Tag: Pakistan

  • Diabetes drugs like Ozempic lower cancer risks: study

    Diabetes drugs like Ozempic lower cancer risks: study

    A class of diabetes medications, which include the best-selling drug Ozempic, are associated with a reduced risk of certain obesity-related cancers, according to a study released Friday.

    Published in the journal JAMA, the study compared patients with Type 2 diabetes who were treated with insulin versus patients who were given a class of drug known as GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic, between 2005 and 2018.

    The researchers found that the patients who received GLP-1 agonists had a significantly lower risk of developing 10 out of 13 cancers studied, including kidney, pancreatic, esophageal, ovarian, liver and colorectal cancer.

    Among the cancers which saw no significant change in risk were thyroid cancer and breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

    “Obesity is well known to be associated with at least 13 cancer types,” study author Rong Xu said in an email to AFP.

    “Our study provides evidence that GLP-1RAs hold promise in breaking the link between obesity and cancer,” Xu said.

    Among the drugs studied were semaglutide — commercially sold as Ozempic — as well as liraglutide and others. Ozempic was approved in the United States in 2017.

    GLP-1 agonists have been around for about 20 years, but a new generation of these drugs, among them Ozempic, has been popularized for their more significant weight loss effects.

    Xu suggested that the protective benefits demonstrated in the study may encourage doctors to prescribe GLP-1 treatments for diabetes patients instead of other medicines like insulin.

  • Milk prices in Karachi higher than cities in France, Netherlands, Australia

    Milk prices in Karachi higher than cities in France, Netherlands, Australia

    Milk has become more expensive in Pakistan as compared to many countries of the world, Bloomberg has reported.

    According to the report, the price of boxed milk in Pakistan is 370 rupees per liter, while the same milk is available in Paris, the capital of France, for 342 rupees per liter. The price of milk in the Netherlands has also been declared cheaper than Pakistan.

    The report states that milk is available at Rs 358 per litre in Amsterdam and in Australia for Rs 300 per litre, while the price of canned milk in Pakistan is Rs.370.

    “Ultra-high temperature, or UHT, milk now costs 370 rupees ($1.33) a litre in supermarkets in Karachi. That compares with $1.29 in Amsterdam, $1.23 in Paris, and $1.08 in Melbourne, according to data collected by Bloomberg.” the report highlights.

    Bloomberg says that more than 60 percent of children in Pakistan are suffering from anaemia and increasing the price of milk is akin to putting the lives of sick children at stake.

  • Karachi walo, aa raha hai garmi ka tor; Monsoon about to enter Sindh

    Karachi walo, aa raha hai garmi ka tor; Monsoon about to enter Sindh

    Monsoon winds are likely to enter Sindh from tonight bringing relief to the heat-afflicted southern province, reports Geo News.

    The weather is likely to remain hot and humid in most places of Sindh on Saturday, while a drizzle is expected in some places in coastal areas today, according to the Meteorological Department

    Monsoon winds will bring rain with thunder in Tharparkar, Umarkot and Mirpurkhas during July 7-8.

    Karachi and Sajawal are likely to experience thundershowers on July 8 and 9.

  • Nawaz Sharif to resume political activities after Muharram

    Nawaz Sharif to resume political activities after Muharram

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif has decided to restart political activities after the holy month of Muharram. Party insiders confirmed that the former Prime Minister is set to travel across the country to strengthen his political presence.

    Sharif will initially visit multiple districts in Punjab to mobilize the party at the district level and revive the party at grassroot level to support it in upcoming political challenges.

    Beyond Punjab, the former Prime Minister will also visit Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and other provinces of the country. Leaders of PML-N, including Rana Sanaullah and Anusha Rahman, will schedule Nawaz Sharif’s visits

  • Gandapur demands US Congress investigation into cipher case

    Gandapur demands US Congress investigation into cipher case

    Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has called for a US Congress investigation into the alleged American conspiracy to oust former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.

    Gandapur met with a delegation of the New York State Assembly and American-Pakistani Public Affairs Committee, led by Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos. The KP minister remarked that the US should uncover the truth about the alleged cypher conspiracy.

    Adviser to the chief minister on finance Muzammil Aslam told Dawn that the delegation “endorsed the chief minister’s concerns on the matter and said he’s absolutely right.”

    The adviser also stated that their perception of Pakistan changed after their recent visit.

    Furthermore, both sides agreed to sign memorandums of understanding for partnership in health, education, trade, and human resource, and initiate nursing exchange and tele-health programmes.

  • I made a mistake’: Saba Qamar on turning down ‘Love Aaj Kal’

    I made a mistake’: Saba Qamar on turning down ‘Love Aaj Kal’

    Many Pakistani actors have worked in Bollywood, but few received as much critical acclaim as did Saba Qamar.

    During an interview with The Current, she shared details of her professional journey, including turning down roles in Bollywood films such as ‘Love Aaj Kal’ alongside Deepika Padukone. Reflecting on her career choices, Saba opened up about the significant roles she declined before gaining recognition with ‘Hindi Medium’.

    Taking about her experience auditioning for Delhi 6, Saba said, “I even auditioned for Delhi 6, but my mother did not approve, as for Love Aaj Kal, it was my stupidity.”
    Discussing Love Aaj Kal, Saba revealed that she turned down the part because Deepika Padukone’s portrayal of the lead character overwhelmed her.

    Saba expressed, “I told her, since Deepika Padukone is in the film, I would end up as the second lead character and no one would even notice me, so I decided not to take on that role.”
    “After the film was released, I watched it with friends and realized it was a mistake not to take the role,” she added.

    Saba has become a household name, celebrated for her stellar performance in ‘Hindi Medium’ alongside the late Irrfan Khan.

  • Chief Commissioner suspends NOC for PTI’s public rally

    Chief Commissioner suspends NOC for PTI’s public rally

    The Chief Commissioner of Islamabad has suspended a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for a public rally just a day before the event, ARY News reported.  

    Intelligence agencies expressed concerns about the security situation in the capital city, leading to the suspension of the permission.

    During a meeting headed by the Chief Commissioner, all participants reviewed the applications related to a public gathering.

    After reviewing applications related to the rally and the security situation in the city, the Chief Commissioner suspended the NOC issued to PTI.

    District authorities confirmed that the NOC has been suspended to maintain law and order in the capital city, adding that the citizens’ protection is the government’s priority.

    However, PTI leader Omar Ayub said that the public gathering will take place as planned despite the authorities’ suspension of NOC.

  • Saudi Arabia to give citizenship to foreign professionals

    Saudi Arabia to give citizenship to foreign professionals

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued a royal decree to grant citizenships to scientists, medical doctors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and distinguished talents with unique expertise and specialisation in their respective fields.

    The announcement was made on Thursday, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

    The desert Kingdom, in the midst of modernising the vast country, wants to attract people with unique talents and expertise in their fields that can contribute to the development of various sectors throughout the Kingdom to achieve its Vision 2030 goal.

    Vision 2030, which highlights Saudi Arabia’s keen interest in attracting, investing in and retaining exceptional creative minds, was launched in 2016 under the directive of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a report by Al Arabiya News earlier this year.

    It aims at creating a “diversified, innovative and world-leading nation,” through the Kingdom’s deeply rooted cultural heritage and strategic advantages, according to the official webpage of the initiative.

    The present announcement follows a similar royal decree which was previously issued in 2021 to grant Saudi citizenships to the first group of select distinguished talent in these fields.

  • Renowned Pakistani chef Naheed Ansari passes away

    Renowned Pakistani chef Naheed Ansari passes away

    Naheed Ansari, a well-known Pakistani chef, has passed away on Friday. She had 35 years of experience in cooking and was famous for popular TV appearances. Naheed appeared on many cooking shows and was the director at Creative Hands by Naheed Ansari. She also taught cooking and baking courses, known for being an expert teacher and a kind, soft-spoken person.

    The sad news of Naheed Ansari’s death was shared by Pakistani anchor and host Sidra Iqbal on Instagram. She posted memorable pictures with the chef and expressed grief on her death.

    Social media users and fans are mourning the loss of Naheed Ansari. A fan mentioned that she had been suffering from breast cancer. May Allah grant her peace and a higher place in heaven.

  • South Korean robot commits suicide after tremendous workload

    South Korean robot commits suicide after tremendous workload

    A civil servant robot in South Korea working for the Gumi City Council apparently killed itself leaving many confused on what is being termed the country’s first “robot suicide”.

    The incident occurred last Thursday, leaving the tech community puzzled and in mourning.

    The ‘Robot Supervisor’, according to the eyewitness accounts, was behaving oddly and out-of-character before its fall. It was discovered shattered at the bottom of a stairwell between the first and second floors of the city council building.

    It was employed since August 2023 and performed various tasks including delivering documents, promoting the city, and providing information to residents.

    It worked tirelessly from 9 am to 6 pm, even using elevators—a rare feature of its kind.

    The robot was developed by a California-based startup for a broader range of duties.

    It was seen as a great opportunity by South Koreans but for now the Gumi City Council has decided not to replace the robot, pausing their robot adoption plans and reflecting on the future of automation in the nation.