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PMD forecasts below-normal rainfall, high temperatures across most of country until September

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday extended its forecast of below-normal rainfall and higher-than-normal temperatures across most parts of the country from July to September. The PMD said in its three-month outlook, available with Dawn , that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is currently in a neutral phase and is expected to gradually transition into a positive phase during the season. Meanwhile, sea surface temperatures over the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are currently exhibiting a warming trend, indicating the development of El Niño conditions, which are generally associated with suppressed rainfall anomalies over Pakistan. “Current projections suggest that these warming conditions are likely to persist throughout the July–September 2026 period, with a tendency to strengthen further as the season progresses,” the PMD report said. The report noted that a positive IOD phase is generally associated with slightly above-normal monsoon rainfall over Pak...
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Timeline: The US and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to end the war. Here's how we got here

US and Iranian officials have agreed on a framework deal to end the war, halt hostilities on all fronts, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions relief to be settled in later negotiations. US President Donald Trump announced that the agreement was “complete” and ordered an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that a peace agreement had been reached after intensive talks, adding that the official signing ceremony would take place on June 19 in Switzerland. Iran also confirmed the framework understanding and ceasefire, saying the fighting would stop immediately, though key issues such as uranium enrichment and the release of frozen assets would be decided in subsequent discussions. Below is a timeline of the key events that led up to the agreement. February 28 The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran via air and sea: a series of explosions in Tehran, including near the residenc...
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FOOTBALL: THE MOST UNCERTAIN WORLD CUP

There’s a distinct buzz around Fifa World Cups. After all, it is one of only two truly global events — along with the Olympics — capable of bringing people from across the globe together for some fleeting moments of celebration. This time round though, the buzz is not celebratory. This World Cup feels divided, fragmented, uncertain. Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast and Senegal fans were unable to travel due to US travel restrictions . The Democratic Republic of Congo fans were unable to travel due to Ebola restrictions . Iran’s players and officials were denied US visas, which meant they had to shift their training base to Mexico, despite having to play all their group stage matches on the US West Coast. A special order granted only Iranian players (and not their officials) permission to enter and leave the US on the same day as their matches. Team Iran arrives at the Tijuana International Airport in Tijuana, Mexico ahead of the World Cup on June 7 after being refused...
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Punjab expands Liquid Tree project to tackle urban pollution

The Punjab government on Sunday decided to expand the Liquid Tree project as part of its efforts to promote an eco-friendly province through modern scientific solutions. The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) runs the initiative. According to it, a liquid tree is “an innovative biotechnology solution that uses microalgae to absorb carbon dioxide and improve urban air quality in areas where traditional tree plantations are limited”. According to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan’s first EPA-certified liquid tree will be shifted from Faisalabad to Lahore under the expansion plan. She said more than 100 types of micro-algae have been collected from regions spanning Karachi to Khyber for the project. In the initial phase, liquid trees will be installed in major shopping malls as well as indoor and outdoor public spaces to help reduce urban air pollution. CM Maryam said the initiative represented a scientific and effective solution to co...
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FIFA World Cup bus set alight as chaotic celebrations erupt in NYC's Manhattan after Knicks win

A World Cup bus was set alight and a teenager suffered a gunshot wound during chaotic scenes in Midtown Manhattan as thousands of basketball fans poured into the streets late on Saturday to celebrate the New York Knicks’ historic win in the NBA Finals . Some fans set off fireworks and fired smoke grenades after spilling out of packed bars and outdoor venues, chanting “Knicks in five!” to mark their team’s victory in the fifth game of a possible seven. The New York Knicks have not won a title since 1973, and this was just their third appearance in the finals after losses in 1994 and 1999 — to the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs, whom they defeated on Saturday night. World Cup shuttle buses swarmed At about 2am, a 17-year-old was shot in the foot during celebrations in Times Square, a New York police officer told Reuters . Three persons of interest were in custody, he added. As the celebrations ran into the night, hundreds of mostly young people swarmed a convoy of about 1...
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US-Iran peace deal inches closer as PM Shehbaz says finalisation expected within a day

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the peace deal between Iran and the United States is expected to be finalised in the next 24 hours. A day prior, PM Shehbaz said that a “final, agreed-upon” text of the peace deal between Tehran and Washington had been reached , adding that Islamabad was working “closely” with both sides to finalise the next steps of the process. “We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” the premier said on X, adding that Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal, and technical-level talks would follow afterwards. “We would like to thank [the] United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in the region for their support,” he wrote. “We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace.” Yesterday, Iranian Forei...
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CTD claims arrest of suspect supplying drone technology to TTP in Karachi

KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), in a joint operation with a federal civilian intelligence agency, arrested a suspect in Karachi for allegedly supplying drone technology and electronic equipment to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for use in drone-based attacks, a CTD spokesperson said on Saturday. According to the CTD, the suspect is the brother of Talal alias Zaid Baloch, an alleged active member of the banned TTP currently based in Afghanistan and listed among the department’s most-wanted militants. In a statement, the CTD described the arrest as a significant development, claiming that the suspect played a key role in the procurement and supply of modern drone technology and explosive-related material allegedly used in terrorist activities. Officials said that, on the instructions of his brother, the suspect allegedly purchased drone motors, propellers, batteries, controller boards and other electronic items that could be used in the preparation of imp...
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