Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to cut back its Paris operations, continuing flights only from Islamabad while discontinuing its Lahore–Paris service.
According to sources, the last Paris–Lahore flight will depart on September 12, followed by the final Lahore–Paris flight on September 17.
A PIA spokesperson confirmed that Islamabad–Paris flights will remain unaffected.
he airline explained that the decision is tied to preparations for its upcoming UK operations, which require aircraft refurbishment and have temporarily reduced the available fleet.
It is noteworthy that PIA had resumed two weekly Lahore–Paris flights on June 18 this year.
Sources revealed that out of the airline’s twelve Boeing 777 aircraft, seven are currently grounded. The Boeing 777s are mainly deployed on routes to Saudi Arabia, Paris, and Toronto.
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain plans to reform its asylum appeals process to accelerate decisions, reduce a backlog of cases and phase out the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, it said on Sunday, seeking to respond to mounting public pressure over the issue.
With immigration polling as the public’s top concern, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has been under pressure to deliver on its pledge to end hotel use which is costing billions of pounds a year.
Under the new plans, an independent body of professional adjudicators would be established to handle asylum appeals, seeking to reduce the backlog of 106,000 cases waiting to be heard, including 51,000 asylum appeals pending with average wait times exceeding a year.
Official figures on Thursday showed asylum claims were at a record high, with more migrants being housed in hotels compared with a year ago.
Interior minister Yvette Cooper said on Sunday the changes were part of efforts to “restore control and order” to a system she described as “in complete chaos” when Labour took office last year.
“We cannot carry on with these completely unacceptable delays,” Cooper said, citing the financial burden of hotel accommodation and the need to return failed asylum seekers more swiftly.
The new body would have statutory powers to prioritise appeals, both from those in expensive asylum accommodation, and from foreign national offenders who might be prioritised for expulsion from Britain.
A legal requirement would also be introduced for such appeals to be resolved within 24 weeks.
The announcement follows a court ruling ordering the removal of asylum seekers from a hotel in Epping, north-east of London, which has become a flashpoint for anti-immigration protests.
The government is appealing the decision, insisting hotel closures must be “ordered and managed”.
It looked like a shadow at first — but after several minutes, a rare species of deep-sea shark had swum by an underwater camera 54 times, delighting researchers.
The Miami Herald reported on the events, which happened in the Caribbean’s Cayman Islands. A group of scientists, conducting the area’s “first systematic investigation” of deep-sea biodiversity, lowered their camera to a depth of approximately 3,500 feet. They baited it with sardines and waited for sea life to appear — and sure enough, shortly thereafter, the roughskin dogfish appeared.
Several of the small sharks proceeded to swim back and forth 54 times over several minutes as researchers captured high-quality footage of this normally “cryptic” predator.
In their report published in the Journal of Fish Biology, the team called the recording “the first-ever record of the species” in the Cayman and central Caribbean. Not only is this helping in “adding a new species locality record,” they wrote, but it “expands our knowledge of the distribution of the roughskin dogfish in the region.”
Considering that the roughskin dogfish are usually only seen as bycatch, accidentally captured and killed by fishing boats and deep-sea trawlers, this is a great achievement in order to better understand the species. And, the team added in their paper, it highlights that video systems are a great method for “enhancing and expanding our understanding of the biology and diversity of deep-sea sharks.”
Finding effective, noninvasive ways to document the existence of species like the roughskin dogfish is key for scientists who are working to maintain biodiversity and species knowledge. This is particularly important in conservation efforts; after all, a team cannot help an endangered population thrive if they don’t know where and how they’re living.
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Similar research has helped to repopulate critically endangered species such as eagles and ospreys, gray wolves, pygmy hogs, and Siamese crocodiles.
Maintaining biodiversity is critical to ensuring that ecosystems stay healthy and functioning. As eminent scientific group The Royal Society puts it: “Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans. Without a wide range of animals, plants, and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat.”
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Case (A): application of self-healing methodology on the IEEE 33-bus test system using CYME software
The self-healing methodology was applied to the IEEE 33-bus test system using CYME software, with a fault simulated in Sect. 8 due to its suitability for fault isolation and multiple reconfiguration options to restore power with minimal switch operations. The self-healing protection system responds by opening switches Sw-8 and Sw-9 to isolate the fault, resulting in a power disruption to Sects. 8 through 17, as shown in Fig. 7. This outage affects a total unserved consumer load of 815 kW.
Network reconfiguration was effectively carried out using self-healing techniques to strategically manage switch operations, ensuring optimal load transfer and power restoration for consumers affected by the outage in Sect. 8. The optimal setup for Sect. 8 involves opening switch Sw-9 and closing the normally open tie switch Sw-35, as outlined in Table 4, for scenarios both with and without distributed generation (DG). This configuration facilitates the transfer of 815 kW through the tie line switches after fault isolation. The resulting network layouts are illustrated in Fig. 8.
Case (B): application of the self-healing system using matlab/simulink
In this study, the simulation framework for evaluating self-healing mechanisms in power distribution networks is developed using MATLAB/Simulink, with the IEEE 33-bus test system serving as the foundational topology. This section delineates the configuration of the simulation environment, encompassing the hardware and software infrastructure, alongside a comprehensive description of the model components, including bus configurations, load profiles, power sources, and switching mechanisms.
Central to the simulation is the control unit model, precisely designed in MATLAB/Simulink to coordinate the operation of smart protection devices. The Simulink model represents the dynamic behavior of these devices, offering a graphical representation of their interactions within the distribution network. Key components include bus signal blocks, which emulate protective relays with configurable parameters such as overcurrent settings, time delays, and trip characteristics; circuit breaker blocks, which model the response to fault conditions through controlled opening and closing actions; and switch blocks, which simulate network reconfiguration by isolating faulty segments or redirecting power flow. The control unit block integrates decision-making algorithms, processing inputs from sensors and relays to execute coordinated actions, such as fault isolation or power restoration.
Additionally, a measurement unit block collects and processes real-time system data, providing critical inputs for the control unit’s decision-making process. This model facilitates the simulation of diverse fault scenarios, enabling thorough analysis of device coordination, response times, and the overall efficacy of the smart protection system in enhancing the reliability and stability of the distribution network. Figure 10 shows the Simulink control unit, integrating relays, breakers, and switches.
Fig. 10
The configuration of the system components in the Simulink model. (a) The Simulink model with integrating components, system units, relays, breakers, and switches. (b) The bus current and voltage monitoring components in the measurement system unit. (c) The logic unit model diagram in the control system.
The self-healing approach was implemented in MATLAB/Simulink using protective devices capable of receiving remote commands to respond rapidly to faults. In this scenario, a fault is simulated in Sect. 8, as shown in Fig. 11. When the fault occurs, the current exceeds its rated limit, prompting the monitoring unit to detect the abnormal current surge. This triggers a signal to the comparison unit, which evaluates the currents in each feeder segment against the relay settings. To isolate the fault, the comparison unit sends a signal to switch Sw-8, which opens within 0.02 s. Consequently, the power supply to Sects. 8 through 17 is disrupted, resulting in an unserved consumer load of 815 kW.
Fig. 11
The IEEE 33 bus test system is supported with 2 DGs Simulink mode.
Figure 12 demonstrates that when implementing the self-healing process without distributed generators (DGs), the minimum voltage of 0.90 p.u. presented at bus 17, and the system losses calculated to be 144.97 kW. With the integration of DGs, the minimum voltage improved to 0.973 p.u. at bus 17, and the losses were substantially reduced to 48.6 kW as detailed in Table 4. Figure 12 presents the post-fault voltage profile, while Fig. 13 compares branch currents.
Fig. 12
The IEEE 33-bus system voltage profile with and without 2 DGs in MATLAB.
Fig. 13
Voltage profile before/after fault isolation with DG.
Figure 13 offers the voltage profile before/after activation of the fault event in the self-healing system. The pre-fault voltage at bus 9, steady at 0.984 p.u., demonstrates the enhanced steady-state condition achieved through optimal DGs placement. Following the fault, the voltage stabilizes at 0.972 p.u. The slight voltage reduction at bus 9 is due to load redistribution and line impedance effects post-reconfiguration, yet it remains within the acceptable range of 0.95–1.05 p.u. Additionally, Fig. 13 indicates that the post-restoration minimum system voltage is 0.94 p.u. at bus 32. This robust dynamic response highlights the system’s capability to maintain voltage stability during fault conditions, reinforcing its reliability as a key feature of a smart grid.
Table 4 The optimal switching plan after isolating the fault at sect. 8.
Figure 14 illustrates the branch current loading in the IEEE 33-bus system under two conditions: normal operation and post-fault isolation. During normal operation, the main feeder carries a load current of 106.2 A per phase. Following a fault in section 8 and the subsequent self-healing process with fault isolation, the total recovered load current across the 33-bus system reduces to 74.6 A per phase, as detailed in Table 5.
Fig. 14
Branch currents before/after fault isolation.
Table 5 Simulation results before and after fault isolation and service restoration using 2DGs.
Figure 15 displays a time-domain plot of the voltage magnitude at bus 9 during a fault in Sect. 8, simulated using MATLAB/Simulink. The x-axis represents time in seconds, and the y-axis shows the voltage value in per unit (p.u.). Before the fault, the voltage was stable at approximately 0.98 p.u., reflecting the improved voltage profile due to DGs placed at buses 6 and 32.
Fig. 15
Voltage on bus-bar 9 before and after the application of the self-healing process, using DGs, during a fault occurrence.
At the fault onset (t = 0.1 s.), the voltage drops sharply due to the disturbance. Within 0.02 s., the fault is detected and isolated by opening switch Sw-8, resulting in a transient voltage dip. The self-healing process then activates, opening switch Sw-9 and closing switch Sw-35 to restore power. At t = 0.16 s, the voltage stabilizes at approximately 0.97 p.u., confirming successful power restoration. This rapid recovery, achieved within 60 ms, highlights the effectiveness of the control unit and DG support in mitigating voltage sags and ensuring system stability. During the fault event, the self-healing approach underscores the system’s capability to maintain stability and ensure reliable power restoration. The self-healing system significantly reduced overall power losses by 76% (from 202.66 kW to 48.6 kW).
Although direct comparisons with other studies are limited by the lack of standardized benchmarks for the IEEE 33-bus system, Table 6 compares the quantitative performance of the proposed self-healing framework based on PSO for DG placement with related works in the literature. The comparison includes voltage-profile improvement, loss reduction, and service restoration time. Additionally, a comparison between the base case load conditions before and after optimal DG placement is presented in Table 3.
Table 6 Comparison of the proposed work with other works on a 33-bus system.
The proposed self-healing mechanism demonstrates robust performance under varying load conditions and fault scenarios, including multi-point faults and real-time load variations, through its adaptive control strategy and optimized network reconfiguration. It adapts to different load conditions through PSO-based DG placement and network reconfiguration, ensuring voltage stability and minimizing losses.
In fault scenarios, the system effectively handles single-point faults and is also capable of managing multi-point faults using the same control strategy. It utilizes automated switching and centralized control functions for monitoring, fault detection, isolation, and reconfiguration, all managed by a central control unit through fully controlled switches. Specifically, only three switches are used per fault: one bus-bar switch is tripped to isolate the faulty section based on a protection relay signal; the next downstream bus-bar switch is automatically tripped to isolate the faulty line; and finally, the tie switch is closed automatically to restore service to the healthy sections.
Though talking toys are nothing new, a fresh crop of AI-enabled playthings have entered the scene, making the “Chatty Cathy” and “Teddy Ruxpin” dolls of yesteryear, which were merely reciting pre-programmed phrases, look positively paleontological.
More than a decade after “My Friend Cayla” — a Bluetooth-enabled and Wi-Fi-connected doll that became “verboten in Deutschland” in 2017 for being a potential espionage device — Mattel and OpenAI’s newly-announced partnership to “reimagine the future of play,” as the iconic toymaker’s chief franchise officer Josh Silverman told Bloomberg in July, is being unleashed upon a generation of kids and parents alike.
Though no specific plans for an AI collaboration have been revealed yet from the duo, the prospect of an AI Barbie seems entirely within the realm of possibility — and Marc Fernandez, the chief strategist of the “human-centric” AI company Neurologyca, cited that potentiality as particularly dangerous for childhood development in a new essay for the engineering magazine IEEESpectrum.
“Children naturally anthropomorphize their toys — it’s part of how they learn,” Fernandez wrote. “But when those toys begin talking back with fluency, memory, and seemingly genuine connection, the boundary between imagination and reality blurs in new and profound ways.”
With so many grown-ups developing deep relationships with chatbots, it seems nearly impossible that a child might grasp what they cannot: that the chatbots installed in their toys are not real people. As Fernandez noted, the situation gets even more fraught when AI toys constitute one of a child’s “emotionally responsive companion[s] outside of the family, offering comfort, curiosity, and conversation on demand.”
While a prospective Barbie-bot would likely fall under the provenance of kids aged seven and up, other companies, like the AI plushie startup Curio, have already started releasing chatbot-enabled toys that are made for and marketed towards younger children.
AI toys geared towards the preschool set could easily become one of a child’s first friends — and as they learn to navigate real-world interaction via struggle and conflict with parents and siblings, those toys could offer them reassuring echo chambers just as readily as chatbots do for an increasing number of grown-ups.
“Real relationships are messy, and parent-child relationships perhaps more so than any other,” Fernandez wrote. “They involve misunderstanding, negotiation, and shared emotional stress. These are the microstruggles through which empathy and resilience are forged. But an AI companion, however well-intentioned, sidesteps that process entirely.”
Throwing AI into the mix of early childhood development, which has already been irrevocably altered by the ever-present iPad, could “flatten a child’s understanding of what it means to relate to others,” Fernandez warned. He’s not alone in that assessment, either — child welfare activists have also expressed similar concerns in the wake of the OpenAI-Mattel deal, with Robert Weissman of the Public Citizen advocacy group suggesting that AI toys might inflict “real damage on children.”
Fernandez, as chief strategist of a company that is building “emotionally-adaptive” AI, isn’t some anti-AI zealot. Still, he insisted in this new piece that any “human-aware” AI, like Neurologyca’s emotion-detecting facial recognition software, are not “appropriate for kids.”
Ultimately, the executive mused, it’s about the lessons we’re teaching.
“What are we teaching our children about friendship, empathy, and emotional connection,” Fernandez pondered, “if their first ‘real’ relationships are with machines?”
More on AI toys:Horror Story Looms as Children Get Stuffed Animals Powered by AI
Diabetes affects millions worldwide, and the numbers are rising fast, from 200 million in 1990 to over 830 million in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This condition occurs when the body cannot produce or properly use insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. Managing diabetes often means strict food choices and lifestyle changes, but nature offers some simple tools that may help. One such remedy is methi, or fenugreek seeds. Commonly found in Indian kitchens, these seeds are rich in fibre and may help lower blood sugar by slowing down digestion. Not just this, there are many more benefits of drinking fenugreek water for diabetes!
Fenugreek water work wonders in managing diabetes. (Adobe Stock)
Benefits of fenugreek seeds for diabetes
Fenugreek seeds, or methi daana, have long been used in traditional remedies. For those managing diabetes, these tiny seeds may offer these 3 benefits:
1. Improve insulin sensitivity
Insulin sensitivity determines how effectively your cells respond to insulin. Low sensitivity can lead to high blood sugar levels. Fenugreek seeds are known for their anti-diabetic properties and may help improve insulin resistance. A small 2009 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that consuming baked goods made with fenugreek flour may reduce insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes.
2. Delay gastric emptying
“Rich in soluble fibre, fenugreek seeds can slow digestion and delay the absorption of carbohydrates and sugar, leading to more stable blood sugar levels,” dietician and diabetes educator Dr Archana Batra tells Health Shots. A study in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research revealed that a daily dose of 10 grams of fenugreek seeds soaked in hot water helped control type 2 diabetes.
3. Reduce glucose absorption
Research published in Veterinary World found that fenugreek seeds can decrease glucose absorption in the intestines. “This may reduce the risk of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and support better management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes,” explains Dr Batra.
How to use fenugreek seeds for diabetes?
If you are managing high blood sugar or insulin resistance, fenugreek seeds (methi daana) can be a helpful addition. But how much should you take?
Studies suggest that consuming 10 grams of fenugreek seeds daily for 4–6 months can lower fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels. One study in the Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders found that this daily intake significantly reduced the risk of prediabetes progressing to diabetes.
Here’s a simple way to prepare it:
Take 1 teaspoon (around 5 grams) of fenugreek seeds.
Soak them in half a cup of water overnight.
In the morning, drink the water and chew the seeds on an empty stomach.
Do this daily to help support better blood sugar control naturally and effectively.
Fenugreek seeds can help lower blood sugar levels!(Pixabay )
Are there any risks of fenugreek seeds?
1. Unsafe during pregnancy: “Fenugreek may trigger uterine contractions and should be avoided during pregnancy,” suggests Dr Batra. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also suggests avoiding or limiting the consumption of fenugreek seeds during breastfeeding.
2. Hormone-sensitive conditions: Fenugreek can mimic estrogen, making it unsuitable for people with hormone-sensitive cancers like breast or ovarian cancer, as per NIH guidelines.
3. Body odour: A 2011 Food Chemistry study found that compounds like dimethylpyrazine in fenugreek may cause a maple syrup-like body odour in some people.
4. Allergic reactions: Fenugreek can cause allergic responses such as rashes or swelling. Those with food allergies should consult a doctor before use. When taken in large doses, side effects can include gas and bloating.
5. Medication interactions: The fibre in fenugreek may reduce absorption of oral medications and interact with drugs for diabetes or blood clotting. Always consult your healthcare provider first.
New research is bringing light to the mental health benefits of urban nature, including mitigating depression and anxiety.
The paper, which reviewed 449 peer-reviewed studies and conducted a meta-analysis of 78 field-based experiments, evaluated the effects of various urban nature types on 12 mental health outcomes.
“Green spaces such as urban forests and parks emerged as key elements in mitigating negative moods, such as depression and anxiety, and enhancing overall mental well-being,” the authors stated. “In particular, the benefits of nature exposure are most pronounced among young adults, although consistent positive effects are evident across all age groups.”
Several recent studies have linked green spaces with significant mental health benefits. For instance, one team of researchers found that spending just 10 minutes in nature could help adults with mental illness. And doctor-prescribed nature time has been associated with a greater sense of happiness and purpose, along with lower anxiety levels.
Other studies have linked access to green spaces with a reduction in the risk of noncommunicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Plus, incorporating more nature into urban environments can help cool cities. One recent piece of research indicates that increasing the number of trees in urban environments could significantly reduce the amount of heat-related deaths. Another study found that strategically integrating cool roofs and tree planting in cities can be a powerful and cost-effective cooling solution.
Meanwhile, green spaces are powerful allies in the larger fight against rising global temperatures. For instance, one mature tree absorbs and stores an average of 48 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, according to One Tree Planted.
“These findings highlight the importance of safeguarding and expanding access to urban nature as a key strategy for enhancing public health and well-being in cities worldwide,” the authors of the new meta-analysis concluded.
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