A runny nose, itching eyes, worsening asthma symptoms — the effects of hay fever are certainly nothing to sneeze at, experts warn, highlighting an “explosion” of allergies as climate change prolongs and intensifies pollen seasons. The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has identified that a shifting climate has already begun to alter the production and distribution patterns of pollen and spores. Numerous studies have consistently shown that as winter frost thaws earlier and spring weather becomes warmer, plants and trees flower prematurely, thereby extending the overall pollen season. Furthermore, air pollution can heighten individuals’ sensitivity to allergens, while invasive species…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Oil prices tumbled 4%, global shares surged, and the dollar weakened on Tuesday following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. This marked a dramatic reversal after the US had bombed Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend. Brent crude futures had already slid 7% on Monday, and US shares jumped after Iran conducted a token retaliation against a US base and signaled that its actions were concluded for now. With the immediate threat to the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane seemingly abated, the global benchmark crude was last traded at $67.68 a barrel, reaching…
Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp messaging service has been banned from all United States House of Representatives devices. This directive was conveyed in a memo sent to all House staff on Monday. The notice stated that the “Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use.” The memo, issued by the chief administrative officer, recommended the use of alternative messaging applications, including Microsoft Corp’s Teams platform, Amazon.com’s Wickr, Signal, and Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime. Meta…
Pakistan’s sailing team delivered an impressive performance at the 31st Al Bareh Sailing Regatta in Bahrain, securing gold and bronze medals in a highly competitive event. Muzammil Hassan led the charge by winning the gold medal in the ILCA 7 class—formerly known as the Laser Standard—which is recognized as one of the most challenging Olympic sailing categories. His consistent performances and strategic brilliance allowed him to outpace seasoned rivals and claim the top spot on the podium. Adding to the team’s success, Hamza Ejaz earned a bronze medal in the same category, capping off a memorable campaign for the national…
On Monday, President Donald Trump successfully brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran through direct discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Concurrently, his team, including Vice President JD Vance, held talks with Tehran, a senior White House official revealed. The official, providing details of the ceasefire on condition of anonymity, stated that Israel agreed to the truce provided Iran refrained from launching any fresh attacks. Iran, in turn, signaled that no further attacks would occur, according to the official. The official confirmed that Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US special envoy Steve Witkoff were actively…
On Monday, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from moving forward with its plan to prohibit foreign nationals from entering the United States to pursue studies at Harvard University. US District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued an injunction, effectively barring the Trump administration from implementing its latest effort to curb Harvard’s capacity to host international students. This decision comes amidst an escalating conflict between the Republican president and the renowned Ivy League institution. This preliminary injunction extends a temporary order Judge Burroughs had initially issued on June 5. That earlier order had prevented the administration from enforcing…
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday a comprehensive ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially bringing an end to the 12-day conflict that forced millions to flee Tehran and sparked fears of further escalation in the war-torn region. However, there was no immediate confirmation from Israel. The Israeli military stated it had detected missiles launched from Iran toward Israel in the early hours of Tuesday. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the Israel Defense Forces declared in a statement. Israel, joined by the United States over the weekend, has been carrying out attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, alleging…
Global Economic Growth Impacted by Unprecedented Geopolitical Turmoil, Says World Economic Forum Chief The world is currently grappling with the “most complex” geopolitical situation witnessed in decades, the head of the World Economic Forum (WEF) informed AFP on Tuesday. He warned that this escalating turmoil is “impacting global growth.” “It is the most complex geopolitical and geo-economic backdrop we’ve seen in decades,” stated Borge Brende, President and CEO of the WEF, ahead of a multilateral forum meeting in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. Brende cautioned, “If we are not able to revive growth again, we can unfortunately see a…
The United States Supreme Court on Monday cleared the path for President Donald Trump’s administration to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their own, without first offering them an opportunity to demonstrate the harms they could face. This decision marks another victory for the president in his aggressive pursuit of widespread deportations. In a move that drew sharp dissent from its three liberal justices, the court granted the administration’s request to lift a prior judicial order. That order had mandated that migrants slated for deportation to so-called “third countries” be given a “meaningful opportunity” to inform US officials of…
Authorities in India’s Gujarat state announced on Tuesday that they have successfully identified all but one of the 260 bodies recovered following an Air India plane crash earlier this month in the western city of Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 individuals and destined for London’s Gatwick Airport, rapidly lost altitude mere seconds after its take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12. It subsequently erupted into a fireball upon impact with a medical college hostel. Remarkably, there was one survivor from those aboard the aircraft. However, the tragic crash also resulted in the deaths of 19 people on the ground.…
