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  • Abdul Razzaq speaks about meeting Bollywood’s Tamannaah Bhatia

    Abdul Razzaq speaks about meeting Bollywood’s Tamannaah Bhatia

    Bollywood actor Tamannaah Bhatia (left) and Abdul Razzaq. — Facebook/Instagram/ Tamannaah Bhatia

    Former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq said Bollywood star Tamannaah Bhatia is a “good actress,” and he had met her years ago.

    The statement came a month after the Bollywood actress rejected the report of their marriage and relationship as baseless and, at times, “embarrassing”.

    Speaking to reporters in Karachi, the cricketer said: “It’s been 12 years since I met Bhatia; we had met in a function.”

    Responding to a query about whether he likes Bhatia, Razzaq smiled and replied: “All girls look beautiful on camera.”

    The former cricketer and Bollywood actress had been linked to relationship rumours on social media for years after a picture of a jewellery shop went viral, featuring both in a single frame, which intensified speculation about their alleged affair.

    A month ago, speaking in an interview, Bhatia had said how such unfounded stories often spread quickly on social media, causing both amusement and discomfort.

    She recalled that a photograph of her with Razzaq at a jewellery store event sparked speculation about their relationship.

    Mazaak mazaak mein Abdul Razzaq! The Internet is a fun place. According to the internet, I was briefly married to Abdul Razzaq. I’m sorry, sir. Aapke do teen bachche hai (You have 2-3 children). I don’t know about your life, but it was so embarrassing,” she said.

    This is not the first time Bhatia has been linked to cricketers. In 2010, a photo of her with Virat Kohli during a commercial shoot also led to false rumours.

    “I only met him for one day during the shoot. We never talked or met again,” Bhatia clarified.


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  • 5 Myths About Long Covid Doctors Want You to Stop Believing

    5 Myths About Long Covid Doctors Want You to Stop Believing

    Myths about long COVID abound. Untruths about this post-pandemic condition have gone viral in their own way. Whether misinformation or outdated advice is to blame, stick to these COVID-19 facts, backed by experts and science.

    Meet the experts: Lisa Sanders, M.D., medical director of Yale New Haven Health’s Multidisciplinary Long COVID Care Center; and Saahir Khan, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of infectious diseases at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

    Here, doctors debunk popular misconceptions associated with the condition.

    Myth: Long COVID isn’t a real condition.

    Myth buster: “Long COVID is very real and has very real biological causes,” says Lisa Sanders, M.D., medical director of Yale New Haven Health’s Multidisciplinary Long COVID Care Center. People with long COVID may have characteristic abnormalities in blood tests, such as high or low white blood cell counts or low levels of the stress hormone cortisol; however, many will have normal blood tests. Other diagnostic tests have shown suspected effects: For instance, in some people with long COVID, the mitochondria—small structures in cells that are responsible for producing energy—aren’t as good as usual at picking up oxygen from the blood, says Dr. Sanders. That partly explains why more than one-third of people with long COVID have exercise intolerance and nearly 12% have symptoms compatible with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). “The changes might be invisible, but they are there,” she says.

    Myth 2: COVID boosters don’t protect against long COVID.

    Myth buster: They absolutely do. “Compared to having received the primary vaccination series alone, receiving a booster vaccination reduces the risk of long COVID by up to 23%,” says Saahir Khan, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of infectious diseases at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. “And having more recently received a COVID-19 vaccine can also reduce the risk of long COVID.” Even if you do get COVID after having been vaccinated (it can happen), the vaccine can help the immune system eliminate the virus more quickly, making it less likely that viral particles will stick around to cause more damage. “If you get COVID, the vaccine protects you from some of the worst possible outcomes, like long COVID, as well as from dying,” Dr. Sanders says.

    Myth 3: Long COVID isn’t much of a problem anymore.

    Myth Buster: We wish. While the percentage of people getting long COVID these days is down, overall COVID infections remain high, so “that still turns out to be a big number,” says Dr. Sanders. About 4% of vaccinated people and 8% of unvaccinated people get long COVID (down from a high of 10% at the start of the pandemic), and it can take a long time for some people to get better. A recent study showed that 68% of people who had long COVID symptoms six months after a COVID infection still had the same symptoms in year two. And those symptoms were no picnic—they included fatigue or exhaustion, breathlessness, anxiety and/or depression, and sleep problems. Also, COVID-19 infection can damage the brain, including by causing brain shrinkage and accelerated aging, not to mention that brain fog is one of the most common long COVID symptoms. Bottom line: You can avoid getting long COVID by avoiding COVID.

    Jordan Lye

    Myth 4: Long COVID is forever.

    Myth buster: Long COVID isn’t always a lifelong condition. A study last year showed that about half of people who once had long COVID say they’ve recovered. And 48% of people with long COVID report recovering within three months, another analysis found. Not everyone will be that lucky, of course, but “studies say most people recover,” Dr. Sanders says, though that doesn’t necessarily mean their bodies and minds go back to a pre-infection state. “There may be lasting cognitive changes, but our brains are plastic. If something changes, we can often learn to work around it,” Dr. Sanders explains. Long COVID is a collection of symptoms, so there is no single remedy, but many of the symptoms can be treated with options like medication, physical therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

    Myth 5: Doctors know what causes long COVID.

    Myth buster: Nobody knows exactly what causes long COVID. And while being older, being a woman, being in poor health, and having a severe COVID-19 infection can increase risk, “anyone who is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can get long COVID,” says Dr. Khan. Still, doctors and researchers have some ideas: Research points to several reasons some people develop long COVID, including having remnants of the virus that continue to cause inflammation; reactivation of latent viruses like the Epstein-Barr virus; an autoimmune response in which the body attacks its own tissues and organs; and organ and tissue damage caused by the initial infection. Essentially, COVID-19 kickstarts a complex immune response that must shut down once the infection is over; if it does not, says Dr. Khan, problems (and symptoms) can potentially pop up.

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  • Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba resigns | World News

    Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba resigns | World News

    Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba has resigned after pressure from within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the potential for a leadership vote against him.

    Mr Ishiba, 68, who took office in October, had resisted demands – from mostly right-wing opponents within his own party for more than a month – to take responsibility for a historic defeat in July’s parliamentary election.

    He has overseen three election defeats: in the upper house in July, local polls in June, as well as in the lower house in October, when his party was mired in a political donations scandal that forced his predecessor to resign.

    Support for his ruling coalition has also steadily eroded as his government struggled to improve Japan’s sluggish economic growth and contain consumer price rises that fuelled growing discontent over squeezed earnings.

    Mr Ishiba announced his resignation at a news conference, one day before his party was to decide whether to hold an early leadership election which, if approved, would have effectively been a no-confidence motion against him.

    He said he would start a process to hold a party leadership vote to choose his replacement.

    His decision came after meeting agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his perceived mentor, former prime minister Yoshihide Suga, who apparently suggested Mr Ishiba’s resignation ahead of Monday’s vote.

    Mr Ishiba had previously insisted on staying on in the role, stressing the need to avoid a political vacuum at a time Japan faces big challenges, including US tariffs and their impact on the economy, rising prices, rice policy reforms and growing tensions in the region.

    Image:
    Shigeru Ishiba resigned after meeting colleague Shinjiro Koizumi on Saturday. File pic: Reuters

    In the upper house election in July, voters handed Mr Ishiba a resounding defeat. The LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the chamber.

    Many voters backed opposition groups, including the far-right Sanseito party, which had promised tax cuts and tighter controls on immigration, which has been blamed for depressing wages.

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    Mr Ishiba was initially seen as a figure popular with the public who could revive the LDP’s standing when he was elevated to leader.

    But he had clashed with previous leaders within the party and his colleagues were not prepared to forgive him for the electoral defeats.

    The LDP and Komeito are now reliant on opposition support to stay in power, although opposition parties are too splintered to form a big enough coalition to topple the government.

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  • 10 Android Apps You Need for Their Widgets

    10 Android Apps You Need for Their Widgets

    Plenty of us have downloaded apps with all the best intentions, only to end up using just one small feature. Sometimes their real value isn’t inside the app itself, but in the small, dynamic windows they put right on your home screen. Enter the humble widget.

    Widgets aren’t just shortcuts; they’re like live dashboards that show you real-time information, give you quick controls, or let you get to a specific function without ever needing to open the full app. Instead of digging through an app to find what we need, the important info or function is already in the widget, ready with a quick glance or a tap. There are many apps I have downloaded just for the widget, and I recommend every single one.

    julian alarcon / Reddit

    Overdrop – Weather & Widgets has a great design and strong forecasting features on Android. While it’s a solid app on its own, I like to use its widgets because they look so good and are very handy. Overdrop has over 70 widgets that show you key weather info with some really cool designs. There are more than 50 different styles and even AMOLED-friendly themes. This is great because that means you can adjust the widget to better fit your background whenever you change it, but you will need a subscription to use the widgets.

    This lets you put real-time weather and forecasts right on your home screen, making your device look great while giving you a quick look at the information you need. I don’t need to look at a weather app and see the UV unless I’m going to the beach. I like using this widget because I think it’s one of the best weather widget apps on Android.

    TickTick: To Do List & Calendar

    A list of objectives to do in the TickTick To Do List & Calendar widget on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    If you’ve ever felt like your brain is overflowing with tasks to do and random ideas, then you need TickTick: To Do List & Calendar. This app is not just a basic to-do list; it’s a full-on task manager that works everywhere from your phone to your computer, and even a web browser. I use it to keep track of everything from work projects to personal goals and even my daily habits.

    For me, the best part is the widget on Android. I’m one of those people who needs a constant visual reminder; otherwise, a task out of sight becomes a task out of mind. TickTick has these widgets that put my to-do lists right on my home screen. It’s super helpful because I don’t have to constantly open the app to see what I have to do. I just glance at my phone, and there it is: a quick overview of everything, including tasks that are overdue or coming up.

    Tilla – subscriptions manager

    Tilla - subscriptions manager widget showing disney, crunchyroll, and amazon prime subscriptions needing to be paid soon on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    While subscription managers usually help you cut subscriptions, the Tilla – subscriptions manager app is pretty handy for keeping track of all your paid subscriptions. Honestly, it’s a great way to get a clear overview of all your expenses, which helps you stay on top of your monthly spending and not miss any payment dates.

    It’s super easy to use, too. You can add subscriptions from a list of services they have or even create your own custom ones. If you are in charge of the budget and work, you should get this app because it’s saved me from forgotten bills and charges for late payments.

    Spotify: Music and Podcasts

    The Spotify widget showing the song O Holy Night by Home Free being played on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    Spotify: Music and Podcasts are popular, with 100 million songs, 6 million podcasts, and 350,000 audiobooks. The app is also easy to navigate, but a big part of having a music player is to easily switch songs. Spotify’s widget is great to have on your phone because it works like an old MP3 player, but better than you’d think.

    The widget isn’t just about play and pause anymore; it gives you quick access to up to five personalized recommendations right from your home screen. You can jump straight into a playlist, album, or podcast without even opening the main app.

    Google Home

    The Google Home widget showing the home assistant, hallway thermometer, and temperature adjustments that can be made on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    The Google Home app is meant to be the main control center for your whole smart home setup, from Nest to Chromecast and all those smart lights and cameras. The app is great, but it can be difficult to navigate and time-consuming to do simple things.

    The Favorites widget is a lifesaver. It gives you a quick way to control your smart devices and see what’s going on at home right from your home screen. For example, on my Android, I can add a Routines widget and customize it with shortcuts and images for my automations. It’s so much easier and faster than opening the main app, especially when it’s acting up.

    TripIt: Travel Planner app

    The TripIt Travel Planner widget showing that there is a vacation coming up soon on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    My wife recently went to Mexico for immigration reasons, and so she had a lot to do. TripIt: Travel Planner organized all the booking confirmation emails and turned them into a single, easy-to-follow itinerary. What I liked was that it works on pretty much everything from the phone to the tablet, and even the web. I was able to keep up with her plans as well, which cut down on the worry.

    The best part was the app’s widgets. The widget gave my wife and me an easy way to see all the important stuff, like my gate number or a flight time, without having to mess with the full app. So instead of dealing with the frustration of the main interface, I can just glance at my home screen and get the information I need.

    The Quotes Widget showing a quote by John Wooden saying if you don't have time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    The Quotes Widget is an app I’ve been using lately is all about displaying inspirational quotes right on my home screen. It’s designed to be super lightweight and easy on memory, which I love because I don’t want more apps cluttering up my home screen. It’s a really simple but effective way to get a little daily motivation without using up a ton of my phone’s resources.

    Honestly, the best part of this app is its widget. You can really make it your own with a ton of customization options. You can even add your own quotes, edit them, and import custom collections as JSON files.

    Todoist: Planner & Calendar

    A list of objectives to do in the Todoist widget on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    TickTick can be overwhelming if you don’t want everything at once, so Todoist is a good alternative widget for your home screen. What makes Todoist so great is how clean and simple it is. You can add a task, set a due date, and organize it into a project in just a few seconds. It’s really easy to create subtasks, prioritize things, or use labels and filters to keep everything in order.

    What makes it great are the multiple widgets. I practically live on my home screen, so having a clear view of my to-do list right there is super helpful. Todoist has two different kinds of widgets: one for your task list and another for productivity stats. There’s even support for dynamic themes, better alignment, and the ability to shrink them down to smaller sizes.

    Pinterest

    The Pinterest showing video game images on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    Pinterest is a huge visual discovery platform and social network that’s available on Android. It’s designed to help you find inspiration, save ideas, and plan all sorts of projects. You basically interact with “Pins,” which are images and videos, and organize them into boards.

    Pinterest has widgets for Androids that let you see Pins from your home feed, a specific board, or by interest directly on your home screen. For those of us who use a vision board, it’s exactly what’s needed to keep your mind on the prize at the end of the road.

    Google Clock

    The Google Clock widget showing the time of 6pm on the home screen of a phone Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek

    The Google Clock app is a core Android application, and it’s packed with a bunch of useful time-management features. You don’t need to get an outside application when this app can set alarms, manage timers, use a stopwatch, and keep tabs on time around the world with the World Clock.

    The widget itself gives you the core information, like the time zones, and you can set it up so it can be very small or large. It’s definitely one of the best widgets I can’t live without.


    That home screen we all see dozens of times a day is now way more than just a place to launch apps. Sometimes, the most useful stuff can be shown through the Widgets. You set them up so they can give you everything you need at a glance.

    Whether you’re just checking the weather, crossing off a to-do list, tracking a subscription, or controlling your smart home, the widget has become a powerful, user-friendly feature. It helps you avoid the clutter of a full app and gives you a direct path to the information and controls you need. Once you start downloading apps for the widgets, you’ll be surprised how little you need to go back to the app.

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  • Blockchain-Based Identity Can Help HR Navigate AI-Generated Applications

    Blockchain-Based Identity Can Help HR Navigate AI-Generated Applications

    Opinion by: Ignacio Palomera, co-founder and CEO of Bondex

    The global hiring landscape is changing rapidly. Today’s job seekers are increasingly turning to generative AI to draft cover letters, tailor resumes and even simulate interview prep. 

    Agentic AI is auto-applying, generative AI is drafting personalized applications at scale, and AI auto-apply tools enable candidates to apply to thousands of roles in minutes. Employers are inundated with applications that look polished, persuasive and tailored — but often lack any real signal of effort, capability or authenticity.

    When anyone can crank out a polished, high-quality application with just a few AI prompts, the traditional cover letter — once seen as a chance to stand out and show real intent — becomes a commodity. It stops signaling effort or enthusiasm and starts looking more like standardized output. 

    Hiring managers are now staring at inboxes filled with slick, personalized applications that all feel strangely similar. And that’s where the real problem kicks in: If everyone sounds qualified on paper, how can you tell who has the skills and knows how to game a prompt? It’s not about who writes best but about who can prove they can deliver in the real world.

    A fragile trust system gets worse with AI

    Traditional hiring has long relied on trust-based signals such as resumes, references and degrees, but these have always been weak proxies. Titles can be inflated, education overstated and past work exaggerated. AI blurs things even more, cloaking unverifiable claims in artificial eloquence.

    For fast-paced, remote-native industries like crypto or decentralized autonomous organization ecosystems, the stakes are even higher, as there’s rarely time for deep due diligence. Trust is extended quickly and often informally — risky in a pseudonymous, global environment. More HR tooling or AI detection won’t solve this. What’s needed is a stronger foundation for trust itself.

    It’s time for verifiable reputation and onchain employment

    Consider a hiring manager trying to verify work history, social handles or onchain contributions. 

    Today, decentralized identity (DID) systems help you prove that you’re a real human — that you exist and are not a bot. That’s useful, but it’s only the start.

    What they don’t address is the deeper layer: What have you actually done? There’s a new frontier emerging — one where your professional history, credentials and contributions can be verified and made portable. It’s not just about checking a box to prove that you exist. It’s about codifying your experience so your reputation is built on what you’ve done, not just what you say.

    Related: Blockchain needs regulation, scalability to close AI hiring gap

    In this model, your resume becomes a programmable asset. It is not a static PDF but something that can evolve, be queried and, in some cases, be privately verified without revealing every detail. That’s where tools like zero-knowledge proofs come in, giving users control over how much they reveal and to whom.

    Some might argue that this all feels a little too invasive. In practice, however, and especially in Web3, most serious contributors already operate through pseudonymous identities built on provable actions, not job titles. DIDs got us to “real humans.” Verifiable reputation gets us to “real contributors.” And that’s the fundamental shift worth paying attention to.

    From HR filters to smart contract gates

    As reputation becomes programmable, entire industries stand to be reshaped. Grants, hiring rounds and even token sales could use provable credentials as filters. No more guessing who’s qualified or compliant. You can’t fake a pull request merged into a core repo or pretend you completed a course linked to a non-fungible token (NFT) issued by a smart contract.

    This makes trust composable — something that can be built into protocols and platforms by default. What’s provable today includes contributions, learning history and verifiable credentials. Soon, entire work histories could be onchain.

    A trust upgrade for AI-era hiring

    The AI-generated job application is just a symptom of a larger trust breakdown. We’ve long accepted unverifiable self-reporting as the default in hiring, and now we’re facing the consequences. Blockchain-based identity and credential systems offer a path forward — where individuals can prove their work and hiring decisions can be based on verifiable data, not guesswork.

    We need to stop pretending that polished language equals proof of skill. If hiring — and broader reputation systems — are to survive the coming AI wave, we need to rebuild the foundation of trust. Onchain credentials are a compelling place to start.

    Opinion by: Ignacio Palomera, co-founder and CEO of Bondex.

    This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

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  • How to know if ones’ arteries are blocked: Doctor shares 4 essential non invasive tests

    How to know if ones’ arteries are blocked: Doctor shares 4 essential non invasive tests

    Blocked arteries are a serious health concern and Indians are at a higher risk of it. Coronary Artery Disorder (CAD) often progresses silently and in most cases leads to the risk of a heart attack. Certified Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr Jeremy London shares 4 non-invasive tests to keep in track of Artery health. Doctor suggests early identification can lower the risk of potential mishaps.

    The smaller body surface area of Indians leads to smaller coronary artery dimensions. Narrower the arteries, higher the risk of early blockage. But the worst part is, blocked artery symptoms aren’t easy to identify. Eating clean, following a healthy lifestyle aren’t enough. However, certain symptoms can be identified through standard medical tests. In a recent video Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr Jeremy London shared 4 tests that can help identify blocked arteries and lower the risk of Cardiovascular complications.

    Track your Blood Pressure with regular check-ups

    Dr Jeremy explains blood pressure gets easily modified by lifestyle changes. According to The World Health Organisation (WHO), only 12% of the Indian population have blood pressure under control. High blood pressure is a ‘silent killer’ that increases the risk of blocked arteries as it damages the artery walls and leads to the accumulation of fatty deposits. Tracking blood pressure is critical for early detection and can lower the risk of blocked arteries.

    Advanced Blood Panel can detect hidden risks

    An Advances Blood Panel goes beyond the standard blood tests. It is a set of blood tests that identifies the hidden dangers of Atherosclerosis or Plaque build-up in the arteries. While a basic blood panel usually checks cholesterol and sugar, an Advances Blood Panel goes beyond that and may reveal number and type of cholesterol particles, inflammation in blood vessels and blood clotting tendency. Researchers have found, even if cholesterol numbers are low, one can still develop blocked arteries that lead to the risk of heart attack.

    DEXA Scan- measures the ‘dangerous’ body fat

    Visceral fat or the ‘dangerous’ fat around internal organs of the abdominal area is a risk factor for Artery Blockage. Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr London describes Visceral fat as ‘an engine for inflammation’. The third test Dr London recommends is DEXA scan or the Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. DEXA Scan reveals the level of Visceral fat in the body. Identification of Visceral fat is crucial as it secretes inflammatory proteins into the bloodstream that damage the Endothelium, the inner lining of arteries.

    VO2 Max test- ‘most powerful determinants of longevity’

    The fourth test Dr London recommends and describes as the most powerful determinants of longevity is the VO2 Max Test. This Maximum Oxygen Uptake test measures Cardiovascular efficiency and reflects aerobic fitness. While athletes are familiar with the VO2 test, Cardiologists too, are recommending this test, as early signs of a low VO2 max can lead to artery blockage.


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  • Foreign aid cuts, isolation weaken Afghanistan’s earthquake response – Arab News

    Foreign aid cuts, isolation weaken Afghanistan’s earthquake response – Arab News

    1. Foreign aid cuts, isolation weaken Afghanistan’s earthquake response  Arab News
    2. After Afghan Quake, Many Male Rescuers Helped Men but Not Women  The New York Times
    3. Afghan women die in rubble as male rescuers refuse to touch them  The Telegraph
    4. Afghan survivors struggle in the wake of deadly earthquake  Al Jazeera
    5. World News in Brief: Afghanistan quake latest, sexual violence in Haiti, WHO medicines update, deadly floods in Pakistan  UN News

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  • TCL launches NxtPaper 60 Ultra with updated 120 Hz paper-like display

    TCL launches NxtPaper 60 Ultra with updated 120 Hz paper-like display

    TCL has introduced the NxtPaper 60 Ultra at IFA 2025. One of the major highlights of the new mid-range phone is the NxtPaper 4.0 display. It’s a paper-like IPS display with a 7.2-inch size, FHD+ resolution, and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Compared to conventional screens, it promises to eliminate glare and reflections even when under direct sunlight.

    This paper-like display also features multiple eye-comfort-focused features, including a dim-light mode that can get the brightness to as low as two nits and adaptive brightness and temperature. TCL further highlights that there’s a dedicated NxtPaper key, which instantly switches the display from Ink Paper, Max Ink Mode, and Color Paper modes.

    Under the hood, the phone features the Dimensity 7400 SoC, which is paired with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. A 5,200 mAh battery with support for 33 W fast charging powers the internals of the phone.

    As for the cameras, the NxtPaper 60 Ultra comes with a 50 MP primary sensor with OIS on the back, which is paired with a 50 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and an 8 MP ultrawide camera. On the front, the phone features a 32 MP selfie shooter.

    Other highlights of the mid-range phone include IP68 water and dust resistance rating, NFC, Android 15 out of the box, and support for T-Pen Magic that offers a low-latency and pressure-sensitive stylus experience. However, given that the NxtPaper 60 Ultra doesn’t have a built-in pen slot, TCL recommends a special case for the stylus and phone combo.

    Price-wise, the TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra is available in Europe with a starting price of €479.99. It’s also expected to be available in the LATAM and APAC regions.

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  • Robert Kiyosaki warns of ‘massive unemployment’ ahead — why he says ‘smart’ people will be hit extra hard

    Robert Kiyosaki warns of ‘massive unemployment’ ahead — why he says ‘smart’ people will be hit extra hard

    Robert Kiyosaki

    Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has a sobering take on one of today’s hottest trends: artificial intelligence (AI).

    “BIGGEST CHANGE in MODERN HISTORY,” he declared in an X post on July 1. “AI will cause many ‘smart students’ to lose their jobs. AI will cause massive unemployment. Many still have student loan debt.”

    Kiyosaki isn’t alone in sounding the alarm. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic — the AI company behind the large language model Claude — recently warned that AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs and push the unemployment rate as high as 20%.

    But Kiyosaki isn’t worried about himself, quipping, “AI cannot fire me because I do not have a job.”

    He went on to describe his own philosophy, recalling the contrasting advice he received from his poor dad and his rich dad.

    “Years ago, rather than listen to my poor dad’s advice of ‘Go to school, get good grades, get a job, pay taxes, get out of debt, save money, and invest in a well diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds,’ I followed my rich dad’s advice. I became an entrepreneur, investing in real estate, using debt, and instead of saving fake money, I have been saving real gold, silver, and today Bitcoin,” he wrote.

    Let’s take a closer look at these suggestions.

    Kiyosaki’s story about rejecting his poor dad’s advice and following his rich dad’s instead highlights a simple choice: Rather than getting a traditional job, he became an entrepreneur and started investing in real estate — an asset known for generating passive income.

    Once you build a reliable stream of passive income, you can worry less about AI replacing your job because you no longer rely solely on a paycheck.

    Kiyosaki has frequently emphasized the importance of this approach. “I have always recommended people become entrepreneurs, at least a side hustle, and not need job security. Then invest in income-producing real estate, in a crash, which provides steady cash flow,” he wrote in an X post on May 19.

    Real estate has long been a favored asset for income-focused investors. While stock markets can swing wildly on headlines, high-quality properties often continue to generate stable rental income.

    Perhaps that’s why Kiyosaki once disclosed he owns 15,000 houses during an interview with personal finance YouTuber Sharan Hegde — strictly for investment purposes.

    Today, you don’t need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki to get started in real estate investing.

    Investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) offers a hands-off, affordable approach for everyday investors.

    You can buy and sell REITs on the stock market through a self-directed online trading platform like CIBC Investor’s Edge, where you’ll pay low commissions on trades and have no or minimal account maintenance charges, depending on the size of your portfolio.

    Get 100 free online equity trades when you open a CIBC Investor’s Edge account using promo code EDGE100†. Offer ends September 30, 2025.

    Kiyosaki didn’t mince words about his disdain for fiat currency, stating that he saves in “real gold and silver” instead of what he calls “fake money.”

    That’s no surprise — the famed author has been advocating for precious metals for decades.

    In October 2023, he predicted on X: “Gold will soon break through US$2,100 and then take off. You will wish you had bought gold below US$2,000. Next stop, gold US$3,700.”

    Prices surged in 2024 and have continued to climb through 2025, surpassing C$4,700 per ounce in late August. Reporting by JPMorgan Chase suggests that gold could strike a high of C$5,500 per ounce by the second quarter of 2026, if current trends continue.

    Amid growing market uncertainty, Kiyosaki now believes a crash is imminent, and he is betting on precious metals, among others, to come out on top.

    “I’ve been buying real gold, silver, and Bitcoin…. Oil, and cattle….for years….Because I plan on getting richer during the coming crash and next Great Depression,” he wrote in a post on X on Aug. 7.

    Gold has long been viewed as a safe-haven investment. It’s not tied to any one country, currency or economy. It can’t be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and investors tend to pile in during times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty — driving up its value.

    Getting some skin in the precious metals game isn’t solely reserved for the Kiyosaki-level rich. With CIBC Investor’s Edge, you have the opportunity to invest in precious metals like gold and silver without the worry of storing and protecting actual bars of them — or managing their mines.

    CIBC Investor’s Edge offers these investments in the form of gold and silver e-certificates that you can use to top up your savings.

    Kiyosaki said he also saves in Bitcoin — no surprise, given that he has long been a vocal supporter of the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

    He recently described Bitcoin as “people’s money” and predicted it could soar to “US$500K to US$1 million.”

    He’s not alone in that view. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey said in May 2024 that Bitcoin could hit “at least” US$1 million by 2030 — and possibly go even higher.

    The recent strides in the crypto industry — such as the passing of the GENIUS Act and President Trump paving the way for inclusion of crypto in retirement accounts — propelled Bitcoin to hit an all-time high of just over US$120,000 on Aug. 13.

    For those looking to hop on the Bitcoin bandwagon, new crypto platforms have made it easier for everyday investors.

    For example, Wealthsimple Crypto —Canada’s first regulated crypto platform — is a beginner-friendly platform where you can trade 100+ cryptocurrencies, stake coins for rewards, and swap crypto to save on fees.

    Plus, you can get a $25 cash bonus when you open and fund your first Wealthsimple account through this page and fund with at least a $1 within 30 days. T&Cs apply.

    While building passive income streams can help you prepare for the “biggest change” Kiyosaki warns about, it’s just as crucial to understand where your money goes each month. Try tracking all your expenses for 30 days, then sort them into two categories: necessities — like rent, groceries, utilities and health care — and discretionary spending, such as dining out, entertainment, shopping and hobbies.

    You can use Monarch Money to both build and follow your budget to ensure you’re staying on track.

    Within the Monarch Money app you have the option to choose either Category or Flex budgeting depending on your preference. The first involves assigning an amount of money to specific spending categories, and the second works by tracking your spending in flexible categories each month.

    Whichever is best for you, Monarch Money keeps budgeting simple so you spend with intent.

    This breakdown gives you a clear picture of your spending habits and helps identify areas where you can cut back. But trimming waste isn’t just about skipping lattes or takeout.

    Even in essential categories, you may be spending more than you need to. The good news? With a bit of research, those costs can often be significantly reduced.

    For instance, car insurance is a major recurring expense, and many people overpay without realizing it.

    YouSet can help you find the most affordable car insurance based on your financial situation and needs, so you aren’t wasting precious money every month.

    All you need to do is provide some information about yourself and your car and YouSet will provide you with a list of policies from multiple insurance providers to compare and choose from, saving you time and ensuring you get the best deal available.

    — with files from Em Norton

    1. Axios: Behind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath By Jim VandHei and Mike Allen (May 28, 2025)

    2. J.P Morgan: Will gold prices break $4,000/oz in 2026? (June 10, 2025)

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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  • Keep Abreast Trends of Times and Open Up a New Chapter for Future

    — Accelerate Building of Even Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era

    By H.E. Jiang Zaidong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan

     

    At the invitation of H.E. President Xi Jinping, H.E. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited China from August 30 to September 4 to attend the twenty-fifth meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War. During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Premier Li Qiang held talks with him, during which they had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Pakistan relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.

    The two sides released the Action Plan to Foster an Even Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (2025-2029), which is dedicated to building a China-Pakistan community with a shared future with even stronger political mutual trust, closer economic and trade ties, deeper security cooperation and a more solid popular basis. The Action Plan will serve as the general guideline, roadmap and construction plan for advancing the all-weather strategic cooperation between our two countries at present and in the time ahead. China is ready to work with Pakistan to implement the Action Plan, enrich the practice of building a China-Pakistan community with a shared future by following five aspects hereunder, and set an example for building a community with a shared future among neighboring countries.

    We need to uphold high-level mutual trust and firm support, and take the lead in building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries. President Xi Jinping stated that China and Pakistan share a resilient bond, a brotherly bond, and also a bond built on trust and common values—an ironclad friendship that was forged through historical twists and turns and has grown ever stronger over time. Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the Pakistan-China ironclad friendship has taken root in the hearts of the over 200 million Pakistani people, and that no force can shake this unbreakable bond. We are pleased to see that against the backdrop of a volatile and turbulent international and regional situation, unwavering strategic mutual trust has always defined China-Pakistan relations. During the 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the ironclad friendship between China and Pakistan has withstood the test of the times and remained as solid as a rock and as stable as Mount Tai.

    The two sides have consistently firmly supported each other in upholding national core interests, which is a vivid illustration of a shared future. In particular, Prime Minister Shehbaz visited China last June, only three months after he took office. Then Premier Li Qiang visited Pakistan in last October, and President Zardari visited China this February. And few days ago, Prime Minister Shehbaz went to China for attending the SCO Tianjin Summit and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The frequent high-level exchanges have enabled our two sides to reach important common understandings on advancing the all-weather strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan, which has injected a strong impetus to building a China-Pakistan community with a shared future. China is ready to work with Pakistan to deliver on the important common understandings between the two leaders, implement the Action Plan in a thorough and detailed way, and work together to write the China-Pakistan chapter of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

    We need to stay focused on development and win-win cooperation, and work together on the journey toward modernization. President Xi Jinping stressed that China supports Pakistan in maintaining unity, focusing on development, and enhancing national strength. China is ready to work with Pakistan to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0 and upgrade the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, and step up cooperation in industries, agriculture, and mining, with the aim of boosting Pakistan’s self-sustained capacity for development. This has charted the course and set out guidelines for our practical cooperation and common development. Since the beginning of this year, the New Gwadar International Airport has been put into operation and with commercial flights launched, the China-donated seawater desalination plant has started operation, and enterprises in the Rashakai Special Economic Zone have go into production. Pakistani products such as cooked beef, seafood and fruit are quite popular in the Chinese market.

    The project of training 1,000 young Pakistani agricultural professionals in China has undergone successfully. Pakistan’s Remote Sensing Satellite-1 (PRSS-1) was launched from Xichang, China. In the next stage, we will fully leverage the overall effect of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, focus on areas of industry, agriculture and mining, and deepen cooperation in emerging fields such as information technology, cyber security, digital economy and artificial intelligence. We will accelerate the implementation of the Karakoram Highway II (Thakot-Raikot) realignment project, modernize the Khunjerab-Sost pass, and ensure the comprehensive development of the Gwadar Port. We will advance the upgrade of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement and facilitate the export of more quality Pakistani products to China, and strengthen B2B cooperation. With our joint efforts, China-Pakistan practical cooperation will surely reach new breadth and depth.

    We need to adhere to a people-centered approach and prioritize people’s livelihoods, and act as practitioners in enhancing the well-being of our peoples. President Xi Jinping stated that China is committed to a friendly policy toward all Pakistani people, emphasizing that the planning and layout of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should benefit all regions of Pakistan and ensure that the fruits of development are shared by all its people. We are pleased to see that the Lahore Orange Line project has served over 250 million passenger trips cumulatively, the China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital in Gwadar has treated more than 300,000 patients, the Faqeer School has expanded its enrollment to over 500 students, and the seawater desalination plant produces 1,000 tons of fresh water daily. We have donated 70,000 “health kits” to Balochistan province, covering 23 districts and benefiting 766 schools.

    To assist the Pakistani people in coping with the current floods, China has provided emergency tents and cash assistance. In the next phase, we are willing to implement more “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, strengthen cooperation in technical and vocational education and training, and fulfill the commitment to offer 3,000 study and training opportunities from 2025 to 2029, along with the IT talent training program in China, to provide intellectual support for Pakistan’s modernization. We will enhance cooperation in healthcare, education, climate change response, and disaster prevention and mitigation through bilateral and multilateral channels, leveraging resources such as the SCO-specific scholarships, surgical treatment programs, 10 million-kilowatt photovoltaic power project and 10 million- kilowatt wind power project announced by China at the SCO Tianjin Summit. Additionally, in anticipation of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan next year, we will deepen cooperation in education, youth, and cultural exchanges, carry forward our traditional friendship, promote people-to-people ties, and ensure that China-Pakistan friendship is passed through generation to generation.

    We need to uphold our responsibility to safeguard security and serve as guardians of regional peace and stability. During the meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz, President Xi Jinping emphasized that China supports Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and hopes Pakistan will take solid and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan, to create a secure environment for bilateral cooperation. Premier Li Qiang also expressed the hope that both sides will jointly ensure the security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz unequivocally stated that Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to protect Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in the country. We are ready to work with Pakistan to ensure the implementation of these commitments and fully protect the safety of people’s lives and property. In particular, as the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, with increasing risks and challenges and the resurgence of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, we must adapt to the changing situation, continuously enhance the level of counter-terrorism and security cooperation, and join hands with regional countries to address risks and challenges.

    In the next phase, we will work with Pakistan to accelerate the implementation of the Global Security Initiative, strengthen concrete cooperation within its framework, promote greater input and coordination in security forces, and strengthen safety measures for Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects in Pakistan. We will make full use of bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation channels to support Pakistan’s capacity building in counter-terrorism, deepen defense cooperation and enhance the level of joint training, exercises, and military exchanges and cooperation. In summary, we are willing to work with Pakistan through practical actions and concrete measures to provide a secure foundation for advancing the all-weather strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan, and to contribute to the building of a peaceful, secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable home.

    We need to uphold our responsibilities and enhance coordination and serve as defenders of international fairness and justice. President Xi Jinping emphasized that the two sides should strengthen strategic communication, implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative, address common challenges, and uphold international fairness and justice. This year marks not only the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression but also the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. This provides an important opportunity for people around the world to remember history, defend the outcomes of World War II, and uphold the post-war international order. This history reminds us that only by cherishing peace, upholding justice, and working together in solidarity can we create a better future for humanity. Confronted with profound adjustments in the international landscape and at a new crossroads of global governance, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, with his vision for the future of humanity and in keeping with the trends of the times, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to advancing the reform of global governance.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz responded positively in no time, stating that the Global Governance Initiative is of great significance to world peace, development, and stability, and that Pakistan fully supports and will actively implement it. We express our sincere appreciation for this. Both China and Pakistan are important members of the Global South, and Pakistan has been serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council since this year, speaking up for developing countries. We are willing to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation with Pakistan on international and regional affairs, firmly uphold the authority of the United Nations and the outcomes of World War II, practice true multilateralism, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the vast number of developing countries and the Global South.

    What’s past is prologue. At this moment, I would like to quote an important statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz’s article published in the People’s Daily of China: “From the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea, and now into the vastness of space, our friendship remains an epic of trust and transformation. The future holds immense hope and opportunity, and we must continue to strive together to achieve greater glories.”

    We are ready to work with our ironclad friends to keep abreast the trends of the times and open up a new chapter for the future, accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, deliver tangible benefits to our two peoples, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

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