Veterinarian Dr. Shobhath Wijeratne has warned that the prevailing extreme heat conditions can lead to fatal consequences for pets.

Speaking to the media today (01), he stated that high temperatures can be particularly fatal for dogs and cats with dark coloured fur.

Dr. Wijeratne explained that extreme heat causes a rapid rise in animals’ body temperature, which they are unable to control, increasing the risk of fatal reactions.

He further stressed that pets should never be left inside parked vehicles under any circumstances.

“The current extreme heat affects different animals in different ways. The impact on domestic pets such as cats and dogs differs from that on farm animals, and pet birds are affected differently as well.

“When it comes to cats, they should not be taken outside, especially between 12 noon and 3 p.m. Leaving animals inside vehicles while going shopping is extremely dangerous. Black dogs, in particular, should not be exposed to such conditions. Even a one-hour journey between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. can cause their body temperature to rise uncontrollably, leading to serious illness or death.

“One thing you’ll see is that they are sticking out the tongue as much as possible and panting. Cats may show similar symptoms. In such cases, give it some ice, soak it in water, and seek immediate veterinary attention, as delays can be fatal.

“The cage where the pet lives can also become extremely hot. Covering the roof of cages can help reduce heat exposure. Especially Rottweilers or animals weighing over 40 kilograms, should not be kept under direct sunlight.

“Animals should not be muzzled during the day, and always keep water where the dog is. It is very important to keep an ice cube,” Dr. Wijeratne added.

Health officials say heat can be especially dangerous for pregnant women. David Schechter reports on how climate change is raising those risks.

Pakistan’s government has moved to put its excess electricity to work in a surprising way. It has set aside 2,000 megawatts of surplus power for Bitcoin mining and artificial-intelligence centers.

This decision aims to turn an energy glut into an economic boost. It comes as part of a wider plan backed by the Finance Ministry and pushed by the Pakistan Crypto Council.

Surplus Power Allocation

According to local reports, Pakistan’s grid often produces more power than it needs. Now, that extra juice will be sent to data halls and mining rigs.

The first phase kicks off immediately. It will feed AI centers and crypto farms. Officials say this move could draw in billions in foreign cash. It should also open up tech jobs in cities and towns across the country.

Pakistan’s Finance Ministry announced it will allocate 2,000 megawatts of surplus power to support Bitcoin mining and AI center development as part of its national digital transformation strategy. The government has introduced tax incentives to attract foreign firms, with several…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) May 25, 2025

Tax Breaks And Investment

Based on reports, the Finance Ministry has rolled out special tax breaks for AI sites. Bitcoin miners will also get duty exemptions on their gear. Already, foreign delegations have been touring Pakistan to see the setup.

They’re checking out potential deals for hardware, software, and data-center space. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told reporters that clear rules and perks will make Pakistan a top spot for tech investors.

Creating An Oversight Authority

The government is also setting up a Pakistan Digital Assets Authority. This new body will license and regulate exchanges, wallets, and token platforms. It will keep an eye on stablecoins, DeFi apps, and other blockchain services.

The digital assets body is even planning to “tokenize” national assets and public debt. In future, it could manage how surplus electricity is used for mining in a way that’s logged and audited.

Environmental Balance

Phase two of the plan brings a green twist. Officials promise to tap renewable sources, like solar and wind, for mining sites. That should help limit carbon emissions and ease public concerns.

Pakistan already faces air-quality issues in major cities. By steering mining operations toward renewables, the government hopes to cut fuel use at thermal plants and balance power needs.

In global rankings, Pakistan came in ninth on Chainalysis’s 2024 crypto adoption index. Based on Statista data, the country is on track to have over 27 million crypto users by 2025. That’s more than 10% of its 247 million people. These figures underline a fast-growing market of retail traders and institutional players alike.

Critics caution that high mining loads would overburden local grids unless properly managed. They also refer to price fluctuations of Bitcoin, which might transform a profitable scheme into a monetary bet.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the Northern, North-Central, North-Western, Western, Southern, and Eastern provinces, as well as the Ratnapura and Monaragala districts.

The heat index — the temperature felt by the human body — is expected to rise to the ‘Caution Level’ in several areas tomorrow, according to the Department of Meteorology.

“The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body”, said the Met Department in a statement.

The Department noted that prolonged exposure to the sun and outdoor activity will result in fatigue while continuing activity could lead to heat cramps.

Therefore, residents have been requested to stay hydrated and to limit strenuous outdoor activities.

For those who are pregnant, extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable. Studies show it can lead to serious complications for them and their unborn child, including pre-term births, miscarriages and stillbirths, and even increase the likelihood of one of the leading causes of death of pregnant women in the U.S. — homicide. Here’s what to know.

Americans are more at risk from the deadly effects of heat than ever before, a new study found.

Researchers from the Journal of the American Medical Association say there were 21,518 deaths from 1999-2023 where heat was either the underlying cause or the contributing cause of death, a possible underestimation, they say. In total, heat-related deaths have increased 117% since 1999.

The authors of the study, which was released Monday, used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to calculate the mortality rates.

While the number of heat-related deaths fluctuated year to year, there was a sharp uptick in the last seven years. According to the data, heat-related deaths increased by 16.8% per year from 2016 to 2023 – and researchers expect the numbers to continue climbing.

“As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the recent increasing trend is likely to continue,” the authors wrote.

Dr. Jeffrey Howard, co-author of the study and associate professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said a mix of factors contributed to the upward trend after 2016.

“It is likely that continued increases in average temperatures, the number of ‘hot days’ and the frequency and intensity of heat waves could be playing a role,” he said. “There is also a social and behavioral component as well, including differences in access to air conditioning, outdoor work, the number of unhoused individuals, and things like that.”

Last year was not only the hottest year on record but also the most deadly, with a total of 2,325 people dying from heat, the study found. Around 120,000 people were admitted to the emergency room for heat-related illnesses from January to December 2023, according to CDC data. Over 90% of those visits occurred during the peak summer months of May to September. 

Data from the study indicates that heat-related deaths were the highest in Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas.

“This not terribly surprising because we know that these are some of the hottest regions in the country, but it does reinforce that the risk varies regionally,” Howard said.

Rising temperatures due to climate change have led to record-breaking heat across the country in recent years. After recording the warmest July on record in 175 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on a call this month that there is a 77% chance that 2024 will be the hottest year yet.

The international community is also grappling with the deadly effects of heat. A recent study published in Nature Medicine estimated that 47,000 people died last year in Europe due to heat. 

Experts say the number of heat-related deaths in the U.S. and globally is likely an undercount. That has to do with the way that heat-related deaths are tracked.

“People may present to the Emergency Department or the hospital with a heart attack, stroke, asthma attack, or kidney failure, and heat is often not recorded in medical records as the underlying cause,” Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor, told CBS News earlier this month.

Howard said local and state officials, clinicians and researchers should take heed of the sharp increase in heat-related deaths in the last seven years and make adjustments to ensure deaths are counted properly.

“There is a still a lot of variability in the procedures for completing death certificates across all of the counties in the US, which could be enhanced with additional standardization,” he said.

As the temperatures climb each year, states are scrambling to put life-saving measures into place. The Journal of the American Medical Association authors recommend local governments invest in cooling centers, air conditioning and hydration centers to help people beat the heat. 

Other ways to protect against extreme heat, Dr. Gounder said, include taking advantage of state and federal tax credits for residential renewable energy installation projects, and making sure your home is properly insulated. 

On an individual basis, Dr. Gounder said she recommends cold showers and taking breaks in the shade if you’re outdoors.