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NDMA issues new alert for heavy rain, storms across country

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ISLAMABAD:

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a nationwide weather alert, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and the possibility of flooding across Pakistan from July 6 to July 10.

According to the NDMA, cities in provinces will experience significant weather disturbances. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Lahore, Kasur, and Okara are expected to see rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms.

In southern Punjab, heavy winds with rain are predicted in Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is also at risk, with regions like Dera, Swat, Chitral, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Battagram, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Haripur, Bannu, and Kohat likely to see thunderstorms and heavy rain.

In the northern areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, heavy rainfall is anticipated in Skardu, Hunza, Astore, Diamer, Ganche, Shigar, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Rawalakot, Haveli, and Bagh, with a high risk of flooding in these regions.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are not exempt from adverse weather conditions. Cities such as Sukkur, Nawabshah, Kashmore, Hyderabad, Karachi, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Badin, Mithi, Ghotki, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Jacobabad, and Dadu are expected to receive heavy rain, with the urban flooding expected.

In Balochistan, areas like Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Barkhan, Jafarabad, Kohlu, Sibi, Dera Bugti, Loralai, Lasbela, and Naseerabad are on alert for rainfall.

Read More: Flash floods, heavy rain kill 64 in a week

The NDMA has cautioned the public to stay away from weak structures, brick walls, electric poles, and billboards during storms and heavy winds, as they pose a significant risk.

It also warned that visibility could be reduced, leading to potential accidents. Flash floods may occur, especially in local streams, so the public is advised to exercise caution.

“Authorities have been instructed to ensure preparedness for any emergency situations,” an NDMA spokesperson said. “Citizens are encouraged to use the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App for updates and guidance on the weather conditions and potential hazards.”

As Pakistan braces for severe weather, the NDMA is urging citizens to stay informed and follow safety guidelines to minimise the risk of casualties and damage from storms, flooding, and other weather-related hazards.

Also Read: Construction along Swat River diverted water flow, leading tourists into danger: report

Flash floods and heavy rain have killed 64 people and injured 117 in a week across the country, a government agency said on Wednesday.

The highest toll was in K-P, with 23 dead including 10 children, the National Disaster Management Authority said. Fourteen of the victims were swept away in a flash flood in the Swat Valley last week, local media reported.

Flash floods and homes collapsing in heavy rain killed 21 others in the eastern province of Punjab, including 11 children, the authority said. In Sindh, 15 were killed, while five people died in southwestern Balochistan.

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July 3, 2025
Gulf markets rally as non-oil growth, US-Vietnam tariff deal lift investor sentiment

Major Gulf stock markets rebounded on Thursday, supported by steady non-oil private sector growth and renewed investor optimism following a trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam, just ahead of the July 9 tariff deadline.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a deal with Vietnam on Wednesday imposing a 20% tariff on exports to the United States — significantly lower than the previously threatened 46%. The move gave markets reason to hope the impact of the tariffs on global trade may be less severe than initially feared.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index rose 1%, reaching its highest level in over a month, with almost all constituents posting gains. Saudi National Bank, the kingdom’s largest lender by assets, surged 4.1%, while oil giant Saudi Aramco added 0.9%.

BlackRock Inc. was reportedly in talks with Aramco to divest its stake in the leasing rights of a natural gas pipeline network — a deal potentially worth billions of dollars, according to Bloomberg. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

Retailer Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Hokair & Co. was the day’s top performer, jumping 9.9%, followed by Saudi Telecom, which rose 1.2%.

Market optimism was also fueled by strong domestic data. Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector expanded at its fastest pace in three months in June, according to a new survey. The seasonally adjusted Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 57.2 from 55.8 in May, remaining well above the 50-point growth threshold.

Dubai’s main index gained 1.4% to close at 5,748 — its highest in 17 years — with most sectors trading in positive territory. Emaar Properties climbed 3.7%, while tolls operator Salik advanced 3.4%.

In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark index rose 0.6%, supported by gains across sectors. Presight AI surged 6%, reaching its highest level in nearly two years, while Space42 rose 4.3%.

The UAE’s non-oil private sector also expanded steadily in June despite regional tensions, as companies ramped up output to clear backlogs, according to a separate survey released Thursday.

Qatar’s main index added 0.6%, lifted by a 0.5% gain in Qatar National Bank.

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July 3, 2025
Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2025: Pamir Legends vs Mahipar Stars; Hindokush Strikers vs Maiwand Champions

Here are the Fantasy Cricket Predictions and Betting Tips for Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2025, Match 9 – Pamir Legends vs Mahipar Stars and Match 10 – Hindokush Strikers vs Maiwand Champions on the 4th of July at the Kunduz Cricket Ground, Kunduz.

Points Table

Match 9 – Pamir Legends vs Mahipar Stars (Kunduz Cricket Ground, Kunduz)

Current Form Pamir Legends:
Pamir Legends are currently placed at the 3rd position on points table with 2 wins and 2 losses to their credit.

The top run scorer for Pamir Legends in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Mohammad Haroon with 140 runs to his name.

The top wicket taker for Pamir Legends in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Sayed Shirzad with 7 scalps under his belt.
Pamir Legends have won their previous match against Maiwand Champions by 3 wickets.

Maiwand Champions batted first and they posted a total of 163 for 8 in 20 overs. Wasim Akram and Shawkat Zaman got out without troubling the scorers much. After their dismissals, Khalid Taniwal and Abdul Hadi played really well and scored 39 and 50 runs respectively. The rest of the batters failed to perform to their potential and Maiwand Champions had to settle for an ordinary total of 163 in their innings.

During the chase, Pamir Legends lost their premier batter Mohammad Haroon early on in the innings. After his dismissal, Wafiullah took the responsibility of taking Pamir Legends over the line. He smashed 76 runs off 39 balls and laid out a great foundation for a successful chase. There were hiccups on the way but Pamir Legends chased the target down in the last over with 3 wickets in hand.

Batting Stats T20

Current Form Mahipar Stars:

Mahipar Stars are currently placed at the 2nd position on points table with 2 wins and 2 losses to their credit.

The top run scorer for Mahipar Stars in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Mohammad Shahzad with 131 runs to his name.

The top wicket taker for Mahipar Stars in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Saleem Safi with 8 scalps under his belt.
Mahipar Stars have lost their previous match against Hindokush Strikers by 4 wickets.

Mahipar Stars batted first and they posted a total of 144 before being bowled out. Hazaratullah Zazai batted well and scored 25 quick runs but he got out at a wrong time. After his dismissal, the whole team struggled. Yama Arab bowled exceptionally well for Hindokush Strikers as he picked up 2 wickets for just 14 runs. He played a major role in bowling Mahipar Stars out for a small total of 144.

During the chase, Hindokush Strikers got off to a great start. Their openers Mobin Bakhtyar Khan and Zubaid Akbari played like champions and scored 18 and 47 runs respectively. Even after their dismissals at a wrong time, the other middle order batters kept the ship from sinking. Tariq Stanikzai made 27 important runs as Hindokush Strikers won the game on the last ball of the match with 4 wickets in hand.

Let’s have a look at the squads:

Mahipar Stars

Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad, Hamza Khan Alikhil, Usman Sadaat, Naveed Obaid, Shir Khan Bahadur, Allah Noor, Sediq Pacha, Javid Sulaimankhil, Shamsurrahman, Farmanullah Safi, Khalil Gurbaz, Qamar Shams, Mohammad Ibrahim, M Saleem Safi, Aftab Alam, Mohib Zurmatai

Pamir Legends

Nangyal Kharoty, Noor Rahman, Murad Muradi, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Haroon Khan, Barakzai Naseri, Bilal Ahmad, Emal Shaheen, Rahmanllah Zadran, Asif Shah, Mohib Hamraz, Mohammadullah, Arab Gul Momand, Lalbaz Sinzai, Sayed Shirzad, Kamil Kakar, Bilal Sami

Match Prediction – Pamir Legends v Mahipar Stars

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

Who will win the toss? – Mahipar Stars

Who will win?– Mahipar Stars

Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Aaif Shah Khan (Pamir Legends), Hazaratullah Zazai (Mahipar Stars)

Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Bilal Sami (Pamir Legends), Khalil Gurbaz (Mahipar Stars)

Most Sixes – Aaif Shah Khan (Pamir Legends), Hazaratullah Zazai (Mahipar Stars)

Player of the Match– Hazaratullah Zazai (Mahipar Stars)

Team Scores Batting first – Pamir Legends 165+, Mahipar Stars 170+

Match Handicap : Mahipar Stars

Wicket Takers T20

Match 10 – Hindokush Strikers vs Maiwand Champions (Kunduz Cricket Ground, Kunduz)

Current Form Maiwand Champions:

Maiwand Champions are currently placed at the bottom most position on points table with 4 losses to their credit.

The top run scorer for Maiwand Champions in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Samiullah Shinwari with 93 runs to his name.

The top wicket taker for Maiwand Champions in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Khalel Ahmad with 5 scalps under his belt.
Maiwand Champions have lost their previous match against Pamir Legends by 3 wickets.

Maiwand Champions batted first and they posted a total of 163 for 8 in 20 overs. Wasim Akram and Shawkat Zaman got out without troubling the scorers much. After their dismissals, Khalid Taniwal and Abdul Hadi played really well and scored 39 and 50 runs respectively. The rest of the batters failed to perform to their potential and Maiwand Champions had to settle for an ordinary total of 163 in their innings.

During the chase, Pamir Legends lost their premier batter Mohammad Haroon early on in the innings. After his dismissal, Wafiullah took the responsibility of taking Pamir Legends over the line. He smashed 76 runs off 39 balls and laid out a great foundation for a successful chase. There were hiccups on the way but Pamir Legends chased the target down in the last over with 3 wickets in hand.

Current Form Hindokush Strikers:

Hindokush Strikers are currently placed at the 1st position on points table with 4 wins to their credit.

The top run scorer for Hindokush Strikers in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Zubaid Akbari with 133 runs to his name.

The top wicket taker for Hindokush Strikers in the Afghanistan National T20 Cup is Dawlat Zadran with 6 scalps under his belt.

Hindokush Strikers have won their previous match against Mahipar Stars by 4 wickets.

Mahipar Stars batted first and they posted a total of 144 before being bowled out. Hazaratullah Zazai batted well and scored 25 quick runs but he got out at a wrong time. After his dismissal, the whole team struggled. Yama Arab bowled exceptionally well for Hindokush Strikers as he picked up 2 wickets for just 14 runs. He played a major role in bowling Mahipar Stars out for a small total of 144.

During the chase, Hindokush Strikers got off to a great start. Their openers Mobin Bakhtyar Khan and Zubaid Akbari played like champions and scored 18 and 47 runs respectively. Despite their dismissals at wrong time, the other middle order batters kept the ship from sinking. Tariq Stanikzai made 27 important runs as Hindokush Strikers won the game on the last ball of the match with 4 wickets in hand.

Most 6’s T20

Let’s have a look at the squads:

Hindokush Strikers
Mohammad Ishaq, Mobin Khan, Zubaid Akbari, Hassan Esakhil, Kamal Khan, Asif Mosazai, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Sohail Khan, Tariq Stanikzai, Abdullah Tarakhil, Izharulhaq Naveed, Azeem Zadran, Lutfullah, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Dawlat Zadran, Yama Arab, Faridoon Dawoodzai

Maiwand Champions

Najibullah Zadran, Yousaf Shah, Abdul Hadi, Mohammad Akram, Khalid Taniwal, Imran Mir, Shawkat Zaman, Ijaz Ahmad, Samiullah Shinwari, Ismat Alam, Babar Khan, Naseer Maroofkhil, M Gul Alizai, Khalil Ahmad, M Dawood, Sami Sarmast, Bashir Ahmad

Match Prediction – Hindukush Strikers v Maiwand Champions

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

Who will win the toss? – Maiwand Champions

Who will win?– Hindokush Strikers

Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Zubaid Akbari (Hindokush Strikers), Abdul Hadi (Maiwand Champions)

Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Yama Arab (Hindokush Strikers), Mohammad Gul Alizai (Maiwand Champions)

Most Sixes – Zubaid Akbari (Hindokush Strikers), Abdul Hadi (Maiwand Champions)

Player of the Match– Yama Arab (Hindokush Strikers)

Team Scores Batting first – Maiwand Champions 140+, Hindokush Strikers 150+

Match Handicap : Hindokush Strikers

Live Cricket Streaming Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2025 : The live cricket streaming page which enables you to watch live cricket – Geo-restrictions apply

*NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In-Play’ features, so stay tuned.

© Cricket World 2025

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July 3, 2025
Lando Norris reflects on his Silverstone chances and why he and Piastri are doing things their ‘own way’

A roar reverberates around Trafalgar Square as Lando Norris comes into view on a temporary balcony, erected as part of McLaren’s takeover of one of London’s most famous sites.

The place is swarming with papaya fans, who have spent the day soaking up the summer sun and showing their support for the British team.

Norris waves to the crowd and humbly takes the applause and cheers. It’s an example of just how far Norris has come from a shy, little baby-faced teenager who walked in the doors of McLaren’s domineering headquarters in Woking as a junior driver in 2017 to the iconic F1 team’s lead driver and genuine championship contender. It’s been a journey – and now, as is evidenced again today, he’s a big deal.

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July 3, 2025
Kanye West’s Australian visa revoked over ‘Heil Hitler’ song

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will no longer be able to enter Australia after releasing a song that praises Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Tony Burke, Australia’s home affairs minister, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Wednesday that the country had canceled his visa in early May, around the time “Heil Hitler” was released.

Ye has visited the country frequently since marrying Bianca Censori, who is from Melbourne.

“If someone argued that antisemitism was rational, I would not let them come here,” Burke said. “[Ye] has been coming to Australia for a long time … and he’s made a lot of offensive comments.”

The song proved to be the final strike for Ye. First shared in a social media post on X, “Heil Hitler” as been widely denounced for its racial epithets and antisemitism. It was also subsequently banned on most streaming platforms.

In the song, Ye sampled an infamous speech made by Hitler in 1935 at Krupp Factory, two years after he was appointed chancellor of the Nazi party.

Its music video, released May 8, shows a group of individuals dressed in animal skins reciting the song’s lyrics.

Ye’s behavior has long been controversial, but his antisemitism in recent years has put former colleagues in an awkward position.

John Legend, whose 2013 effort “Love in the Future” was executive produced by Ye, had a clear response in a recent interview.

“It never affects me personally, but just the whole story is sad. Like, seeing this guy praise Hitler, seeing this guy be this force of hate and just vitriol and nastiness,” Legend said during an appearance on New York’s Hot 97 radio show. “All the things he’s done to make the world more beautiful and interesting, for him to be this now, it’s sad. It’s just sad.”

He clarified that during his time on Ye’s G.O.O.D. Music label between 2004 and 2016, he never saw evidence that the rapper was “obsessed with Hitler.”

Legend added that despite Ye’s recent behavior, he has no regrets over their past collaborations: “I’m so glad we did what we did together.”

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July 3, 2025
Long-term study confirms lasting benefits of lifestyle changes in preventing diabetes

In the early 2000s the U.S. Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large randomized clinical trial, showed that intensive lifestyle modification was better than a medication called metformin at preventing at-risk patients from developing Type 2 diabetes.

In a newly completed follow-up study, a team of researchers including Vallabh “Raj” Shah, professor emeritus in The University of New Mexico Departments of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine, found that the health benefits from the lifestyle intervention persisted more than 20 years later.

In a paper published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, they reported that the greatest results from both interventions were seen in the first few years of the study, and they were durable, Shah said. “The data suggests that those people who didn’t get diabetes also didn’t get diabetes after 22 years,” he said.

The DPP was launched in 1996 to compare the benefits of metformin – then newly approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes – and a lifestyle modification regimen that included exercise and a healthy diet. The study enrolled 3,234 patients with prediabetes at 30 institutions in 22 states.

The intensive lifestyle intervention reduced the development of diabetes by 24%, and metformin reduced diabetes development by 17%, according to the new study. The DPP had previously found that after the first three years of study, the lifestyle intervention of moderate weight loss and increased physical activity reduced the onset of Type 2 diabetes by 58% compared with a placebo medicine, while metformin reduced development of diabetes by 31%.

Compared with the original placebo group, the median time without diabetes was extended by three-and-a-half years in the lifestyle group and two-and-a-half years in the metformin group.

Within three years, they had to stop the study because lifestyle was better than metformin. That means lifestyle, which everybody is banking on, is more effective – that is the news.”

Vallabh “Raj” Shah, professor emeritus in The University of New Mexico

But because a wealth of health and biological data had already been collected for patients participating in the project, the DPP was repurposed into the DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS), enabling researchers to follow their health outcomes in multiple domains over a period of decades, he said.

Shah has contributed to kidney disease research for more than three decades, conducting multiple studies at Zuni Pueblo and other American Indian communities in western New Mexico. He has also overseen the participation of the American Indian cohort enrolled in the DPPOS. Meanwhile, David Schade, MD, chief of the Division of Endocrinology in the UNM School of Medicine, recruited New Mexico participants in the study.

More recently, he said, DPPOS researchers have taken advantage of their large, well-documented cohort to repurpose the study to focus on diseases associated with aging, such as cancer and dementia, Shah said.

Source:

University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Journal reference:

Knowler, W. C., et al. (2025). Long-term effects and effect heterogeneity of lifestyle and metformin interventions on type 2 diabetes incidence over 21 years in the US Diabetes Prevention Program randomised clinical trial. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. doi.org/10.1016/s2213-8587(25)00022-1.

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July 3, 2025
B&B Cocktail from Homemade Live

On Episode One of Season Three of Homemade Live, Chef Joel Gamoran visits with legendary chef and TV host, Lidia Bastianich. Building on the versatility of turkey, Chef Gamoran makes a B&B cocktail that features turkey broth.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

● 1 cup turkey broth (homemade or low-sodium for best flavor)
● 3 ounces bourbon
● 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce (choose a rich, flavorful brand)
● 2 dashes vinegar-based hot sauce
● ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
● 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional, for spice)
● Wheels of lemon, fresh ginger, or pickled vegetables for garnish, as desired

TO PREPARE

STEP ONE. Warm the turkey broth in a small saucepan over low heat until just warm to the touch.

STEP TWO. Add 1½ oz bourbon to each mug and top with with Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, celery salt, lemon juice, and cayenne (if using).

STEP THREE. Add ½ cup of warm broth to the mug and stir. Garnish as you wish.

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July 3, 2025
Czech mountaineer dies while summiting Nanga Parbat

First woman climber from the Czech Republic Kolouchova Klara reportedly dies during expedition of Nanga Parbat. — Reporter

CHILAS: Kolouchova Klara, a climber from the Czech Republic, lost her life while summiting Nanga Parbat after falling from a height between Camp 1 and 2, according to a Diamer official.

Klara Kolouchova, 46, was part of a seven-member expedition team, including her husband, that had arrived in Pakistan on June 15 and reached base camp two days later.

Diamer Additional Deputy Commissioner Nizamuddin said Klara teammates confirmed her death after returning to base camp, but her body remains at the fall site.

He said efforts are underway to confirm the exact spot where the mountaineer fell before starting a recovery operation.

According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the incident occurred around 4am local time.

Rescue officials and high-altitude porters have been dispatched to the area, though recovery efforts are complicated by the mountain’s extreme terrain.

Karrar Haidri, vice president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, expressed deep sorrow over the Czech climber’s death, calling her an “inspiration to climbers worldwide”.

“We are devastated by the loss of Klára Kolouchova, an extraordinary mountaineer who had conquered some of the world’s highest peaks,” Haidri said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and the global climbing community during this painful time.”

Haidri confirmed that the Alpine Club was coordinating with local authorities to assist in recovery efforts.

Kolouchová gained international recognition as the first Czech woman to summit both Everest and K2, two of the world’s tallest peaks.

Her attempt on Nanga Parbat — Pakistan’s second-highest mountain at 8,125 meters — was part of her quest to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks.

Nanga Parbat is the third-most dangerous 8,000-meter peak, with a death rate of around 22% of climbers. The “Killer Mountain” — as it is titled — has claimed more than 60 lives.

It is one of the most prominent peaks of the Himalayas range after Mount Everest. Nanga Parbat has a big vertical relief over the local terrain in almost all directions.

Its south ‘Rupal face’ is referred to as the highest mountain face in the world, which rises 4,600m (about 15,090 ft) above sea level. It’s North ‘Rakhiot Flank’ is one of the 10 greatest elevation gains in such a short distance on earth. It rises 7,000m (about 23,000 ft) above sea level.

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July 3, 2025
Transatlantic Dialogue: Climate and Health Impacts in Situations of Vulnerability (4th session) – PAHO/WHO
REGISTER HERE

On July 16, 2025, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am (Washington DC time or EDT), join us on the Transatlantic Dialogue on Climate and Health Impacts in Situations of Vulnerability, the fourth in a series of a joint initiative by WHO/Europe and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

This 4th session focuses on climate change and health equity, and will provide input to develop a summary for policy-makers on advancing health equity-oriented approaches for climate action for Member States on both sides of the Atlantic.

This Dialogue aims to:
- Share knowledge on the differential impacts of climate change among population groups across countries and regions, including exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity.
- Exchange experiences on successful interventions that integrate health equity in climate action while acknowledging common and region-specific challenges.
- Foster a collaborative dialogue and stimulate further collaboration towards actionable policy recommendations and strategies that integrate a health equity lens.
How to participate
- WHEN: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
- TIME: 9:00 a.m. (Washington, D.C., EDT), 3:00 pm (Geneve, Madrid)
- LANGUAGES: Spanish and English
Context

Climate change has become an undeniable driver of adverse health outcomes worldwide, with evidence mounting on its multifaceted impacts. However, the burden of climate-related health risks is not evenly distributed. Populations more likely to be affected are those exposed to higher risks due to social, economic and environmental factors, including socioeconomic deprivation, geographic location and occupational exposure.

Populations in situations of vulnerability (as well as children, pregnant women, older adults, ethnic minorities and those living in low-lying coastal or flood-prone areas) face disproportionate impacts, compounded by social determinants that limit their capacity to cope and adapt. This differential vulnerability underscores the critical importance of integrating health equity into climate and health action. Despite increasing awareness of these disparities, most climate–health initiatives have focused broadly on population-wide impacts, often neglecting the specific needs of populations and territories in situations of vulnerability.

Therefore, there is a necessity to take an equity-based approach, ensuring that adaptation, mitigation and resilience-building efforts explicitly address social inequities, leaving no one behind.

Agenda

Opening remarks

Dr. Jarbas Babosa. Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Introduction to the Transatlantic Dialogue on climate change and health impacts in situations of vulnerability

Karen Polson. Climate change and health advisor, PAHO

Panel 1: Evidence of differential impact of climate change among population groups

Gabriele Bolte. WHO Collaborating Centre on Environmental Health Inequality, University of Bremen, Germany
Ana Diez Roux. Director of the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University, USA/Salud Urbana en Americana Latina (SALURBAL) Climate Project

Modera: Sinaia Netanyahu, Program Manager, European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe

Questions and Answers

Panel 2: Climate action with an equity lens

Francesca De’Donato. Senior Researcher, Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
Ida Knutsson, Analyst, Unit of Environmental Health, Public Health Agency of Sweden
Representative of the Government of Brazil (TBC)
Representantive of Health Canada (TBC)

Modera: Gerry Eijkemans. Director. Department of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity, PAHO

Questions and Answers

Discussion on future challenges and opportunities

Gerardo Sanchez. Expert on Environment, Health and Wellbeing, European Environment Agency
Ashley Lashley. Climate Change Youth Advocate, Executive Director, Ashley Lashley Foundation

Modera: Matthias Braubachm. WHO Regional Office for Europe

Questions and Answers

Closing remarks

Daniel Buss. Unit Chief, Climate Change and Environmental Determinants of Health, PAHO
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July 3, 2025
India reinstates geo-blocks on Pakistani celebrity accounts

This latest move follows the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ recommendation to block 16 Pakistan-based YouTube channels after the recent act of terrorism in Pahalgam.

The Ministry alleged that these channels spread communally sensitive and provocative content as well as false information that targets India, its security agencies and armed forces. Besides the YouTube channels, social media profiles of numerous public figures from Pakistan, including actors Saba Qamar, Mahira Khan, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, Danish Taimoor, Fawad Khan, Hania Aamir, and Mawra Hocane remain geo-blocked in India.

Moreover, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has told Indian OTT platforms, digital intermediaries, and media streaming services to stop distributing web series, songs, podcasts, films, and other media content hailing from Pakistan. The Ministry’s advisory mentioned national security as the primary concern.

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July 3, 2025