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Air Canada to begin cancelling flights ahead of possible strike by flight attendants

MONTREAL — Air Canada said Wednesday it will begin a gradual suspension of flights to allow an orderly shutdown of the country’s largest airline as it faces a potential work stoppage by its flight attendants on Saturday.

The airline said the first flights will be cancelled Thursday, with more on Friday and a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge by the weekend.

The union representing around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice Wednesday. In response, the airline issued a lockout notice.

Air Canada said customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and they will be eligible for a full refund. The company also said it has made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers with alternative travel options to the extent possible.

“We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve,” Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Air Canada said it had reached an impasse with the union as the two sides remained far apart in contract talks. The union has said its main sticking points revolve around what it calls flight attendants’ “poverty wages” and unpaid labor when planes aren’t in the air.

“Despite our best efforts, Air Canada refused to address our core issues,” the union said in a bargaining update posted online.

The union rejected a proposal from the airline to enter a binding arbitration process, saying it prefers to negotiate a deal that its members can then vote on.

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August 13, 2025
COVID-19 vaccines for kids are mired in uncertainty amid conflicting federal guidance

It’s August, and parents and caregivers are frantically preparing their kids for a new school year by buying supplies, filling out forms and meeting teachers. This year, many parents also face a question that’s more complicated than usual: Should my child get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and will I even have that choice? For some, that decision may have already been made by chaotic federal policy, just as COVID-19 cases are rising nationwide.

As a pediatrician and researcher who studies vaccine delivery and health policy, I am hearing uncertainty from both parents and health care providers. If that describes you, you are not alone. A poll published Aug. 1, 2025, by the health policy organization KFF found half of parents are unsure whether federal health agencies are recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children this fall.

The process that normally provides clear, consistent recommendations and ensures availability for vaccines before respiratory virus season has been upended, and this year’s COVID-19 vaccine guidance for children is a prime example.

How the process typically works

For over two decades, there was a predictable, well-coordinated process to ensure recommended seasonal vaccines, such as the flu shot, were available for anyone who wanted them by early fall. In recent years, COVID-19 vaccines have been incorporated into this same annual cycle.

Beginning in February, the Food and Drug Administration, including its independent committee of experts, reviewed data and approved the optimal formulation. After FDA approval, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, an independent panel of experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reviewed the evidence in public meetings and issued clear recommendations.

The U.S. has long followed an established set of steps lining up vaccines for any given year.

Manufacturers then scaled up production; insurers confirmed coverage, which is tied to the advisory committee’s recommendations; and doses were distributed nationwide so vaccines would be available in clinics and pharmacies before the leaves started turning. This usual series of steps ensured that guidance incorporated input from scientists, epidemiologists, public health experts, clinicians, manufacturers, insurers and consumers. It also fostered trust among health care providers and, in turn, provided parents with clarity and confidence when making decisions.

What’s different this year

Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took over as secretary of Health and Human Services in February 2025, that usual, tightly choreographed dance has become a chaotic scramble marked by uncertainty and a lack of transparency. Decisions about vaccine guidance have been made through internal channels without the same level of public discussion, review of the evidence or broad stakeholder input.

In May 2025, Kennedy and FDA leadership bypassed the agency’s independent review committee and announced that some COVID-19 vaccines would be approved only for children with high-risk conditions. One formulation has yet to be FDA-approved for children at all. The secretary first announced updated recommendations for children on X, stating COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children. Shortly after, the CDC posted guidelines that differed from that announcement and said healthy children “may” receive them. Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was disbanded by Kennedy and replaced with a smaller, hand-picked panel that operates with less transparency and has yet to weigh in on COVID-19 vaccines for children.

Public messaging has added to the confusion. Statements from newly appointed federal health leaders have questioned the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and the long-standing processes for ensuring their safety. Funding for mRNA technology, which supports several COVID-19 vaccines and is being explored for use against other diseases and even some cancers, has been cut. And many of the claims used to justify these actions have been challenged by experts as inaccurate or misleading.

What this means for parents

For parents, the result is uncertainty about whether their children should be vaccinated, when and where the vaccines will be available, whether insurance will cover them, or whether their choice has effectively been made for them by newly appointed health leaders operating outside the guardrails of the normal vetting process. This uncertainty comes at a time when the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in children is already lower than that of other routine vaccines.

Public messaging around which vaccines are available and recommended is especially confusing this year.
Heather Hazzan, SELF Magazine

Currently, CDC guidelines say healthy children six months and older “may” receive a COVID-19 vaccine based on shared decision-making with their health care provider. The CDC recommends that children who are moderately or severely immunocompromised receive it. These guidelines differ from FDA approvals and Kennedy’s guidelines announced on X, and they have not been reviewed or voted on in an advisory committee on immunization practices meeting.

Parents can start by talking with their child’s pediatrician about benefits and potential risks, confirming eligibility and checking on insurance coverage. Pediatricians welcome parents’ questions and work tirelessly to provide answers grounded in the best available evidence so families can make truly informed decisions about their child’s health.

In some cases, unfortunately, even if parents want the vaccine and their pediatrician agrees, they may not be able to get it due to any number of factors, including local supply shortages, lack of insurance coverage, policies that prevent administration by pharmacists and other health providers without clear federal guidance, or an unwillingness of providers to give it “off-label,” meaning in a way that differs from the FDA’s official approval. For those parents, their decision has been made for them.

Reducing risks in other ways

Whether or not a child receives an updated COVID-19 vaccine, parents can still take steps to reduce illness, including keeping children home when sick, teaching them cough-and-sneeze hygiene and encouraging frequent hand-washing. The CDC provides national and state data on seasonal respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, while local public health websites often offer community-level information.

Parents should also remember that the COVID-19 vaccine is not the only thing to consider before school starts. Routine immunizations such as those for measles, mumps and rubella, known as the MMR vaccine; diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, called DTaP; and influenza are essential for keeping kids healthy and in school. These are widely available for now. This is particularly important, as this year the United States has experienced the highest number of measles cases in decades.

Uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, and potentially other vaccines, may worsen in the coming weeks and months. It is possible parents will continue to see shifting guidance, conflicting statements from federal agencies and reduced access to vaccines in their communities.

In this chaotic environment, parents can look to trusted sources such as their pediatrician or organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, which will continue to provide independent, evidence-based vaccine guidance.

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August 13, 2025
Climate changes sparks dengue rise in Pacific regions

More than 17 deaths reported in Pacific region due to dengue’s outbreak

Recently, the climate change crises have sparked a sharp rise in dengue fever cases across the Pacific Islands.

According to The Guardian, health experts indicate more than 16,502 confirmed dengue cases and 17 deaths, reported since January 2025.

The Pacific Specific Syndromic Surveillance (PSSS) and WHO reported that the dengue infection across the Pacific region is the highest since 2016 and Samoa, Fiji and Tonga are considered as the worst infected areas.

Director Science and Capability Pacific SPC, Mr. Paula Vivili said: “Due to climate change, transmission seasons are lengthening, and some areas are experiencing year-round dengue risk.”

Dengue cases reported across Pacific region:

Health expert reported more than 16,502 confirmed dengue cases and 17 deaths reported since the start of 2025.

According to Center of Disease Control and prevention CDC, Samoa has confirmed 6 deaths and 5600 dengue cases. Fiji recorded 8 deaths and 10,969 cases while Tonga has reported 3 deaths and over 800 dengue fever cases.

The report indicates that the disease infectants has hit their highest level in decade. These outbreaks underscore the region’s vulnerability to climate-sensitive diseases which are expected to intensify as global temperature rises.

According to Island Business IB times, a DOH epidemiologist informed there had been epidermic and emergency alerts issued in the pacific region as per the number of cases reported in July 2025.

CDC indicates, about half of the world’s population (4 billion approx.) live in high-risk dengue areas.

Anyone who lives in or travel there, is at a high risk of getting infected with this mosquito-spread infection.

Rising temperatures, rainfall and increased humidity have created ideal breading conditions for Aedes mosquito, the primary vectors for dengue fever and everyone living there should take precautionary measures to control the disease spread.

About dengue:

According to World Health Organization (WHO), a dengue is a mosquito-borne disease spread by Aedes mosquitos. Dengue is considered as a viral infection prevalent in tropical or sub-tropical regions, mostly in urban or semi-urban areas.

Dengue infection is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitos.

It majorly infects geographical areas with diurnal season or season variation. These areas possess climate changes like high temperatures, high humidity and frequent rainfall.

Symptoms and cure:

Dengue symptoms mostly appear within 4-10 days and last for 2-7 days. In some rare cases most people may experience little or no symptoms in the beginning.

Major symptoms of dengue viral infection include high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain and body rashes. Severe symptoms include bleeding nose and bleeding gums followed by persistent vomiting and extreme abdominal pain.

Although, dengue fever infection is reversible and patients start getting better within 1-2 weeks but some severe cases can be fatal.

WHO suggests that one can limit the risk of getting dengue by avoiding mosquito bites especially during the day.

Currently there is no specific treatment for dengue, people can only take pain killers and rest for few days to overcome weakness and severe cases they may get admitted in hospitals to keep them under observation.

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August 13, 2025
Boost health & cut emissions effortlessly

A UK university’s clever menu shuffle shows how small, invisible changes to dining options can drive big gains for both health and the planet, no new recipes required.

Study: Dish swap across a weekly menu can deliver health and sustainability gains. Image credit: Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

A weekly menu with 15 dishes across five days can be tweaked to produce hundreds of combinations that could yield healthier meals without excessively repeating foods or restricting customer preferences. The concept was tested in a UK university residence over two separate optimized weekly menus in four weeks, including about 5,000 meals. The results were published in Nature Food.

Introduction

Dietary health changes are notoriously difficult to sustain. Approaches to achieving long-term food choice shifts include educating and informing the target group, providing different food choices related to each food event, regulating some foods, like alcohol, by age of consumption, or providing positive or negative incentives for specific foods.

Education and regulation have proved more successful with habits like smoking and drinking than dietary changes, which require a more nuanced approach. Firstly, since food is key to maintaining life, interventions cannot emphasize cessation, such as smoking; instead, the goal must be to eat more healthy foods. Secondly, competition between different foods on the menu means that people choose one meal option and cannot eat alternative meals at that time.

The researchers note that this “competition structure” creates opportunities for strategic menu design to shift choices toward healthier and more sustainable options, while ensuring that everyone’s most preferred dish remains available. These principles were important in the current study.

Investigators aimed to observe the benefits of shuffling foods on a limited menu so that different (healthier) choices are available and chosen more often. This could potentially benefit about 42% of workers in the UK who have their meals at a canteen and over nine million schoolchildren who can eat at school canteens.

About the study

The current study was held in a UK university residence and covered about 5,000 meals for 300 students over four weeks. The aim was to see how changing the food-choice architecture impacted dietary health and sustainability regarding saturated fat intake and carbon footprint. If successful, it could also be extended to other environmental indicators and dietary health markers.

Simply swapping around the 15 dishes would yield over 1.4 million menu combinations. One vegan meal was included daily to meet most residents’ dietary requirements. This constraint removed 1,288,000 combinations from consideration, resulting in 113,400 feasible menu options. Differences in individual preferences were considered using data from 70 students, who ranked dishes in a computer-based two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) task before the intervention.

Two weekly menus were optimized from the feasible set of combinations according to the preferences of a representative consumer sample. The menus contained the same 15 dishes but in different daily combinations. These were then introduced as blind interventions. Data on meal selection were collected from the whole population of consumers. Since only population-level data were gathered, an inferential statistical test could not be performed.

This allowed researchers to calculate the total weekly carbon footprint (projected) and saturated fat intake.

Study findings

The current study analyzed ~5,000 meal selections, allowing for robust inferences.

Changing the food combinations around between the three daily meals, five days a week, led to inadvertent and significant reductions in the consumption of saturated fats by an average of 6.3% (week-by-week: 11.3% and 1.4%), while the carbon footprint of the food fell by an average of 30.7% (31.4% and 30.0% for the two weeks). When compared to the EAT-Lancet guidelines, the current study achieved 38% of the recommended reduction in carbon footprint by dish swapping, without requiring any changes in procurement or recipes on the producer’s side, or consumer preferences.

The approach was tested for generalizability by applying the optimization procedure to assess the change in four markers of environmental performance: carbon footprint, eutrophication potential, water use, and land use, concerning the dietary content of fiber, salt, sugar, and saturated fatty acids. In 31/32 cases, both outcomes improved, some by as much as ~70%. For example, the authors report a 69.2% increase in fiber intake while reducing eutrophication potential by 31.7%.

Overall consumer satisfaction did not change significantly after dish swapping, but the method used to assess this requires further work. Most importantly, the dishes themselves do not change. This tool’s simplicity lends itself to wider use in multiple sectors in the future, including canteens in educational and healthcare facilities. This plan can be used independently and alongside other strategies to ensure the dishes are novel and sustainable.

Conclusions

Meal swapping led to a 30.7% reduction in the carbon footprint and a 6.3% reduction in saturated fat intake. This indicates the positive effect on healthy eating and sustainability of the diet of users of this university canteen.

“This demonstrates the potential of strategic menu manipulation to benefit health and the environment, without the need for recipe changes.”

Further research could focus on maximizing profit and vegetable consumption while minimizing food waste and the distance between the producer and the table.

Scalability is a concern before this tool can be widely adopted. This would require software that allows catering staff to use it easily; training for these personnel to collect meal preference data from canteen users, and user-led quantification of their food’s nutritional and environmental effects. Alternatively, future versions might integrate with existing catering sales data to bypass separate preference surveys.

This might permit such systems to be used directly with catering organizational tools that provide such data. The outcome could help population groups to eat healthier diets and promote agricultural sustainability.

Download your PDF copy now!

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August 13, 2025
No armed groups allowed in Lebanon, president tells Hezbollah's ally Iran – Reuters
1. No armed groups allowed in Lebanon, president tells Hezbollah’s ally Iran Reuters
2. Lebanon rejects foreign interference, president tells Iran official Al Jazeera
3. Turkish Foreign Minister: Israel is working to stir chaos in Syria Arab News PK
4. Tehran-Baghdad Security Accord Provides Basis For Sustainable Security In Region: Iran’s Top Official – Iran Front Page – IFP News
5. Iraq calls for ‘6+2’ format meeting to address regional development and security AnewZ
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August 13, 2025
Australia progress to FIBA Asia Cup 2025 semi-finals with comfortable Philippines win

Defending champions Australia eased into basketball’s FIBA Asia Cup 2025 semi-finals with an 84-60 win over the Philippines at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, 13 August.

After racing to a 48-28 first-half lead, draining 7 of their 11 three-pointers in the opener, the men from Down Under looked in formidable form once again.

But their opponents, who went into the game off the back of a dramatic overtime comeback win over hosts Saudi Arabia in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals, put on a spirited display to take the third quarter and get back into the game.

The cheer was short-lived, however. Australia’s superior speed and size played a deciding factor in the fourth quarter, with the Philippines eventually succumbing.

Owen Foxwell and Jaylin Galloway topped the scoring charts for the Boomers with 15 points each, with five players hitting double figures in total for their team**.**

Kevin Quiambao was the Philippines’ biggest threat with 17 points and 4 rebounds.

Australia have yet to lose a single FIBA Asia Cup game since joining the competition in 2017, and will enter their final four showdown against the winner of New Zealand versus Lebanon in tomorrow’s quarter-final as the strong favourites once more.

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August 13, 2025
Britain, France and Germany threaten to reimpose sanctions on Iran as deadline nears

BERLIN — The top diplomats of Britain, France, and Germany threatened to reimpose sanctions on Iran as an end-of-the-month deadline nears for the country to resume negotiations with the West over its nuclear program and cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

The three countries, known as the E3, wrote in a letter to the United Nations dated Friday that they were willing to trigger a process known as the “snapback” mechanism, which allows one of the Western parties to reimpose U.N. sanctions, if Tehran doesn’t comply with its requirements.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Nöel Barrot posted the letter Wednesday to X. He co-signed it along with top diplomats from Germany and the United Kingdom.

“E3 have always committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon,” the letter said. “We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism.”

The letter comes following a period of apparent diplomatic deadlock after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, where Israeli and American jets struck some key nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic.

The countries met with Iranian officials last month in Turkey at Iran’s consulate building in Istanbul on the possibility of reimposing international sanctions, lifted in 2015 in exchange for Tehran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said at the time that he hoped that the meeting would see the E3 nations reassess their “previous unconstructive attitude.”

The Iranian government didn’t immediately comment Wednesday on the development.

Since the war, talks with Washington for a new nuclear deal haven’t resumed, and Iran has since suspended ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, following the attacks. The IAEA’s first visit to Iran since the war didn’t entail any visits to nuclear facilities Monday, and cooperation wasn’t officially restored.

One of the three countries opting to trigger the snapback mechanism would renew sanctions on Iran, but Tehran renewing cooperation with the Vienna-based IAEA and addressing concerns about its highly-enriched uranium stockpile would delay it, according to a diplomat who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity following July’s meeting in Istanbul.

Iran has had limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West and it is unclear how soon talks between Tehran and Washington for a deal over its nuclear program will resume.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Josef Hinterseher on Wednesday said that the letter “once again underlines that the legal preconditions for snapback have long existed.”

“Our position and our appeal is, very clearly, that Iran still has the choice of deciding to return to diplomacy … and full cooperation with the IAEA,” he told reporters at a regular news conference in Berlin.

U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA had assessed Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

The IAEA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

___

Kareem Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Geir Moulson contributed to this report from Berlin.

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August 13, 2025
NA passes ATA amendments allowing 3-month ‘preventive detention’ of terror suspects – Pakistan

The National Assembly on Wednesday passed an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, which reinserted powers granted to law enforcement authorities and the armed forces to detain “suspicious” individuals for up to three months.

Section 11EEEE (preventive detention for inquiry) of the ATA was amended in 2014, providing the government and authorised armed forces and civil armed forces with the authority to conduct preventive detention of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities. However, this amendment was subject to a sunset clause, limiting its validity to two years, which expired in 2016.

In November 2024, the government quietly introduced the bill in the NA, seeking to grant military and civil armed forces the authority to keep individuals facing terrorism charges in ‘preventive’ detention for up to three months.

The bill to amend the act was moved in parliament by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control, Talal Chaudhry.

In its statement of objectives and reasons, the bill read that Section 11EEEE was amended in 2014, and was designed to empower law enforcement agencies to pre-emptively address security threats by detaining suspects for a period not exceeding three months to conduct thorough inquiries

“However, this amendment was subject to a sunset clause, limiting its validity to a period of two years, which expired in 2016,” the bill read.

“Further, the current security situation requires a robust response that goes beyond the existing legal framework. The erstwhile amendment of Section 11EEEE of the act, ibid, are required to be re-inserted to empower the government, armed forces, and civil armed forces with the necessary authority to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security,” it added.

“This provision would allow for the preventive detention of suspects based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, thereby disrupting terrorist plots before they can be executed. This will also provide law enforcement agencies with the legal backing to conduct more effective operations against terrorism,” the bill read. “It would facilitate the use of Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs), composed of members from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to conduct comprehensive inquiries and gather actionable intelligence.”

According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, the House passed the bill through a clause-by-clause read. Earlier, the House adopted a motion to consider the bill with 125 votes in its favour and 59 against it.

A copy of the bill available with Dawn.com stated that in sub-section (1), the detention of a person arrested under Section 11EEEE, including detention exceeding three months, would be subject to the provisions of Article 10 (safeguards as to arrest and detention) of the Constitution.

The bill outlined an amendment to sub-section (1) of Clause 2 of Section 11EEEE, which reads as follows:

“The Government or, where the provisions of section 4 have been invoked, the armed forces or civil armed forces, as the case may be subject to the specific or general order of the Government in this regard, for a period not exceeding three months and after recording reasons thereof, issue order for the preventive detention of any person who has been concerned in any offence under this act relating to the security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, or public order relating to target killing, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion, bhatta, or the maintenance of supplies or services, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned, for purpose of inquiry.”

Meanwhile, in sub-section 2, the following amendments were proposed:

“In sub-section (2), for the proviso, the following shall be substituted, namely:
provided that where the detention order has been issued by the armed forces or civil armed forces under sub-section (1), the inquiry shall be conducted by the JIT comprising of a police officer not below the rank of superintendent of police, intelligence agencies, civil armed forces, armed forces, and other law enforcing agencies and for sub-section (2A), the following shall be substituted, namely: (2A) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall remain in force for a period of three years from the commencement of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2025.”

The bill also incorporated an amendment to sub-section 2 Section 11EEEE (preventive detention for inquiry) of the ATA — which is available with Dawn.com — which would grant the armed forces or civil armed forces the power to arrest a “suspicious person” for three months. The amendment was moved by PPP MNA Naveed Qamar.

“In clause 2, in paragraph (a), in section 11EEEE, in proposed sub-section (1), for the expression ‘a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists’, the expression ‘sufficient grounds exist’ shall be substituted,” Qamar’s amendment read.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said in the House that this law would only be used in specific situations.

“A clause is being added to the bill stating that there are solid reasons for arrest,” Tarar stated. “The arrested person will have to be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours [and] a clause has also been included to be enforceable for a specific period.”

Reacting to the passage of the motion to amend the ATA, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan noted that a similar law was brought previously and branded it a violation of “fundamental human rights”.

“The Supreme Court said these laws were contrary to fundamental rights,” Gohar said. “You cannot touch a single person in the world without a solid reason.”

PTI senior leader and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser assailed the bill and rejected it in his address.

“A new legislation has been passed, where you can be kept in prison for months without permission,” he stated. “These laws can be misused and will target political opponents.”

Qaiser stated that he only wanted peace and commerce in the country, warning that the Constitution was being “destroyed”.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman lamented that Pakistan’s anti-terrorism legislation against corruption and mismanagement made every citizen “inherently criminals”.

“A person is first arrested and then later proven guilty. There is no room for such legislation in the world,” he said.

“Terrorism has not stopped. I cannot even return to my village now,” he added.

“A guest in our area was told that extremists are in control outside. Legislation has made no difference, as this parliament has no importance. They create laws based on signals.”

Addressing NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Fazl told him that “parliament should not be taken hostage” in his presence.

He also called the National Action Plan a piece of “discriminatory legislation”, stating that he rejected it in the past and continued to do so.

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August 13, 2025
TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS HEADLINE PFL’S RETURN TO DUBAI ON OCT. 3

USMAN NURMAGOMEDOV VS. PAUL HUGHES FOR THE PFL LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

COREY ANDERSON VS. DOVLET YAGSHIMURADOV FOR PFL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

PFL CHAMPIONS SERIES: ROAD TO DUBAI – THE REMATCH TAKES PLACE FRIDAY, OCT. 3 AT COCA-COLA ARENA IN DUBAI

NEW YORK (August 13, 2025) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced a massive championship double-header for its return to the UAE, as two PFL World Title bouts will headline PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch on Friday, October 3, live from Coca-Cola Arena.

The biggest rematch in PFL history takes center stage in Dubai, as Dagestan’s undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov (19‑0, 1 NC) and Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14‑2) battle for the PFL Lightweight World Title in the main event.

In the co-main event, former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Corey Anderson (19-6) will face 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) for the PFL Light Heavyweight World Title.

In addition, three early card bouts have been confirmed, including a Heavyweight clash between former Iranian National Team wrestler Pouya Rahmani (4-0) and former Tunisian Olympic wrestler Slim Trabelsi (8-0), with both fighters looking to preserve their undefeated records.

A grudge match nearly seven years in the making is officially set, as Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) finally faces Artem Lobov (14-15-1) in Dubai. Originally booked to fight in 2018, the matchup was scrapped following the UFC 229 post-fight brawl and subsequent suspensions. On October 3, the two will finally settle their score inside the PFL SmartCage.

2024 PFL MENA Welterweight Champion Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) of Egypt will fight 2024 PFL Europe Welterweight Champion Florim Zendeli (10-1-1) of Albania in a battle of two PFL Regional Tournament winners who are both in the midst of multi-fight unbeaten streaks. Additional main card and early card bouts will be announced shortly.

Fans can register now for the pre-sale to exclusively buy tickets on Thursday, 14 August at 4:00 pm GST via this link. The pre-sale will be available for registered fans before the general sale on Friday, 15 August at 12:00 pm GST via www.coca-cola-arena.com.

This event further cements Dubai’s evolving role as a global MMA hub. It’s made possible through PFL’s multi-year partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Since its official launch in November 2024, the “Road to Dubai” campaign has brought a series of PFL global MMA events to the UAE, positioning the region as a centerpiece for elite combat sports. While the Road to Dubai Finale is scheduled for January, this October event is an additional showcase, designed to build momentum and further engage fans ahead of the finale.

“PFL Champions Series on October 3 in Dubai will be one of the biggest nights in PFL history,” said PFL CEO John Martin. “To have two PFL World Titles on the line, featuring four world-class athletes at the top of their game, shows exactly what makes the PFL different. This is more than just a fight card, it’s a global showcase of elite talent, compelling narratives, and the power of our international platform. Dubai is quickly becoming one of the sport’s true capitals, and there’s no better setting for a night of championship-level drama and the biggest rematch in PFL history.”

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes – PFL Lightweight World Title
The pair first met this past January in the very venue where they’ll clash again this October, delivering an instant Fight of the Year contender. The event sold out Coca-Cola Arena, with fans travelling from Russia and Ireland, creating a charged atmosphere for an electric five-round battle. While Nurmagomedov emerged victorious, the outcome sparked fierce debate among fans, many of whom felt Hughes had done enough for the win, setting the stage for a can’t-miss rematch between two of the world’s most elite Lightweights.

Fueled by the loss, Hughes came roaring back with a statement win, electrifying fans this May with a 42-second stoppage of Bruno Miranda in front of a sold-out crowd in Belfast. After the fight, he made his intentions crystal clear: “Usman Nurmagomedov! You can run and delay this rematch as long as you want, but your day is coming.”

Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov remains undefeated and is widely regarded as one of the most technically complete fighters in MMA. Competing in what many consider the sport’s toughest division, the 27-year-old champion’s resumé includes victories over elite opponents including former champions Patricky Pitbull and Benson Henderson, as well as Alexander Shabliy.

Corey Anderson vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov – PFL Light Heavyweight World Title
This Light Heavyweight World Title contest is also a rematch of their 2021 Bellator World Grand Prix Quarterfinal, where Corey Anderson earned a third-round finish over Yagshimuradov. Anderson went on to capture the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship and most recently handed 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov his first loss in nearly two years, stopping him last month at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – Cape Town.

Meanwhile, the pride of Turkmenistan has been on a tear since that defeat, riding a dominant seven-fight win streak, a run capped by a victory over Impa Kasanganay to claim the 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Title. Now, on Friday, October 3, these two champions will meet once again to crown the new PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion.

PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch Main Card:

Friday, Oct. 3
PFL Lightweight World Title Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) vs. Paul Hughes (14-2)
PFL Light Heavyweight World Title Co-Main Event: Corey Anderson (19-6) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1)

Early Card:
Heavyweight Showcase Bout: Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs. Slim Trabelsi (8-0)
165-Pound Catchweight Bout: Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) vs. Artem Lobov (14-15-1)
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August 13, 2025
Twice a day, Mars may briefly host water that could support life

Due to extreme temperatures and the dryness of Mars, it’s thought to be impossible for liquid water to form on the planet’s surface, a critical precondition for habitability. The only hope of finding liquid water appears to be in the form of brines, which are liquids with high concentrations of salts that can freeze at much lower temperatures. But the question of whether brines can even form on Mars has yet to be answered.

Vincent Chevrier, an associate research professor at the University of Arkansas’ Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, has been studying that question for 20 years and now thinks he knows the answer: ‘yes they can.’

His case for the existence of liquid brines on Mars was recently published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment.

Chevrier used meteorological data taken from the Viking 2 landing site on Mars combined with computer modeling to determine that brines can develop for a brief period of time during late winter and early spring from melting frost. This challenges the assumption that Mars is entirely devoid of liquid water on the surface and suggests that similar processes may occur in other frost-bearing regions, particularly in the mid-to-high latitudes.

Data from Viking 2, which landed on Mars in 1976, was used because, Chevrier said, “It was the only mission that clearly observed, identified and characterized frost on Mars.” Melting frost presents the best chance to find liquid brines on Mars, but there’s a catch: frost on Mars tends to sublimate quickly, which means it transitions from a solid to a gas without spending time in a liquid state due to Mars’ unique atmospheric conditions.

But by sifting through the Viking 2 data, combined with data from the Mars Climate Database, Chevrier was able to determine that there was a brief window in late winter and early spring when the conditions were right for the formation of brines. Specifically, there is a period of one Martian month (roughly equivalent to two Earth months) where the conditions were ideal at two points during the day: roughly in the early morning and late afternoon.

There is an abundance of salts on Mars, and Chevrier has long speculated that perchlorates would be the most promising salts for brine formation since they have extremely low eutectic temperatures (which is the melting point of a salt-water mixture). Calcium perchlorate brine solidifies at minus 75 degrees Celsius, while Mars has an average surface temperature of minus 50C at the equator, suggesting there could be a zone where calcium perchlorate brine could stay liquid.

Modeling based off known data confirmed that twice a day for a month in late winter and early spring there is a perfect window in which calcium perchlorate brines can form because the temperature hovers right around the sweet spot of minus 75 °C. At other times of day it is either too hot or too cold.

While Chevrier’s findings are not slam-dunk proof of brines, they make a strong case for their existence in small amounts on a recurring basis. Even if there were direct evidence of a calcium perchlorate brine detected by a past or future lander, it would not be in large amounts. Calcium perchlorate is only about 1% of the Martian regolith, and the frost that does form on Mars is extremely thin — far less than a millimeter thick. So it is unlikely to generate much water, certainly not enough to support human life.

But it doesn’t mean the planet couldn’t have supported life adapted to a much colder, drier planet.

Either way, Chevrier is encouraged to find that brines would form under established conditions and looks forward to further confirmation. He notes in the conclusion of his paper: “The strong correlation between brine formation and seasonal frost cycles highlights specific periods when transient water activity is most likely, which could guide the planning of future astrobiological investigations.

“Robotic landers equipped with in situ hygrometers [for measuring moisture content in air] and chemical sensors could target these seasonal windows to directly detect brine formation and constrain the timescales over which these liquids persist.”

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August 13, 2025