DOHA: The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal Saturday to end fighting that has devastated the country’s mineral-rich but conflict-torn east. The two sides signed a declaration of principles whose terms include a “permanent ceasefire”, after three months of talks in Qatar. It follows a separate peace deal … Read more

Listen to article Bill Gates has warned that another global pandemic is “likely” to occur within the next 25 years if a major war is avoided. Speaking to an American news outlet, the Microsoft co-founder highlighted the current global unrest and said, “If we avoid a big war… then, yes, there will be another pandemic.” Gates, who … Read more

KARACHI: When a father figure serves a prominent role in a narrative, you know you’re signing up for a bucket of tears. It doesn’t matter what kind of role it is, good or bad, the emotional ride is inevitable. Recall this trope from as further back as you can go, and you know the statement … Read more

It was Chaand Raat in 1976, the night before the Eid Festival following the fasting month of Ramadan, when Bashir Rustom suffered a very severe asthma attack associated with kidney and heart malfunction. He was from Mauritius and was my classmate in the third year at Dow Medical College, Karachi. Bashir was living in the … Read more

Listen to article Iran has replaced air defences damaged during last month’s conflict with Israel, Iran’s Defah Press news agency reported on Sunday quoting Mahmoud Mousavi, the regular army’s deputy for operations. During the conflict in June, Israel’s air force dominated Iran’s airspace and dealt a heavy blow to the country’s air defences while Iranian armed forces … Read more

Listen to article In a significant medical breakthrough, scientists have developed a blood test capable of detecting brain cancer quickly and with greater accuracy than traditional methods. This new test, termed a ‘liquid biopsy’, has been found to deliver results within an hour, offering an alternative to the more invasive surgical biopsy. The test requires just over … Read more

The Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department is introducing new reforms aimed at simplifying vehicle registration, ownership transfer, and tax payment processes. These measures include personalised number plates, digital vehicle registration cards, and an upgraded mobile app for online tax payments — all designed to make procedures more efficient and accessible. In an exclusive interview with … Read more