Author: newsdesk

  • PPP denies consensus reached on caretaker Prime Minister as PML-N sticks to Ishaq Dar

    PPP denies consensus reached on caretaker Prime Minister as PML-N sticks to Ishaq Dar

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has on Monday denied that the ruling coalition has reached agreement on who will become interim Prime Minister as reports of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominating Finance Minister Ishaq Dar gain traction.

    Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, held a press conference today to categorically deny that a consensus has been reached after media reports surfaced last night that PPP has agreed to Dar’s nomination.

    “Someone has been crowned as caretaker Prime Minister based on fake news,” Rehman said in a thinly veiled reference to rumors about Ishaq Dar. “We want a level playing field for everyone,” she pointedly said, adding that no name has as yet been suggested to PPP.

    She also stated that her party is forming a committee of three members to make decisions about the caretaker setup.

    News reports about Dar, the father-in-law of the younger daughter of PML-N head Nawaz Sharif, set off frenzied criticism among political analysts and commentators. Dar is a close ally of Nawaz Sharif’s, raising concerns about his neutrality as a caretaker Prime Minister.

    The news was first reported by Express Tribune’s Shehbaz Rana, while The News’ Azaz Syed tweeted last night that PPP had agreed to Dar’s nomination.

  • Latest AI-powered artery scan can predict heart attack risks years before symptoms appear

    Latest AI-powered artery scan can predict heart attack risks years before symptoms appear

    Fountain Life, a pioneering health technology company, has introduced a revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI)-powered coronary artery scan capable of predicting heart attack risks years before symptoms manifest. This groundbreaking outpatient procedure involves a quick CAT scan of the heart following the injection of a specialised dye into the vein.

    By analysing the scan results and detecting the quantity and type of plaque present, the AI technology offers valuable insights into heart health, potentially aiding in the reversal of heart disease. Fountain Life envisions partnering with physicians to make its AI health services widely accessible and shift healthcare from reactive to proactive, focusing on early detection and prevention of chronic diseases.

    The key highlight of Fountain Life’s offering is its AI coronary artery scan, a non-invasive alternative to traditional procedures that holds the potential to transform the landscape of preventive cardiology. The procedure’s effectiveness lies in the AI model, which has been meticulously trained on vast datasets, including asymptomatic conditions, to enhance accuracy and reliability. By allowing early detection and timely intervention, Fountain Life aims to revolutionise the way heart health is managed, potentially saving countless lives.

    In addition to the AI coronary artery scan, Fountain Life has developed an advanced full-body MRI using AI technology to identify various abnormalities, including cancer and neurogenerative diseases. This comprehensive approach ensures that potential health issues are identified across the body, promoting overall well-being and comprehensive care.

    Acknowledging the significance of AI in early detection and treatment decision-making, cardiologists have praised Fountain Life’s initiative. The technology promises to complement their expertise, providing additional tools to enhance patient care and potentially prevent life-threatening heart-related incidents.

    Impressed patients who have undergone the AI coronary artery scan have expressed gratitude for the life-saving potential of this technology. Fountain Life’s commitment to advancing healthcare with AI-based solutions has garnered positive feedback from the medical community and patients alike.

    Nonetheless, the adoption of AI in healthcare may face certain challenges, particularly in addressing the clinical latency gap and adapting payment models to support such innovative approaches. Despite these obstacles, Fountain Life remains steadfast in its belief in the potential to improve patient outcomes by tackling health problems at their root causes.

    One of the major advantages of the AI artery scan is its minimal risk, involving only low-dose radiation, equivalent to that of a transatlantic flight. Fountain Life is dedicated to refining and optimising its procedures further, lowering costs, and ultimately enabling people to lead longer, healthier lives by detecting health issues early and effectively reversing them at an affordable price point.

    Fountain Life’s AI-powered coronary artery scan marks a significant milestone in preventive healthcare, and the company is determined to continue its mission to empower physicians and patients alike in the pursuit of healthier hearts and lives.

  • Pink explosion Vs nuclear bomb: Barbie beats Oppenheimer on opening weekend

    Pink explosion Vs nuclear bomb: Barbie beats Oppenheimer on opening weekend

    This Barbie just broke all the records to become a box office hit!

    After a highly anticipated opening weekend the numbers are in on who won Barbenheimer. Earning reports have declared that Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ has beaten all the Kens to become a box office smash, earning more than $155 million in North America and Canada on the opening weekend, putting Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ in second place with $80.5 million, as reported by Deadline.

    Both films released on July 21 after highly publicised marketing campaigns. All eyes in hit-starved Hollywood were on the two films with expectations running high after a disappointing summer season.

    ‘Barbie’ has also been hailed as the biggest opening weekend to be directed by a woman, surpassing 2019’s Captain Marvel ($153 million) and 2017’s Wonder Woman ($103 million).

    Barbie revolves around the iconic Matell doll of the same name, who travels to human’s world to discover the reality of her creation. The film stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in leading roles, while America Fererra plays a supporting role.

    Oppenheimer explores the life of the American scientist J Robert Oppenheimer as he invents the atomic bomb and later deals with the consequences of his creation.

  • Steel prices surge to record high in Pakistan, posing a major challenge for construction sector

    Steel prices surge to record high in Pakistan, posing a major challenge for construction sector

    The construction industry in Pakistan is currently grappling with a formidable challenge as the price of steel, its primary raw material, reaches an unprecedented high. On Monday, leading steel rebars producers announced a substantial increase of Rs5,000 per metric ton, attributing it to a scarcity of raw materials and a significant surge in the basic power tariff.

    According to Samaa, this decision to raise steel prices has sparked concern throughout the construction sector, as the cost of steel now stands at a staggering Rs260,000 per metric ton. Such a sharp escalation in costs has understandably raised eyebrows and placed industry players under mounting pressure to navigate these burgeoning challenges.

    Adding to the predicament is the recent increase in electricity tariffs, further exacerbating the situation and intensifying the strain on steel manufacturers as they grapple with soaring production costs.

    As a result, the construction industry finds itself confronting a multifaceted burden due to the surge in steel prices, impacting various aspects of their operations.

  • PIA flight steward goes missing in Toronto

    PIA flight steward goes missing in Toronto

    A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight steward went missing in Toronto soon after he landed in the city. According to a report by ARY News, the flight steward arrived in Toronto from Lahore on Friday.

    PIA administration has said that flight Steward Muntazir Mehdi was on the national airline’s flight PK-798 to Toronto.

    Muntazir Mehdi had been staying with other colleagues in a hotel in the Canadian city.  

    The mysterious disappearance of the steward came to light when he didn’t show up for his flight back to Pakistan. Airline management and Canadian immigration authorities were informed about the matter.

    It is not the first incident of a flight steward going missing in foreign cities. At least 4 flight stewards and hostesses have illegally slipped away in Canada for the purpose of acquiring citizenship.

    The airline authority has also confirmed that last year, a PIA steward, Ramzan Gul, went missing after flight PK-798 landed in Toronto.

  • Mawra Hocane’s performance in Nauroz has Nadia Jamil in rapture

    Mawra Hocane’s performance in Nauroz has Nadia Jamil in rapture

    Green Entertainment, the newly launched channel, is keeping audiences hooked with dramas about new and interesting topics.

    The most recent drama to premiere is Mawra Hocane’s Nauroz, a series centered on how social media affects our daily lives.
    Mawra Hocane appears in a totally different role as a strong figure living in the stunning northern regions of Pakistan.

    Now, television legend Nadia Jamil has offered appreciation for Mawra Hocane’s performance.
    In a tweet, Jamil wrote lengthy note, praising Hocane’s acting:

  • ‘If I had to marry at gun point, would marry Mehwish Hayat’: HSY

    ‘If I had to marry at gun point, would marry Mehwish Hayat’: HSY

    Fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, a.k.a HSY, appeared on the ‘The Knock Knock Show with Mohib Mirza’ where he was asked about marriage.

    When asked who he would marry if forced at gun point, the designer said it would be actress Mehwish Hayat, because friendship is the most important element in building a strong relationship.

    The ‘Pehli Si Muhabbat’ actor went on to clarify that he was not in a relationship with Mehish, however, the two friends shared a close bond with each other.

    They have previously worked together in the telefilm ‘Ijaazat’.

    HSY also opened up about his childhood and how growing up in a poor family, he learned fashion designing by skimming through magazines as a kid when he went with his mother to a grocery store where she worked:

    “My mother used to work at a grocery store and I use to go through old magazines over there. I would observe how did people design a look and when I went home, I’d take out my old shirts and try to make them like Calvin Klien or Donna Karan.”

    HSY also revealed that one of his fashion inspirations was the late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana, who inspired him to become a fashion designer. As an infant, he had spent some time in London where his mother was looking for a job. During this time, the royal wedding was happening.

    “I was on her shoulders watching the wedding and I remember the excitement, and how millions of people were screaming for a carriage, I have never forgotten it…I remember when I got home I got my sister’s dolls, took some tissue papers and started making that dress because I was shocked how that one dress shocked so many people.”

  • Dir-Zara? Indian woman flies to Upper Dir to marry Pakistani man

    Dir-Zara? Indian woman flies to Upper Dir to marry Pakistani man

    After Seema Haider and Sachin Meena’s romance dominated headlines, yet another cross-border love story has unfolded between Indians and Pakistanis. This time, the roles have been reversed. An Indian woman has travelled all way to Pakistan to meet her Facebook friend who is a Pakistani young man.

    35-year-old Ms. Anju has arrived in Upper Dir district to spend time with her 29-year-old Facebook friend, Nasrullah. Ms. Anju, hailing from the Kailor area of Uttar Pradesh, holds valid travel documents to visit Nasrullah’s village, Kulsho, reports Dawn.

    An Upper Dir district police officer, Mushtaq Khan, confirmed that her visa is legal, allowing her to stay in the region for a month.

    Ms. Anju revealed that she and Nasrullah initially connected on Facebook, and their friendship eventually blossomed into a deep love, leading her to make the decision to travel from India to Pakistan.

    Both Ms. Anju and Nasrullah informed the police that they are in love with each other and intend to get married.

    Ms. Anju is a divorcee and follows the Christian faith. She arrived in Rawalpindi, from where Nasrullah accompanied her to Dir Upper on July 22. On the other hand, Nasrullah, a permanent resident of the village, holds a BSc degree from Government College, Dir.

    Authorities have confirmed that Ms. Anju’s travel documents are in order, and she has been permitted to stay with Nasrullah, with instructions for him to take care of her during her visit.

  • ‘So unethical’: Actress Romaisa Khan slams fans for requesting selfies in ICU

    ‘So unethical’: Actress Romaisa Khan slams fans for requesting selfies in ICU

    ‘John’ actress Romaisa Khan has slammed fans for approaching her to take selfies while she was in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for her mother’s surgeries. The former Tik Tok star revealed that she had been anxious and praying for her mother’s surgery to go well, when the nurses present at the hospital kept begging her to take selfies with them, not recognising how improper it was to approach someone who is worried about their parent’s illness.

    “Some people are so insensitive,” lamented the ‘John’ actress on her Threads account. “I know we are public figures but not public properties, so it’s unethical that my mom is in the ICU screaming in pain almost fighting for her life and where I am crying and praying outside and nurses literally making videos and asking for a selfie.”

    Khan reminded her followers that it is alright to approach her at a public event or mall for a picture, but not at all okay to crowd her in a hospital, especially when she is taking care of her parent.

    “Events or malls most welcome but in such sensitive situations please learn how to act,” she wrote.

    Lets all remember that celebrities are human beings like the rest of us. It’s not at all acceptable to invade someone’s personal space, regardless of whether they are famous or not, especially at a time when they are worried about their loved ones.

  • Study reveals higher risk of depression in new fathers

    Study reveals higher risk of depression in new fathers

    A study conducted by the University College London (UCL) has highlighted that men also have a high risk of depression during the transformative period of parenthood. The research, which analyzed medical records of 90,000 men who became fathers within the previous year, focused on the mental health of new fathers and its relation to postnatal depression.

    Led by Professor Irene Petersen, the study found that men with a history of depression who had previously used antidepressants were 30 times more likely to be prescribed them again in the first year after their child’s birth. It was emphasized that postnatal depression in fathers was not a risk for all men but rather more likely to affect those already prone to depression.

    This study brings attention to the mental well-being of new fathers, an area often overshadowed by the focus on mental health during pregnancy and postpartum for women. It suggests that fathers should consider having a mental health check-up in the first year after becoming a parent.

    According to Professor Petersen, some of the men in the study continued their existing treatment for depression, while others experienced a relapse of depression without a recent prescription. It’s possible that these individuals were more aware of the symptoms and sought treatment voluntarily. The study focused on the use of antidepressant treatment rather than making a formal diagnosis. The research showed that paternal post-natal depression is not a risk for all men but primarily affects those who are already prone to depression.

    “However, having a child might act as a trigger for depression in some men,” he concluded.

    Another researcher and PhD candidate involved in the study emphasized the intricacy of the connection between depression and fatherhood. They noted that previous antidepressant treatment played a significant role in determining whether antidepressants were used in the year after becoming a parent. This could be attributed to some men continuing the treatment they were on before becoming fathers, while others might be more susceptible to experiencing depressive feelings again, which may be exacerbated by the challenges of parenthood.

    The study also revealed that fathers living in the most deprived areas had an 18 percent higher risk of being prescribed antidepressants compared to fathers in the least deprived areas.