Author: newsdesk

  • Wet autumn or dry winter? The forecast is here

    Wet autumn or dry winter? The forecast is here

    Last week’s spell of rain helped bid farewell to summers. So, what’s next? Will we have more rains to make autumn a wet one? Or are we heading for our traditional dry winters?

    Read on for details.

    One last spell of monsoon is about to hit the upper parts of Pakistan and will likely impact the entire country.
    A weather advisory issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the westerly rain-producing wave is likely to enter upper regions of the country on the evening or night of Thursday, September 28.

    Under the system, moderate to heavy rains with wind and thunderstorms is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, areas of Kashmir including Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur, and areas of Gilgit Baltistan including Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar from September 28 to 30.

    Isolated spells of rain and thunderstorm with hailstorms are also expected in Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Haripur, Kurram, Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, and Sheikhupura between September 28 and 29.

    Meanwhile, Zhob, Barkhan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar are also expected to witness similar weather conditions during the said period.
    Moreover, snowfall is expected over the high mountains of the upper areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan during this period.

    Under the possible impacts, the Met Office has also predicted a significant drop in the temperature in the areas affected by the spell.
    PMD advised farmers and tourists to manage their crop activities and remain cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the period, respectively.

    Meanwhile, the general public has been advised to stay at safe places during windstorms, lightning, and downpours as loose structures like electric poles, solar panels, billboards etc. may be damaged by the gusts.

  • Power company in Punjab wants to set power price at record-breaking high of Rs77.3 per unit

    Power company in Punjab wants to set power price at record-breaking high of Rs77.3 per unit

    In a noteworthy development that has captured significant attention and ignited considerable debate, the Kot Addu Power Company (KAPCO) has formally submitted an application to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for the endorsement of what could potentially become the nation’s most costly electricity generation tariff. 

    This significant step has unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing deliberations concerning the escalating expenses associated with electricity production within Pakistan. 

    The Kot Addu Power Company has put forth a bold proposition, aiming to establish the electricity tariff at an unprecedented Rs77.31 per unit, attributing the primary rationale for this request to substantial hikes in production costs. 

    Notably, the present initial tariff offered by the independent power producer (IPP) company stands at a modest twenty-eight rupees per unit, underscoring the magnitude of the escalation should their proposal garner approval. 

    Adding a layer of complexity to this unfolding narrative, IPP Kot Addu Power, the entity responsible for electricity generation, has been granted a sixteen-month extension during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration.  

    However, this extension has not been without its share of controversy, with the Senate Power Committee recently deeming it unlawful, further intensifying the discourse surrounding this matter. 

  • This could be the reason your iPhone 15 Pro is overheating

    This could be the reason your iPhone 15 Pro is overheating

    Following the recent launch of the iPhone 15 Pro on Friday, a notable influx of reports highlighting overheating concerns have emerged. In a recently published statement on Tuesday, the esteemed analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, asserts that these thermal challenges do not stem from the cutting-edge 3nm A17 Pro chip, but instead, they are attributed to “compromises made in the thermal system.” 

    The iPhone 15 Pro boasts the groundbreaking A17 Pro chip, marking a collaboration between Apple and TSMC and serving as their inaugural foray into the realm of 3nm processors. This development naturally led to the conjecture that the adoption of this new 3Nm technology was the root cause of the overheating predicaments.  

    Nevertheless, Kuo refutes this assumption, contending that the issues arise from adjustments Apple implemented to accommodate the transition to titanium components, aimed at rendering the iPhone 15 Pro models lighter than their predecessors. 

    Kuo expounds in his statement: “My survey indicates that the iPhone 15 Pro series overheating issues are unrelated to TSMC’s advanced 3nm node. The primary cause is more likely the compromises made in the thermal system design to achieve a lighter weight, such as the reduced heat dissipation area and the use of a titanium frame, which negatively impacts thermal efficiency.” 

    Kuo prognosticates that Apple possesses the capacity to rectify these issues through software updates. Nonetheless, he introduces a caveat, indicating that any substantial enhancements might necessitate a compromise in chip performance: 

    “It’s expected that Apple will address this through software updates, but improvements may be limited unless Apple lowers processor performance. If Apple does not properly address this issue, it could negatively impact shipments over the product life cycle of the iPhone 15 Pro series.” 

  • ‘This Barbie will win the world cup’: Shaheen Afridi’s viral picture in pink suit is winning the internet

    ‘This Barbie will win the world cup’: Shaheen Afridi’s viral picture in pink suit is winning the internet

    This Barbie is a cricket icon!

    Shaheen Afridi will remain the internet’s golden boy because of how precious he is. The fast bowler recently shared a picture announcing that he was the brand ambassador of the real estate organisation AH Group, and in the picture, he can be seen wearing a bright pink suit.

    Looks like Barbie fever is still not over for Pakistani fans as they soon began launching hilarious memes in the quote tweets and we’re sharing all of our favorite ones here.

  • ‘Imran more popular than rivals’: Miftah Ismail cites survey

    ‘Imran more popular than rivals’: Miftah Ismail cites survey

    According to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail, the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, is more popular than his political rivals, The News has reported.

    The PML-N leader also disclosed that he conducted a survey in July to get public opinion, and according to that survey, Imran Khan is more popular than his political rivals.

    Miftah Ismail also said that PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former member of the Senate Mustafa Nawaz Khokar agreed that there is space for a new political party in the country. “The question now is whether they have the capacity to attract people to join a new political party or not,” he added.

    However, the PML-N leader told The News that no decision has been taken about the launch of a new political party, stating that they are seriously thinking about the matter.

    Miftah Ismail also criticised the policies of former finance minister Ishaq Dar, alleging that his criticism of Dar’s policies alienated him from the Sharifs.

    Earlier, PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that there is a space for a new political party in Pakistan.

    According to the sources of The News, Mustafa Nawaz Khokar is more keen to launch a new political party than Abbasi and Miftah. The other two are not completely sure yet whether to go for it or not.

  • K-dramas ‘Reborn Rich’, ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ bag nominations for International Emmy awards

    K-dramas ‘Reborn Rich’, ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ bag nominations for International Emmy awards

    Popular Korean dramas ‘Reborn Rich’ and ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ have been nominated for the prestigious International Daytime Emmy awards. ‘Reborn Rich’ which starred Song Joong-Ki and Lee Sung-Min, was nominated for the category of Best TV Movie/ Mini-Series while the Netflix series ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ is nominated for the ‘Best Drama Series’ category.

    ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ received critical acclaim for its exploration of autism and bullying. The series depicted the struggle of a woman Woo Young Woo (played by Park Eun-Bin), an aspiring lawyer with Asperger’s Syndrome, who applies for a job at Seoul’s prestigious law firm.

    ‘Reborn Rich’ centeres around Yoon Hyun-Woo (played by Joong-Ki), an employee working for the elite Soonyang Group, who is betrayed and murdered by a member of the Soonyang family to cover up a tax fraud. However, Hyun-Woo is re-born as the youngest grandson Jin Do-Jun, and plots his revenge to expel members of the family and take over the family company.

    Meanwhile prominent Bollywood stars have also been included as the final nominees for the Emmy awards. Actor Jim Sarbh secured a nomination for ‘Best Performance by an Actor’ for his portrayal in the series ‘Rocket Boys’, while actress Shefali Shah was nominated for the category of ‘Best Performance By An Actress’ for her role in the Netflix series ‘Delhi Crime’ Season 2.

  • New tax to be imposed on citizens soon

    New tax to be imposed on citizens soon

    The local government has unveiled a new tax that has drawn mixed reactions from citizens. 

    This latest tax, to be imposed in lieu of garbage collection, will be collected from households, shops, petrol pumps, and industrial units on a monthly basis.

    Starting from October, Multan and its neighboring areas will see this sanitation tax in effect. The tax rates are set at Rs50 for houses, Rs200 for shops, Rs1,000 for petrol pumps, and Rs2,000 for industrial unit owners on a monthly basis. 

    The government anticipates an annual revenue boost of approximately Rs4.28 billion through this tax initiative. However, the move has not been met with unanimous approval among citizens, many of whom have criticised it. 

    Meanwhile, amid ongoing discussions concerning the surging costs of electricity production in Pakistan, the Kot Addu Power Company has submitted an application to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), seeking approval for what could potentially become the country’s most expensive electricity generation tariff.

    The proposal suggests an electricity tariff of Rs77.31 per unit, a significant increase from the current rate of twenty-eight rupees per unit. The power company attributes this substantial hike to rising production costs.

    Notably, the Kot Addu Power Company recently secured a sixteen-month extension during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration. However, this extension has not escaped controversy, as the Senate Power Committee has declared it illegal, further fueling the debate over electricity tariffs in the country.

  • Punjab govt ‘pleased to announce’ school holiday tomorrow due to pink eye

    Punjab govt ‘pleased to announce’ school holiday tomorrow due to pink eye

    Government and private schools across Punjab will remain closed on Thursday after Punjab government issued an alert in the light of increasing cases of the viral infection, pink eye.

    The Punjab Education Department has issued a notification to announce the closure.

    Teachers have been instructed to thoroughly check students at the main entrance of schools from Monday in order to detect any patients suffering from pink eye and stop the spread of the eye infection.

    The Punjab Health Department has reported 85 new cases of conjunctivitis within the past 24 hours.

  • Here is a complete list of the nominations from the Lux Style Awards 2023

    Here is a complete list of the nominations from the Lux Style Awards 2023

    The final nominations for the prestigious Lux Style Awards 2023 are finally here, celebrating the best of the art and culture of Pakistan. The 22nd award ceremony will be held in Karachi, attended by the creme de la creme of the entertainment industry.

    This year marks a cultural shift as Pakistani entertainment is fresh off the high of global praise. Songs from Coke Studio like ‘Pasoori’ by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill received international acclaim, and the later was also the subject of a controversial re-make in the Bollywood film ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’.

    Pakistani films like Kamli by Sarmad Khoosat were well received , as well as ‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ which was sadly not included in the nominations after the producers released a statement saying the ceremony’s limited film categories honoring writers and directors is the reason why they did not submit their film as consideration.

    READ MORE: Why wasn’t ‘Maula Jatt’ nominated for the Lux Style Awards?

    ‘Joyland’ by Saim Sadiq which featured the transgender actress Alina Khan, is among the most nominated films in the awards ceremony. The movie received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, and was shortlisted as a nomination for the Academy Awards.

    Check out which one of your favorite film, drama or actors made it as the final nomination.

  • Karachi ranked most polluted city in world, second day in row

    Karachi ranked most polluted city in world, second day in row

    Karachi has been at the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities for the past consecutive two days.

    Dawn newspaper quoted ‘IQAir.com’, an air quality monitoring website, stating that Karachi topped the chart, followed by New Delhi.

    The concentration of 2.5 particulate matter (pm) in Karachi is 20.3 times higher than the annual air quality guideline value of the World Health Organization (WHO) as last night it recorded an air quality index of 175.

    Air quality index readings in the range of 151 to 200 are considered unhealthy, while air quality index readings between 201 and 300 are dangerous and severely harmful to health.

    According to the annual report released by ‘IQ Air’, the level of pollution in Karachi has not improved over the past few years, in fact it has increased.