- Rapid Needs Assessment Report – Flash Flood District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) August 2025 ReliefWeb
- Why deadly floods keep devastating Pakistan BBC
- Pakistan Army continuing relief operations in flood-hit areas ptv.com.pk
- Bodies of two more flood victims found in Shangla Dawn
- KP floods claim nearly 406 lives since August 15 The Express Tribune
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Rapid Needs Assessment Report – Flash Flood District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) August 2025 – ReliefWeb
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How ocean microbes stop methane from reaching the air
Ocean methane does not get a free pass to the sky. A new peer reviewed study shows how a tiny partnership on the seafloor moves electrons between cells to keep much of that gas in check.
Most of the methane made in marine mud never reaches the air thanks to microbes that feed on it without oxygen.
This living filter, known to scientists for years, is now clearer in how it works, as shown by lab measurements of electron sharing within the partnership, and the work was led by Hang Yu of Peking University.
Seafloor microbes stop methane
Methane is a strong heat trapping gas, yet marine sediments act like a sink that disables most of it before it escapes.
A comprehensive review places this process, called anaerobic oxidation of methane, at the center of the ocean’s methane budget.
At the core of this process are anaerobic methanotrophic archaea that remove methane where oxygen is absent. They partner with sulfate reducing bacteria that breathe sulfate, a common salt in seawater, instead of oxygen.
These partners often gather in tight clusters in the seabed. They build a team where one group starts the chemistry and the other finishes it.
How two microbes split the job
The archaea strip electrons from methane, which leaves them with a problem because those electrons must go somewhere.
Their bacterial partners accept the electrons and use sulfate as the final electron sink, a classic redox reaction that keeps both partners running.
“These microbial partnerships act as natural sentries, playing a crucial role in limiting the release of methane into the ocean and atmosphere,” said Yu. His team followed that thought by asking how the electrons actually move from cell-to-cell.
Samples came from methane seeps near the Mediterranean, the Guaymas Basin, and the California coast. The researchers then tested the communities under controlled conditions in the lab.
Microbes move methane electrons
The group pressed intact cell clusters onto microelectrodes and tracked electrical signals.
Those signals revealed a single, repeatable redox feature in each community and showed that electrons moved across gaps of about 0.0002 inch between electrodes.
Signals weakened after heating or oxygen exposure and survived chemical fixation that preserves proteins. That pattern points to proteins as the main path for charge movement, not simple dissolved chemicals.
Using a generator collector setup, the team watched electrons leave one electrode and arrive at another only when the test voltage matched the redox feature of the cells.
That behavior confirms that electrons can hop across several cell lengths, enough to connect methane oxidation in the archaea to sulfate reduction in the bacteria.
Why redox conduction matters
The simplest explanation is a chain of bound cofactors in proteins carrying charge through the community.
The best candidates are multiheme cytochrome c, protein wires that pass electrons one heme at a time along and between cells.
Other ideas have been on the table, including conductive carbon made by these microbes.
One earlier work reported amorphous carbon associated with these consortia, suggesting a different route for charge flow.
Freshwater relatives of these methane eaters also point to cytochromes.
A 2023 study showed that Candidatus Methanoperedens can ship electrons to metals and electrodes using multiheme cytochromes, a parallel that supports the new marine findings.
How models can improve
This work closes a long standing gap by providing direct measurements of electron movement in these seafloor partnerships.
It ties a well known ecological service to a specific molecular system rather than a vague exchange of intermediates.
It also explains why the partnership is so tight. If electrons move over only tiny distances, on the order of hundredths of a thousandth of an inch, cells need to stay close to keep the handoff efficient.
A tighter link between mechanism and ecology helps with prediction. Models of methane cycling can now include protein based electron transport rather than assuming invisible chemical shuttles do the job.
How microbes control methane
Nature already runs methane control at the seabed. Understanding the electron’s plumbing hints at ways to support the same chemistry in engineered systems, like bioreactors that treat methane rich waste streams or safeguard well leak sites.
There is no silver bullet. These communities grow slowly and depend on the local chemistry, so translating a lab finding into field practice will take careful trials.
Even so, clarity matters. Knowing that protein based redox conduction connects the partners sets a target for future monitoring and design.
The study is published in Science Advances.
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Slovenia stun Argentina to keep eighthfinal hopes alive
It was a well-deserved success for the European team as they dominated on the court in all three scoring elements – 42-35 in spike kills, 6-1 in aces and 9-7 in kill blocks. Sillah authored 20 of those attack points and two of those aces to finish with a match-high 22 points. Opposite Eva Zatkovic raised three kill blocks towards an 11-point tally. Middle blocker and captain Sasa Planinsec spiked at a 78% success rate and also put up three kill blocks to reach the double digits with a total of 10 points.
“Oh, my god! It’s surreal right now! I can’t even believe it!” Sillah exclaimed while speaking to VBTV after the game. “Two days ago, we did a really good job in the first two sets, but in the end, we didn’t manage to win and that was really hard for us, because we’ve worked really hard and we wanted to win so badly. We did a lot of thinking, forgot that game and came back to fight, because we knew we could do it. And we did it! So, I am very happy!”
22-year-old opposite Bianca Cugno was Argentina’s most prolific scorer in the match. She led her team with 16 points, including two blocks.
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Direct Observation and Primary Data Collection Report District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) August 2025 – ReliefWeb
- Direct Observation and Primary Data Collection Report District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) August 2025 ReliefWeb
- Why deadly floods keep devastating Pakistan BBC
- Pakistan Army continuing relief operations in flood-hit areas ptv.com.pk
- Bodies of two more flood victims found in Shangla Dawn
- Over 406 lives lost in K-P floods since August 15 The Express Tribune
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Introducing Messages, A New Way To Share What You Love on Spotify with Friends and Family — Spotify
Recommendations have always been at the heart of the Spotify experience. Friends and family share their favorite music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more from Spotify millions of times each month. That’s because word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways for people to discover their next favorite track.
Spotify users have told us they want a dedicated space within the app to share songs, podcasts, or audiobooks they’re excited about with friends and family, and an easy way to keep track of recommendations. For artists, authors, and creators, easier sharing means more word-of-mouth recommendations and helps create new fans. Our goal is to give users what they want and make those moments of connection more seamless and streamlined in the Spotify app.
That’s why, beginning this week, Messages will start rolling out to Free and Premium users aged 16 years and older in select markets on mobile devices.
The Spotify content you’re already sharing, now all in one convenient place
Whether you’re sharing a new audiobook with a friend for book club, bonding over your new favorite song, or swapping history podcasts with Dad, the right recommendation can spark a great conversation with those closest to you. Messages are a fast and convenient way to share and chat about what you’re listening to with the people you care about.
Messages also open up new opportunities for artists, authors, and creators—more users can spread the word about an artist’s track or creator’s podcast with their friends and family, helping drive discovery.
Here’s how Messages work
Messages are one-on-one conversations where you can share Spotify content and react with text and emojis.
- Share Spotify content and start a message in-app with people you’ve interacted with before through Spotify.
- When listening to a song, podcast, or audiobook in the Now Playing View, tap the share icon, select a friend, and hit send.
- Once you accept a message request, you’ll be able to react with emojis, send texts, and seamlessly share Spotify content back and forth. Access Messages by going to your profile photo in the top left corner.
Messages are for the conversations you’re already having about music, podcasts and audiobooks with your friends and family. It’s easy to start a chat in the app with people you know and have previously shared Spotify content with. You’ll also see suggested people to message based on things like whether you’ve previously shared Spotify content with them, joined Jams, Blends, or collaborative playlists together, or if you share a Family or Duo plan.
As always, you should continue sharing Spotify content directly through your favorite platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, and more. Messages on Spotify are designed to complement these integrations, not replace them, and we’re excited to continue offering more ways to drive hype for the Spotify content you love, wherever you are.
Messages put you in control of the conversation with the people you care about
With Messages on Spotify, users are always in the driver’s seat. Users have the choice to accept or reject message requests from friends and family. Spotify’s Terms of Use and Platform Rules against illegal and harmful content still apply to Messages, so if something doesn’t feel right, you can easily report that content or account. You can report by holding down on the message in question, selecting “Report,” and choosing how the message violates our Terms of Use and/or Platform Rules. You are also able to block other users and opt out of Messages entirely through Settings.
To help ensure a secure sharing experience, conversations are protected with industry-standard encryption in transit and at rest. This means your data is protected by encryption when it’s stored and when it’s on the move. In keeping with our platform best practices, Spotify will utilize proactive detection technology to scan messages for certain unlawful and harmful content, and our moderators will review reported content. This two-pronged approach helps us offer a safer environment while respecting user privacy.
This is just the beginning. We’re excited to continue building and refining the experience for more Spotify users around the globe in the months ahead.
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How dark matter in exoplanets could create new black holes – EarthSky
- How dark matter in exoplanets could create new black holes EarthSky
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- Exoplanets suffering from a plague of dark matter could turn into black holes Physics World
- Exoplanets may capture dark matter and collapse into black holes AOL.com
- Using exoplanets to study dark matter UCR News
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FB’s Secret AI Tool Could Scan Your Personal Photos; Here’s How Pakistani Users Can Turn It Off
A newly tested Facebook feature is raising global privacy concerns, including in Pakistan, as reports suggest that Meta’s AI may be scanning users’ private images stored on their smartphones without their explicit consent.
Back in June, Meta announced an AI-driven feature that automatically generates “creative ideas” such as collages and story highlights. According to TechCrunch, the tool works by analyzing photos in a user’s phone camera roll, even if those images were never uploaded to Facebook.
Meta initially stated that users would be asked to opt in through a prompt while creating a Story. However, as reported by ZDNet, some Facebook accounts appear to have had the feature switched on without showing the opt-in option, leaving users unaware that their personal photos could be processed by AI.
For Pakistani users, this development is alarming given the absence of strict data protection laws comparable to Europe’s GDPR. With Facebook being one of the most widely used platforms in Pakistan, experts warn that millions of users could unknowingly have their personal and family photos scanned, categorized, and processed by Meta’s systems.
Meta has claimed that the data is deleted after 30 days and that AI-generated suggestions remain visible only to the user. The company also insists that photo scans are not used for targeted advertising. Still, privacy advocates argue that such practices blur the line between user consent and hidden surveillance.
How Pakistani Users Can Disable the Feature
The setting is currently available only in the iOS and Android Facebook apps, and only if Meta has activated the test on your account. To turn it off:
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Open the Facebook app.
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Tap the Menu (three stacked lines) → Settings & Privacy.
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Go to Preferences → Camera roll sharing suggestions.
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If the option is present, turn off both: Get camera roll suggestions when browsing Facebook and Allow cloud processing for creative ideas.
The feature currently processes images from the past 30 days and remains under limited testing. However, its gradual rollout suggests more accounts in Pakistan could be affected in the coming months.
Until stronger digital privacy regulations are enforced, experts recommend Pakistani users remain vigilant about app permissions and disable features that grant Meta unnecessary access to personal data.
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Why cortisol is more than a ‘stress hormone’
Stress is a health concerns that affects both physical and mental well-being. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2019 data estimates that 12 billion working days were lost globally due to depression and anxiety, a cost of U.S. $1 trillion annually.
Both globally and in India, psychological stressors are significant contributors to the disease burden. High levels of stress and lack of treatment for mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, are major public health concerns, with significant barriers including social stigma and a lack of resources. Chronic, prolonged stress is also a contributor to elevated Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis activity — the body’s main stress response system and cortisol production, which links stress to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, and diabetes.
And at the centre of this discourse is cortisol often dubbed the “stress hormone.” Experts however say that this label is misleading. Cortisol is not just about stress; it is essential for survival as it influences metabolism, immunity, gut health and even cardiovascular function.
Understanding cortisol
Calling cortisol a stress-causing hormone is a misnomer, says K. S. Thalavai Sundar Ram, surgical endocrinologist, VS Hospitals, Chennai. “It helps the body stay agile in fight-or-flight situations, regulates metabolism, blood pressure, and has anti-inflammatory effects — provided levels remain within a normal physiological range.”
Priyanka Vignesh, associate consultant, endocrinology, MGM Healthcare, Chennai says that cortisol’s strong anti-inflammatory action makes it a therapeutic mainstay in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. “Corticosteroids regulate glucose and fat metabolism, suppress immunity, and modulate inflammatory responses”
Abhay Ahluwalia, senior consultant, endocrinology and diabetology, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram explains how long-term imbalance can be damaging. “Excess cortisol may cause Cushing’s syndrome leading to high blood pressure, weight gain, mood swings, and loss of skin elasticity,” he says. Conversely, a deficiency may trigger Addison’s disease, with symptoms including low blood pressure, skin darkening, and poor appetite.
Dr. Vignesh also highlights cardiovascular risks, “Chronic glucocorticoid (any of a group of corticosteroids like hydrocortisone which are involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and have anti-inflammatory activity) exposure can cause uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.” She also points to mental health consequences, including depression, psychosis and sleep disturbances.
Lifestyle disruptions
Modern routines can have a significant impact on cortisol levels. Cortisol follows a circadian rhythm, peaking in the early morning and dipping at night. Disrupted sleep cycles, night shifts and constant digital engagement alter this rhythm. “Staying up late at night and chronic stress can cause excess cortisol secretion, leading to Cushing’s-like (symptoms that resemble those of Cushing’s syndrome ) features,” notes Dr. Sundar Ram, recommending fixed sleep schedules.
Dr. Vignesh says that constant digital exposure dysregulates the cortisol axis, fuelling obesity, diabetes and memory issues, “Night-shift workers, airline pilots and soldiers face chronic stress due to disturbed circadian rhythms, making them more prone to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.”
Gut and immunity
The hormone’s influence extends to digestion and immunity as well. “Excess or deficient cortisol affects the immune system, triggering irritable bowel-like symptoms and worsening inflammation,” says Dr. Sundar Ram.
According to Dr. Vignesh, cortisol is deliberately used to suppress immunity in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, dermatitis, and transplant medicine. But long-term exposure may cause ulcers and, in rare cases, pancreatitis.
Dr. Ahluwalia points to an altered gut microbiome as another consequence, linking high cortisol levels to intestinal inflammation, flatulence and conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Stress management
Early detection of altered levels of cortisol is key. “Morning blood tests, late-night salivary cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol estimation are commonly used,” explains Dr. Sundar Ram.
Dr. Vignesh notes that fasting morning cortisol levels (6–8 a.m.) remain the primary test, with suppression and stimulation tests helping to identify abnormalities. Dr. Ahluwalia adds that advanced methods, including electronic sensors and AI-based analysis, now allow 24-hour ambulatory cortisol monitoring, particularly useful for high-stress professions.
Experts emphasise the need to shed misconceptions. “It is incorrect to think cortisol causes stress, it is vital for survival,” stresses Dr. Sundar Ram .
Experts also point out that misuse or chronic exposure can weaken bones, causing osteoporosis, fractures, cataracts, glaucoma and recurrent infections. Dr. Ahluwalia notes growing evidence linking even non-pathological high cortisol levels to metabolic, cardiovascular and psychiatric illnesses, making stress management essential in modern life.
Published – August 26, 2025 04:41 pm IST
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Exclusive: Stellantis shelves Level 3 driver-assistance program as it downscales software ambitions, sources say – Reuters
- Exclusive: Stellantis shelves Level 3 driver-assistance program as it downscales software ambitions, sources say Reuters
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HCLTech and Thought Machine Partner to Accelerate AI and Cloud-Led Transformation of Banks
LONDON & NEW YORK & NOIDA, India, August 26, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HCLTech, a leading global technology company, today announced a global partnership with Thought Machine, a pioneer in cloud native banking technology, to accelerate the modernization of banks worldwide. The partnership aims to enable banks to rapidly transition from legacy systems and frameworks to intelligent, autonomous financial institutions powered by AI and cloud technologies.
Thought Machine’s Vault platform — next-generation core banking and payments technology — will be at the core of this transformation. By replacing outdated infrastructure with Vault’s cloud native architecture, banks can automate key operations, enhance efficiency and deliver personalized customer experiences. HCLTech will bring its deep expertise in banking technology, regulatory compliance and complex integrations to support rapid innovation and faster product launches.
As part of the partnership, HCLTech will offer full-stack transformation services through Vault-certified delivery teams, global fintech Centers of Excellence (CoEs) and a robust DevSecOps foundation. The company will also establish a dedicated global CoE for Vault Core and Vault Payments, focused on delivering modular, real-time and scalable solutions for the financial services sector. The joint offering will enable banks, whether established institutions or new challengers, to build agile, resilient and future-ready ecosystems rooted in AI-led strategies.
“Our global partnership with HCLTech marks a significant step in helping banks break free from legacy constraints and adopt truly digital-first models,” said Randy McFarlane, Global Head of Partnerships at Thought Machine. “Together, we will deliver intelligent, self-optimizing systems that evolve with customer needs.”
“This collaboration reflects our vision to lead the future of autonomous banking through cloud, data and AI,” said Sudip Lahiri, Executive Vice President and Head—Europe and UKI, Financial Services, HCLTech. “By joining forces with Thought Machine, we will help banks unlock exponential value, reduce operational friction and accelerate time to market.”
About HCLTech
HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 223,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering, cloud and AI, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, High Tech, Semiconductor, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending June 2025 totaled $14 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.
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