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  • Lowi Mamund villagers flee to safer areas fearing another operation – Pakistan

    Lowi Mamund villagers flee to safer areas fearing another operation – Pakistan

    BAJAUR: Scores of people from various localities in the restive Lowi Mamund tehsil have left their homes as displacement of area residents to safer places continues for the second consecutive day on Sunday, amid possibility of operation to be launched against militants by members of security forces.

    Local residents and volunteers of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) told Dawn on Sunday that though displacement of residents from 16 areas of Lowi Mamund, including Tarkhoo, Irab, Gat, Agra, Khurchai, Dawagai, Kalan, Legharai, Kitkot, Gillai, Nakhtar, Zarai, Dambarai, Amanato and Zagai, began on Saturday, hours after talks between local militant commanders and Bajaur Amn Jirga for their return to Afghanistan hit a snag on Friday at their final meeting.

    However, according to them, the exodus of people from these areas to different localities, mostly within the district saw a significant surge on Sunday, after members of the Bajaur Aman Jirga directed them to shift to safer areas on Saturday night.

    Roads and pathways connecting 16 areas of restive Mamund tehsil remained congested with vehicles transporting residents and their belongings to safer areas throughout the day, said Sanaullah, a senior volunteer of Alkhidmat Foundation.

    Significant rise in exodus seen after Bajaur peace jirga

    According to reports, people of a number of areas of Mamund tehsil, including Damadola, Matoo, Inam Khooro Chinagi, left their homes on Sunday and moved to safer areas.

    Most of the residents complained that the government had not provided them transport and accommodation. We expected from the provincial government and district administration to provide free transport to us in this difficult time, but the government had failed to do so,“ they added.

    Some fleeing residents also complained of being overcharged by transporters with fares reportedly much higher than usual.

    ’’A driver demanded Rs20,000 for a trip from Inam Khooro Chinagi to Sheikh Kalley in Khar tehsil, Rs16,000 more than the normal fare,“ said Haidar Khan.

    There is no official count of the people displaced from their native areas over the past two days, but NGOs said around 2,000 families have been displaced since Saturday.

    Taking to Dawn, they said that around 1,000 families have registered with their relief camps while as many families have shifted to other places without registration.

    Sources in the district administration and NGOs said that most of the displaced people had relocated within the district, with some taking shelter in homes, educational institutions and government buildings.

    A district administration official told Dawn on Sunday, that 107 educational institutions, mostly in Khar tehsil, have been designated as shelters for displaced people, offering basic facilities.

    Meanwhile, the district administration made arran­gements on Sunday to accommodate displaced persons with basic facilities.

    According to a statement, the arrangements were finalised during a meeting of senior officials of the district administration with the representatives of NGOs in Khar.

    It said the meeting was presided over by Assistant Commissioner Dr Sadiq Ali.

    It further said that necessary directions were issued to participants of the meeting. The participants were told to make proper arrangements for the displaced families, adjusting them with their relatives, government facilities, private schools and at the sports stadium.

    The meeting requested to the heads of NGOs to strengthen coordination to help maximum number of people in different areas.

    The meeting also instructed the officials of the district education department, principals of colleges and private school owners to manage the influx of the families on priority basis.

    Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2025

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  • World Is An Open World RPG Based On The Hit MOBA, Will Have A Playable Demo At Gamescom

    World Is An Open World RPG Based On The Hit MOBA, Will Have A Playable Demo At Gamescom


    Honor Of Kings is now known as hit mobile MOBA, but it will soon branch into more than that.

    Honor Of Kings: World is a multiplayer action RPG by TiMi Studio Group where the world of Primaera, the setting of the Eastern Fantasy MOBA, is reimagined into an open world RPG.

    Players take on the role of a new student at Jixia Academy. Expect to meet the cast of heroes of Honor Of Kings and learn their stories. The game will feature PVE and PVP gameplay, two different fighting styles, a shared world with crafting, house building and management gameplay and lots and lots of lore to uncover.

    Expect to see Honor Of Kings: World on Opening Night Live, the showcase to be hosted by Geoff Keighley that airs before Gamescom opens its trade show floor to fans.

    Honor Of Kings: World will be playable at Gamescom, to be held on August 20-24. The PC demo allows players to experience a co-op boss battle. The demo is set up for both controller and keyboard and mouse controls.

    Honor Of Kings: World is yet to have a release date. Its progenitor, Honor Of Kings, is available on iOS and Android.

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  • Diagnostic performance of a Rapid Tick exposure Test (RaTexT®) to detect acaricide resistance in cattle ticks in East Africa | Parasites & Vectors

    Diagnostic performance of a Rapid Tick exposure Test (RaTexT®) to detect acaricide resistance in cattle ticks in East Africa | Parasites & Vectors

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  • Protein intake trumps exercise to build muscle gains

    Protein intake trumps exercise to build muscle gains

    According to research data revealed by Japanese dairy giant Meiji, the majority of consumers today are not consuming enough protein despite looking to improve their muscle mass.

    “Previous research has shown that a combination of protein consumption and resistance training will lead to the building of muscle mass, but we wanted to determine whether this resistance training is truly necessary in building muscle,” Meiji Nutrition Development Research Unit Manager Atsushi Kanda said at the Food and Beverage Innovation Forum (FBIF) in Shanghai.

    “Based on analysis conducted by Meiji, we found that muscle resistance training is not always necessary – the consumption of protein alone without any exercise can lead to significant muscle mass increase when protein intake reaches 1.3g per kg of body weight.”

    Many consumer groups view muscle mass gain as an important health indicator, such as elderly people and athletes – so protein intake guidelines really need to be revised upwards in order to optimise results, according to Kanda.

    “Taking the Japanese recommended dietary intake guidelines as an example, the current recommended daily intake of protein stands at 1g per kg of body weight to avoid protein deficiency, but this is not enough for muscle gains,” he said.

    “Based on this number, the average Japanese consumer is eating enough protein at an average of 1.1g – but in reality, consumers should be increasing their intake to at least 1.3g in order to optimise their diets and increase lean muscle mass, especially if resistance training is not in the picture.”

    That is not to say that muscle resistance training is not useful, of course: Meiji’s research found that this form of exercise does help to increase and maintain muscle mass too, but at far lower and less effective levels compared to protein consumption.

    “Resistance training will help consumers to improve muscle gains, but the impacts will be small and play a far less important role than actual protein intake into the body,” he said.

    Meiji’s findings do not only apply to Japan, but to Asia in general. This is particularly important for markets that face the challenge of a largely ageing population in the near future, such as China.

    How to get enough protein intake?

    To this end, Meiji believes that adequate protein intake via one’s regular diet is not always possible, and has pushed for protein beverage consumption to become a regular dietary item to supplement consumer needs.

    “We believe that milk is the most optimal source of protein for humans because our analysis of 16 animal and plant-based protein sources has shown that milk contains the highest amount of essential amino acids overall, particularly leucine which is particularly suited for muscle protein synthesis,” Kanda added.

    “In particular, acidified milk has strong potential as a protein source – its acidity allows leucine to be more rapidly absorbed into the body compared to most other sources.”

    There is a major challenge when it comes to developing acidified milk drinks though – casein proteins tend to aggregate and cause clumps if left untreated, so Meiji has developed new triple-stabilisation technology in order to create its products.

    “We have used uses pectin, soy polysaccharides and fermented cellulose to stabilise the product and disperse the proteins such that the milk can remain stable even in acidified conditions,” he explained.

    “Further studies on elderly participants have shown that acidified milk is able to improve their body composition, by increasing lean body mass and reducing fat mass.”

    Meiji’s acidified milk range is called SAVAS, and it has risen through the ranks to become the top-ranking protein drink range and milk powder range in Japan.

    “Annual sales of SAVAS exceed JPY3bn (US$20.5m), and this brand makes up some 80% of the protein drinks market share,” he said.

    “With the rising upward trend seen in global protein drinks consumption, we believe there is immense potential for SAVAS to grow further.”

    Every 250ml pack of SAVAS contains 15g protein and zero fat content.

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  • Perseid meteor shower: When and how to see up to 100 fireballs shoot across the sky per hour | Science, Climate & Tech News

    Perseid meteor shower: When and how to see up to 100 fireballs shoot across the sky per hour | Science, Climate & Tech News

    The best day to see the “most popular meteor shower of the year” is just round the corner.

    The Perseids shower can bring up to 100 meteors per hour at its peak – including bright streaks and fireballs – creating a spectacular site for stargazers.

    Here is everything you need to know, from increasing your chances of seeing meteors to why it happens in the first place.

    Image:
    Pic: Reuters

    Why does the Perseids meteor shower happen?

    The phenomenon has been recurring for centuries and is the result of Earth passing through a cloud of dust left behind the Comet Swift-Tuttle.

    The meteors, which are typically no bigger than a grain of sand, burn up as they hit the Earth’s atmosphere at 36 miles per second, producing bright trails of light.

    Perseids – named after Perseus, the constellation that the meteors are believed to originate from – are also known for their fireballs.

    This is characterised by larger explosions of light and colour which stay in the sky for longer than the average meteor streak.

    It has been described by NASA as the “most popular meteor shower of the year”.

    The meteor shower and Northern Lights were visible in North Yorkshire last year. Pic: PA
    Image:
    The meteor shower and Northern Lights were visible in North Yorkshire last year. Pic: PA

    When is the best day to see it?

    The meteor shower has been active from 17 July and will go on until 24 August, according to the Royal Observatory.

    However, the number of meteors is expected to increase every night until it reaches its peak on 12 August.

    On this day, observers in the UK should be able to see some meteors as soon as the Sun sets, but the Royal Observatory says the best time to look up is between midnight on 11 August and 5.30am.

    A bonus for people trying to catch the meteor shower, Jupiter and Venus will also appear at their closest on the 11 and 12 August.

    NASA says on the morning of the 12th, the two planets will be roughly a degree apart and will shine brightest before sunrise.

    The light from the moon could make it harder to see the meteors. Pic: Reuters
    Image:
    The light from the moon could make it harder to see the meteors. Pic: Reuters

    Why the moon matters

    The peak of this year’s Perseids shower may be hindered by the moon being at 84% brightness.

    NASA says the glare of the moon is expected to wash out the brightest meteors, but all is not lost.

    Keen stargazers may still be able to see the action by standing behind a tall building or tree to block out some of the moonlight.

    A view of last year's Perseid meteor shower in Georgia. Pic: Reuters
    Image:
    A view of last year’s Perseid meteor shower in Georgia. Pic: Reuters

    Tips for stargazers

    Unsurprisingly, experts say observers should still try to avoid well-lit and built-up areas and try to find unobstructed views to make the most of the spectacle.

    Meteorite expert Dr Ashley King, from London’s Natural History Museum, said standing on a hill in the middle of the countryside or going to the coast are typically ideal meteor viewing locations.

    He adds that the skies may look blank for the first 10 minutes while your eyes adjust to the dark, so warned stargazers to be patient.

    Using a red light torch can also help, as it will not strain your eyes while they get used to the dark.

    He said: “Once you get used to the low light levels, you’ll begin to notice more and more. So don’t give up too quickly.”

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  • Salah criticises UEFA for 'Palestinian Pele' tribute: 'Tell us how he died' – Dunya News

    Salah criticises UEFA for 'Palestinian Pele' tribute: 'Tell us how he died' – Dunya News

    1. Salah criticises UEFA for ‘Palestinian Pele’ tribute: ‘Tell us how he died’  Dunya News
    2. ‘Tell us how he died’: Salah chides UEFA  The Express Tribune
    3. ‘Palestinian Pele’ Suleiman al-Obeid killed while seeking aid in Gaza  Al Jazeera
    4. How Mohamed Salah keeps asking tough questions despite his superstar status  The Indian Express
    5. After soccer star killed in Gaza, IDF says it’s unaware of casualties in the area that day  The Times of Israel

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  • Asian markets waver to start key week for trade, US data

    Asian markets waver to start key week for trade, US data

    Asian equity markets started the day on the front foot (MOHD RASFAN)

    Asian markets mostly rose Monday as investors eyed a week dominated by speculation about US inflation data and a prolonged pause for Washington’s tariffs on China.

    Observers expect Donald Trump to announce an extension of a trade war truce reached with China last month, ahead of a 90-day deadline due to expire Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, a key US consumer price index report is set up for Tuesday and could shape future policy decisions by the Federal Reserve, which has come under increasing pressure from the president to cut rates.

    Investors have ramped up their bets on the central bank lowering borrowing costs at its next meeting in September following a series of reports — particularly on jobs — indicating the world’s number one economy was slowing.

    Also in view is a high-stakes summit between Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, which could pave the way for a deal to resolve the Ukraine war that involves an easing of tough sanctions on Moscow.

    In early trade, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta all rose though there were losses in Singapore and Manila. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday.

    With Tuesday’s US-China tariff truce deadline looming, investors are bullish about the prospects of another extension.

    “The market has fully subscribed to the high probability of the tariff truce being rolled over for another 90 days” said Chris Weston of Pepperstone.

    “As such, unless diplomatic talks fully break down, news of extension shouldn’t move markets too intently,” he added.

    Gold futures edged down after hitting a record high Friday following reports of an unexpected tariff on the precious metal.

    Despite protracted uncertainty about trade, investors remain optimistic about artificial intelligence — an area of fierce competition between Beijing and Washington.

    Reports Monday said that US chip giants Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) had agreed to pay Washington 15 percent of their revenue from selling AI chips to China.

    Investors are betting that AI will transform the global economy, and last month Nvidia — the world’s leading semiconductor producer — became the first company ever to hit $4 trillion in market value.

    – Key figures at 0300 GMT –

    Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 24,896.02

    Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,644.73

    Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday

    Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3457 from $1.3451 on Friday

    Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1667 from $1.1643

    Dollar/yen: DOWN at 147.56 yen from 147.79 yen

    Euro/pound: UP at 86.70 pence from 86.54 pence

    West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.6 percent at $63.50 per barrel

    Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.5 percent at $66.27 per barrel

    New York – Dow: UP 0.5 percent at 44,175.61 (close)

    London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 9,095.73 (close)

    pfc/dan

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  • Rupee to rise at open on NDF lift; U.S. tariffs, inflation on radar – Reuters

    1. Rupee to rise at open on NDF lift; U.S. tariffs, inflation on radar  Reuters
    2. Indian rupee outlook hinges on US tariffs, RBI action; bonds to track inflation data  Business Recorder
    3. Currency watch: Rupee ends flat at 87.58 as dollar weakens, FIIs turned net buyers amid looming US tariff  The Times of India
    4. Indian Rupee Gains Ground But Tariff Worries Persist  Finimize
    5. As Indian rupee drops, UAE’s NRIs want ‘most out of every dirham – they are getting it  Gulf News

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  • Exclusive: SK Hynix expects AI memory market to grow 30% a year to 2030 – Reuters

    1. Exclusive: SK Hynix expects AI memory market to grow 30% a year to 2030  Reuters
    2. HBM roadmaps for Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix: To HBM4 and beyond  Tom’s Hardware
    3. SK Hynix Is Reportedly Raising HBM4 Prices by a Whopping 70%, Capitalizing on a ‘Monopolized Market’ by Charging a Hefty Premium for Early Delivery  Wccftech
    4. Exclusive-SK Hynix expects AI memory market to grow 30% a year to 2030  MSN
    5. Exclusive-SK Hynix expects AI memory market to grow 30% a year to 2030 By Reuters  Investing.com

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  • Shares edge ahead in Asia, Nikkei futures near record peak – Reuters

    1. Shares edge ahead in Asia, Nikkei futures near record peak  Reuters
    2. Shares edge up in Asia, US inflation data looms large  Business Recorder
    3. Stocks Head for Best Week Since June on US Rate-cut Bets  Bloomberg.com
    4. Stock markets brush aside higher US tariffs  InsideNoVa.com
    5. Asian shares mostly climb after a rally for Apple led Wall Street higher  Harrison Daily

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