NAIROBI: The strengthening El Niño climate pattern and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are raising fears of another major humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa. The region could once again face extreme weather similar to the conditions that caused severe flooding in late 2023. Millions of people remain at risk because of conflict, displacement, food shortages and rising prices. The latest forecasts suggest that El Niño could become one of the strongest events on record. It may continue through early 2027. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) expects El Niño to strengthen and reach its peak toward the end…
Author: Web Desk
UJJAIN: Hundreds of Muslims have gathered inside and around the historic Shahi Mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to protest plans to partially demolish the mosque as part of a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh festival. Protesters say they have maintained a round-the-clock presence at the mosque for nearly two weeks, taking turns in shifts and continuing to offer the five daily prayers there. Tensions reportedly increased after police presence around the mosque was strengthened and Rapid Response Force personnel were deployed. Demolition equipment was also brought to the site, prompting a large number of Muslims to gather…
Luanda: Pakistan has a new name on the international mixed martial arts stage after Manisha Ali won gold at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola, defeating home favourite and two-time world champion Leonela Isabel Blaiye in a dramatic final. Ali’s appearance in the final had already been regarded as one of the tournament’s major upsets. Blaiye entered the bout with greater international experience and a height advantage, and initially appeared to have control of the contest. The Angolan fighter attacked aggressively from the opening bell, landing several powerful punches. Blaiye maintained the pressure through the first round, and the early…
Cairo/Washington: Iran says diplomacy remains the only way to resolve its conflict with the United States and Israel after US President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strategic waterway were clear and that progress depended on reaching a negotiated agreement. Iran had presented a peace proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with the plan transmitted to Washington through Qatari mediators. The proposal included a seven-day countdown toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz and pausing regional fighting. Trump,…
ISLAMABAD: The postponement of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march to Islamabad has come with a growing financial burden for the federal government, as containers remain deployed across the capital and security preparations continue despite the delay. The government is paying Rs46.5 million a day to rent 1,550 containers arranged to block roads and counter the planned PTI protest. With the march now postponed from September 27 to October 4, the overall security bill reportedly could exceed Rs1 billion. According to Reports, the Capital Police had initially requested Rs820 million for the operation, including container rentals, accommodation and meals for police…
Yemen’s war has evolved from a long-running civil conflict into a wider regional crisis. The Iran-aligned Houthis control large parts of northern Yemen and have fought forces backed by Saudi Arabia and other regional actors. Their attacks have increasingly affected Saudi territory, energy infrastructure and shipping in the Red Sea, giving Yemen importance far beyond its borders. The country’s location beside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key route between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, has also made the conflict a global economic and security concern. With tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel spreading across the region,…
Cairo/New York: (Reuters) Iran is waiting for a US response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting across the Middle East within seven days. The proposal came as the regional war continued to disrupt energy supplies and shipping. A Wall Street Journal report, cited by Reuters, said US President Donald Trump had rejected the plan. Iran Offers Seven-Day Plan Iran presented the initiative during the UN General Assembly in New York. Tehran reportedly sent the proposal to Washington through Qatari mediators. Under the plan, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The move would start…
LONDON: The relationship between Pakistan and the United Kingdom has evolved significantly over seven decades, with migration, trade, education and people-to-people links continuing to form its strongest foundations, according to economist and policy expert Jonathan Portes. Speaking in a discussion with Aisha Ali Khan on The Pakistan Playbook, Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London and former chief economist at the UK Cabinet Office under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said the relationship had endured major political and economic changes and was likely to remain important for both countries. Portes traced the origins of modern UK-Pakistan relations…
WASHINGTON: The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is drawing global attention as Washington and Beijing seek to manage one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical and economic rivalries. The meeting was discussed in depth on JP Global, where host Ayaz Khan Lohani was joined by veteran journalist and analyst Rifat Alam, former CEO of Din News Network, former editor of Daily Times and former deputy editor of Geo Television Network, with more than four decades of media experience. The discussion focused on how dramatically the balance between the United States and China has changed…
Defense minister says Pakistan cannot afford another confrontation as PTI plans September 27 mobilization NEW YORK: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against trying to enter Islamabad by force. He said the party’s planned September 27 protest could lead to a decisive confrontation. Asif spoke in an interview from New York, where he is accompanying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly. The PTI plans to mobilize supporters in Islamabad on September 27. The party has also demanded the release of its founder, Imran Khan. Government officials have warned that protesters cannot enter…
