Malik Waqar Ahmed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani digital services firm JazzWorld has launched an Internet of Things (IoT) weather station at its headquarters in Islamabad, marking a step toward data-driven climate monitoring and environmental resilience in Pakistan.&nbsp;The station collects real-time information on temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind speed, while AI-powered analytics transform observations into actionable insights for planning and decision-making.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital at the launch, JazzWorld CEO Aamir Ibrahim said the platform is designed to expand over time through additional sensors, enabling more accurate forecasting and supporting disaster prevention efforts.&nbsp;&ldquo;As an agriculture-based economy, we expect this system to provide valuable insights that will help farmers make better decisions and improve productivity,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Federal Secretary for Climate Change Aisha Humera Chaudhry described the initiative as a foundation for broader environmental monitoring, including air quality, floods, heatwaves and droughts.&nbsp;JazzWorld plans to further enhance the system by integrating air-quality and ultraviolet radiation monitoring, expanding its role in climate preparedness and public awareness.

Gadgets

JazzWorld has launched an AI-enabled IoT weather station in Islamabad, collecting real-time environmental data to support disaster preparedness, climate monitoring and agricultural decision-making, with plans to expand capabilities to include air quality and UV radiation tracking

Pakistani tech firm unveils smart weather station to aid forecasting

Faraz Saeed

Every year in Pakistan, Budget Day arrives with familiar chaos spreadsheets, IMF targets, political claims, TV debates, and then the Finance Minister stands up in Parliament and delivers a speech full of numbers most people forget within minutes. But here&#39;s the real question, what is this budget actually saying about your life? Let&#39;s break it down. First, what is a budget? &nbsp; &nbsp;At its simplest, a budget is the government&#39;s annual financial plan. It tells you how much money is budget is coming in and how much is going out and how the gap will be filled. Think of it as a national household budget, except the household is a country and the gap is usually covered by borrowing, because in Pakistan&#39;s case, spending often exceeds income, and that is where the story begins. The three questions behind every budget. Before the jargon, keep this in mind. How much is the government earning? &nbsp; &nbsp;How much is it spending? And who is paying the difference? Everything else is just detail. Now, let&#39;s decode the language. The language of Budget Day. You&#39;ll hear these words repeatedly. Hadaf is equal to targets. Takhminai is equal to estimate. Andazan, approximately. Dramat, imports. Zaraat, agriculture. Mulki, defense. &nbsp; And remember, Arab is billion. Kharb is trillion. That alone makes the speech easier to follow. What actually matters on Budget Day. You don&#39;t need every detail. Just track this. How much is being collected in taxes? How much is being spent? How big is the deficit? How much is going to debt? What&#39;s happening to inflation? What&#39;s happening to growth? Who is getting taxed and who is not? First thought, a budget is often presented as an economic document, but it is more than that. It is a list of priorities disguised as numbers. Every Rupee spent shows what matters. Every Rupee tax shows who pays for it. And once you see that clearly, Budget Day is no longer confusing. It becomes a story.

Economy

Every year, Pakistan's Budget Day floods us with jargon and targets. But behind the spreadsheets lies a simple story about who earns, who spends, and who pays the difference as described by Pakistan TV digital reporter, Faraz Saeed.

What Pakistan's budget actually means for your wallet

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong on Wednesday to discuss accelerating implementation of bilateral economic initiatives, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. The meeting focused on expanding cooperation across agriculture, information technology, industrial development and mining under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The prime minister called for immediate follow-up on decisions made during his visit to China from May 23-26, as per the press release. PM Sharif conveyed his &quot;firm resolve&quot; to strengthen the countries&#39; strategic partnership. He stated that there was a need for timely implementation of memorandums of understanding signed between Pakistani and Chinese companies at a business investment conference in Hangzhou during his recent trip. He also called for progress on the Karakoram Highway realignment project while discussing expanded cooperation in security, counter-terrorism and defense matters. Economic and financial support initiatives were also addressed, along with regional and international developments. Ambassador Jiang Zaidong stated that China remains &quot;committed to strengthening its iron-clad brotherhood with Pakistan&quot;. He also pledged to expand cooperation across all sectors. He congratulated the Prime Minister on his successful China visit.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong to discuss accelerating joint economic initiatives across agriculture, technology and infrastructure as part of the second phase of CPEC.

Pakistan, China vow to speed up joint economic projects

ISLAMABAD: What do a wedding gown, a package of live butterflies and a 75-gallon fish tank have in common? According to Uber&#39;s latest Lost &amp; Found Index, they were all forgotten in ride-hailing vehicles, offering a quirky glimpse into modern life, and humanity&#39;s enduring tendency to leave things behind.&nbsp;Marking the 10th anniversary of its annual report, Uber said its Lost &amp; Found Index has grown beyond a simple record of misplaced belongings into an &rdquo;unexpected time capsule&quot; of changing consumer habits, cultural trends and everyday routines.&nbsp;The report found that mobile phones remained the most commonly forgotten item in 2026, with more than one million reported lost.&nbsp;Wallets, luggage, keys and headphones rounded out the list of the most frequently misplaced possessions, while New York once again earned the distinction of being the world&#39;s most forgetful city.&nbsp;&quot;From AirPods becoming an everyday essential, to vaccine cards and face masks taking over in 2021, Ozempic making its way into backseats in 2025, and viral Labubu plushies riding shotgun this year, the Lost &amp; Found Index has become an unexpected time capsule of the past decade,&quot; Uber said.&nbsp;The annual report suggests that what people leave behind often reflects the cultural moment.&nbsp;This year, collectible Labubu toys emerged as a recurring lost item, while fitness-related belongings such as pickleball paddles, protein powder and wellness products increasingly appeared in reports.&nbsp;Dental accessories, including dentures, veneers and gold grills, also featured prominently.&nbsp;Some discoveries, however, defied easy explanation.&nbsp;Among the strangest items reported missing this year were dentures with two teeth, breast milk, human hair, a mannequin, two trees, a child&#39;s prosthetic eye and a package containing live butterflies.&nbsp;Riders also managed to leave behind a mini refrigerator, a dishwasher, a propane tank, an oxygen tank and 20 pounds of duck sausage.&nbsp;Perhaps most puzzling of all was the 75-gallon fish tank, a forgotten possession that now joins a growing archive of unusual items documented over the past decade.&nbsp;Food proved equally forgettable. According to the report, drivers found everything from 70 tiramisu cakes and a wedding cake to a full Thanksgiving meal, 50 avocados and a tray of chicken nuggets abandoned in vehicles.&nbsp;The data also revealed patterns in forgetfulness. Sundays were the most common day for riders to leave belongings behind, while phones were most frequently forgotten on Saturdays.&nbsp;Wallets and identification cards, meanwhile, were most often misplaced on Mondays.&nbsp;July 17 emerged as the busiest day of the year for lost-property reports, underscoring the scale of a problem that has become a routine part of ride-hailing operations worldwide.&nbsp;Looking back at a decade of reports, Uber highlighted some of the most memorable forgotten possessions since 2017, including a lobster, divorce papers, a salmon head, a large painting of Kate Middleton, a toy poodle, a fake butt and a taxidermied rabbit.&nbsp;To help reunite riders with their belongings, Uber also announced an upgraded in-app feature in selected markets.&nbsp;The tool allows users whose items have been found by drivers to arrange a dedicated return trip, enabling possessions to be delivered directly to a chosen address.&nbsp;Despite changing trends and increasingly unusual discoveries, Uber said one lesson has remained remarkably consistent over the past decade.&nbsp;&quot;Ten years later, trends come and go, but forgetfulness, we fear, may be forever,&quot; the company said.

Entertainment

Uber's 10th annual Lost & Found Index reveals riders forgot everything from wedding gowns and live butterflies to a 75-gallon fish tank. The report highlights changing consumer trends, bizarre belongings and New York's status as the most forgetful city

Inside Uber's decade of forgotten items and oddities

ISLAMABAD: China&#39;s Pinglu Canal, a strategic inland waterway project in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwestern China, began its water-testing phase after two key navigation hubs started filling on Wednesday, according to reports from Chinese state media. The canal is scheduled for full navigation in September. The Madao and Qishi hubs commenced water-filling operations, enabling the entire 134.2-kilometer canal to become fully connected by water, as reported by China News Service (ECNS). The canal stretches from the city of Hengzhou in Guangxi to the Beibu Gulf. It is designed to accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tons. The Pinglu Canal is China&#39;s first nationally coordinated canal linking inland rivers to the sea since 1949, according to ECNS. It forms a key component of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Goods from southwestern China destined for Southeast Asia had to detour hundreds of kilometers through southern ports, increasing transport time and costs. The canal will directly link the region&#39;s inland waterways with maritime shipping networks, shortening sea routes by about 560 kilometers. The canal is also expected to reduce logistics costs for southwestern China&#39;s exports to Association of Southeast Asian Nations members by 18 to 30%, potentially saving more than $739 million annually, according to expert estimates reported by ECNS. The Chinese news outlet reported that trade efficiency gains will particularly benefit automotive, machinery, new energy and electronics sectors.

China

The Pinglu Canal is China's first nationally coordinated canal linking inland rivers to the sea since 1949, and is part of the ambitious New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

China's Pinglu canal enters water tests, targets September opening

DELHI: At least 21 people were killed&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;when a fire ripped through a hotel in New Delhi, police said, in one of the deadliest blazes in the Indian capital in recent years. Building fires are common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations. The fire broke out in the morning at Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast in a congested neighborhood in the south of the city, Delhi Police said in a statement. &quot;It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident,&quot; the force said. It said rescue and search operations were continuing, with more than 40 people taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Several of those killed were visitors from African countries who had come to the city for medical treatment, the Indian Express and other local media reported. The blaze was eventually brought under control with the help of eight fire engines, police said. &quot;All concerned agencies remain deployed at the spot to ensure every possible assistance to those affected,&quot; the force added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident &quot;tragic&quot;. &quot;My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones,&quot; his office said in a statement on X. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Electrical short circuits, often caused by poorly maintained wiring, remain the leading cause of fire incidents in India. In March, a fire at a government-run hospital in eastern India killed at least 10 critically ill patients.

Forensics team members inspect the site following a fire that broke out at a hotel in New Delhi on June 3, 2026 (AFP)

India

The fire broke out in the morning at Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast in a congested neighborhood in the south of the city, Delhi Police said in a statement. Rescue and search operations were continuing, with more than 40 people taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.


New Delhi hotel fire kills at least 21: Police

PARIS: French authorities said Wednesday that they had imposed two fines on Shein totalling more than 22 million euros ($25.5 million), citing problems with product traceability, environmental labelling and delivery times. The new penalties bring the total fines imposed by France against the Asian fashion giant to more than 210 million euros. The latest fines were imposed by the government&#39;s consumer protection agency DGCCRF following a wide-ranging investigation targeting several e-commerce platforms, primarily based outside Europe, including Shein. The first fine of 5.77 million euros targets Infinite Style Ecommerce Co Ltd (ISEL), which handles sales for Shein. The DGCCRF accuses Shein of failing to comply with a 14-day period required for consumers to be able to reconsider certain purchases. The watchdog also accuses the company of omitting mandatory traceability information, such as the countries where its clothing is woven, dyed and manufactured, and of failing to disclose the presence of microplastics in its fabrics. Microplastics, primarily found in polyester, are released into the water with every machine wash, posing a serious environmental threat. In addition, the agency imposed a fine of 16.73 million euros on Shein&#39;s subsidiary ISSL (Infinite Styles Services Limited), accusing it of violations of consumer law. Shein has been under fire since it established operations in France. It is widely criticised by campaign groups and politicians for generating environmental pollution, practising unfair competition, selling goods that fail to comply with basic regulations and imposing poor working conditions in its Chinese factories.

Europe

France fined Shein over 22 million for consumer law, product traceability, environmental labelling, and delivery violations, bringing its total penalties in the country to more than 210 million.

France hits Shein with 22 million euros in new fines over consumer violations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed concern over the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Afghanistan, warning that their diversion to terrorist groups poses a significant threat to regional peace and security. In a statement shared on X,&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s Counselor Syed Atif Raza, while speaking at the Ninth Biennial Meeting of States (BMS-9) on the United Nations Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, said the unchecked transfer and accumulation of such weapons continue to intensify conflicts, undermine socio-economic development, and endanger civilian populations. He noted that small arms and light weapons have become the preferred tools of non-state actors and terrorist organizations, whose access to increasingly sophisticated weaponry has heightened security challenges across borders. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2061505190973325521&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=ec709ea7af2ead2de2ca6a20a2cfa191646a41d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The Pakistani delegate, the statement continued, highlighted concerns over stockpiles of advanced arms and ammunition in Afghanistan, citing findings reflected in reports of the UN secretary-general.&nbsp; He emphasized that these weapons present a direct threat to neighboring countries, including Pakistan. The statement further said that calling for stronger international cooperation, the Pakistani counselor urged efforts to prevent illicit arms from reaching armed terrorist groups, and stressed the need for the Taliban to fulfill their international obligations and commitments. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to the UN Program of Action, Syed Atif Raza said that a comprehensive and balanced approach is essential to address both the supply and demand sides of illicit arms trafficking, and to promote international and regional peace and security.

Security

Counselor tells forum that illicit small arms stockpiles in Afghanistan threaten regional security; urges stronger international action to prevent weapons from reaching terrorist groups and criminal networks.

Pakistan raises alarm over illicit weapons in Afghanistan at UN small arms moot

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that the United States is continuing discussions with several countries to resettle more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted US forces and remain stranded abroad, according to a report by Kabul Tribune.&nbsp; Rubio said the administration is engaging with multiple governments to identify solutions for Afghan allies, many of whom have been waiting in Qatar for more than a year as immigration restrictions limit their entry into the United States. While defending the administration&#39;s refugee policies, Rubio said no final decisions have been made regarding relocation destinations. He added that responsibility for resettling the affected Afghans would likely be shared among several countries rather than handled by a single nation. US officials have discussed potential resettlement arrangements with countries including Botswana and Malaysia as they seek options for those awaiting permanent relocation. The issue drew scrutiny from lawmakers during the hearing. Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, questioned why Afghan allies who had previously undergone US vetting procedures have not been admitted despite commitments made.&nbsp; Advocacy groups warned that returning the refugees to Afghanistan could expose them to retaliation by the Taliban because of their past support for the American military. Proposals to relocate some Afghans to other conflict-affected regions have also faced criticism from humanitarian organizations. Rubio said the administration remains committed to finding solutions but emphasized that current directives restrict the admission of many Afghans into the United States. Rubio also defended broader refugee policies, including the admission of white South Africans, saying immigration decisions are guided by US national interests and the ability of newcomers to integrate into American society. The debate over the future of Afghan allies remains ongoing as policymakers weigh humanitarian obligations against immigration and national security considerations.

The hearing was held to examine the State Department's budget request for fiscal year 2027. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Kevin Dietsch / NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Afghanistan

The US is negotiating with multiple countries to resettle over 1,000 stranded Afghan allies as immigration restrictions continue to delay their entry into America.

US seeks third-country resettlement options for Afghan allies: Rubio

SAINT PETERSBURG: Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Russia early Wednesday, targeting energy and military facilities in and around Saint Petersburg as the city prepared to host the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to AFP. St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov told the media that several infrastructure facilities were damaged in overnight strikes across three districts of the city.&nbsp; While no fatalities were reported, several people were injured.&nbsp; According to CNN, Russian authorities said air defense systems intercepted and destroyed more than 350 Ukrainian drones across the country, including around 60 over the Leningrad region. In western Russia&rsquo;s Smolensk region, Governor Vasiliy Anokhin said Ukrainian drones struck critical infrastructure facilities. Two firefighters were killed while responding to a blaze caused by falling drone debris, while two other firefighters and a civilian suffered minor injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation targeted key military and energy assets, including the St. Petersburg oil terminal and military facilities at the Kronstadt naval base. He also claimed a weapons-production site in the Tambov region was hit. The attacks coincided with the opening of SPIEF, Russia&rsquo;s flagship economic gathering often compared to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Flight operations at St. Petersburg&rsquo;s airport were briefly disrupted due to airspace restrictions. The escalation follows a deadly Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine that killed at least 23 people earlier this week.

Russian authorities confirmed that the drones struck energy and military targets in St. Petersburg and western Russia as a major economic forum opened; Moscow claimed to have intercepted hundreds of drones across the country.

Pakistani tech firm unveils smart weather station to aid forecasting

Latest News

Pakistani tech firm unveils smart weather station to aid forecasting

What Pakistan's budget actually means for your wallet

Pakistan, China vow to speed up joint economic projects

Inside Uber's decade of forgotten items and oddities

China's Pinglu canal enters water tests, targets September opening