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Ayaz Sadiq meets Speaker Balochistan Assembly

ISLAMABAD – Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday met with Speaker Balochistan Assembly Captain (Retd) Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai at Parliament House. The two dignitaries discussed the overall political and economic situation of the country, along with matters of mutual interest. During the meeting, Ayaz Sadiq stressed the importance of strong coordination between the federal government and all provincial administrations in addressing the country’s ongoing challenges. “Close cooperation between the federation and the provinces is essential for overcoming national issues,” he said. Highlighting the strategic significance of Balochistan, the Speaker NA said, “Balochistan is a vital province, and the country’s development is closely linked with the development of the province.”

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July 1, 2025
British and Irish Lions 2025: Maro Itoje on faith, charity, politics and art

Maro Itoje’s head has been in Moussa’s hands for more than a decade.

From behind the barber’s chair, Moussa has seen Itoje mature from a much-hyped teenager to a three-time 30-year-old British and Irish Lion.

Now captain for the first time, one of Itoje’s final appointments before departing for Australia is to have his mane trimmed.

“It has been a while,” says Itoje of his and Moussa’s relationship.

“It is going to be a challenge on tour.

“You always have to have some trust – a bit of a leap of faith – when you walk into a new barber’s chair. Especially in Australia, where I don’t think they are too used to Afro-Caribbean hair!”

Faith, and contingency plans, will be a theme for Itoje over the next five weeks.

When asked about how religion fitted into his tactics, former Labour spin guru Alastair Campbell famously said “we don’t do God”.

Itoje, who was introduced to Campbell by England team manager Richard Hill as a youngster and remains in touch, definitely does.

At his unveiling as Lions captain in May, he revealed he had missed Bible study to be there.

When he was promoted to England captain in January, his pastor was one of six people he told before the public announcement., external

Asked about the long journey to both posts, Itoje has a simple explanation: “God’s timing is always the best time.”

“In the last two or three years I have made a conscious decision to double down in that regard,” he tells BBC Sport.

“I was probably a lukewarm Christian for a large part of my life. I was probably someone who went to church, but was not really living the principles or values of it that deeply, but I have always been a believer.

“The humility that I have tried to embody throughout my life definitely comes from knowing that everything I have has been a gift, not by my own doing, but by the guy upstairs.”

By Itoje’s high standards and own admission, that humility wasn’t always present on previous Lions tours.

He has described his 22-year-old self, who won over the Lions fans’ sea of red in New Zealand in 2017, as “a little bit brash and a bit naive”.

This time around, at the very centre of the hype and hoopla, he is determined to keep his calm and routine.

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July 1, 2025
MHI Thermal Systems Begins Field Test of Jointly Developed “Surplus Renewable Energy Absorption and Release System”– Utilizing the Seasonal Thermal Storage Function of ATES System —

Image courtesy of Osaka Metropolitan University

Tokyo, July 1, 2025 – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. (MHI Thermal Systems), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has begun field test of a jointly developed “Surplus Renewable Energy Absorption and Release System” utilizing the Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) system. The test is being carried out jointly with partners including Osaka Metropolitan University, which serves as project representative(Note1).

The project, titled “Development of Technology for Absorbing Surplus Renewable Energy in ATES systems,” was selected by the Japan’s Ministry of the Environment in 2023 as a “Regional Co-creation and Cross-sectoral Carbon Neutral Technology Research Development Program(Note2). In April 2025, cold-storage operation utilizing surplus energy began at the Osaka City Maishima Sports Center for Persons with Disabilities (AMITY MAISHIMA). From July 1, the project will transition to a new field test phase in which the stored cold water will be used directly for air-conditioning.

Today, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power are being adopted toward realizing a decarbonized society. However, the amount of power generated is unstable due to their dependence on weather conditions. As a result, surplus energy often arises during transitional cooler seasons such as spring and autumn in Japan, when demand for air cooling/heating is low. To effectively utilize such surplus energy, infrastructural improvements are required-such as large-scale battery systems or extensive land use-both of which can result in significant additional costs. Against this backdrop, the joint project currently underway has focused on development of a surplus renewable energy absorption and release system that leverages the seasonal thermal storage function of the ATES system.

In this joint development, a surplus renewable energy absorption and release system is to be adopted in an ATES system for the first time worldwide. The system offers short-cycle thermal storage and discharge functionality, enabling flexible switching between cold and heat storage. It also incorporates a multi-layered seasonal storage function that allows lower-temperature chilled water to be stored within existing underground cold-water masses.

In conjunction with this project, MHI Thermal Systems is responsible for operating the ATES system and heat-pump type centrifugal chillers, as well as for designing and constructing a control system that efficiently utilizes surplus energy. The newly developed control system features a mode that automatically switches to the optimal operation depending on the surplus energy availability and underground water temperature. Furthermore, owing to the incorporation of a function that optimizes cold storage operation in real time based on fluctuations in electricity market prices and the volume of surplus power. This enables energy-saving operation that reduces electricity consumption during cooling while ensuring effective use of renewable energy.

An ATES system uses gravel and groundwater stored in aquifers deep underground as an enormous heat storage tank, allowing for the effective use of energy by enabling the circulation of heat across seasons, such as using the cold waste heat from winter heating for summer cooling, and the warm waste heat from summer cooling for winter heating. MHI Thermal Systems’ ATES system received the “Energy Conservation Center, Japan Chairman’s Award” in the “Best Practice Category” at the 2021 Energy Conservation Grand Prize,(Note3) and the “HPTCJ Promotion Award” at the 2022 “Demand Side Management Awards”(Note4).

MHI Group has made a declaration to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, and is working to reduce CO₂ emissions from its own plants and other production-related facilities, as well as reduce the CO₂ emissions at customer facilities that use MHI Group products. As a part of MHI Group, MHI Thermal Systems supplies a large number of centrifugal chillers for general air conditioning, factory air conditioning, and district heating and cooling, boasting the top market share in Japan in this field. Going forward, MHI Thermal Systems will continue to respond to customer needs, and by delivering centrifugal chillers and thermal solution products with a low environmental load, contribute to the realization of a carbon neutral world.

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July 1, 2025
PM to attend ECO summit in Azerbaijan on July 3

ISLAMABAD – The 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit is all set to begin on July 3–4 in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, reaffirming its leadership in promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development. Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif would lead Pakistan delegation in the summit, which includes DPM/foreign minister and other cabinet members and senior officials.

The PM would also deliver a key note address at the summit. On the sideline of the summit, Shehbaz would meet leaders participating in the summit. The Summit will convene ECO Heads of States/Government, Ministers, ECO Observers, Special Guests from non-ECO countries and heads of international organizations to achieve development and prosperity through fragile economic integration. The Summit will feature a dynamic and inclusive ECO Week, held from July 1–4, 2025, across multiple cities in Azerbaijan.

The ECO Week will include a series of thematic forums aimed at advancing youth engagement, gender inclusion and economic connectivity within the region.

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July 1, 2025
Al Hilal 4-3 Man City (1 Jul, 2025) Game Analysis

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal stunned Manchester City 4-3 in extra time in Orlando, Florida, on Monday night to pull off one of the shocks of the Club World Cup and set up a quarterfinal against Brazil’s Fluminense.

Marcos Leonardo scored his second goal of the night in the 112th minute as Simone Inzaghi’s side eliminated the Premier League club, which had taken a ninth-minute lead through Bernardo Silva.

Quick-fire goals from Leonardo and Malcom in six minutes immediately after the restart put Al Hilal in front before Erling Haaland equalized for City in the 55th minute.

Four minutes into extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly headed in Rúben Neves’ corner to put the Riyadh-based club back in front, and while Phil Foden tied the score again for City, Leonardo netted with seven minutes left to take Al Hilal through.

“We knew it was a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world,” Koulibaly said. “We wanted to show our ideas, our talent, our power and I think that we made a very good game.

“Defensively we were very strong and offensively all of the opportunities we could put inside we put in, so we can be happy.”

Portuguese playmaker Silva had put City ahead when he pushed the ball over the line after Renan Lodi’s attempted clearance ended up at his feet inside the six-yard box.

Replays showed the ball had brushed the wrist of City’s Rayan Aït-Nouri earlier in the move, but the referee waved away the Al Hilal protests.

Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou then made a string of saves to deny City a second before halftime and within seconds of the restart the Saudi club had tied it.

Malcom drove down the right and found João Cancelo, whose ball into the six-yard box was initially blocked by a sprawling Éderson, but Leonardo headed the looping rebound into the unguarded net.

Six minutes later, Malcom was released behind the defense by Cancelo’s pass from deep inside his own half and the Brazilian showed composure to stroke his shot past Ederson.

But the lead lasted only three minutes as Haaland pounced on Silva’s corner and the Norwegian was denied a late winner by a desperate clearance on the line from Ali Lajami.

The Saudis went ahead four minutes into extra time when Koulibaly rose to glance home a header from a corner, but City tied it again, substitutes Rayan Cherki and Foden combining for the England international to steer a sublime first-time volley across Bounou and into the bottom corner.

Al Hilal would not be denied and Leonardo claimed his second of the night after seeing Ederson save Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header, the weary Brazilian stumbling as he steered the winner home.

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July 1, 2025
Death toll rises to 36 following an explosion, fire at India pharmaceutical factory

HYDERABAD, India — The death toll from Monday’s massive explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in India’s southern state of Telangana has risen to at least 36 while about three dozen were left injured, authorities said Tuesday.

The fire department recovered the charred bodies of 34 workers from the accident site in an industrial area about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad, the state’s fire services director G.V. Narayana Rao told The Associated Press.

Two other workers succumbed to burns and were pronounced dead in hospital, Rao said, adding that debris of the gutted pharmaceutical unit of Sigachi Industries was still being removed to find out if any more workers were trapped.

Nearly three dozen injured workers were admitted to hospitals, he said.

“The whole structure of the factory has collapsed. Fire has been doused, and we hope to finish removing the debris in the next few hours,” Rao said.

The explosion and subsequent fire was reported on Monday in the factory’s spray dryer unit, which is used to process raw material into fine powder for making drugs, Rao said.

The state’s Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said there were 108 workers inside the factory at the time of the explosion.

“As bodies were badly burnt and mutilated, a special medical team has been deployed to conduct DNA tests”, said Narasimha, adding the state government has set up a panel to investigate the cause of the incident.

Witnesses said they heard the explosion from a couple of kilometers away from the site.

India is home to some of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies, playing a pivotal role in the global supply of generic medicines and vaccines. The country’s robust manufacturing and cost-effective production have made it a hub for pharma giants.

Industrial accidents, particularly involving chemical reactors, aren’t uncommon in such factories, underlining the need for authorities to implement stringent safety protocols and regulatory oversight in a sector critical to public health.

Sigachi Industries Limited is an Indian company dealing with active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and vitamin-mineral blends, according to the company’s website. It has five manufacturing facilities across India and subsidiaries in the U.S and the United Arab Emirates.

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July 1, 2025
Virginia Tech studies ultrasound delivery of creatine for children with brain disorders

Researchers at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are developing a method to deliver creatine directly to the brain using focused ultrasound. The technique is being investigated as a potential intervention for children with creatine transporter deficiency, a condition that can impair speech, memory, and learning.

Creatine plays a role in cellular energy production and neurotransmitter regulation, making it critical not only for muscle but also brain function. While oral supplements often improve muscle mass in patients with creatine deficiency, they do not consistently address neurological symptoms, in part because creatine has difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier.

“Creatine is very crucial for energy-consuming cells in skeletal muscle throughout the body, but also in the brain and in the heart,” says Chin-Yi Chen, a research scientist working on the project.

Ultrasound delivery to bypass the blood-brain barrier

The research is led by assistant professor Cheng-Chia “Fred” Wu, who studies therapeutic focused ultrasound, a noninvasive technique that uses sound waves to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier. The goal is to allow beneficial compounds, like creatine, to reach brain tissue without damaging surrounding cells.

The project, supported by a $30,000 grant from the Association for Creatine Deficiencies, builds on Wu’s broader work using ultrasound to improve drug delivery for pediatric brain cancer. His collaboration with Dr. Seth Berger of Children’s National Hospital led to the idea of applying the same method to treat creatine deficiency.

“Through the partnership between Virginia Tech and Children’s National Hospital, I was able to present our work in focused ultrasound at the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus,” says Wu. “There, I met Dr. Seth Berger, a medical geneticist, who introduced me to creatine transporter deficiency. Together, we saw the promise that focused ultrasound had to offer.”

Collaboration supports early-stage translational research

Both Virginia Tech and Children’s National have been named Centers of Excellence by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, a designation that supports collaborative research bridging lab studies and clinical applications. Chen’s initial work will focus on whether creatine can be successfully delivered across the blood-brain barrier and restore normal brain mass in lab models.

“It was a moment that made me really excited — that I had found a lab where I could move from basic research to something that could help patients,” says Chin-Yi Chen. “When Fred asked me, ‘Are you interested in this project?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course.’”

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July 1, 2025
Usercentrics Report Reveals: As Concern Over Data Use Grows, Transparency Becomes the Number One Driver for Building Trust – Business Wire
1. Usercentrics Report Reveals: As Concern Over Data Use Grows, Transparency Becomes the Number One Driver for Building Trust Business Wire
2. The Trust Deficit: Brand Transparency and the New Rules of Retail Retail TouchPoints
3. 4 Things Every B2B Brand Should Be Doing to Earn Trust in 2025 Entrepreneur
4. The Future’s Powered by AI. Just Don’t Expect Everyone to Love It Lifewire
5. How trust became the new currency of brand growth Fast Company
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July 1, 2025
Fitness coach shares what your diabetic parents need to eat daily: Millet khichdi, pumpkin seeds, tofu, berries, sprouts | Health

Managing diabetes, especially high blood sugar, requires a healthy lifestyle and a well-balanced diet. However, when we continue to eat certain foods without understanding their impact on blood sugar levels, we may unknowingly make the condition worse. This is particularly important for older adults, who need to be mindful of what’s on their plate, as some common food choices can significantly elevate blood sugar and complicate diabetes management. Also read | Diabetes: Must-have foods to manage your blood sugar in summer

5 foods, your parents must consume every day, if they are diabetic.(Freepik)

Fitness coach Navneeth Ramprasad, on April 11, shared an Instagram post and explained how avoiding healthy foods can worsen diabetes in your parents. “If your parents are diabetic and you’re not giving them these 5 foods every day, be prepared to spend a lot more on medical bills in a few years, especially the last one. Let’s be real: Most Indian households are still eating the same food that made us the diabetes capital of the world,” Navneeth added.

According to him, here are five foods that your parents must consume every day, if they are diabetic.

1. Fresh coconut and almonds

First thing in the morning, instead of tea or coffee. The healthy fats stabilise blood sugar, reduce morning crashes, and support brain health. Have 2 pieces of coconut and 5 soaked almonds. That’s it. Also read | Diabetes: 7 high-fibre foods that can prevent blood sugar spikes

2. Oats, Greek yoghurt and berries

For breakfast, instead of dosa, idly, or toast. Low GI carbs + protein + fiber + antioxidants = no sugar spikes and longer fullness.

3. Millet khichdi, sprouts and cooked veggies

For lunch, instead of white rice, sambar, and papad. Use foxtail millet or quinoa with moong dal, add steamed sprouts, and a bowl of high fiber veggies. Balanced plate = fiber, protein, slow carbs, and better post-lunch sugar control.

4. Tofu or tempeh for dinner

High-protein, low-carb, and essential for reversing insulin resistance. Add veggies, stir-fry or grill — just don’t end the day with wheat rotis alone.

5. Pumpkin seeds, just before bedtime (9–9:30 PM)

Prevents midnight sugar dips, supports sleep and magnesium levels. 1 small spoon (not more) of raw or lightly roasted seeds is perfect for diabetics who wake up tired or with sugar crashes at night. Also read | Smart eating for diabetes: Nutritionist-approved diet tips to keep your blood sugar in check

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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July 1, 2025
TV tonight: Jordan Gray’s cracking supermarket sitcom | Television

Transaction

10.05pm, ITV2
Jordan Gray is a cracking new comic talent and her first sitcom is full of zingers. Based on her YouTube videos, it follows a transgender woman, Olivia (Gray), who has been hired by the supermarket boss Simon (Nick Frost) to help save his reputation after an LGBTQ+ marketing faux pas. Lazy Olivia is well aware that this means she can get away with anything without getting fired – and this week she actually tries to get too-nice-to-be-true Millie (Francesca Mills) fired instead. Hollie Richardson

The Traitors NZ

8.05pm, BBC Three
Even if you haven’t been following New Zealand’s second series of the hit reality competition franchise, it’s easy for fans of the show to get into the last week of episodes – with the final on Wednesday. Paul Henry is the charismatic host and there are plenty of big characters to up the drama. HR

To Catch a Stalker

9pm, BBC Three
“Inflicting pure fear … how is that love?” Both episodes of Zara McDermott’s documentary air on Tuesday, telling the true stories of women who have been stalked by ex-partners and total strangers. It’s accessible but still petrifying – not least when McDermott meets Isobel, whose emergency escape plan involves jumping from the roof of her home. Hannah J Davies

The Yorkshire Vet: At Home With the Greens

9pm, Channel 5
As farmer Steve’s 96th birthday looms, thoughts turn towards his faithful colleague of 70 years, Oddjob – a tractor that looks primed for the scrap heap. While specialist mechanics help with a surprise makeover, a trip to Thirsk market and a stray kitten at a local steel yard make it another gently busy week in North Yorkshire. Jack Seale

10pm, Channel 4

On the case … Emilia Fox and David Wilson. Photograph: Channel 4

Emilia Fox once again joins the criminologist David Wilson and the detective Dr Graham Hill as this true crime series continues. This time, the brutal, unsolved 1991 murder of Vera Anderson is explored. Vera was found strangled in her car – but who dialled her number and caused her to leave her home so suddenly? Phil Harrison

Storyville: The Srebrenica Tape

10pm, BBC Four
This deeply emotive personal story set against the mass horrors of the Bosnian war is told by Alisa, who possesses a VHS tape that her father filmed for her during the enclave years of Srebrenica. It sets her on a journey in search of her family’s history. HR

Film choices

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Francis Lawrence, 2023), Netflix

Always singing … Rachel Zegler in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Photograph: BFA/Alamy

This needs to be said upfront: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a musical. Even though the film’s publicity really did not want you to know about it, this is a film in which Rachel Zegler will not stop singing. But forewarned is forearmed, and once the shock of the genre has worn off, what’s left might be the best Hunger Games movie yet. A prequel, this is an origin story for Coriolanus Snow (the authoritarian ruler played in previous movies by Donald Sutherland), so it gets to exist in the moral murk more happily than the rest of the series. Stuart Heritage

The Damned United (Tom Hooper, 2009), 12am, BBC Two
Long before The King’s Speech made him an A-lister (and even longer before Cats blew his career to smithereens), Tom Hooper made probably his best film. A wilfully inaccurate biopic of Brian Clough’s ill-fated stint as manager of Leeds United in 1974, the film is like a tug-of-war between a headstrong individual and an immovable corporation. It is truly fantastic, with Michael Sheen operating at the highest possible level as the cocky, obstinate Clough. A wonderful celebration of a complex man. SH

Live sport

Cricket: women’s international T20, England v India 6pm, Sky Sports Main Event. The second T20 in the five-match series from Bristol.

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July 1, 2025