Blog - Page 10 of 251

Actress Mahira Khan opens up about pregnancy at 41

September 14, 2026 by Entertainment Desk

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan says she never expected to become a mother again at this stage of her life, describing her pregnancy as an emotional and physically challenging new chapter.

Khan announced on Instagram a day earlier that she was expecting her second child, prompting an outpouring of congratulations and good wishes from fans and fellow celebrities.

Speaking in an interview with a female journalist during the Toronto International Film Festival, Khan opened up about her pregnancy and how different the experience has been from becoming a mother for the first time.

“I did not expect to become a mother again at this stage of my life,” Khan said, explaining that her life had already taken a particular direction. Her son had grown older, while she had become accustomed to her work, routines and independence.

The actor said she had imagined her life following a certain path, but beginning the journey of motherhood again after many years had brought a significant emotional change.

Khan said people make plans for their lives, but “Allah has His own plan,” which she described as the best plan.

She said the experience had taught her that people do not need to control everything or know the answer to every question in advance. Sometimes, she added, it is necessary to allow life to surprise you and surrender to God’s will.

Khan also reflected on the difference between her first pregnancy and her current experience.

She said she was 24 when she first became a mother and is now 41, making her emotionally and physically a different person.

The actor said her first experience came with a certain innocence, when she was healthy and less concerned about the possible challenges. This time, she said, the pregnancy has been physically more difficult.

“There are days when my body does not allow me to do what my mind wants,” Khan said, noting that she has always been used to staying busy, working, traveling and managing several things at once.

She said the experience was also emotionally different because people become more aware and cautious with age and develop a deeper understanding of life’s fragility and importance.

Khan said she was experiencing “fear, exhaustion and vulnerability” alongside immense happiness during her second pregnancy.

Khan married Ali Askari in 2007, and their son, Azlan, was born in September 2009. The couple divorced in 2016.

She later began a relationship with businessman Salim Karim, and the couple married in Bhurban in October 2023.

Google Chrome testing new feature to translate PDF files

September 14, 2026 by Technology Desk

SAN FRANCISCO: Google Chrome is testing a new feature that could make it easier for users to translate PDF files directly within the browser, according to a report.

The PDF translation feature has reportedly appeared in Chrome Canary, an experimental version of the browser, with references indicating that it could be available across desktop operating systems.

The feature is not yet active, so it remains unclear when Google plans to make it available to all Chrome users.

Chrome currently does not offer a built-in option to translate PDF files directly. The new feature would allow users to translate the contents of a PDF into another language without leaving the browser.

According to the report, a “Translate” button could appear in the PDF reading mode, giving users access to the translation feature.

Google has not yet provided detailed information about how the feature will work or when it will be officially released.

Rising power, gas prices top Pakistanis’ concerns: Survey

September 14, 2026 by Business Desk

ISLAMABAD: Rising electricity and gas prices are the biggest concern for Pakistanis, followed by higher prices of everyday goods, unemployment and fuel costs, according to a new survey.

The Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) released its latest survey, which found that 19% of respondents identified increases in electricity and gas prices as their biggest problem.

Another 17% said rising prices of daily-use items were a major source of concern, while 16% cited unemployment as one of the country’s key problems.

According to the survey, 10% of respondents identified rising petroleum prices as a major issue, while 7% pointed to a lack of access to health care facilities.

IPOR also highlighted challenges faced by the government in addressing public concerns.

The survey said about 43% of the government’s budget, amounting to more than 8 trillion rupees, goes toward debt-related expenses, leaving limited fiscal space to address public problems.

30 minutes of daily exercise may help prevent type 2 diabetes: Study

September 14, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ROME: Just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day may help improve blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, potentially reducing the long-term risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to an Italian study.

Researchers at the Centro per le Malattie Endocrine e Metaboliche studied 32 healthy people between the ages of 20 and 35 who were not taking any medication.

Participants underwent glucose testing before being asked to perform light jogging. Their blood glucose and insulin levels were tested again 24 hours after exercise.

The researchers found that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise produced an immediate improvement in blood glucose levels and increased insulin sensitivity.

The findings also suggested that the benefits of exercise may persist for up to 24 hours, with lower blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity observed after physical activity.

Researchers said the results support earlier evidence that regular physical activity can improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity over the long term.

They said making exercise a regular part of daily life could help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The study’s findings were published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation.

PM’s fuel relief package gets ECC approval

September 14, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee on Monday approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s fuel relief package, providing weekly assistance of 500 rupees to motorcycle and rickshaw users and 1,000 rupees every 10 days to owners of vehicles with engines up to 800cc.

The ECC, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved a technical supplementary grant of 75 billion rupees for the fuel relief scheme, according to an official statement.

The scheme will be limited to non-commercial users, with each individual or vehicle owner eligible to receive relief for only one vehicle.

The committee also approved the introduction of a digital Fuel Pass system to ensure transparent distribution of the subsidy. The Ministry of Information Technology will develop and manage the system.

The ECC also approved a framework for restructuring the ownership and administrative control of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation. It endorsed recommendations submitted by a committee headed by the minister responsible for privatization.

The committee approved a draft upgrade agreement for existing oil refineries, setting a five-year deadline for completion of refinery modernization projects.

The ECC deferred consideration of the commercial import of used vehicles.

It also approved the export of an additional 200,000 metric tons of sugar, subject to safeguards aimed at maintaining price stability in the domestic market.

The committee further approved 3 billion rupees for the purchase of 15 bulletproof vehicles for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Turkey conducts raids in 15 provinces, arrests dozens

September 14, 2026 by World Desk

ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities have launched a nationwide crackdown involving raids in 15 provinces, with dozens of people arrested and investigations opened against 162 suspects, nine organizations and 13 businesses, according to Turkish officials.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said prosecutors had initiated investigations as part of a campaign called “My Family Is Safe,” saying the operations were aimed at protecting children, families and social order.

Turkish media reported that police raided suspected homes, offices and bars and moved to shut down dozens of websites that authorities accused of promoting what they described as homosexual content or ideology.

Authorities also targeted some bars, nightclubs and Turkish baths that officials alleged were being used as venues for prostitution.

Gürlek said the operations were conducted under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 10-year administrative initiative focused on families and population growth. The government has said the initiative is intended, among other goals, to address Turkey’s declining birth rate.

The justice minister said Turkey’s Constitution places a responsibility on the state to protect families and children.

He added that authorities would not tolerate criminal organizations, exploitation networks or illegal activities that target children, young people or families.

The crackdown comes amid longstanding tensions in Turkey over homosexual rights, with rights groups and activists frequently criticizing government policies and restrictions affecting the homosexual community.

Elon Musk backs Anthropic chief’s call for slower AI development

September 13, 2026 by Technology Desk

SAN FRANCISCO: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Saturday called for a deliberate slowdown in the development of frontier AI models, warning that unchecked advances could outpace safety measures and lead to “catastrophic damage.”

In an essay titled “We Must Pace the Frontier,” Amodei said AI companies should slow the pace at which they improve the capabilities of their models while using the additional time to strengthen safety measures and regulatory safeguards.

Amodei warned that autonomous AI agents could potentially hack critical internet infrastructure around the world within the next year if companies fail to adequately address emerging risks.

“We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models,” Amodei wrote. “Progress will still seem fast, and we must make wise use of the time we gain.”

He proposed a three-step framework that includes placing permanent third-party reviewers inside frontier AI development processes. The reviewers would have access to relevant tools and internal risk-assessment procedures to independently evaluate potential dangers.

Amodei clarified that he was not calling for a freeze on AI training or technological progress. Instead, he argued that companies should devote sufficient time and resources to model alignment and safety, with independent evaluators verifying whether safeguards are effective.

Elon Musk also backed Amodei’s proposal. In a post on X, Musk wrote, “Dario is right.”

The essay comes days after an Anthropic researcher resigned and warned that technology companies were irresponsibly gambling with people’s lives by moving too quickly in AI development.

Pakistan issues brownfield refinery policy, paving way for $5b upgrades

September 12, 2026 by Business Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued its brownfield refinery policy, paving the way for refinery upgrade projects worth an estimated $5 billion.

Under the policy, refineries must sign upgrade agreements by Oct. 1. Failure to do so will result in a further reduction in the deemed duty on high-speed diesel.

If refineries fail to sign the agreements by Nov. 15, the deemed duty will be completely abolished, according to the policy.

The policy also requires refineries to maintain inventories equivalent to 20 days of imported crude oil and 15 days of locally produced crude.

Ronaldo reportedly earns €3.3 million per Instagram post

September 12, 2026 by Sports Desk

LISBON: Portugal soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly among the highest-paid personalities on Instagram, with reports suggesting he earns about 3.3 million euros for a single sponsored post.

Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of his generation, has built a massive global following on Instagram, allowing his posts to reach millions of people directly around the world.

His reported earnings highlight the enormous commercial value of his personal brand, which extends well beyond soccer and into social media, endorsements and business ventures.

Ronaldo uses Instagram to promote business interests, brand partnerships, sports-related content and his lifestyle. His enormous following has made him highly attractive to global companies seeking access to a worldwide audience.

His CR7 brand has also expanded into clothing, footwear, fragrances and other business ventures, further strengthening his commercial profile.

Alongside earnings from soccer, sponsorships and his personal businesses, social media has become an important part of Ronaldo’s financial empire.

The reported €3.3 million fee per sponsored post underscores how globally famous athletes have increasingly become powerful media platforms in their own right.

Ebola cases surpass 7,000 in Congo as death toll reaches 3,398

September 12, 2026 by abid khan

KINSHASA: Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surpassed 7,000, with the death toll reaching 3,398, according to the latest government figures.

Reuters reported that 7,022 confirmed cases had been recorded in the country as of Sept. 10, while 1,671 patients had recovered.

The case fatality rate stood at 48.4%, according to the figures. Health authorities said the outbreak had spread to 62 health zones across seven provinces.

South Ubangi became the latest province to report an Ebola case. The patient, a 23-year-old man who had traveled from South Kivu, was confirmed to have the virus and later died.

South Ubangi does not border the six provinces where Ebola cases had previously been confirmed: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo and Bas-Uele.

The current outbreak, first declared in May, has been described as the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo’s history. Globally, it is considered the second-largest Ebola outbreak after the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa.