Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League on Wednesday in a message on social media. (more…)
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Over 2.1 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water: UN report
More than 2.1 billion people across the globe do not have access to safe drinking water, according to a UN report released on Tuesday.
The UN report revealed that last year, one in every four people worldwide did not have access to safely managed drinking water, while over 100 million relied on rivers, ponds, and streams to meet their daily needs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF noted that billions are falling ill due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
The report stresses the urgent global need to address this crisis, but warns that the outlook for achieving universal access by 2030 remains bleak.
“Water and sanitation are basic human rights, not privileges,” said WHO’s Head of Environment, Rüdiger Krech.
The UN report categorizes drinking water into five types: piped water free from contamination and chemicals; basic water, available within a 30-minute walk; limited water, requiring more time to access; unimproved sources, such as contaminated wells or springs; and surface water from rivers or lakes. Since 2015, around 961 million people have gained access to clean drinking water, raising global coverage from 68% to 74%.
Read more: India releases more water into Sutlej River, flood alert issued
Yet, in 2023, over 2.1 billion people still lacked safe water, including 106 million who depended on surface water—down by 61 million compared to a decade earlier.
According to the report, the number of countries relying on surface water is expected to increase from 142 in 2015 to 154 by 2024.
In contrast, 89 countries are projected to achieve universal access to basic drinking water, while only 31 will ensure access to safe, uncontaminated drinking water. However, 28 countries—mostly in Africa—will continue to see more than one in four people deprived of even basic services.
The report further noted that since 2015, some 1.2 billion people have gained access to safe drinking water in households not shared with others, with proper waste management. Open defecation has declined from 429 million people to 354 million in 2024, representing 4% of the global population.
Since 2015, 1.6 billion people have gained access to basic sanitation services, while household facilities for handwashing with soap and water have improved from 66% to 80%.
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Verlander gets second win as Giants put away Cubs
Wilmer Flores and Matt Chapman smacked home runs, Heliot Ramos collected three hits and the San Francisco Giants rewarded Justin Verlander with a second win of the season in a 5-2 home victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. (more…)
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Can you guess which ex-BFF did not react to Taylor Swift’s engagement post?
Blake Lively has remained silent on social media following Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce, even as many of the pop star’s celebrity friends rushed to send their congratulations.
Taylor Swift announced the engagement on Instagram, sharing romantic photos of the proposal, which saw the NFL star getting down on one knee.
According to Daily Mail, while stars like Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, and Cara Delevingne showed their support by liking the post, Blake Lively did not react publicly. Zuri Hall also joined the well-wishers online, despite previously being linked to Travis Kelce, a rumour both have denied.
Blake Lively’s absence comes amid reports that her long friendship with Taylor Swift has cooled. The two stars, once close since 2014, are said to have cut ties recently.
Taylor Swift is godmother to Lively’s daughters and famously included their names in her music. However, tensions are believed to have surfaced after the actress became embroiled in legal drama connected to the film It Ends With Us.
Justin Baldoni, who directed and starred in the movie, has filed a $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation.
Legal documents revealed messages from Lively referring to Swift and Reynolds in a way Baldoni claimed was meant to intimidate him. The lawsuit also alleged that Swift attended a meeting at Lively and Reynolds’ home about the project, though sources close to the singer insist she had no involvement.
Reports suggest Blake Lively’s handling of the film sparked tension with Baldoni, with allegations about on-set behaviour, including claims she refused to share space with the actor during the premiere. Some accusations have since been challenged, with raw footage contradicting certain details.
Also Read: Blake Lively ‘desperate’ to reconcile with Taylor, but not Gigi, Selena
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift is preparing to release her new album The Life of a Showgirl, which includes a track titled Ruin the Friendship. Fans speculate the song hints at her fallout with Blake Lively, though Swift has said the album was written during her European tour and not inspired by recent drama.
With Blake Lively silent on Taylor Swift’s engagement and Justin Baldoni continuing his legal fight, the once-close friendship between the actress and the singer appears increasingly strained.
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Coco Gauff stumbles into US Open second round
Former champion Coco Gauff made it to the second round of the US Open after an intense and ‘mentally exhausting’ game against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. (more…)
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Why Is Meghan Markle making headlines after Taylor Swift’s engagement reveal?
Meghan Markle has expressed her support for Taylor Swift following the singer’s engagement to American football star Travis Kelce, despite reports suggesting she previously felt overshadowed by the pop star’s big announcement.
On Tuesday, Taylor Swift confirmed her engagement to Travis Kelce after two years of dating, sharing a series of romantic photos on social media. The images featured the couple in a lush garden setting, with Swift displaying a striking diamond engagement ring.
Meghan Markle acknowledged the announcement by liking the post from her official account. The Duchess of Sussex joined millions of fans, as well as Prince William and Princess Kate, in congratulating the couple. James Middleton, Kate’s brother, also showed his support online.
Meghan Markle’s gesture comes after claims that she was frustrated earlier this week when a major reveal from Taylor Swift reportedly stole attention from the trailer for season two of the Duchess’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.
Sources suggested Meghan Markle had hoped the trailer would dominate headlines but felt the timing of Swift’s album announcement shifted the focus elsewhere.
Adding to the timing clash, the full release of Meghan Markle’s Netflix series coincided with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement news, sparking further discussion about the Duchess’s media strategy.
This is not the first time Taylor Swift has been linked to the royals. Last year, the singer and Travis Kelce met Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte during an Eras Tour concert. This encounter became a talking point after Swift shared details in a podcast appearance.
Despite reports of initial disappointment, Meghan Markle has now shown her support for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, signaling a positive gesture amid recent speculation.
Also Read: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce announce engagement
Earlier, American pop star Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce announced their engagement on Tuesday, two years after they started dating.
The couple announced on Instagram with a carousel of photos, showing the moment Travis Kelce proposed to the singer-songwriter in a rose garden.
One of the photos showed Taylor Swift wearing a diamond wedding ring.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” the caption of the Instagram post read.
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Clarke undergoes another skin cancer surgery
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has urged people to take skin health seriously after revealing he had another skin cancer spot removed from his nose.
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EA revives Skate franchise with fourth entry set for Early Access in September
Electronic Arts (EA) unveiled developer Full Circle’s skate., the fourth entry in the popular video game franchise, on Tuesday.
The publisher also shared a trailer for the game, sharing insights into the upcoming entry.
The announcement of the fourth entry comes around 15 years after the previous Skate 3, which was released in 2010.
According to EA, skate. will be available for Early Access on September 16 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and the EA app.
The publisher also confirmed that the game will be free-to-download, cross-platform, and cross-progression.
Read more: LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight announced
“Set in the vibrant city of San Vansterdam, ‘skate.’ is a multiplayer skateboarding destination offering a massive open world where players discover unique skate spots, land insane tricks and connect – or compete – with friends online,” the game’s description reads.
“With four unique neighborhoods – Hedgemont, Gullcrest, Market Mile and Brickswich – each offering its own distinct vibe and challenges, the city is a huge playground for skaters. From parks and plazas to rooftops and massive ramps, every corner is packed with skateable spots, including the House of Rolling Reverence, a former church transformed into a trick haven for skaters.”
It is worth noting here that the first title in the Skate franchise was launched in 2007 for Xbox 360 and PS3.
A second entry was released in 2009, while the third game arrived in 2010.
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Details emerge on price, diamond of Taylor Swift’s engagement ring
Reports about Taylor Swift’s engagement ring began making rounds on social media soon after the singer announced that she was engaged to Travis Kelce on Tuesday.
The couple took fans by surprise after confirming their engagement in a joint Instagram post.
They shared a carousel of photos, showing the moment Travis Kelce proposed to the singer-songwriter in a rose garden.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” the caption of the Instagram post read.
One of the photos included a close up shot of a diamond wedding ring on Taylor Swift’s finger.
Jewelry experts have now suggested that the ring would cost the NFL star around $550,000.
According to experts, the engagement ring weighs around eight karats, while the stone is set in Victorian-style gold mounting.
Read more: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce announce engagement
As per the experts, the Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift went for antique and vintage styles, which have seen a surge in their popularity in recent years.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift made their first public outing in October 2023.
The singer-songwriter recently announced her new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ on Kelce and his brother Jason’s ‘New Heights’ podcast earlier this month.
In an interview earlier this month, the NFL star opened up about the events leading to their meeting and how they fell in love.
“We are two fun-loving people who have the morals to appreciate everyone for who they are. We share all those values. It kind of just took the f— off,” he said.
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Impressive measures against counterfeit medicines are inevitable: Mustafa Kamal
Islamabad: Federal Minister for health Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the impressive measures against counterfeit medicines are inevitable while the counterfeit medicines also discredit credibility of the pharma industry.
A delegation of Pakistan Pharma Manufacturing Association called on the Health Minister while Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP)and other senior officers were also in attendance.
The meeting reviewed in detail on progress on implementation of 2D bar code for eradication of the counterfeit medicines.
Besides that the huddle also considered a strategy for production of vaccines locally. While Mustafa Kamal said that the government is determined for preparation of vaccines locally.
The Minister urged the DRAP and Pharma Industry to form coordinated roadmap for production of vaccines locally, so that Pakistan could become self reliant in this vital field and dependence on outer world be lowered down.
He added that with the production of vaccines locally it will strengthen the health system and will save precious foreign exchange.
He also emphasised on the pharma industry and and DRAP to ensure taking all necessary measures to uptick export.
The delegation lauded the recent reforms in the DRAP conducted under his supervision and said that digitisation of medical devices has brought ease to the business community.
Read More: KP floods: Health department confirms 335 deaths, 356 injuries
On the other hand, secretary board of investment capt (retd)Muhammad Mahmood, also called on the health Minister.
Investment opportunities in the health field, public-private partnership, measures regarding providing facilities to local and foreign investors were discussed in the meeting.