Day: March 9, 2025

China plans AI usage for elder care as population ages

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China said on Sunday it will accelerate the use of artificial intelligence and big data in elderly and social care as it bets on new technologies to drive economic growth despite an ageing population. The announcement comes as officials grapple with the country’s low birth rate and a declining workforce. “We will accelerate the development and application of new technologies and products such as big data and artificial intelligence in the fields of social assistance, elderly care services, and services for the disabled,” civil affairs minister Lu Zhiyuan said at…

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No new power surcharge on the cards, clarifies energy minister

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Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Sunday announced that no new surcharge would be imposed on electricity consumers to settle the Rs2400 billion circular debt. His remarks came a day after reports emerged on certain sections of local media, claiming the government, during technical talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), proposed about Rs2.83 per unit additional financial surcharge on electricity for the next five years to get rid of the power division circular debt. Speaking on Geo News programme Naya Pakistan, the energy minister said that there was “a lot…

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US Secret Service shoots armed man near White House: spokesman

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WASHINGTON: US Secret Service agents shot an armed man near the White House during the night, an agency spokesman said early Sunday, while President Donald Trump was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The man had been hospitalized and his condition was “unknown,” the spokesman said in a statement that did not specify whether the White House or Trump may have been the intended target. No injuries to the secret service agents were reported, according to the statement posted by spokesman Anthony Guglielmi on social media platform…

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Canada Liberals to reveal Trudeau’s successor amid trade war with US

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OTTAWA: Canada’s Liberal Party looked set on Sunday to choose a candidate to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as it confronts threats from US President Donald Trump. The next prime minister will have to negotiate with US President Donald Trump as he threatens additional tariffs on Canada and may soon face the opposition Conservatives in a general election. Trudeau announced in January he would step down after more than nine years in power as his approval rating plummeted, forcing the ruling Liberal Party to run a quick contest to replace…

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Punjab on high alert amid surge in terrorism

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Punjab has been put on high alert amid the spike in incidents of terrorism in the country, a police spokesperson confirms on Sunday. The development came days after the terror attack on Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At least five soldiers and 13 civilians were martyred while 16 militants were killed in the attack. In addition to this, as many as 32 others sustained injuries as a result of destruction caused by suicide blasts during the clash. Later, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir visited KP’s Bannu district…

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Pope Francis spends calm night as condition improves, says Vatican

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Pope Francis passed a quiet night in hospital, the Vatican said Sunday, after revealing that the 88-year-old was responding well to treatment for pneumonia. “The night was calm, the pope is resting”, the Vatican said in its brief morning update on the Argentine, who has been in a special papal suite at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14. The head of the Catholic Church has suffered several respiratory crises since his admission, but has not had any for several days now, with the Vatican describing his condition as “stable”. It…

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Ex-Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan’s brother murdered in Swabi

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PESHAWAR: The older brother of former Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer and ex-Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, was shot and killed outside his residence in Swabi, police said on Sunday. Mourning the loss, Mushtaq said that his brother was martyred in front of their home, describing him as his strength and support. He strongly denounced the attack, calling it an act of barbarism. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Swabi Muhammad Azhar, Shakeel was fatally shot while attempting to mediate a violent altercation. He said the incident took…

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Dengue outbreak may hit parts of country following rains, warns NIH

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ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued a warning that Punjab, Balochistan, and northern Pakistan are at risk of a dengue outbreak following recent rainfall across the country. The advisory urges authorities and the public to take immediate preventive measures to curb mosquito breeding. According to the NIH advisory, dengue thrives in warm and humid conditions, making post-rainfall periods a high-risk for virus transmission. The institute warned that Pakistan recorded 28,427 dengue cases in 2024, a significant increase from the previous year, and further infections could rise if precautions…

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‘Representing country a priority’: India’s Shami to compensate for missed Ramadan fasts later

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DUBAI: India’s right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Shami has said that his focus during the Champions Trophy 2025 was on cricket, and he would make up for the missed fasts for the month of Ramadan later. Shami, while speaking to reporters at the Dubai Cricket Stadium, said that playing during Ramadan could be challenging, but representing his country was a priority. He explained that Indian professional cricketers followed a set schedule designed for them, which they must adhere to. Shami acknowledged the difficulty of playing matches during Ramadan but said players were…

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US ends Iraq’s waiver to purchase electricity from Iran

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The Trump administration on Saturday revoked a waiver that permitted Iraq to make payments to Iran for electricity, aligning with President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy against Tehran, according to a US State Department spokesperson. The decision to let Iraq’s waiver lapse upon its expiration “ensures we do not allow Iran any degree of economic or financial relief,” the spokesperson said, adding that Trump’s campaign on Iran aims “to end its nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program and stop it from supporting terrorist groups.” Trump restored “maximum pressure” on…

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