by admin | Aug 30, 2025 | disasters, earthquakes, news, pakistan, seismology
Released on, Aug. 19 — August 19, 2025 at 11:10 AM
An intense earthquake registered at 5.2 on the Richter scale hit Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and various towns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa early Tuesday, causing fear among locals who are still dealing with ongoing flood challenges.
The earthquakes began in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan at a depth of 190 kilometers. Although they were light, the shocks were powerful enough to be distinctly noticed in several northern cities.
Inhabitants from Peshawar, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Chitral, Haripur, Malakand, Batkhela, and nearby regions experienced intense tremors. Individuals evacuated their houses and workplaces due to concerns about subsequent shocks and potential structural harm.
The tremors were also experienced in Mansehra, Mingora, Swat, Balakot, Battagram, Kohistan, and Toghrar. Officials conducted preventive evacuations in certain regions to safeguard people and minimize possible dangers.
Luckily, authorities have not yet documented any injuries or significant damage. Nevertheless, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has advised locals to remain vigilant and adhere to precautionary steps in case of subsequent tremors.
This seismic event occurs during a challenging period for Pakistan, with many areas currently facing sudden floods and intense rain. Officials have confirmed that surveillance mechanisms continue to function effectively to address any crisis promptly.
by admin | Aug 29, 2025 | General
Rail
Travelers are advised against traveling today between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh because of emergency work on a bridge.
Passengers of LNER can utilize their tickets for alternative services up until Tuesday provided their trip has been affected.
Among them are CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, and Thameslink, as well as ScotRail.
In a release, LNER stated: ‘If you’re traveling on an LNER train, your Train Manager will inform you of details regarding the incident and how it affects your trip today.’
Our onboard crew is striving to ensure your comfort as we work to resume movement.
If you require immediate assistance—such as arrangements for subsequent travel/air tickets, health-related issues, and so forth—please consult with a staff member aboard the train.
What alternative paths are available?
Inter-city travel from Sheffield, Doncaster, Leeds, and York
Railway services operated by East Midlands between London St Pancras, Leicester, and Sheffield
Greater Anglia from Cambridge to Peterborough
The Great Northern and Thameslink services from King’s Cross to Stevenage, Peterborough
The ScotRail route from Edinburgh to Glasgow
Network Rail reported that a bridge located south of Chester-le-Street sustained damage during the night. Personnel, such as structural engineers, are presently at the location.
Furthermore, personnel must be present on location at 11:30 to examine the malfunction occurring between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Dunbar.
The journey typically starts at London’s King’s Cross station and heads north towards Edinburgh, making stops along the way at Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham, Newark Northgate, Retford, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Edinburgh Waverley, before continuing to Aberdeen and Inverness.
This day’s travel advisory arrives as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival reaches its peak, currently ongoing and set to conclude later this month.
Contact our journalism team via email at
webnews@SANGGRALOKA.COM.co.uk
.
For additional tales of this nature,
check our news page
.
Latest London news
-
Elizabeth Line temporarily closed between Heathrow terminals due to defective firefighting gear
-
Three dining spots in London ideal for a hot day have been identified.
-
What significance do Banksy’s artworks throughout London hold? Let’s explore.
To stay updated with the most recent news from the capital, visit SANGGRALOKA.COM’s.
London news hub
.
Comment now
Comments
Keep informed about the latest discussions by subscribing to the News Updates email from SANGGRALOKA.COM.
by admin | Aug 29, 2025 | business, equities, financial markets, news, stocks
Kathmandu, August 19 – On Tuesday, the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) saw a slight increase, gaining 6.51 points to finish at 2,776.90. The key index went up by 0.23% compared to the prior day.
The stock exchange data reveal that the share prices of 142 companies advanced while 107 declined.
A total of 131.24 million shares were exchanged via 61,784 deals, totaling Rs5.63 billion.
The turnover was less compared to Monday, when transactions amounted to Rs6.17 billion.
All sectoral sub-indices posted gains, with life insurance, production and processing, development banks, investment, others, and trade groups leading the upward movement.
by admin | Aug 29, 2025 | disaster management, disasters, emergencies, flooding, news
Released on, Aug. 19 — August 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Intense monsoon downpours have caused rivers in Punjab to rise to alarming levels, submerging communities, damaging agricultural land, and isolating areas due to blocked roadways, with the NDMA issuing a critical warning about impending rainfall.
A warning was issued as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa experienced severe floods that resulted in more than 320 fatalities. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed his ministers to take direct responsibility for overseeing aid efforts in the most severely impacted areas.
Beginning in late June, continuous heavy rains, sudden floodwaters, and mudslides have resulted in the deaths of at least 657 individuals and injuries to almost 1,000 others throughout Pakistan. Authorities worry about deteriorating situations with additional rainfall expected.
The National Disaster Management Authority stated that intense to extremely high amounts of rain are anticipated throughout Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Authorities cautioned that precipitation could surpass 50 to 60 percent over typical rates.
K-P continues to be the most severely affected area, with regions such as Buner, Swat, Shangla, and Bajaur experiencing extensive damage. Many houses have suffered destruction or harm, and roadways and bridges are still obstructed due to landslides.
At the same time, rescue efforts are being carried out. The NDMA along with regional authorities are providing tents, quilts, provisions, and monetary assistance. The Prime Minister pledged to the individuals affected by floods that their damaged houses will be reconstructed and security protocols enhanced.
by admin | Aug 28, 2025 | banking, financial services, money, securities, technology
Published on, Aug. 19 — August 19, 2025 7:24 AM
The Central Bank of Pakistan (CBP), known as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), plans to introduce its enhanced payment and settlement platform named PRISM+ on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The ceremony will be presided over by the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Mr. Jameel Ahmad, with participation from high-ranking SBP personnel, delegates from banking entities, and important players within the finance industry. This development represents an essential step forward in the continuous improvement of Pakistan’s financial framework.
This innovative framework marks a significant advancement in updating the way funds and governmental assets circulate within the nation’s monetary network.
PRISM+ is based on the global ISO 20022 messaging standard, which is used in many advanced financial systems around the world. It includes two key components:
An improved Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system designed for swift processing of major transactions between involved parties
A completely new Central Securities Depository (CSD) responsible for handling government instruments like Treasury Bills, Public Investment Bonds, and additional government-related financial assets
What PRISM+ Provides: A Quicker and More Intelligent Banking System: PRISM+ introduces various innovative tools and functionalities for banks to enhance their everyday management processes:
Immediate transfer of significant transactions among users Choice to plan payments for a later day
Payment handling based on priority (key transactions are processed initially)
Real-time dashboards displaying account balances, outstanding payments, and transaction processing status
Automated computation of charges and bills
Enhanced Management of Sovereign Securities: The CSD within PRISM+ enables banks to purchase, trade, and oversee government bonds with greater ease:
Primary Market Auctions: Financial institutions may place offers and receive outcomes instantly
Trading in the Secondary Market: Financial institutions may send transaction orders, which are promptly paired and finalized.
Risk Administration: Financial institutions have the ability to monitor and assess their collateralized assets, as well as determine the amount that can be utilized.
Monetary Policy Tools: Assists the State Bank of Pakistan in adding or removing funds from the economy and facilitating immediate transaction settlements
Enhanced Visibility and Safety: Each transaction comes with a complete record of activity
Role-based access ensures only authorized users can perform actions
Real-time alerts notify banks about any issues with settlement
Innovative Solutions for Managing Cash Flow and Payments
Liquidity Saving Queues: To reduce delays and manage liquidity better, PRISM+ uses special queues:
High-priority payments are settled right away
Payments with lower priority are placed in distinct queues and processed in groups to prevent overcrowding.
Reserve Earmarking: Banks can set aside funds specifically for systems like Raast, 1Link, NIFT, or NCCPL. This makes sure critical transactions are not delayed due to general liquidity use.
Intraday Liquidity Facility (ILF): Financial institutions have the option to obtain temporary funding by pledging qualifying government bonds. This mechanism helps maintain seamless transactions despite temporary fund shortages.
Other Improvements
Longer operating hours for better access: Payment cancellation and return messages can now be handled in real time
Facility to deposit or withdraw cash at the SBP Karachi branch for specific transactions
The platform was created in accordance with SBP’s Vision 2028, seeking to build a contemporary, accessible, and strong financial environment. Comprehensive involvement of stakeholders during the creation phase has made sure that PRISM+ incorporates global standard approaches while addressing Pakistan’s specific market requirements.
