The first time Xing Shaoyun reached for a leprosy patient”s disfigured hand, the patient flinched. “Don’t touch me,” she whispered. “I don’t want to make you sick.”
That moment shattered Xing’s last barrier of fear and redefined her life’s mission.
Now 49, the head nurse of Hainan Fifth People’s Hospital, also known as Hainan Skin Disease and Plastic Surgery Hospital, has spent three decades eradicating the stigma with radical compassion, earning her China’s highest medical honor, the Norman Bethune Award, on March 31.
“They weren’t afraid of us, but they were afraid for us,” Xing recalled. “That’s when I understood: dignity hurts worse than disease.”
When Xing graduated from a health vocational college in 1995 and began working at Hainan’s largest leprosy colony, isolation was the norm. Patients, many with untreated ulcers, lived behind walls and were abandoned by families. Medical staff wore hazmat-like gear.
Despite her family’s fears about the risks of her work, Xing changed that calculus with science. She adopted masking, gloving and sterilizing protocols so rigorous that direct contact became safe. Then she added what medicine couldn’t measure — sitting for hours listening to life stories and holding hands gnarled by nerve damage.
“Leprosy steals everything — jobs, marriages, even hugs,” said Xing, scrolling through photos of elderly patients on her phone. One image shows a man grinning as she fits him with custom shoes; another, a woman smiling while Xing dresses her wounds. “What they need most isn’t just treatment. It’s being seen.”
Her clinical breakthroughs are textbook cases: By combining regenerative wound tech with photon therapy, her team slashed chronic ulcer rates from 28 percent to 5 percent, significantly lowering amputation risks. The innovation now guides leprosy hospitals nationwide.
Beyond the clinic, Xing ventured into remote regions to conduct hands-on training. In 2019, she led a province-wide survey across 13 leprosy-affected villages, finding ulcer incidence rates as high as 18.9 percent. In response, she launched a mobile treatment campaign and trained 464 local caregivers, building a grassroots network of leprosy care specialists.
Yet her most fragile patients never leave the geriatric ward. Xing helped establish a tailored geriatric care system that treats both physical disabilities and social stigma.
“Some patients hadn’t held anyone’s hand in decades,” she said. “We’ve held over 100 hands in their last moments. No one should die remembering only pain.”
In 2023, Xing was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal by the International Red Cross. She has since shared her experience with nearly 4,000 people through lectures, inspiring a new generation of health workers.
Xing has taken care of over 300 leprosy patients. “The elderly patients often call me ‘daughter’, a sign of their trust and the reason I keep going,” said Xing.
With China’s leprosy rates plummeting, she believes key challenges remain in early detection, especially in remote areas, and in comprehensive rehabilitation addressing both physical and psychological needs.
As a Party member for 23 years, Xing views her awards as a recognition of teamwork, not individual achievement. “My oath to serve the people guides everything — ward rounds, emergencies, trips to remote villages,” she said. “These honors are not just for me but they belong to thousands of front-line medical workers and leprosy control staff.”
Twelve-year-old Lauren Eglite was thrilled to attend a Notre Dame football game with her father, Erik, in 2017, even though her acute peanut allergy demands constant vigilance.
She was even more excited when the stadium’s brand-new video board aired an NBC Fighting For story about Basar Bilgicer’s research into blocking peanut allergens from triggering immune system overreactions. She asked her father, a drug company executive and Notre Dame business school alumnus, if this might be an opportunity to get involved with a solution to a condition that had complicated her life since childhood.
“I remember to this day her looking at that screen and turning to me,” Dr. Erik Eglite said. “She said, ‘Daddy, can I meet him? I really want to do something about it.’ This kid actually did that.”
It was a bold request, but Bilgicer didn’t hesitate after Dr. Eglite reached out. The Notre Dame professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering invited the whole Eglite family to his lab and explained his complex research in overwhelming detail.
The coincidence of that video playing to the right audience of two has led to immense mutual benefits. Nearly eight years later, Bilgicer and Eglite have partnered to form a company called Artin Immunology that aims to turn Bilgicer’s peanut allergy research into a blockbuster drug.
Read the story
Originally published by Office of Brand Content at news.nd.edu on July 01, 2025.
Yamaha today announced the YH-L500A personal theater headphones, offering a new way to enjoy movies and streaming shows at home with immersive, cinema-like sound from virtually any Bluetooth-enabled device. These wireless headphones feature proprietary Yamaha Sound Field technology, creating spacious, three-dimensional listening experiences from any source device and content.
Designed for extended binge-watching sessions, the all-new YH-L500A headphones provide a gentle clamping pressure, employ newly developed earpads that fit comfortably without causing fatigue, and are remarkably light at just 9.3 ounces. Additionally, they feature Bluetooth Multipoint, enabling users to connect two devices and switch between them effortlessly.
“When it comes to reproducing cinema-like sound at home, Yamaha has unequaled engineering know-how from our decades of leadership in home theater AV receivers and sound bars,” said Alex Sadeghian, director of consumer audio at Yamaha. “The YH-L500A headphones deliver this experience for personal listening on mobile devices. Now users can watch a movie on their tablet or laptop and still experience sonic immersion that enhances every scene’s realism, excitement, and emotion.”
The headphones feature two Sound Field modes: Cinema and Music. Cinema mode enhances the spatial arrangement of dialogue, sound effects, and background music while adding spatial volume to replicate the experience of being “at the movies.” Music mode distinguishes vocals, instruments, and ambiance with clarity, recreating the feeling of being at a live music venue.
Additionally, the YH-L500A headphones offer a range of powerful features, including up to 20 hours of battery life, Google Fast Pair, Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, voice control, gaming mode for low latency, and Yamaha-exclusive Listening Care. A free downloadable app enables control over settings and EQ customization.
PRICING & AVAILABILITY: $229.95 MSRP, available today on yamaha.io/yhl500apr and at select Yamaha retailers.
Melbourne, Barwon Heads, Sydney shows sold out, other shows selling fast New Album Golden Wolf – out now
MELBOURNE, (WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025): Dope Lemon has today announced Pamela – the indie pop duo of Sarah Ellen & Josh Kempen – as special guests for the Australia and New Zealand dates on the Golden Wolf World Tour, commencing on July 22 in Fremantle.
Emerging through 2024, Pamela have built a strong fanbase with shows at venues such as Vic on the Park, The Trocadero and Oxford Art Factory, impressing industry heavyweights along the way. Pamela are currently in studio working on their highly anticipated debut EP with the likes of Grammy nominated producer Justin Stanley (cuts with Beck, Gary Clark JR), Tele (Lizzo, Ricky Reed), Robby De Sa (May-A, the Veronicas), and Dennis Neuer (Milky Chance). View Pamela on YouTube here.
Dope Lemon – the moniker of acclaimed Australian artist Angus Stone – has cultivated a reputation for pairing dreamy, laid-back grooves with deeply introspective lyricism. Latest album Golden Wolf made a stellar debut on the ARIA Album Chart in May this year, landing at #8.
Dope Lemon has headlined sold-out tours across Australia, North America, and Europe – including appearances at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, plus joining Post Malone on the Australian and New Zealand legs of his 2023 arena tour. Known for consistently delivering high-quality shows, with stellar production and groovy vocals, these upcoming Dope Lemon shows are highly anticipated.
DOPE LEMON GOLDEN WOLF WORLD TOUR AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND DATES 2025
METROPOLIS, FREMANTLE TUESDAY, JULY 22 SELLING FAST
FORUM, MELBOURNE FRIDAY, JULY 25 SOLD OUT
BARWON HEADS HOTEL, BARWON HEAD SATURDAY, JULY 26 SOLD OUT
HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SUNDAY, JULY 27
ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY THURSDAY, JULY 31 SOLD OUT
FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 SELLING FAST
SHED 6, WELLINGTON THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 SELLING FAST
AUCKLAND TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 SELLING FAST
Tickets, VIP packages and more information at livenation.com.au and livenation.co.nz
ABOUT DOPE LEMON
Golden Wolf is the shimmering fifth chapter in the Dope Lemon Adventure. This new record blends reflective introspection with wild sonic landscapes; the songs here are still anchored by Stone’s trademark grooves, but they feel looser, more windswept, capturing the heat of endless desert days and the cool mystery of moonlit nights. Access the album here.
Since its debut in 2016 with the critically acclaimed album Honey Bones, Dope Lemon’s rich, immersive soundscapes have struck a chord with audiences across the globe. Albums like Smooth Big Cat (2019) and Rose Pink Cadillac (2022) have not only climbed the ARIA charts—frequently earning #1 rankings in independent and vinyl categories—but have also garnered a devoted international following, with notable success in Germany, Switzerland, and beyond. His most recent album, Kimosabè (2023), continued this momentum, taking out #9 spot on the ARIA charts and #2 Australian Album.
With myriad achievements extending beyond the studio, the project has sold over 565,000 album equivalents and amassed over 700 million streams. The single ‘Rose Pink Cadillac’ was a fan favourite, landing a spot in triple j’s Hottest 100, while the discography has been Shazamed nearly 2 million times – a testament to its magnetic pull.
On the live front, Dope Lemon has sold out shows worldwide and gained recognition for collaborations with revered Australian bands such as Winston Surfshirt and co-writing credits with the likes of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.
CONNECT WITH DOPE LEMON Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
SAN DIEGO and BEIJING, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CreateAI Holdings (“CreateAI” or the “Company”) (OTC: TSPH), a leader in artificial intelligence technology, today announced the acceptance of two groundbreaking research papers at the 20th International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV 2025), one of the world’s top computer vision conferences.
The accepted papers showcase innovative solutions in animation generation. The first paper, “LayerAnimate”(https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.08295), introduces revolutionary layer-level control in animation production, enabling precise manipulation of individual elements like characters, backgrounds, and effects. The second paper, “CycleVAR”(https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.23347), presents a novel approach to unsupervised anime-style translation, significantly improving efficiency in stylization processes.
LayerAnimate addresses a critical industry challenge by incorporating the fundamental concept of “layers” into AI animation generation, while CycleVAR introduces an efficient one-step process for transforming real photos into high-quality anime-style images.
“The acceptance of these papers is a significant affirmation of CreateAI’s technological innovation,” said Cheng Lu, President and CEO of CreateAI. “We firmly believe that the value of AI lies in addressing real-world creative challenges. The breakthroughs in LayerAnimate and CycleVAR essentially provide the animation industry with dual tools for ‘precise control’ and ‘efficient transformation.’”
These developments align with CreateAI’s comprehensive strategy of building a technology-tools-content ecosystem for animation creation. The company has already demonstrated market leadership through its Ruyi image-to-video model and Animon.ai platform(https://www.animon.ai/), the world’s first AI video generation platform specifically designed for animation, which currently offers professional-grade AI anime generation capabilities for creators to explore.
The acceptance of these papers at ICCV 2025, known for its rigorous selection process, reinforces CreateAI’s position as a leading innovator in generative AI technology and computer vision research.
About CreateAI
CreateAI is a global applied artificial intelligence company with offices in the US, China, and Japan. The Company is developing leading AI technology for a number of end-use applications and pioneering the future of digital entertainment content production, seamlessly blending cutting-edge generative AI technology with the creativity of world-class talent. Our mission is to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in digital storytelling by developing immersive, captivating, and visually stunning experiences that resonate with audiences on a global scale.
CreateAI Media Contact: Brad Burgess ICR, LLC Email: [email protected]
WITH the monsoon season underway in Pakistan, the threat of another dengue outbreak hangs over us. The warning signs are here: Sindh logged its first dengue-related casualty with the death of a young male patient at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital. In June, Karachi recorded 32 new dengue incidents, with single cases in Mirpurkhas and Sukkur. This year, Sindh reported 295 dengue cases; 260 of these were from Karachi. While the June count is significantly lower than in the past four years, the health authorities cannot afford to let their guard down. Besides, climate change has altered the pattern of vector-borne infections as well as engendered new temperature-resilient mosquito species. Without a sustained, comprehensive programme, timely precautions and mass awareness, annual surges will be difficult to block.
In 2017, KP set an example by seeking help from the Punjab government, which had fought a dengue epidemic in 2011 with a remarkable strategy involving collaboration between Pakistani, Indonesian and Sri Lankan medical experts. New regulations were enforced to thwart the seasonal health emergency. The time has come for Sindh to follow suit. The province must prioritise the public’s well-being and implement an upgraded version of the Punjab template, alongside carrying out extensive fumigation drives as well as providing skilled medics and medicines to ease symptoms and avoid critical cases of low platelet counts. The fact that Punjab has been dengue-clear through June shows that through early directives and heightened public and administrative alertness, it has managed to contain the disease, which is laudable. To ensure that the populace does not have to endure repeated bouts of agony, deterrence initiatives must at the very least keep pace with mosquito breeding. Access to hygienic living conditions and cost-free dengue tests is the antidote to the Aedes aegypti mosquito that thrives in fresh water.
While ordinary citizens are required to get new Ajrak-designed number plates for their motorcycles and cars to avoid heavy fines, police vehicles and government cars seem exempt from the mandatory replacement of old registration plates with new retro-reflective ones, as it becomes a common sight to see such vehicles roaming on city roads.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
• Before applying, first clear motor vehicle tax dues • E-transactions can also save drivers from exhausting visits to excise dept offices • People asked to carry receipt of replacement of number plate while driving • Officials admit backlog at excise and taxation offices yet to be cleared
KARACHI: As traffic police continue to issue eye-watering challans, to drivers and take strict action against vehicles not affixed with new Ajrak-designed registration number plates, people have complained that the Sindh government should have launched an awareness campaign to educate citizens about how to acquire the new retro-reflective number plates.
The awareness campaign is necessary keeping in view the cumbersome process and the limited capacity of the excise and taxation department to deal with hundreds of thousands of owners of commercial and private vehicles applying for new number plates.
Dawn has learnt that due to lack of correct information among the public regarding the required process and documentation for the issuance of new number plates, transfer of ownership, and smart cards, many vehicle owners are either compelled to make multiple visits to government offices or fall prey to “agents” operating near these facilities due to overcrowding at information desks.
“This is my second visit to this branch, but the registration still hasn’t been completed,” a woman told Dawn, who had come at the newly established executive motor registration facility in Clifton, along with her husband to transfer the ownership of her vehicle.
She added that during her last visit, she was not aware of the required Rs1,000 sale deed or e-stamp, along with the original file, claiming that no such information was available on the department’s website.
Dawn spoke to Jamshed Ali Memon, in charge of the facility in Clifton, to get information regarding what documents and steps are required for individuals looking to avail these services.
The official said that people seeking to avail any service related to their vehicle must first clear their tax dues.
“There is no need to visit any facility for this purpose,” he explained. “Car owners can pay their taxes online through the department’s official website or mobile applications,” he added.
Transfer of vehicle
The official said that generally, for the transfer of vehicle ownership — which is mandatory, otherwise the vehicle may be seized or a new number plate would not be issued — the original file must be brought along with the vehicle for physical inspection.
The buyer is also required to be physically present at the facility for biometric verification, he added.
In addition, a Transfer of Ownership (TO) form — which can either be downloaded from the official website or obtained at the facility — must be submitted along with copies of valid CNICs of both buyer and seller, and a Rs1,000 sale deed or e-stamp, which can be acquired from any branch of Sindh Bank.
When asked whether the seller is also required to appear for biometric verification, Mr Memon clarified that right now there is no condition for the seller to visit the facility — only a copy of their valid CNIC is required.
However, he added that in case where an individual is transferring the vehicle to their children (blood relation), the seller must be present for biometric verification to ensure that the transfer is being made with their consent.
Smart card
Now, if someone wishes to obtain a smart card against their old registration book, they are required to submit the original registration book along with the complete original file, with a filled-out form — which can be obtained from the facility — and a copy of their CNIC and required to pay Rs1,600 by using online payment or submitting challan in a bank.
Ajrak number plates
For those who have paid their taxes and have their vehicles registered in their name, there are two options to obtain the new Ajrak-designed number plates. The first option is to apply by visiting any facility nearby and the second is to apply online.
To do so, they need to visit the official website (https://excise.gos.pk) or mobile app, click on the “Quick Online Pay Taxes” option, and enter their mobile number along with the vehicle’s registration number. A new window will then pop up, allowing them to apply for a replacement number plate and selecting the facility to collect the number plate.
For four-wheelers, the fee is approximately Rs2,450, while for two-wheelers, it is around Rs1,850. The payment can be made through online banking or any supported digital payment platform or paying challan in bank.
For those who have already applied for the replacement of a number plate, they can check the current status by visiting the department’s official website and clicking on the “Check Your Number Plate” option.
And if you are lucky enough that your number plate has been delivered to your selected excise branch, you will need to bring the original file and old number plate regardless it was in any condition with you to collect the new Ajrak-designed number plate. However, if you had lost your old number plate then you need to apply for duplicate number.
Mixed signals confuse public
According to the excise ministry, the deadline for mandatory Nadra biometric verification for vehicle owners applicable to sellers has been extended till August 14.
However, many vehicle owners who had applied for replacement number plates months ago complained that they had yet to receive them.
In the meantime, a growing number of vehicle owners have turned to locally made number plates to avoid action by the traffic police, claiming that officers are allowing the use of white-background plates with Ajrak patterns until the originals are issued.
This has further contributed to the confusion and a communication gap between the two government departments, forcing vehicle owners to spend additional money on locally made number plates that resemble the government-issued ones.
Conflicting announcements
The traffic police, through their official social media platforms, have announced that only “government-issued or closely resembling number plates” will be accepted. Otherwise, vehicles will be subject to challans or seizure.
On the other hand, the excise department has maintained that aftermarket number plates will not be accepted under any circumstances, as allowing them would undermine the objectives of the Safe City initiative.
Responding to a question about the backlog at excise facilities in Karachi, Atif Ali Bhatti — in-charge of the motor registration facility at the Civic Centre — said that applicants who submitted requests for the new design number plates in mid-February had already received them or delivered at their selective branch. However, the backlog that developed afterwards had yet to be cleared as of the first week of July, he claimed.
Mr Bhatti also acknowledged a video circulating on social media in which traffic police personnel were seen encouraging people to use “government-issued or closely resembling number plates”.
He clarified that it is incorrect to use aftermarket plates — which lack any security features — as doing so would undermine the very purpose of the Safe City initiative.
He further stated that the newly designed number plates are embedded with multiple security features, enabling surveillance cameras to detect and read them clearly, even at night.
Show the receipt
The excise ministry has advised vehicle owners that if their new number plates have not yet been issued, they should carry the official receipt of the replacement of plates and present it to traffic police or any concerned authority when asked.
“If someone has the official receipt and the original old number plate installed to their vehicle, then morally, the traffic police should not issue a fine,” said ministry spokesperson Shabbir Ali Babar.
Speaking to Dawn, a traffic police spokesperson, Mr Sohail, said that if vehicle owners have been issued the Ajrak-themed number plates, they should install them. However, if the plates have not yet been issued, then owners may use aftermarket plates to avoid using fancy ones.
When asked about the excise department’s statement that until the new plates are issued, vehicle owners can install the original old number plate along with the replacement receipt, he said he was not aware of any such statement issued by the excise department and could not comment at this time.
Dawn attempted to get comments from the DIG Traffic Karachi but did not receive his response.
PESHAWAR/SWAT: Two petitions have been filed with Peshawar High Court in Peshawar and Mingora (Darul Qaza), seeking an inquiry into several deaths in the recent flash floods in Swat district and the fixing of responsibility for the alleged negligence.
In Swat, a bench consisting of Justice Sabitullah Khan and Justice Qazi Jawad Ehsanullah issued notices to the respondents, including the provincial government, seeking their response to a petition, which called for the court’s orders for Swat’s district administration and tehsil municipal administration of Mingora to immediately remove illegal structures along the river banks and to halt excavations therein.
The petition is jointly filed by two citizens, Fayyaz Zafar and Fazal Khaliq, requesting the high court to direct the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Rescue 1122 to develop a formal framework for the identification, training and equipping of local volunteers, who significantly contributed to the disaster response.
Advocate Shah Faisal Khan appeared for the petitioners and highlighted the severe consequences of the recent floods in the Bypass Fizagat area, emphasising alleged administrative negligence and failure in preventive measures.
Meanwhile, a citizen on Tuesday moved the high court in Peshawar for ordering a judicial inquiry into the “circumstances” that led to the deaths of multiple people during the recent floods in Swat, as well as a probe into the alleged misuse of Rescue 1122 vehicles by the provincial government for “political purposes.”
A resident of Charsadda, Amir Alam, filed a petition seeking directives for the law-enforcement and accountability authorities to look into the alleged misuse of Rescue 1122 vehicles and resources by the provincial executive for political purposes, and to proceed strictly in accordance with the law if cognizable offences were committed.
He requested the court to order a high-level judicial or commission-based inquiry to determine the circumstances that led to the failure of the disaster response system during the Swat floods of Jun 27, fixing responsibility on the negligent officers and public functionaries.
The petitioner sought the court’s directives for the provincial chief secretary and director general of Rescue 1122 to submit a detailed report regarding the current operational status of all rescue and disaster relief vehicles/ equipment and their lawful utilisation.
He also requested directives for the respondents, including the provincial government, to cancel all mining activities, carried out through auction or otherwise, in the River Swat.
The petitioner also sought orders for an independent audit and investigation into the recruitment process and resource allocation within Rescue 1122 to ensure transparency, merit and prevent political interference in emergency situations.
The petition, filed through lawyer Babar Khan Yousafzai, includes as respondents the provincial chief minister, its chief secretary, secretaries of mines and mineral, irrigation, relief and rehabilitation, local government and culture and tourism departments, the directors general of Rescue 1122 and Provincial Disaster Management Authority and KP inspector general of police.
The petitioner said that on June 27, flash floods struck Swat district resulting in the death of at least 18 people, including tourists from Punjab.
He added that the failure of Rescue 1122 and provincial authorities to respond timely and effectively caused unnecessary and avoidable loss of lives.
The petitioner alleged that over six months ago, the Rescue 1122 vehicles and other resources were “unlawfully diverted” by the chief minister for use in a political protest in Islamabad.
He added that those vehicles were confiscated by Islamabad’s police, severely hampering disaster preparedness across the province.
The petitioner contended that the PDMA operated under the KP Disaster Management Act, 2010, under which its resources might be used for disaster preparedness and response only.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that the government efficiency department, previously led by billionaire Elon Musk, should be tasked to review the subsidies paid to the Tesla CEO’s companies to save money, reigniting a war of words between the world’s most powerful person and its richest.
In their latest spat, Trump even threatened to deport Musk to his native South Africa.
The remarks came after Musk, a Republican mega donor, renewed his criticism of the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill and vowed to unseat lawmakers who supported it despite campaigning on limiting government spending.
Tesla shares fell more than six per cent before the market opened as the feud could add fresh hurdles for the business empire of Musk, whose main source of wealth, the electric automaker, is betting on the success of robo-taxis being tested in Texas.
Richest man threatens to go after lawmakers who backed the measure; president threatens to deport Tesla CEO to South Africa
The US Transportation Department regulates vehicle design and will play a key role in deciding if Tesla can mass-produce robotaxis without pedals and steering wheels, while Musk’s rocket firm SpaceX has about $22 billion in federal contracts.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production, and our country would save a fortune. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? Big money to be saved!!!”
In response, Musk said on his own social media platform X: “I am literally saying cut it all. Now.”
Trump said Musk was upset because he lost the EV mandate in the recent tax and spending bill and warned the Tesla CEO “could lose a lot more than that”.
Trump had last month threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts when their relationship erupted into an all-out social media brawl over the tax-cut bill, which non-partisan analysts estimate would add about $3 trillion to US debt.
After weeks of relative silence, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it “utterly insane and destructive” in a post on X.
On Monday, Musk said lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill “should hang their heads in shame!” “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk said.
He also called again for a new political party, saying the bill’s massive spending indicated “that we live in a one-party country the Porky Pig Party!!”
The criticism marked a dramatic shift after the billionaire spent nearly $300 million on Trump’s re-election campaign and led the administration’s controversial DOGE initiative.
PESHAWAR/SWAT: Two petitions have been filed with Peshawar High Court in Peshawar and Mingora (Darul Qaza), seeking an inquiry into several deaths in the recent flash floods in Swat district and the fixing of responsibility for the alleged negligence.
In Swat, a bench consisting of Justice Sabitullah Khan and Justice Qazi Jawad Ehsanullah issued notices to the respondents, including the provincial government, seeking their response to a petition, which called for the court’s orders for Swat’s district administration and tehsil municipal administration of Mingora to immediately remove illegal structures along the river banks and to halt excavations therein.
The petition is jointly field by two citizens, Fayyaz Zafar and Fazal Khaliq, requesting the high court to direct the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Rescue 1122 to develop a formal framework for the identification, training and equipping of local volunteers, who significantly contributed to the disaster response.
Advocate Shah Faisal Khan appeared for the petitioners and highlighted severe consequences of the recent floods in the Bypass Fizagat area, emphasising alleged administrative negligence and failure in preventive measures.
Meanwhile, a citizen on Tuesday moved the high court in Peshawar for ordering a judicial inquiry into the “circumstances” that led to deaths of multiple people during the recent floods in Swat as well as a probe into the alleged misuse of Rescue 1122 vehicles by the provincial government for “political purposes.”
A resident of Charsadda, Amir Alam, filed a petition seeking directives for the law-enforcement and accountability authorities to look into the alleged misuse of Rescue 1122 vehicles and resources by the provincial executive for political purposes, and to proceed strictly in accordance with law if cognizable offences were committed.
He requested the court to order a high-level judicial or commission-based inquiry to determine the circumstances that led to failure of the disaster response system during the Swat floods of Jun 27, fixing responsibility on the negligent officers and public functionaries.
The petitioner sought the court’s directives for the provincial chief secretary and director general of Rescue 1122 to submit a detailed report regarding the current operational status of all rescue and disaster relief vehicles/ equipment and their lawful utilization.
He also requested directives for the respondents, including the provincial government, to cancel all mining activities, carried out through auction or otherwise, in the River Swat.
The petitioner also sought orders for independent audit and investigation into the recruitment process and resource allocation within Rescue 1122 to ensure transparency, merit and prevent political interference in emergency situations.
The petition, filed through lawyer Babar Khan Yousafzai, includes as respondents the provincial chief minister, its chief secretary, secretaries of mines and mineral, irrigation, relief and rehabilitation, local government and culture and tourism departments, the directors general of Rescue 1122 and Provincial Disaster Management Authority and KP inspector general of police.
The petitioner said that on June 27, flash floods struck Swat district resulting in the death of at least 18 people, including tourists from Punjab.
He added that the failure of Rescue 1122 and provincial authorities to respond timely and effectively caused unnecessary and avoidable loss of lives.
The petitioner alleged that over six months ago, the Rescue 1122 vehicles and other resources were “unlawfully diverted” by the chief minister for use in a political protest in Islamabad.
He added that those vehicles were confiscated by Islamabad’s police, severely hampering disaster preparedness across the province.
The petitioner contended that the PDMA operated under the KP Disaster Management Act, 2010, under which its resources might be used for disaster preparedness and response only.
