ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning regarding a significant risk of chikungunya spread in several nations, including Pakistan. This comes as more than 445,000 cases and 155 deaths have been reported from 40 countries so far in 2025. Officials and experts warn that Pakistan, already grappling with post-monsoon outbreaks of dengue and malaria, remains highly vulnerable due to a large population of Aedes mosquitoes. The country’s preparedness is hampered by a lack of routine chikungunya screening facilities and a healthcare infrastructure weakened by the devastating 2025 floods in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Surge in…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are moving towards making significant adjustments to the budgetary targets for the current fiscal year. This comes as a direct consequence of the recent flash floods, which are now expected to cause a substantial downward revision in the GDP growth forecast. Initially, the devastation caused by the floods was underestimated. However, a Rapid Need Assessment (RNA) conducted by the provinces now estimates the total losses across all four provinces to be around Rs650 billion. Officials warn that this figure is likely to increase further as international donors finalize their own assessments. …
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week on a downturn, with investors engaging in profit-booking on Monday following the index’s record-breaking rally. The selling pressure was amplified by mounting concerns over fiscal slippages and widening external imbalances. The PSX’s benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 167,752.40 points, reflecting a loss of 1,237.67 points, or 0.73%, from the previous close of 168,990.07. During the session, the index experienced significant volatility, hitting a low of 165,997.36 points. Economic Headwinds Drive Profit-Taking Market analysts attributed the decline to a combination of technical resistance and fundamental economic worries. “The market, after a…
Pakistan’s top-order batter, Sidra Amin, has been officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the sport’s code of conduct during the recent Women’s Cricket World Cup match against India in Dubai. Code of Conduct Breach The right-handed batter was found to be in violation of Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.” The incident occurred on the penultimate delivery of the 40th over when Sidra was caught at square-leg by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur…
South Africa captain Aiden Markram says his side expects to be a prime target as they begin the new cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) as defending champions. Markram is standing in as skipper for Temba Bavuma, who has been ruled out of the tour with a calf strain. The Challenge of Being Champion South Africa starts its campaign with a two-Test series in Pakistan, beginning this Sunday, followed by two matches in India in November. The team is looking to retain the trophy they secured in June by beating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s. The…
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that a previously announced Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House will take place on June 14 next year. The date is significant as it coincides with the President’s 80th birthday. Trump made the announcement during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the US Navy. The plan to host a UFC event at the White House was first revealed by Trump in July, though a specific date for the 2026 event had not been specified until now. Long-Standing Ties The event highlights the…
BEIJING, CHINA A massive, unseasonal blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet trapped hundreds of trekkers, prompting a major rescue operation that underscores the rising threat of unpredictable climate patterns across the Himalayas. Chinese state media reported Sunday that rescuers successfully guided over 350 trekkers to safety following days of heavy snow and rainfall. The trekkers were caught off guard by the storm while visiting the remote Karma valley during China’s eight-day National Day holiday. Initial reports from state-backed Jimu News suggested that nearly 1,000 people, including local guides and support staff, were trapped after the sudden…
WASHINGTON, D.C. A rapidly escalating political and constitutional crisis is pitting US President Donald Trump’s hardline anti-crime and immigration crackdown against opposition Democrats, who accuse the administration of an authoritarian power grab and sowing disorder in major cities. The latest flashpoint erupted in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest city, where President Trump authorised the deployment of 300 National Guard soldiers late Saturday, moving ahead despite the staunch opposition of local elected leaders, including the mayor and state Governor JB Pritzker. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the decision on Sunday, telling Fox News that Chicago had become a “war zone.” However,…
WASHINGTON, D.C. The unprecedented expansion of US presidential powers under Donald Trump will come under intense scrutiny as the Supreme Court begins its fall term on Monday. Legal experts and civil rights advocates are watching closely to see if the conservative-dominated bench, which includes three of Trump’s own appointees, will act as a constitutional guardrail. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Berkeley Law School, articulated the key concern: “The crucial question will be whether it serves as a check on President Trump or just a rubber stamp approving his actions.” Historically, the Republican leader has notched up a…
US-Japanese researchers win top scientific award for identifying regulatory T-cells, opening new doors for autoimmune and cancer treatments. Nobel committee jokes about unreachable US laureates. STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN A trio of researchers from the United States and Japan have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking work on how the immune system regulates itself, identifying the critical cells that function as the body’s internal “security guards.” The discovery offers a new frontier in treating complex conditions from autoimmune diseases to cancer. The laureates are the United States’ Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, and Japan’s Shimon Sakaguchi. The…
