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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
What happened to Bruce Willis? The 'Die Hard' actor who reportedly has difficulty in speaking and reading
Bruce Willis , the Hollywood icon who is renowned for 'Die Hard,' has taken a turn for the worse health conditions due to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The recent reports suggest that the 70-year-old actor has gone non-verbal, in addition to walking and remembering his precious career. About Bruce Willis and his health After noticing the early signs, Willis decided to retire in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects communication. However, in 2023, the family revealed that the condition has gotten serious, and has progressed to frontotemporal dementia, a condition that affects motor skills, speech and behaviour. According to The Express Tribune, the reports from 2023 and 2024 claim that the actor has largely gone non-verbal and is difficult to read. Moreover, the actor has allegedly been facing motor issues, while the family has not confirmed any details yet. In a heartfelt gesture, the '12 Monkeys' actor's family reassured the fans that while the condition seems to be progressive, he remains strong and stable. What is FTD? According to Mayo Clinic, Frontotemporal Dementia is an umbrella term that defines the diseases that affect frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, the areas which are associated with personality, behaviour and language. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo While the disease can be misdiagnosed as a mental health condition or Alzeimer's disease, FTD occurs at a much younger age, from 40 to 65. The symptoms that affect individuals who have been diagnosed with FTD The symptoms of FTD involves behavioural changes, that includes lack of judgement, increasing inappropriate social behaviour, apathy, decline in personal hygiene and more; speech and language symptoms that include difficulty understanding spoken and written language, no longer understanding meaning of words, trouble in naming things, mistakes in sentence building and more; and movement conditions that includes inappropriate laughing or crying, tremor, muscle weakness, trouble swallowing, and more.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan govt secured $26.7b in loans in last fiscal year: Report
Pakistan secured a record USD 26.7 billion in foreign loans during the last fiscal year , according to a media report that said it indicates the country's deepening dependence on multilateral and bilateral creditors. Nearly half of these loans were in the form of rollovers of previously obtained loans, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. 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ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details The USD 26.7 billion disbursed during the fiscal year 2024-25 was slightly higher than the preceding fiscal year, the report said citing data compiled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs , the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Ministry of Finance . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Of the USD 26.7 billion in foreign loans, only USD 3.4 billion or nearly 13 per cent was received for project financing, details released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs on Tuesday revealed. Such low receipts for project financing underscore the difficulties in repaying the loans, as most foreign borrowings are used for budgetary support and to build foreign exchange reserves, neither of which generates revenues for repayment. Live Events The central bank's gross foreign exchange reserves of USD 14.5 billion as of end-June are largely the result of rollovers, refinancing of existing loans, and some fresh borrowing. This highlights Pakistan's growing reliance on foreign creditors, making economic stability increasingly vulnerable. According to the details, the Ministry of Economic Affairs booked USD 11.9 billion on the federal government's accounts, about USD 1.2 billion higher than the previous fiscal year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) disbursed USD 2.1 billion, while another USD 12.7 billion came as rollovers of cash deposits from Saudi Arabia , China, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia has placed USD 5 billion in cash deposits with Pakistan's central bank, charging a 4 per cent interest on the loans. The amount is rolled over annually as Islamabad remains unable to repay. Interestingly, the IMF's three-year programme is predicated on the continued rollover of these USD 12.7 billion loans, casting doubt on the depth of external sector stability. China has placed USD 4 billion in cash deposits, charging over 6 per cent in interest. The UAE has deposited USD 3 billion with the central bank. China also disbursed USD 484 million in guaranteed loans in the last fiscal year, used primarily for asset purchases. Pakistan failed to tap international capital markets last fiscal year and its planned USD 1 billion borrowing through Eurobonds and Panda bonds did not materialise. Instead, the government and central bank secured an expensive foreign commercial loan, backed by multilateral guarantees, to bridge the gap. With Pakistan's credit rating in junk status, the country remains locked out of global capital markets and must pay high interest rates on commercial loans and cash deposits. The finance ministry managed to secure USD 4.3 billion in commercial loans, mostly refinanced Chinese loans and others backed by guarantees from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB disbursed USD 2.1 billion in new loans, USD 500 million more than budgeted. Multilateral institutions contributed USD 6.9 billion overall, including USD 2.1 billion from the IMF. The World Bank released USD 1.7 billion, USD 300 million short of the budgeted amount, and has not announced any new budget support loan for the current fiscal year. The Islamic Development Bank disbursed USD 716 million, and Saudi Arabia gave USD 200 million under an oil financing facility secured at 6 per cent interest, making it an expensive loan. Pakistan's debt-to-GDP ratio and gross financing needs-to-GDP ratio currently exceed sustainable levels, according to the Ministry of Finance. A gross financing need exceeding 15% of GDP is considered unsustainable. The Ministry of Finance's previous projections suggest Pakistan will remain above that threshold for at least the next three years.
Express Tribune
11 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Energy projects encounter financing hurdle
Some of the banks have not publicly disclosed any climate policies aligned with the Paris Agreement in lending and investment activities. photo: file Listen to article China is reluctant to extend financing to Pakistan for energy projects due to concerns over the country's economic record, security situation and repayment issues. Sources told The Express Tribune that Pakistani energy companies were seeking financing from China for various energy ventures. However, Sinosure – a state-owned Chinese company that provides insurance cover for loans and debt financing – is reportedly hesitant to offer insurance facility for bank lending to Pakistan's energy projects. The China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure) is a state-owned policy insurer that plays a crucial role in facilitating Chinese overseas investments. For any Chinese bank extending loans to overseas projects, including those in Pakistan, Sinosure must first issue risk insurance. Without this, Chinese banks refrain from releasing funds. According to sources, Chinese authorities have raised three key concerns with Pakistani delegations visiting Beijing to secure funding. A major concern is Pakistan's limited dollar reserves. Chinese firms already operating in Pakistan have faced difficulties in repatriating dividends in US dollars. Chinese officials have reportedly asked Pakistan for assurances on how repayments in dollars will be made. Secondly, several Chinese engineers working on different projects have faced attacks in Pakistan, triggering fears about the security situation, which was a key point of discussion during financing talks. Thirdly, Chinese lenders have faced repayment challenges pertaining to loans extended previously for various projects. This experience has made Chinese institutions cautious about further lending. According to sources, oil refineries are seeking funding from China to start work on plant upgrade projects. The Shehbaz Sharif-led government has approved a new refinery policy in a bid to produce high-quality fuel and expand the existing production capacity. The lack of policy continuity and consistency on the part of Pakistan is also a cause of worry. Though the government offered some incentives to oil refineries to push them to begin work on plant upgrades, at the same time, it announced sales tax exemption which, the oil industry claims, ate up revenue of Rs34 billion in fiscal year 2024-25. Later, it compensated for the loss and agreed to impose up to 5% sales tax in the budget for fiscal year 2025-26. However, the issue is yet to be resolved as the tax break has remained in place. Apart from that, petroleum and carbon levies have been slapped on sale of furnace oil, which has increased its price by 80%. Consequently, according to industry officials, the sale of furnace oil has come to a halt and refineries are looking for export avenues. "Furnace oil sale in the country is around 2,500 metric tons in July, which is equal to one-day sale according to the past record, when no levies had been imposed," an industry official remarked. The oil industry argues that no financial institution will extend financing to refineries in such a situation when they are facing multiple challenges with the lack of potential for loan repayment. Chinese financial institutions are monitoring the situation; therefore, they are least interested in providing loans. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, when he took charge, did try to resolve the problems being faced by refineries. However, the industry is not very much hopeful as the government has already ignored it in the budget.
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
DISCOs overbill consumers by Rs244b
Iesco stood on top in the wake of its plausible performance to curb losses, improve recoveries and act in line with the time frame for new connections. PHOTO: FILE An audit has unearthed a massive overbilling scam involving eight electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), which collectively extorted over Rs244 billion from consumers in an attempt to mask inefficiencies, losses and theft in the system. According to documents obtained by The Express Tribune, the audit report exposes serious financial irregularities in the operations of DISCOs in Islamabad, Lahore, Hyderabad, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Sukkur and the former tribal areas. The report reveals that no action was taken against any officials responsible for the illegal billing, even though overbilling was carried out systematically to cover up transmission losses, power theft and poor operational performance. In a shocking revelation, even agricultural tube wells and deceased individuals were not spared. Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) alone sent power bills worth Rs496 million to dead customers. Additionally, zero-unit consumers were charged for over 1.22 million units. The report states that in just one month, five of these companies slapped 278,649 consumers with overbilled amounts totalling Rs47.81 billion. For the entire fiscal year 202324, consumers were billed for an extra 904.6 million electricity units. Despite the companies' claims that the overcharged amounts have been refunded, no documentary evidence was provided to audit authorities. The audit observed that these companies failed to produce any records verifying refunds, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. Among the most egregious cases was Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), which overbilled agricultural consumers by over Rs148 billion during FY202324, purportedly to hide operational lapses. Similarly, ten DISCOs billed an additional Rs18.64 billion across 1,432 feeders. In total, Rs22 billion worth of overbilling was imposed solely to offset line losses, the audit reveals. While some refunds were issued, such as Rs5.29 billion for incorrect meter readings and Rs2.18 billion in multiple credit adjustments by Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), the lack of supporting documentation continues to cast doubt on the credibility of these claims. Audit authorities have now formally sought clarifications from all eight DISCOs, but so far, the distribution companies have failed to provide the requested records.
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Commercial waste pollutes water bodies in K-P
A rescue worker rows a raft while searching for survivors, after tourists, who were on a picnic, were swept away by overflowing floodwaters in the Swat River, in Swat Valley in Pakistan June 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters Tourists planning a vacation to the northern areas try hard to locate a hotel with the perfect proximity to the nearest river or nearby mountains. However, the demand for picturesque views has come at the cost of the purity of water bodies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Rafiq Lala, the head of a family that has lived in Mingora for the past 40 years, told The Express Tribune that during summers, local and foreign tourists would prefer to sit beside the river, lakes, and beautiful mountains to enjoy fresh fish from the Swat River. 'However, due to the rapid construction of hotels, encroachments along the riverbanks, and the discharge of sewage from hundreds of hotels into the river at various points, the river's water has become polluted and unfit for consumption,' observed Rafiq. Zehra, a tourist who has been visiting the Kalam and Swat valleys since the past 13 years shared the changes she observed in the purity of the water of the Swat River. 'Within a short period, the river's water has not only changed in colour but fish are no longer visible in it. I recall fishing in Kalam a few years ago, but now, seeing the current condition of the river deeply saddens me,' said Zehra. Around two years ago, a research study involving environmental experts from five universities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including the University of Peshawar, found that samples from river water, fish, human hair, and nails were tested for methylmercury levels. Samples collected from Upper and Lower Swat showed methylmercury levels 6 per cent higher than the WHO-recommended limits. The presence of methylmercury in the river water, its transfer to fish, and the eventual consumption of this water and fish by humans are leading to various health issues. Mohammad Rafiq, former Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar revealed that the permissible level of methylmercury in fish or the human body should be one micro cubic meter, but the research revealed levels far above normal which is causing serious health effects such as organ damage, typhoid in children, and gastrointestinal diseases. 'The sources of toxic chemicals in the Swat River include riverside constructions, use of cleaning chemicals in restrooms, and concrete particles mixing into the water, making it unfit and dangerous for use,' noted Rafiq. According to information obtained by The Express Tribune from the K-P Irrigation Department, there are about 1,600 hotels in Swat Valley and around 300 in Kalam Valley. The Swat River flows approximately 240 kilometers from Kalam Bazaar to Charsadda. Across several locations including Kalam, Mingora, Madain, Bahrain, Matiltan, Usho, Fizagat, and Khwazakhela, more than 200 hotels are directly responsible for polluting the river by dumping chemically contaminated wastewater and disposing of plastic and other solid waste into the river. However, over the past five to eight years, no major action has been taken against those polluting the Swat River. 'Within just the past one and a half months, 160 hotels involved in polluting the river have been issued notices, 15 hotels were sealed and fined, and 40 were given warnings. Under the River Protection Act, no construction is allowed within 200 feet of the riverbanks. However, demolishing existing buildings is a legal challenge, as court cases have been filed,' said Commissioner Swat, Abid Wazir. while speaking of the K-P River Protection Act, the implementation of which would require demolishing approximately 80 percent of existing buildings and hotels from Kalam to Chakdara. K-P Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah stated that a temporary ban on new construction at tourist sites had been imposed. 'All previously issued NOCs for construction in these areas have also been cancelled. A master plan is under consideration to tackle encroachments and poor drainage at tourist sites,' said Shah.
