Author: Abdulrehman

A relentless heat wave peaked on Tuesday, bringing the hottest day in a decade to many East Coast cities. The extreme conditions, driven by a powerful heat dome, intensified over the weekend in the central United States. By Tuesday, temperatures rivaled the hottest summer days, endangering millions and worsening hazardous conditions. Deadly Impact of the Heat Wave The heat wave has caused loss of life and widespread disruptions. In St. Louis, Missouri, a 55-year-old woman died after spending at least three days without water or air conditioning. St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez reported she was found in her home…

Heavy Showers and Flood Risk Loom Over Low-Lying Areas Karachi monsoon rain forecast. Karachi will receive its first spell of monsoon rain this weekend, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and other top weather services. As the week progresses, hot and humid weather will persist, but strong winds and heavy rain are likely to arrive by Saturday. Weather experts warn that urban flooding may affect low-lying neighborhoods. Hot, Humid Weather to Continue Until the Weekend PMD reports that Karachi will face partly cloudy skies and high humidity through Thursday. Temperatures will range between 33°C and 36°C, adding to residents’…

Dominant 3-0 Win Sends Pakistan to Final in Manama Pakistan beats Qatar AVC Pakistan’s men’s volleyball team crushed defending champions Qatar in straight sets to book a place in the final of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup. The semifinal match took place on Monday in Manama, where Pakistan delivered a stunning 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-21) victory. With this win, Pakistan advanced to Tuesday’s final against host nation Bahrain, who defeated Korea in a thrilling five-set match. Pakistan Beats Qatar AVC in Rematch of 2023 Challenge Cup Final This high-stakes semifinal was a rematch of last year’s AVC Challenge Cup…

Flight Operations Restart After Brief Suspension PIA resumes Gulf flights. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its flights to Gulf countries on Tuesday after a brief suspension caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East. The decision followed the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which reopened air routes and reduced security risks for civilian aircraft. Confirmation Issued via Social Media The airline confirmed the resumption on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “PIA flight operations to Gulf/KSA countries are resumed as of 12:30 PST.” The previous day, the airline had suspended several routes due to heightened military activity that threatened…

Pakistan’s Unique Stance on Foreign Military Presence Pakistan no U.S. military airbases. Pakistan remains one of the few Muslim-majority nations that do not host permanent United States military airbases. Unlike several Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries that allowed American forces to operate long-term from their territory, Pakistan upheld its sovereignty and avoided such foreign military infrastructure on its soil. Post-9/11: Cooperation Without Compromise After the September 11 attacks, many Muslim nations became central to the U.S. War on Terror. Countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates permitted U.S. military bases and full-time military cooperation.…

Gilgit-Baltistan Budget 2025 Focuses on Salaries, Development, and Subsidies GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan budget 2025 Finance Minister Muhammad Ismail on Monday presented Gilgit-Baltistan’s Rs148.63 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025–26. Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate shared the budget in the legislative session, emphasizing the region’s priorities in both development and non-development sectors. Major Allocations: Salaries, Wheat Subsidy, and Development Projects Out of the total budget, the government allocated Rs88.19 billion to non-development expenditures and Rs37 billion to development. A major portion, Rs80 billion, will come from federal grants, as Gilgit-Baltistan remains exempt from direct taxation. To address food affordability, Rs20 billion has…

New Agreement Boosts Engineer Mobility, Service Exports, and BRI Collaboration KARACHI:In a landmark move to strengthen bilateral cooperation and professional mobility, Pakistan and China have signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) to formally recognize each other’s engineering qualifications. This strategic pact is expected to significantly boost workforce mobility, service exports, and collaborative ventures in high-tech sectors. Mutual Licensure Without Additional Exams The agreement, signed between the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and the Chinese Society of Engineers (CSE), enables engineers from both countries to gain provisional licensure without undergoing additional examinations. Eligible professionals must hold an accredited four-year engineering degree and…

High-Level Diplomatic Talks Follow U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire ISLAMABAD:Shabaz Sharif meets Gulf envoys. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met separately with the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Tuesday, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The meetings focused on the escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Sharif pledging to collaborate closely with Saudi Arabia for regional peace. Engagements with Gulf Diplomats The Pakistani premier held individual discussions with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and Qatari Ambassador Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater. These meetings came shortly after President Trump revealed via social media…

A devastating attack on the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Syria, claimed at least 20 lives and injured 52 others on Sunday, according to Syria’s health ministry. The assault, described as a “terrorist attack,” occurred during a mass, leaving the congregation and surrounding community in shock. ISIS Suspected in Church Bombing Syria’s Ministry of Interior Affairs identified the attacker as a suicide bomber linked to ISIS. The individual opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive vest, causing significant loss of life and widespread destruction. The attack targeted the heart of the church during a religious ceremony, exacerbating…

The Israel-Iran Ceasefire Agreement, proposed by former US President Donald Trump, signifies a pivotal step in resolving the conflict between the two nations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government affirmed that the military campaign exceeded its goals, addressing nuclear and missile threats. “Israel has dismantled existential nuclear and missile threats,” the government declared. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) achieved air dominance over Tehran, incapacitated key Iranian military leaders, and destroyed strategic targets. Israel also expressed appreciation for US military support in countering Iran’s nuclear program. The government warned of decisive responses to any ceasefire breaches, underscoring its firm stance. Calls for…