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Here is how you can protect yourself from extreme heat

On Monday, citizens in Sindh’s provincial capital, Karachi, experienced sweltering temperatures as the mercury touched 44°C. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in its daily advisory on Monday, said that very hot and dry weather is expected to persist in the southern parts of the country over the week. As of 4pm, the temperature in Karachi stood at 44°C with a relative humidity of 8 per cent and a feel-like temperature of 40°C. Meanwhile, according to PMD’s May outlook, mean temperatures are expected to remain above normal nationwide, which could “increase the potential for heat spikes and heatwave conditions, especially over the plain areas of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan”. Probabilistic temperature outlook for May 2026. — Infographic via PMD Heat extremes can worsen health risks from chronic conditions (cardiovascular, mental, respiratory and diabetes related conditions) and cause acute kidney injury, according to the World Health Organisati...
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'Only part of the solution': Are Electric Vehicles truly sustainable?

As Electric Vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly central to global climate policy, DawnNews explores whether they really are the straightforward climate solution they appear to be. As economist Ammar Habib Khan says, EVs are “part of the solution, but not an overall policy intervention”. Behind the clean image lies a complicated story about minerals, water, economics and sustainability. Watch Front Seat to Climate Change to unpack the complex story of the real costs and opportunities behind the global EV transition. As Pakistan confronts the accelerating realities of climate change, the urgency to move from awareness to action has never been greater. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable nations, underscoring the critical need for coordinated, locally grounded, and globally informed responses. The Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference 2026 on May 6 and 7 brings t...

'Not a nation that bows': Bilawal hails Pakistan's victory against India during Marka-i-Haq

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday hailed Pakistan’s “victory” against India during last year’s military conflict, affirming that the country was “not a nation that bows”. He was addressing an event in Karachi organised by the Sindh government to commemorate Marka-i-Haq, where Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also spoke. The term “ Marka-i-Haq ” is used by the state to refer to the 2025 conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos with a ceasefire on May 10. “This victory was not the victory of weapons alone. It was a triumph of resolve. It was a triumph of unity and of people who refused to kneel,” said Bilawal, who is also the former foreign minister and had led a delegation abroad to convey Pakistan’s stance on the conflict. “From the mountains of the north to the shores of the Arabian Sea, from the fields of Punjab to the deserts of Sindh and Balochistan, Pakistan stood as one,” he affirmed. ...

Israel approves plan to buy F-35 and F-15IA fighter jets from Lockheed, Boeing

Israel gave final approval for a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defence ministry said on Sunday. The deal, approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement, is a first step in a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to bolster Israel’s military and “strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security,” it said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said much of this expanded defence budget will be to produce munitions in Israel and not be dependent on foreign countries. Israel, he noted, will also develop “groundbreaking” aircraft. The ministry added that the new squadrons will serve as a cornerstone of the military’s long-term force development, addressing regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority. “Alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the Isr...

PM Shehbaz calls on Nawaz, discusses political situation in country, steps taken for peace in Middle East

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif at their Jati Umra residence in Lahore on Sunday, a statement issued by the PM’s Office (PMO) said, adding that the Middle East conflict and the political situation in the country were discussed during the meeting. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present on the occasion. The PMO statement said the premier briefed Nawaz on the “situation in the country” and exchanged views on the political situation. He further informed him about the situation in the Middle East and Pakistan’s efforts for the restoration of peace in the region, the statement added. The conflict in the Middle East, which is now more than two months old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. And while hostilities have paused following a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8 — which has been extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump — the world continues to face its consequences. Pakistan’s civil and milit...

Opec+ agrees third oil output quota hike since Hormuz closure

Opec+ agreed on Sunday on a modest oil output hike for June, an increase that will remain largely on paper as long as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to disrupt Gulf oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Seven Opec+ countries will raise oil output targets by 188,000 barrels per day in June, the third consecutive monthly increase, Opec+ said in a statement after an online meeting. The increase is the same as that agreed for May minus the share of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which left the group on May 1. The move is designed to show the group is ready to raise supplies once the war stops and signals that Opec+ is pressing on with a business-as-usual approach despite the departure of the UAE from Opec+, sources associated with the alliance and analysts said. Opec+ is sending a two-layer message to the market: continuity despite the UAE’s exit, and control despite limited physical impact, said Jorge Leon, an analyst at Rystad and former O...

Sharjeel Memon says BRT Red Line 'very tough' project, asserts no delay from govt

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday acknowledged that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line had proven to be a “very tough” project for the provincial government, but asserted that there had been no delay on its end. Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Memon said the Sindh government had to make some difficult decisions on the BRT Red Line after “all other options were exhausted”. The senior minister asserted that there had been “no mistake, mal-intent or delay” from the Sindh government on the BRT Red Line. He noted that work on the project’s Lot-1 was “underway with great speed”, while work on Lot-2 had been restarted. The Sindh government recently cancelled the construction contract for the BRT Red Line project. Subsequently, it chose the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to resume construction on a section of the BRT Red Line along University Road, where commuters have been facing inconvenience. Designed to cover ...