IBM announces it will invest $150B in US over next 5 years

-

KARACHI, Apr 29 (APP):Shipping activity was report at the port where two ships, Andreas-K and AB Olivia scheduled to load/offload Rice and Palm oil, berthed at Multi-Purpose Terminal and Liquid Cargo Terminal respectively Sunday , while another containers ship ‘Seaspan Santos’ also arrived at outer anchorage on today morning.

A total of four ships were engaged at PQA berths during the last 24 hours, out of them three ships, Georgios-P, Hai Tun Zuo and AB Olivia are expected to sail on today (.)

Cargo volume of 51,472 tonnes, comprising 47,767 tonnes imports cargo and 3,705 export cargo was handled at the port during last 24 hours.

There are five ships at Outer Anchorage of Port Qasim, out of them three ships, Seaspan Santos, Atlantic Samurai and Volissos & two more ships, SKY Runner and Ivan-6 carrying Container, Soya Bean Seed, Coal, Palm oil and LPG are expected to take berths at QICT, FAP, MW-4, LCT and SSGC are respectively on today Monday , while three more container ships, MSC Positano, MSC Shina-V and SM Kaveri due to expected arrive at outer anchorage on Tuesday.

PR-RWMC sign agreement to improve cleanliness system at stations

By

-

ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP):Pakistan Railways Rawalpindi Division Tuesday signed an agreement with Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) to improve the cleanliness system at railway stations.

Under this agreement, the cleanliness services of Rawalpindi, Margalla, and Chaklala railway stations and their surrounding areas have been handed over to RWMC.

According to Pakistan Railways, this initiative aims to provide passengers with a clean and healthy travel experience.

Divisional Superintendent of Railways Rawalpindi, Nooruddin Dawood, expressed that the goal of Pakistan Railways is to ensure that the stations are maintained to international standards, ensuring the best facilities for passengers.

Managing Director of RWMC, Rana Sajid Safdar, on this occasion, announced that his company would provide modern machinery and trained staff to further improve the cleanliness process.

Pakistan Railways is committed to making railway stations and other facilities clean to international standards so that passengers can enjoy a pleasant travel experience.

This partnership represents another step forward in making Railways clean and Pakistan a cleaner place.

According to the vision of Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, making Pakistan Railways clean and healthy is our top priority.

Feature: Nine hours without electricity in the north of Madrid

By

-

MADRID, April 29 (Xinhua/APP): Finally, the lights came back on at 21:45 local time in Madrid, nine and a quarter hours after they went off and the streets rang with cheers as the lights went on.

Very few Spaniards have experienced anything like Monday’s power blackout, but in general, the majority of the people in the Spanish capital city of Madrid reacted calmly to the power outage, which affected all of Spain as well as parts of Portugal and France on Monday.

The blackout started at around 12:30 local time (1030 GMT) and was first visible to people in the streets when all of the traffic lights went out at the same time.

It took some time to realize the scale of the blackout, and it was only on entering the La Vaguada shopping center in the north of the capital that Xinhua’s correspondent saw that what was happening was more than just a loss of power to the traffic system.

All of the stores were without electricity, making it impossible for people to buy anything, but while a couple of alarms sounded, what actually made an impact was the quiet, rather than the usual hustle and bustle of a Monday.

What stood out was the atmosphere of calm, while despite the loss of traffic lights, the roads continued to function with both drivers and pedestrians showing courtesy to each other to allow safe road crossings, while police were also quickly on hand to start directing traffic.

As I continued walking, it gradually became clear that the outage affected more than a few blocks of the city. A call from a friend working at the Ramon and Cajal Hospital, around two kilometers away, was the first indication of the scale of the problem.

She said people were trapped in lifts at the hospital when the electricity supply was cut, but that it had an emergency power supply that engineers were working to reconnect.

Another problem, she said, was people who had come to work from places miles from the hospital, using either metro or local trains, who had no idea how they would get home.

In the street, people were beginning to gather in doorways to look at their mobile phones to try and find out what was happening. Although internet connections were weak, it was still possible at times to get a signal, with citizens surprised to discover the blackout affected not just Madrid, but all of Spain, as well as Portugal and parts of France.

Despite the continued sirens of emergency vehicles through the afternoon, there were few signs of panic or worry, although there was some dark humor, with most people saying they were glad not to have been traveling on the metro system when the power went out. Others said they hoped things returned to normal quickly, mainly because they didn’t want to lose all the produce in their freezers.

Many also said they suspected what was happening was due to a cyber-attack of some kind, while there was frustration as it became increasingly difficult to make phone calls or maintain communications.

There was another sound as well as the day drew on without power returning: children, with schools closing, no TV to watch, no screens and no internet, children were playing outside once again and the parks and gardens were filled once again with children and their parents doing something they maybe hadn’t done for a long time — playing outside.

World Malaria Day 2025 commemorated in Larkana

By

-

SUKKUR, Apr 29 (APP):The Vector Borne Diseases (VBD) Health Department, in collaboration with he Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), GFATM commemorated World Malaria Day 2025 here on Tuesday at the Begum Nusrat Bhutto Multipurpose Hall, Jinnah Bagh, Larkana.

The event aimed to raise awareness about malaria prevention and control efforts, with enthusiastic participation from stakeholders, including government officials, healthcare professionals, and students.

Deputy Commissioner Larkana, Wajahat Ghafoor, and District Health Officer, Dr. Shoukat Abro, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment, and preventive strategies to combat malaria.

The event recognized outstanding health workers with performance shields and certificates for their dedication to fighting malaria. A rally was also held, with participants marching through Jinnah Bagh, carrying banners with malaria awareness messages to engage the public and amplify the campaign’s outreach.

DIG Sajjad Khan assumes charge as RPO Bannu

By

-

PESHAWAR, Apr 29 (APP):DIG Sajjad Khan has officially assumed charge as the newly appointed Regional Police Officer (RPO) of Bannu on Tuesday.

Spokesman Bannu police said, upon arrival at the Police Lines, he was warmly received by DPO Bannu, all SPs, SDPOs, and senior police officials.

A smartly turned-out contingent of Bannu Police presented a guard of honour to welcome the new RPO. Following the formalities, DIG Sajjad Khan visited the Martyrs’ Memorial, where he laid floral wreaths and offered prayers for the departed souls of Bannu Police martyrs.

Kerb currency market

By

-

KARACHI, Apr 29 (APP):Following were the opening rates of foreign currencies in kerb market issued by the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, here on Tuesday.

F.C. BUYING SELLING

INTER BANK 281.00 281.05

USD 281.04 282.25

EURO 320.00 322.25

GBP 376.80 379.50

JPY 1.95 1.99

AED 76.80 77.20

SAR 75.10 75.50

Iran and Azerbaijan sign agreement on developing data transit corridor

By

-

Tehran, Apr 29 (IRNA/APP): As part of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s official visit to Azerbaijan, Iran’s delegation—comprising Minister of Information Communication Technology Sattar Hashemi and CEO of Telecommunication Infrastructure Company Behzad Akbari—has signed a strategic ICT agreement with Azerbaijan’s leading telecom operator.

The agreement, signed by Akbari and Ramazan Valiyev, the director of Delta-Telecom, aims to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation in developing communication infrastructure—particularly in data transit and submarine cable installation.

Under the agreement, Azerbaijan will be able to route data traffic to and from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and other neighboring countries through Iran’s infrastructure, thereby establishing Iran as a digital hub.

The two sides also agreed to jointly invest in infrastructure projects, including the development of submarine cables, to enhance North-South and East-West communication corridors.

These projects will reinforce Iran’s role as a pivotal hub connecting Asia to Europe.

This agreement aligns with the Ministry of Information Communication Technology’s initiatives to expand international cooperation in the IT sector and strengthen Iran’s strategic role in global communication corridors, under its “technology diplomacy” framework.

First Hajj Flight from Malaysia heads to Saudi Arabia under Makkah Route initiative

By

-

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 29 (SPA/APP): The first batch of Malaysian pilgrims benefiting from the Makkah Route Initiative departed on Tuesday from Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Madinah Region, arriving at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport.
The Makkah Route Initiative entails carrying out all travel procedures needed by the pilgrims in their homeland, including issuing visas electronically, ensuring that pilgrims have a clean bill of health, completing passport procedures at the airport in the country of departure, and coding and sorting the luggage according to the transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingodm.
Upon arrival, pilgrims are offered transportation to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah, and their luggage is delivered to their accommodations.

DC Matiari chairs meeting to review polio campaign

By

-

HYDERABAD, Apr 29 (APP):Deputy Commissioner Matiari Muhammad Yousif Shaikh on Tuesday chaired an important district-level health meeting to review and improve the healthcare system across Matiari.

The meeting focused on the progress of ongoing health programs and addressed various challenges faced by the health sector. The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner-II Iqra Jannat, District Health Officer Pir Ghulam Hussain, AC Matiari Abdul Sattar Shaikh, AC Hala Dr. Mazhir, AC Saeedabad Shah Rukh, Medical Superintendents Dr. Fareed Memon (Hala), Dr. Abdul Salam (Matiari) and Focal Person of the Polio Control Room Dr. Babar along with other key officials.

A major point of discussion was the recent polio immunization campaign conducted under the National Immunization Days (NIDs) from April 21 to 27. The campaign aimed to vaccinate 181,247 children across the district. The effort saw the participation of 41 Union Council Medical Officers, 124 area in-charges, 545 mobile teams, 29 transit teams, and 49 fixed sites. The coverage remained 102 percent, while the rate of zero-dose children was 99 percent, on which the Deputy Commissioner expressed satisfaction and appreciated the hard work of the teams.

Other critical healthcare issues were also addressed, including lack of facilities in basic health units, medicine availability, vaccination drives, the performance of lady health workers, staff attendance in hospitals, and improvements in emergency services.

Deputy Commissioner directed relevant departments to ensure the uninterrupted provision of basic health services, ensure staff attendance and medicine availability in all units and enhance field monitoring efforts. He affirmed that every possible step will be taken to improve healthcare in the district Matiari in line with directives from the Government of Sindh.

SC Adjourns Super Tax Case Hearing Until Monday

By

-

ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP):The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the Super Tax case until Monday, following a request from the counsel representing the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

A five-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Shahid Hassan Baloch, presided over the proceedings.

During the hearing, FBR’s counsel, Raza Rabbani, requested the court to postpone the case. Justice Amin-ud-Din initially remarked that the case would be adjourned until the next day. However, Rabbani informed the court that he was in Karachi and requested that the hearing be rescheduled for Thursday.

Justice Amin-ud-Din responded that Thursday, May 1, is a public holiday. Consequently, the bench adjourned the hearing until Monday, May 5.

Senior advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan has already concluded his arguments against Section 4B of the Income Tax Ordinance. Several lawyers representing various companies and private entities have endorsed his position in the case.

AC visits THQ to review facilities

By

-

NOWSHEHRA VIRKAN, Apr 29 (APP):Under vision of Chief Minister, Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, Assistant Commissioner (AC), Sahibzada Jawad Hussain Pirzada has visited Tehsil Headquarter Hospital (THQ) to monitor facilities .

The AC expresses dissatisfaction over cleanliness of the hospital and directed the concerned authorities to improve the system further. He also checked the provision of medicines and healthcare system for the patients.

He directed to Medical Superintendent (MS) to further improve the facilities in the hospital.

Citizens of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine in bus crash outside Warsaw

By

-

MINSK, Apr 29 (BelTA/APP): A bus carrying citizens of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine has suffered a crash outside Warsaw on Tuesday.

The traffic accident happened at the S2 express motorway (Warsaw’s southern ring road) not far from the town of Dawidy at about 3 in the morning (4 in the morning Minsk time). The bus was transporting 26 residents of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. As it was exiting the S79 express motorway, it crashed into highway fencing, dropped on a side, and ran into a light pole.

As a result, 13 people were hospitalized. Emergency paramedics are treating several other people.

China, Russia should strengthen coordination within BRICS: Chinese FM

By

-

RIO DE JANEIRO, Apr 29 (BRNN/APP): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China and Russia, as founding members of BRICS, should strengthen coordination within the framework and deepen unity and cooperation among developing countries and emerging economies.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Wang said the two countries should work together to continuously implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and deliver tangible results across various fields of cooperation.

BZU hosts conference on food value addition,innovation

By

-

MULTAN, Apr 29 (APP):The Department of Food Science at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan on Tuesday organized the second National Stakeholder Conference on Food Value Addition and Innovation.

Alongside the conference, an ideas exhibition was held where graduate and research students showcased their entrepreneurial projects offering practical solutions for innovation and improvement in the food industry.

According to a spokesperon,more than 25 representatives from national food industries, SMEs, businesses,trade organizations,the Ministry of Commerce,civil society, media, academia, BZU’s Business Incubation Centre (BIC) and the Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC) actively participated in the event.

Discussions highlighted building sustainable food production systems and creating new employment opportunities through value addition.

Speakers emphasized that stronger ties between industry and academia could accelerate innovation,process development and product standardization,boosting trade and job creation at the national level.

SMEs and entrepreneurs shared their success stories,demonstrating how small-scale initiatives,guided by innovation and proper mentorship can significantly contribute to the national economy.

The student projects were highly appreciated by the participants.Several industrialists,traders and business organizations showed keen interest in collaborating with the department to commercialize these innovative projects.

Prof.Dr.Saeed Akhtar,founding Dean of the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition was the chief guest.Dr.Tariq Ismail,Chairman of the Department of Food Science and Technology, served as the conference focal person.

Speaking on the occasion,Prof.Dr.Saeed Akhtar stressed the urgent need to transform universities into start-up hubs to make them engines of economic growth and to create better employment opportunities for youth.

Other distinguished guests included Prof. Dr. Javed Ahmed (Dean Faculty of Sciences), Prof. Dr. Nazim Hussain Lubber (Dean Faculty of Agricultural Sciences),Prof. Dr.Muhammad Riaz (Acting Dean Faculty of Food Science), and chairpersons of various departments.

Dr.Tariq Ismail praised the hard work and dedication of the faculty,students and researchers,stating that food value addition and innovation are key to the prosperity and advancement of the food sector.

Kazakh Minister of Culture hails UAE as global cultural mode

By

-

ABU DHABI, Apr 29 (WAM/APP): Aida Balayeva, Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, stated that Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is a distinguished strategic platform for addressing issues of culture and arts in the contemporary world and for enhancing global cultural cooperation.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), she said that Kazakhstan and the UAE share deep-rooted cultural and humanitarian ties that go beyond economic cooperation to strengthen cultural links between the two peoples.

She highlighted that this relationship is characterised by a unique specificity that reflects the rich exchange between the heritage of the UAE and the culture of Kazakhstan, stressing that the UAE represents an exceptional model in integrating cultural history with creativity across various fields.

Balayeva emphasised that the UAE provides a significant opportunity to showcase culture and creativity, referring to the opening of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a digital art museum that offers an immersive artistic experience combining authenticity and modernity. She considered the museum a living example of the UAE’s ability to integrate history with modern technologies, contributing to the development of cultural dialogue between different peoples.

She noted that technological development presents a significant opportunity to promote cultures and national identity, and artificial intelligence can serve to enhance cultural cooperation and broaden understanding between different cultures, thereby helping to foster rapprochement among peoples and increase global cultural interaction.

Balayeva thanked the organisers for providing this unique platform, emphasising that the summit’s events offer not only cultural exchange but also a strategic pathway to support peace and stability by leveraging culture as a vital tool for fostering communication between peoples. She expressed Kazakhstan’s eagerness for further cultural cooperation with the UAE to enhance mutual interests and contribute to sustainable development.

Maritime minister inspects fire fighting exercise at KPT

By

-

KARACHI, Apr 29 (APP):A successful practical demonstration of fire fire-fighting drill was conducted by the Port Fire Department of Karachi Port Trust in the presence of Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar at Oil Pier 2.

According to the spokesman, the Federal Minister watched the exercise and appreciated the professionalism and efficiency of the staff in this fire extinguishing demonstration. During the fire drill, a practical demonstration of extinguishing a fire in a building, rescuing people trapped in the fire, and safely transferring sensitive documents and goods was shown.

The Port Fire Officer informed the minister that the Port Fire Department of KPT has always provided assistance to the local government in extinguishing accidental fires in the city in addition to the responsibilities of the port and has always been the first to arrive and play its role in extinguishing the fire.

On this occasion, Anwar appreciated the efforts of KPT and also gave some useful suggestions for further improving these SOPs.

AI-driven farming crucial for Pakistan’s climate resilience, food security: Experts

By

-

By Andleeb Khan

ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP):: Climate change is deeply affecting Pakistan, damaging crops, displacing communities, and increasing uncertainty for farmers. With Artificial Intelligence (AI), we can give farmers real-time information, improve planning, and reduce losses. It’s not just technology; it’s a lifeline for survival and sustainability in a warming world.

Internationally, countries like Vietnam are also embracing AI and digital technologies to transform their agricultural sectors. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Vietnam is promoting green, smart, and sustainable practices. Major players such as Tan Long Group, Vinamilk, and TH Group have adopted AI-driven solutions to enhance efficiency and resource management. Tan Long Group, for instance, is using AI and machine learning to monitor animal health and optimize environmental conditions through data from cameras and sensors.

Similarly, Ireland collaborated with Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to launch an AI-powered monitoring framework aimed at improving crop yields while conserving soil and water under climate pressure. Such international examples offer insights into how AI integration can accelerate sustainable agricultural development.
In agriculture, AI-driven platforms are helping farmers predict weather changes, optimize irrigation, detect crop diseases early, and make data-driven decisions to protect their harvests.

Talking to APP, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, an Agricultural Researcher and Sustainable Development Expert presently serving as Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education Extension and Short Courses at Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, highlighted that the integration of AI into agriculture holds immense potential to revolutionize farming practices. Yet farmers in rural Sindh face significant challenges in adopting these technologies.

He pointed out key barriers such as infrastructure deficiencies: many rural areas lack stable internet connectivity, which is critical for AI tools like drones or soil sensors, and frequent power outages further hinder the use of technology-dependent systems. High costs and financial constraints also pose serious challenges, as small-scale farmers dominating Sindh’s agrarian landscape often cannot afford AI equipment or maintenance.

Additionally, low awareness and technical literacy are major obstacles. Most farmers are unaware of AI’s benefits or lack the necessary training to operate such technologies. Extension services rarely focus on digital upskilling, and language barriers — like the unavailability of tech resources in Sindhi — compound the problem. Deep-rooted traditional practices further slow the adoption of AI at the field level. Environmental and regional suitability issues also arise, as AI models designed for other regions may not directly address Sindh’s unique challenges, such as water scarcity and extreme heat, without costly customization.

To overcome these barriers, stakeholders must prioritize improving rural infrastructure, subsidizing AI tools, and launching farmer-centric training programs. Policymakers should collaborate with tech firms to develop affordable, region-specific solutions, while awareness campaigns led by local influencers could build trust. Agriculture and technology experts emphasize the need for systemic reforms to bridge the digital divide not only in rural Sindh but across Pakistan.

Maryam Abbasi, a Ph.D. scholar at the University of Vermont USA, pursuing Sustainable Development Policy, Economics and Governance, talking to APP highlighted AI’s significant role in enhancing Early Warning Systems. AI models can predict accurate weather patterns based on existing datasets, enabling timely actions to avoid damages caused by sudden hailstorms, droughts, floods, heatwaves, and river flows. She urged Pakistan’s farming community to quickly adopt Artificial Intelligence technologies to combat growing climate crisis.

AI is emerging as a critical tool in the fight against these challenges. In agriculture, AI-driven platforms are helping farmers predict weather changes, optimize irrigation, detect crop diseases early, and make data-driven decisions to protect their harvests. A range of mobile applications have also become popular among farmers and home gardeners alike. By simply uploading a photo of a plant, users can now identify the plant species, diagnose health issues, and receive recommendations for treatment and care. Farmers are increasingly turning to these apps to monitor crop health, identify nutrient deficiencies, and take timely action, reducing the risk of major losses.

Farmers in Pakistan are using mobile applications like Bakhabar Kissan, Ricult, and Agriculture Corner to access weather forecasts, market prices, crop advisory services, and pest control information. However, there is still potential to adopt more advanced AI-driven platforms such as Plantix for real-time plant disease diagnosis, CropIn for farm management solutions, and precision farming apps that use satellite imagery and AI to optimize crop yields and resource use.

Asian Games: Cricket, mixed martial arts added to 2026 program

By

-

NAGOYA, Apr 29 (KYODO/APP): Cricket and mixed martial arts have been added to the 2026 Asian Games, to be co-hosted by Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and its capital Nagoya.

The organizing committee of the games announced the decision at Monday’s board meeting in Nagoya, following a request from the Olympic Council of Asia. Open water swimming has been excluded from the program.

The committee said it is trying to stage cricket within the prefecture, which has no venue for the sport at present.

The committee is also in talks with municipalities, which have cricket facilities.

Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, has been seen as one option as the city has hosted domestic and international cricket events.

Earlier this week at the Sano International Cricket Ground, Japan’s men’s team qualified for the Under-19 World Cup for the second time in their history. The tournament will be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe in early 2026.

As for football, the committee said the number of participating teams will be 16 each for men and women, less than initially expected. It was also decided that Kyoto and Hyogo Prefectures will not host matches.

SRSO Celebrates World Immunization Week 2025 in Mirpurkhas

By

-