I Play Rocky.’

    Peter Gamble wrote the script for the feature, while producers include Toby Emmerich Christian Baha

    It is to be noted here that the ‘Rocky’ franchise is considered one of the most successful sports film franchises of all time.

    The films, including its ‘Creed’ spin-offs, have grossed over $1.7 billion at the worldwide box office.

  • Summer vacation 2025 extended till Sept 7

    Summer vacation 2025 extended till Sept 7

    MULTAN: The administration of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan has announced an extension of the summer vacations for 2025.

    According to an official notification, “Based on the recommendations of the Deans Committee and others during the meeting held on 18.08.2025, the summer vacations for 2025 are extended until September 7, 2025.”

    The notification further stated that all hostels (for both male and female students) will reopen on the same date.

    Earlier, the Punjab government issued a notification detailing revised school timings for all public educational institutions across the province, according to state-run news agency APP.

    Schools are scheduled to reopen on August 15, 2025 following the summer vacation.

    According to the School Education Department’s notification, Single-shift schools will operate from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, they will close at 11:30 AM.

    For double-shift schools, the morning shift will be held from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, the morning shift will conclude at 11:30 AM. The evening shift for double-shift schools will begin at 2:00 PM and continue until 6:00 PM from Monday to Thursday, while on Fridays, the shift will run from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

    The revised schedule is designed to facilitate a smooth academic transition post-vacation while considering weather conditions and logistical requirements across the province.

  • UAE private sector to get 3-day paid holiday

    UAE private sector to get 3-day paid holiday

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a three-day paid holiday for employees working in the private sector on the eve of Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) birthday.

    According to a report published by Khaleej Times, the birthday of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) will be observed on Friday, September 5, in the UAE۔

    Due to the holiday being combined with the official weekend (Saturday and Sunday), the majority of employees will receive a three-day weekend. The holiday, which is observed by many devout people worldwide, falls on the religious day of 12 Rabi Al Awwal in the Hijri calendar.

    Previously, the United Arab Emirates declared September 5 to be the official day of the national holiday for government personnel. For them, this also means a three-day vacation. In the meantime, Fridays are already off for Sharjah’s public sector workers as part of their regular weekends.

    A unified holiday policy in the UAE ensures that employees in both the public and private sectors receive equal time off throughout the year.

  • Sophie Turner says social media ‘almost destroyed’ her as teen star

    Sophie Turner says social media ‘almost destroyed’ her as teen star

    British actor Sophie Turner is opening up about the impact of social media on her mental health while working on ‘Game of Thrones’ during her teenage years.

    Turner was only 13 years old when she debuted as Sansa Stark on the HBO show. She went on to star in all eight seasons of the show.

    While her role in ‘Game of Thrones’ garnered her widespread praise, the actor revealed that it also exposed her to social media.

    “Social media was just really becoming a big thing after I started on ‘Game of Thrones,’ so I got a couple of years of peace and quiet and then I had to adjust,” Sophie Turner said.

    The actor added, “It had such a profound impact on my mental health, like more than I could tell you. It almost destroyed me on numerous occasions.”

    Read more: Sophie Turner recalls ‘worst’ moment from ‘The Dreadful’ shoot

    She then expressed concerns about the child actors who are leading HBO’s upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ series.

    The lead trio of the show includes newcomers such as Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout.

    “I look at the kids who are about to be in the new ‘Harry Potter’ and I just want to give them a hug and say, ‘Look, it’s going to be okay but don’t go anywhere near [social media]. Stay friends with your home friends, keep living at home with your family, make sure your parents are your chaperones’ — it’s so important to have that grounding adjacent to the big, crazy stuff that you do,” she said.

    It is worth noting here that HBO plans to premiere ‘Harry Potter’ series sometime in 2027.

  • PM Shehbaz signs deal for Pakistanis to work in Belarus

    PM Shehbaz signs deal for Pakistanis to work in Belarus

    ISLAMABAD: In the wake of strengthening Pakistan-Belarus relations, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a meeting with Belarusian Interior Minister in Islamabad to facilitate skilled Pakistani individuals to work in Belarus, ARY News reported.

    This agreement will open new employment opportunities for Pakistani professionals and extend people-to-people ties.

    The MoU signing followed a welcome ceremony by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, presented to a Belarus high-level delegation led by their Interior Minister, Aleksandr Lukashenko during their recent visit to Pakistan.

    The official meeting not only aimed at strengthening Pakistan-Belarus relations, but also marked a next step ahead in the extension of diplomatic momentum after PM Shehbaz Sharif’s recent trip to Minsk in April 2025.

    During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed greetings for Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and stated Pakistan’s willingness to host him in the near future.

    Shehbaz Sharif highlighted that Pakistan and Belarus are improving their relationship by the passage of time, supported by mutual respect and growing cooperation.

    In response, the Belarusian Interior Minister, Aleksandr Lukashenko, thanked them for the warm hospitality and acknowledged Belarus’s promise to enhance collaboration across multiple sectors. He also visited Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), discovering strategies for connected governance and identity management.

    Both sides expressed a mutual desire to work together in different sectors, such as trade, technology, education, and internal security.

    The meeting reflects a broader strategic intent not only to strengthen Pakistan-Belarus relations but also to transform diplomatic goodwill into actionable partnerships.

    Read More: Ishaq Dar visits UK to boost Pakistan-UK relations

    Earlier, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, visited the United Kingdom for an official visit of three days focused on expanding Pakistan-UK relations and bilateral collaboration across multiple sectors.

    The Foreign Office explained that the visit reflects Pakistan’s promise to promoting inclusive diplomacy, fostering Pakistan-UK relations and leveraging innovation for socio-economic development.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods cause huge livestock loss

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods cause huge livestock loss

    PESHAWAR: In recent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods during monsoon, the province’s livestock sector has not only lost lives, but also faced shocking financial losses, ARY News reported.

    According to the KP Livestock Department, the initial estimates of the losses indicate damages exceeding Rs 1.57 billion.

    The department, in its recent report, has mentioned seven flood-affected districts, exposing the death of over 5,000 livestock animals and over 10,000 poultry birds.

    The animals’ food has also been destroyed, worth Rs 286 million, raising serious concerns about the survival of the remaining animals and food security.

    The report indicates the stats of deceased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods, including 1,091 goats, 1,682 calves, 1,089 cows, 822 buffaloes, and 544 sheep.

    In district-wise breakdowns, Buner got the hardest hit, including 875 cows, 703 buffaloes, and 748 goats perished, and 9,000 poultry birds lost in Buner alone.

    Significant livestock casualties have also been reported from other districts such as Swat, Shangla, Bajaur, Batagram, Lower Dir, and Mansehra.

    In Swat, 112 cows, 71 buffaloes, and 218 goats died, while Shangla recorded 63 cows, 38 buffaloes, and 116 goats.

    The floods badly impacted 336 animal shelters across Mansehra, Shangla, Buner, and Swat, further intensifying the crisis for rural communities who totally depend on livestock for livelihood.

    Read More: Pakistan’s Recurring Nightmare: A Comparative Look at the Devastating Floods of 1998, 2022, and 2025

     

    Authorities highlight that these are just initial figures and may rise as access improves to remote areas still cut off by floodwaters.

    The destruction of animal food and infrastructure during the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods poses long-term risks to livestock sustainability and rural income recovery.

    According to the recent update from the UN OCHA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has faced the worst impact from the monsoon season in Pakistan in 2025.

    There have been 465 deaths, 2,113 homes destroyed, and 23,430 people displaced. Buner district was particularly hard hit, with 237 deaths and more than 700 homes damaged, highlighting the seriousness of the disaster.

  • Sukkur Barrage Control Room issues river flow report

    Sukkur Barrage Control Room issues river flow report

    Sukkur: The control room of the Sukkur Barrage has issued figures of flood water at various rivers of the country.

    According to the control room of Sukkur Barrage, as much as 1549.66 feet recorded at the Tarbela Dam while inflows recorded 19500 cusecs while its outflows recorded at 256,000.

    On the other hand, flood water from the river Kabul to the river Indus recorded 33300 cusecs whereas inflows at Kala Bagh barrage 200953 and outflows 193669 cusecs.

    Moreover Chashma barrage inflows 242919 cusecs and outflows 229289 cusecs while Taunsa barrage inflows 353605 cusecs outflows 337605 cusecs.

    Besides that Panjnad barrage: water inflows 73222 cusecs and outflows 58732 cusecs whereas Gudu barrage inflows 335196 cusecs and outflows 303607.

    The control room informed that Sukkur barrage inflows 27728 and outflows 225050 while Kotri barrage inflows 241425 and outflows 211870.

    Meanwhile , Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has declared an emergency in all hospitals across the province amid the flood situation

    Presiding over a four-hour-long meeting focused on all flood-affected areas across Punjab, the chief minister cancelled all leaves of hospital staff with immediate effect.

    Hospital staff have been ordered to remain on 24-hour alert to handle any emergencies promptly.

    During the meeting, relief and rescue reports regarding flood-affected districts were presented.

    Maryam Nawaz also issued instructions to ensure the availability of emergency medicines, including those for snake bites and other urgent treatments, in every hospital.

    The services of the army were called in seven districts including Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Okara, and Sargodha.

    The chief minister was informed in the briefing that all relevant departments of the Punjab government are monitoring the flood situation 24/7.

    It was told that the district administration, PDMA, Rescue 1122, Civil Defense, and Police are engaged in carrying out rescue and relief operations on the front line.

    Read More: PM Shehbaz orders national-level coordination to tackle flood crisis

    The districts of Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur were declared affected due to flooding in the Sutlej River. As many as 72 villages and 45,000 people in Kasur district were badly affected by the high level of flooding in the Sutlej River.

    It was further informed in the briefing that 12 villages in Pakpattan, 23 in Vehari, 75 in Bahawalnagar, and 15 villages in Bahawalpur have been affected by the flood.

    A total of 130 boats, 115 OBMs, 6 AMB bikes, 1300 life jackets, and 245 life rings have been delivered to the affected districts. More than 150,000 people and 35,000 livestock have been shifted to safe places and relief camps along with medical and veterinary camps have been established.

    More than 2600 flood victims are being treated in the medical relief camps.

     

     

  • PM Shehbaz welcomes ADB’s interest in major economic projects

    PM Shehbaz welcomes ADB’s interest in major economic projects

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday lauded the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its enduring partnership with Pakistan, describing the institution as a steadfast ally in the nation’s pursuit of growth and prosperity.

    He expressed optimism over ADB’s keen interest in collaborating on several large-scale development initiatives in Pakistan, noting that these projects hold the potential to significantly transform the country’s economic landscape.

    According to a press release issued by the PM Office Media Wing, ADB President Masato Kanda, accompanied by his delegation, called on the prime minister at the PM’s House.

    The prime minister further said that Pakistan and ADB could further their cooperation in the fields of railways, public transport, and minerals sectors that would significantly benefit Pakistan’s economy.

    PM Shehbaz also briefed the ADB delegation on the reforms initiated by the incumbent government which included increasing tax revenues, reforms in the energy sector, improving fiscal stability, measures against the devastating effects of climate change, reduction in the untargeted subsidies, and expansion of social security.

    The meeting was attended by Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari, Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and other relevant senior officials.

    The ADB president acknowledged Pakistan’s longstanding association with the institution as a founding member.

    He appreciated the comprehensive reforms undertaken by the government of Pakistan and reaffirmed Bank’s continued support for the country.

    He reiterated ADB’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in infrastructure development, climate change, and institutional reforms.

    Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and others were also present on the occasion.