Siasat Wala Blog

LONDON: AstraZeneca started late-stage trials on Saturday of an experimental long-acting monoclonal antibody combination drug it hopes could be used as a so-called prophylactic to prevent COVID-19 infection in at-risk people for up to 12 months. The Phase III international clinical trial will recruit a total of 5,000 people across countries in Europe and the United States to assess the safety and effectiveness of the antibody cocktail, known as AZD7442. The prophylactic treatment differs from a vaccine in that it introduces antibodies, rather than prompting the body’s immune system to make them. It may prove useful in people whose immune systems are weaker or compromised, and who don’t respond to vaccination. Separately, AstraZeneca is developing a COVID-19 vaccine in conjunction with researchers at Oxford University. In Britain, where the trials of the monoclonal antibody combination kicked off on Saturday, 1,000 participants will be recruited at nine sites, researchers leading th

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to bring an ordinance for pronouncing strict punishments to the rape convicts, ARY News reported on Saturday. The decision was taken in a session of the government’s legal team which was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan where he was given a briefing over the legal procedures to pronounce penalties to the rapists and regulations for the protection of witnesses. While addressing the session, PM Imran Khan said that the authorities will have to bring up a plan for curbing rape incidents and any delay in its legislation will be disastrous for the country. Sources told ARY News that PM Khan refused to give more time to the legal team for the lawmaking. He directed the legal team to work day and night to finalise the legislation. Read: Government to establish sex offenders’ database: PM Imran Khan The premier said that justice must be provided to the victims through the speedy trial of rape cases. The meeting was attended by Federal Mi

NAWABSHAH: Police in a raid at an alleged private jail recovered 32 peasants languishing in detention camp, ARY News reported on Saturday. Nawabshah’s B-Section and Baluja police station contingent conducted raid at an alleged private jail of an influential landlord, according to police officials. The peasants recovered from the private detention camp were produced in the sessions court, which ordered the police to release the recovered persons, police officials said. In previous month police had conducted raid at another private detention camp in Matiari district, which was constructed over a brick kiln in the area where the suspects had reportedly detained 15 persons forcefully. The suspects behind the private make-shift jail construction and the capture of 15 individuals were fled from the scene, the police said. Reports about bonded-labourers camps frequently surface in media in the past. Bonded labour has been outlawed in Pakistan and most other affected countries in line wi

Elderly women of a coastal village in Karachi have taken it upon themselves to conserve mangroves along the coastline, a step that can be essential in saving Karachi from the perils of rising sea-levels. Mangroves are popularly referred to as the ‘lungs’ of Karachi, a city that thrives along a coastline that is rapidly being damaged thanks to land reclamation. The shrub-like forests have long shielded Karachi from tidal floods and provided shoreline stability while also serving as a breeding ground for a variety of marine life. They have also provided villagers with firewood and fodder for livestock. However, the mangrove spread is rapidly declining; in the 1950s they covered an estimated area of 350,000 hectares and by the 1990s they covered just about 86,000 hectares. Now, the women of the nearby village of Kakapir are stepping up to the task. Talking to Hina Deedar for ARY News, 72-year-old Sughrana Haji shared how she has been working hard with other women of the village to con

MUZAFFARABAD: Complete lockdown will be enforced across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) from midnight tonight for fifteen days to curtail the spread of the COVID-19, ARY News reported on Saturday.  This decision came during a meeting of the AJK cabinet that met on Tuesday with Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider in the chair. The meeting was briefed that the coronavirus situation in the valley has worsened as Covid-19 positivity rate has gone up to 19 per cent. Traders in Mirpur staged a protest against the decision of the administration. They said that they incurred many losses during the initial lockdown, adding that they cannot afford to close their shops again. They said that they should be allowed to open their shops and ensure the implementation of all SOPs. Read more: Two AJK ministers tested positive with spike in COVID-19 cases There would be a complete lockdown in all AJK districts with a ban on weddings and other gatherings. All schools and businesses will remain shut durin

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly condemned the rocket attacks at Kabul city which resulted in the loss of precious lives and injuries to many, ARY News reported on Saturday. The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson said in a statement, “We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives and pray for the early and complete recovery of the injured.” “At a time when international community’s efforts towards Afghan peace process are moving forward it is important to be vigilant against the spoilers who are working to undermine the peace efforts.” Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We express our full solidarity and support for Afghanistan and its fraternal people, added the FO spokesperson. Earlier in the day, police officials said that several rockets hit residential areas in the early rush hour in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, killing at least three civilians and wounding a dozen more. The e

LAHORE: A banking court has issued arrest warrant of Nawaz Sharif’s cousins in the case related to defaulting on bank loans worth Rs700 million, ARY News reported on Saturday. The court ordered authorities to produce the accused including Shahid Shafi, Tariq Shafi, Javed Shafi, Ali Pervaiz and Ibrahim Tariq in the next hearing on November 27. The arrest warrant was issued by the court over their continuous absence in the hearings. Earlier on November 6, the banking court had summoned cousins of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on November 20 for indicting them, however, they did not show up. On September 24, a banking court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants to the accused of not complying with the orders in cases against them for allegedly defaulting on bank loans. Tariq Shafi, Javed Shafi and others had been nominated in the petition filed by the banks. It stated that the loans were not being cleared by the accused persons for many years. It sought orders for initiating l

LAHORE: The funeral prayers of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi have been offered today (Saturday) at Greater  Iqbal Park, ARY News reported. A large number of people belonging to various walks of life attended the funeral of TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi. The funeral prayers were led by Saad Hussain Rizvi, the son of Khadim Rizvi. Strict security arrangements were ensured to deter any untoward incident.  TLP chief Khadim Rizvi breathed his list on Thursday at the age of 54. According to the family sources, he had been suffering from longstanding ailments. Rizvi reportedly had a high fever and was admitted to Lahore’s Shaikh Zayed Hospital, confirmed the family. Read more: TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi passes away After Rizvi’s health deteriorated, he was taken to Sheikh Zayed Hospital where he was pronounced expired. Rizvi was born in Attock district on June 22, 1966. For his early education, he studied Hifz and Tajweed from a madressah in J

KABUL: Several rockets hit residential areas in the early rush hour in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, killing at least three civilians and wounding a dozen more, police officials said. The explosions, close to the diplomatic enclave, sent warning sirens blaring from embassies and it comes two days before a major donor conference for Afghanistan in Geneva. Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said three civilians had been killed in the attack and 11 wounded. But a health ministry official said five bodies and 21 injured were taken to the hospital from the incident. Arian said the attackers mounted the rockets in a small truck and set them off, adding that the investigation is going on to find out how the vehicle came inside the city. Some residents filmed when the rockets were firing and posted them on social media. Several pictures circulating on Facebook showed damaged cars and a hole in the side of a building. Afghan Taliban denied involvement in the atta

LAHORE: The police on Saturday pasted proclamation notice outside former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence over his perpetual absence from trial proceedings in an illegal land allotment case. An accountability court had issued a proclamation against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in an illegal land allotment case, last month. The DIG Operations Lahore said that Nawaz has been declared proclaimed offender by the court and the notice has been posted outside his house on the orders of the NAB court. He said that the police will present its report before the court on November 26. Read more: Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Nawaz Sharif in land allotment case Sharif is facing accusations of illegal allotment of land as the then Punjab CM to Mir Shakilur Rehman. On March 12, the National Accountability Bureau had apprehended Mir Shakilur Rahman in a case pertaining to the illegal exemption of 54 plots in Lahore. It is pertinent to mention here that Nawaz is currentl

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has said that the progress has been made on all four projects of the federal government including Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) under Karachi package, ARY News reported on Saturday. Asad Umar, while addressing a press conference along with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail today, said that the progress details of Karachi package will be presented before Prime Minister Imran Khan soon.  “We want to find out a permanent solution for maintaining the cleanliness of the main nullahs [of Karachi]. It is important to remove encroachments from nullah besides providing an alternative plan. The work for removing encroachments from nullah is continued in Karachi’s Mehmoodabad.” Asad Umar said that the Sindh government is taking part in the anti-encroachment operation. He said that the provincial government had announced the allocation of Rs700 billion funds for the metropolis. He questioned the government for not spending the funds

ISLAMABAD: The United States (US)  has expressed pleasure over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent visit to Afghanistan. The US State Department in its statement said it is pleasing to see Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Kabul to underscore Pakistan’s commitment to peace and to further cooperation with Afghanistan on security, refugees, trade, and regional connectivity. The statement further said that Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation contributes to the entire region’s stability. On the other hand, the European Union has also welcomed the Pakistani premier’s visit to Kabul and said that Islamabad can play its pivotal role in the solution of the Afghan conflict. Read more: US appreciates Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process On November 19, PM Khan visited Kabul at the invitation of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and discussed matters related to mutual affairs. Prime Minister Imran Khan had assured that Pakistan would fully support to end violence and establish durable peace

LAHORE: With an aim to further improve the law and order situation in the province, the Punjab government has decided to recruit 10,300 policemen, ARY News reports. The recruitment would be done in Punjab police and Baloch Levies, for which Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar has given approval. Vowing to recruit the policemen on merit, CM Buzdar said that 10,300 constables would be recruited in the Punjab police and 378 in Baloch Levies. The provincial government is taking every possible step to ensure law and order in Punjab, he said and added that the recruitment will help in improving the law and order situation in tribal areas of Rajanpur and DG Khan. Read more: Punjab govt lifts ban on recruitment in police Earlier this year, the Punjab government had lifted the ban on recruitments in the police department. According to details, the provincial govt had decided to recruit 300 policemen in the first phase. The move comes after Punjab Standing Committee on Finance approved a s

KARACHI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast first spell of winter rainfall in Karachi, ARY News reported on Saturday. The met office has predicted light rain or drizzle in the port city between November 23 to 25 after a westerly weather system will enter in Karachi on Sunday (Nov 22). Under the influence of this weather system the outskirts of Karachi will likely to receive light rainfall, according to the weather forecast. The westerly wave likely to bring drizzle for other areas, the met office said. The met office in a weather report predicted mostly cold and dry weather in most parts of the country on Saturday (today) and intense cold weather in mountainous regions while, fog is likely in few plain areas of Punjab during morning hours. Moreover, apart of cloudy weather in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, light rainfall and snowfall is expected at few places. The PMD recorded minimum temperature at Kalam and Leh with minus 12 Celsius,

KARACHI: An accountability court on Saturday framed charges against former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal and other accused in illegal land allotment reference, ARY News reported. Former Director-General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Iftikhar Qaimkhani, Fazalur Rehman, Mumtaz Haider, Nazir Zardari, Syed Nishat Ali, Mohammad Dawood, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Yaqoob are among the co-accused in the case. All accused pleaded not guilty and said in the court that they will contest the charges against them in the reference. The court issued notices to the witnesses of the accountability reference, and adjourned further hearing of the case till December 05. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), in the reference charged Mustafa Kamal and others of illegally allotting 137 plots on 5,500 acres of land near Sea View. He even gave permission to a private construction firm to construct a multi-storey building in the area, the bureau said in its chargesheet

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has expressed happiness over the start of construction work at the site of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) Karachi. In a tweet on Saturday, PM Imran said that SKMT Karachi will be the biggest cancer hospital in the country and it would be equipped with the latest machines. I have this great feeling watching construction start on SKMT Karachi. InshaAllah, it will be the biggest cancer hospital in Pakistan as well as being equipped with the latest machines. pic.twitter.com/e5TY3eF8aa — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 21, 2020 The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust is acting as a model institution to alleviate the suffering of patients with cancer through the application of modern methods of curative and palliative therapy irrespective of their ability to pay, the education of health care professionals and the public and perform research into the causes and treatment of cancer. The post SKMT Karachi will be country’s biggest cancer ho

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar has criticised the major opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), for insisting on holding a Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Peshawar amid COVID-19 threat, ARY News reported on Saturday. In his Twitter messages, Asad Umar said that PML-N led government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) announced two-week complete lockdown, whereas, PPP-led Sindh government imposed smart lockdown in four districts of Karachi. The federal minister added that both parties showed duplicity by insisting on holding a public gathering in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), despite observing the threats of the second wave of novel coronavirus across the country. مسلم لیگ نواز کی حکومت نے آزاد کشمیر میں 2 ہفتوں کے لئے، مکمل لوک ڈاؤن اعلان کر دیا. پیپلزپارٹی سندھ حکومت نے کراچی کے چار اضلاع میں سمارٹ لوک ڈاؤن کر دیا. لیکن دونوں جماعتوں کا اصرار کے پشاور جلسہ ضرور ہو گا. دوغلے پن کی ا

ISLAMABAD: Weekly inflation for the combined group during the current week recorded an increase of 0.24 per cent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). During this week, prices of 13 items were increased, 18 items recorded decrease and prices of 20 items remained constant. A report compiled by the PBS stated that prices of potatoes, tomatoes, eggs, chicken were increased during the current week, while items such as onion, sugar, pulses, flour, and petrol were decreased. Last week, the weekly inflation across the country recorded a decrease of 0.07 per cent due to a decline in prices of essential food items. Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had rejected the opposition’s propaganda over inflation during a meeting of the political committee. Read more: PM Imran Khan rejects opposition’s propaganda over inflation According to sources, the prime minister had directed the members of the economic team to highlight the successes achieved by the government on media. “A

The residents of a Chinese village in Sanyuan county of Shaanxi province left baffled over a ‘mutant’ cow born with five legs as its extra limb grew on its back. The footage showed the mutant cow, now eight months old, standing in a farmer, Mr Zhao’s house who has confessed that he was troubled by the birth of the mutant animal after some neighbours deeming it ‘unlucky’. According to the report, the cow weighed around 10 kilograms (22 pounds) when it was born and it now weighs around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) under the meticulous care of the owner. Mr Zhao told the reporter that the cow’s fifth leg had grown with the animal and could even move when he touched it. He said he was worried because more and more neighbours had heard about his cow and thought that it spelt back luck. Liu Beizhan, a local animal husbandry expert, urged the villagers not to panic and explained that the cow had a deformity called polymelia. Polymelia – in other words, extra limbs – is an extremely unco

KARACHI: In yet another shocking incident, a security guard in Karachi lost his life while making a video for the highly popular video-sharing social networking platform TikTok, ARY News reported on Saturday. The TikTok craze has overtaken youth in the country and they are not even hesitating in risking their lives for the videos. The incident was reported in Karachi’s area of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, where a security guard accidentally shot himself dead when he was making a TikTok video while pointing out a pistol over his head. Separately, a girl allegedly set the house on fire after elders prevented her from making TikTok videos. Read more: Beggar arrested by police turns out to be a TikTok star The Father of the girl, Aziz Ahmed Khilji, had lodged the first information report with the local police alleging his daughter set their house alight after he tried and stopped her from making videos for the short video sharing platform TikTok. The FIR on father’s complaint reads that upon

A mother of a deceased 19-month-old baby charged with murder after the death of her baby who died from scalds and thermal burns from exposure to hot liquid. The infant, Gracie Crowder, sustained severe burns which covered around 65 per cent of her body and its autopsy indicated that she died from ‘scalds and thermal burns from exposure to hot liquid.’ The incident took place at a home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in March where an alleged cocaine user, Katie Crowder, burned her baby with hot water, reported Crime Online . Image Courtesy: Dailymail UK Gracie was taken to the King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield with severe burns but was pronounced dead shortly after. The prosecutors told media that the mother spent around an hour cleaning up the scene before taking her daughter over to her grandparents’ home. Crowder’s mother, after looking at the baby’s injuries, reportedly asked Crowder, ‘what the hell have you done?’ ‘I don’t know, I found her like this,” Crowder resp

WASHINGTON: At least eight people including a child were injured in a shooting at a US mall Friday, according to local media, with victims rushed to hospital but no fatalities immediately reported. The FBI and the Milwaukee County Sheriff s office tweeted that their officers were on the scene at the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, supporting the “active” response by local police. It was not clear how many people had been wounded. Local media reported seeing at least three people being taken from the mall by stretcher. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said some people remained inside the mall on lockdown. None of the victims’ injuries appeared to be life-threatening, Wauwatosa Dennis McBride told ABC News, adding that the shooter was believed to be still at large. The Journal Sentinel said that the local medical examiner — which is called to scenes with deaths — was not at the mall, which is some six miles (10 kilometers) outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin s largest city. Wauwato

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,843 COVID-19 cases and 42 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, ARY News reported on Saturday. In the past 24 hours, 42 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 7,603. 1,389 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 371,508, whereas, the active cases stood at 34,974. A total of 42,752 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 328,931 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,141,403 samples have been tested thus far. The positivity rate has increased up to 6.6 per cent in Pakistan. 1,613 patients are in critical condition. The post 2,843 COVID-19 cases, 42 deaths reported in Pakistan: NCOC appeared first on ARY NEWS .

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Afghan peace process has entered final phase and negotiations are carried on in Doha as well, ARY News reported on Friday. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan was aiming to strengthen bilateral ties of Pakistan and Afghanistan as Islamabad will continue to assist Kabul for the establishment of peace. The foreign minister detailed that they held important sittings with the Afghan leadership to discuss enhancing multilateral economic cooperation between both countries. During the visit , Islamabad and Kabul have also held delegation-level dialogues, he added. Read: Peace in Afghanistan guarantees peace in region: PM Imran Khan Earlier on Thursday, Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said Pakistan apprised Afghanistan of its reservations regarding Indian-backed terrorism in the region. Speaking exclusively to ARY News, the foreign minister had said Pakistan registered its stance on regional terrori

BELGRADE: Patriarch Irinej, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, has died after contracting COVID-19, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday. Church bells tolled in Belgrade and many people flocked to the capital’s main St Sava cathedral to mark his death at the age of 90, a decade after becoming Patriarch. A conservative who wielded considerable political influence, Irinej was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus on Nov. 4 and had been in a military hospital in Belgrade since then. He tested positive after attending the Nov. 1 funeral of Metropolitan Amfilohije, the Serbian Orthodox Church’s senior cleric in Montenegro, who also died from COVID-19. “I was honoured to know you. People like you never depart,” President Vucic wrote on his Instagram account under a black and white photo of Irinej. In a statement, the Serbian Orthodox Church said the Patriarch “rested with the Lord” and that the public would be informed about the details of the funeral in due course. COVID-19

KARACHI: Four accused involved in serial attacks on Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Friday were handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on 10-day physical remand. The accused were produced before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) by the CTD. The investigation officer (IO) of the case informed the court that four accused were booked under illegal arms and explosives act. It was further stated that the accused were involved in attacks over Sindh Rangers in Karachi and Ghotki in the months of June and July this year. The accused were being funded by the Indian spy agency RAW, the IO said and demanded their remand. The court after granting 10 days remand of the accused adjourned the hearing. On July 19, a person was killed while six others sustained injuries in a cracker blast near the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh’s vehicle in Liaquatabad. According to rescue and police sources, the Rangers vehicle came under attack near an Ehsaas programme office in Liaquatabad. Consequently, a perso

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a notification for tax exemption on imports of 61 items used in the preparation of COVID-19 vaccines, ARY News reported on Friday. The federal cabinet had earlier given approval to exempt imports of 61 items used in the preparation of COVID-19 vaccine from taxes and duties on November 17. Sources told ARY News that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) took three days to issue the notification in this regards. Read: PM Imran okays funds for advance purchase of Covid-19 vaccine The tax exemption will ensure availability of necessary medical equipment to the hospitals besides expediting the preparation of the coronavirus vaccine and reducing its cost, sources added. According to FBR officials, the importers will be given tax exemption till June 30 – 2021 to bring in the essential items related to the medication of novel coronavirus. Earlier in the day, ARY News reported the lack of interest of the revenue board in duty-free imp

After the smashing success of  Dirilis Ertugrul,  another Turkish show suggested by PM Imran Khan is set to air on national television, as announced by PTI senator, Faisal Javed Khan.  Another Mehmet Bozdağ directorial,  Yunus Emre  will be aired soon on state-run TV. Taking to Twitter to announce the latest Turkish offing, Khan wrote, “#KnowingIslamicHistory. On the directions of PM ImranKhan, yet another hit by @mmehmetbozdag YunusEmre (AşkinYolculuğu) to be telecast on PTV.”  #KnowingIslamicHistory On the directions of PM ImranKhan, yet another hit by @mmehmetbozdag YunusEmre (AşkinYolculuğu) to be telecast on PTV. Yunus Emre (the Dervish) was an Islamic poet, a mystic & a poor villager.Story of a great Sufi wholly dedicated to ALLAH & searching.. — Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) November 19, 2020 He then went on to share some insight about who Yunus Emre was. “Yunus Emre (the Dervish) was an Islamic poet, a mystic & a poor villager,” he tweeted, addin

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has concluded its inquiry against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore Development Authority (LDA) plots allotment case, citing sources, ARY News reported on Friday. Sources said that the combined investigation team (CIT) forwarded the inquiry report to the director-general of the anti-corruption watchdog. The prosecution wing will give its legal opinion over the CIT’s inquiry report in the forthcoming regional board meeting. The complaint of misappropriation in allotment of LDA plots had been reported on April 3 – 2000 against then chief minister Nawaz Sharif as he allegedly provided an exemption for the plots with the nexus of LDA director general, sources told ARY News. Read: Progress made in assets case against ex-DG LDA Ahad Cheema The complaint stated that Nawaz Sharif allotted the plots among blue-eyed persons after ending the quota under 1986’s LDA policy which allows chairman for allotment of plots. The complaint ag

Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein has not contracted the novel coronavirus while in prison, his spokesmen said on Thursday, but he is being closely monitored due to a number of other health issues. Weinstein, 68, is serving 23 years in prison in New York after being convicted in February for sexual assault and rape. Weinstein, who pleaded not guilty at the trial, is appealing. His health became a cause of concern earlier this week when it was reported that he was running a high fever and was being tested for the virus, reported  Reuters. “We can report that Mr. Weinstein’s fever has dropped but is still being closely monitored. We can also report at this time that he does not have COVID-19,” Weinstein’s spokesman Juda Engelmayer and Craig Rothfeld, his health representative said in a statement on Thursday. The statement added that Weinstein’s health was being closely monitored for underlying health issues that include a heart condition, high blood pressure, and spinal steno

PESHAWAR: Amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the district administration has denied allowing Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold a public gathering on November 22, ARY News reported on Friday. The COVID-19 positivity rate in Peshawar has crossed 13 per cent mark and allowing public gathering in this situation will ultimately risk the lives of the people, the administration said in a letter dispatched to the PDM leaders. We cannot allow you [PDM] to hold a public gathering in the city, the letter read. The PDM had announced to hold a public gathering in Peshawar on November 22. On the other hand, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has rejected the district administration’s decision and vowed to hold the rally at anycost. PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi asked the people and jiyals to get ready for November 22 rally. Read more: Liaquat Shahwani holds PDM responsible for COVID-19 spread On Tuesday, the Khyber Pakhtun

South Korean megaband BTS released their latest album BE on Friday and will perform the new single Life Goes On  remotely for the 2020 American Music Awards on Sunday, the group’s music label said. The seven-member boy band is at the forefront of South Korean pop music and has helped build a global fan base for K-pop since their debut in 2013. This year, BTS notched their first-ever Number One hit single on the Billboard charts in the United States with Dynamite , which is also among the eight tracks on the new album. Group leader and rapper RM said the group’s next goal is to be nominated for a Grammy award. “We are nervous, but looking forward to the nomination,” RM told a news conference. Nominations will be announced on Nov. 24.  Jin, one of the lead singers, said the album BE reflected a year that has been both tragic and fortunate for the band, describing the success of Dynamite in the United States as “beyond our expectations”. SUGA, another rapper in the band, was unabl

KARACHI: Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on Friday rescued 16 stranded fishermen after their boat stuck in the open sea. The spokesperson said that the rescue operation was conducted after a boat with 16 fishermen on board capsized in the open sea from 95 nautical miles from Gwadar. Getting the information, the PMSA patrolling ship was tasked to rescue the stranded fishermen. The security agency successfully rescued 16 fishermen and shifted them to Gwadar. The stranded boat of the fishermen was also pulled to the Gwadar port by the PMSA boat. Last year in the month of October, the security agency had rescued nine Iranian fishermen along with their boat WAHIDI, who were stranded in open sea from 240 nautical miles from Gwadar. The spokesman of the PMSA had said that the Iranian fishermen had been stranding in open sea for last 12 days. He had said that PMSA’s ship KASHMIR, on the information given by Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, rescued the stranded fishermen. T

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a technical supplementary grant for the advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines, citing sources, ARY News reported on Friday. The Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh chaired a session of ECC today to discuss a six-point agenda including the allocation of funds for purchases of COVID-19 vaccines sought by the health ministry. The ECC members deliberated upon the six-month extension of payment of interest on loans acquired from G20 countries and the matter related to gas supply to Engro Fertilizers. The committee’s members approved gas supplies to Enro Fertilizers. Read: Health ministry seeks $150 million funds for COVID-19 vaccines Moreover, the committee granted permission to Punjab province for importing 340,000 tonnes wheat through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). Sources told ARY News that the committee allocated funds for the payment of salaries of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) worker

KARACHI: The fare for Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) train service has been reduced to Rs.30 from 50, ARY News reported on Friday. According to a notification issued by the Pakistan Railways, the fare for one-side has been fixed at Rs30. Furthermore, the passengers can travel free of cost via KCR train only for today (Friday). The Karachi Circular Railway train service between City Station to Pipri resumed on Thursday after a long wait of 20 years. The railways minister addressing the inaugural ceremony of Karachi Circular Railway had announced a cut in KCR fares from 50 rupees to 30 and a Rs750 ticket package for one month. Read more: Karachi Circular Railway partially returns to life The minister had said that Pakistan Railways has deferred Karachi Circular Railway resumption from Karachi’s City Station to Orangi section due to the issues of level crossings and the renovation of stations. “After 15 days the Karachi Circular Railway route would be further extended by 14 kilome

KARACHI: Health of Alisha, the four-year-old victim of gang rape in Kashmore, is improving at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), ARY News reported on Friday. Dr Jamal Raza said the chest tube has been removed from the child as she is rapidly recovering her health. “Alisha is feeling good now”, the doctor was quoted as saying. He added that a team of doctors will examine the child again today. Alisa was admitted to NICH in critical condition after being sexually molested. Read more: PM Khan announces to bring stringent anti-rape ordinance  On Nov 12, 2020, a mother and her four-year-old child girl were gang-raped in Kashmore district of Sindh. According to the reports, the woman and her daughter were subjected to rape and torture in Kashmore district of Sindh for four days. It may be recalled that it was ASI Buriro to whom the victim woman had reached out after her daughter was abducted, and acting swiftly, he allowed the woman to take his own daughter as to lure in

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination has sought $150 million funds from the federal government for advance booking of COVID-19 vaccines, ARY News reported on Friday. Sources told ARY News that the health ministry sent a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in which it sought allocation of $150 million funds for advance booking of COVID-19 vaccines. The summary stated that the purchases of the coronavirus vaccines will be made under Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) regulations and its payments will be made in foreign currency. Read: PM Imran okays funds for advance purchase of Covid-19 vaccine It added that Pakistan contacted Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for getting free-of-cost vaccines or its availability on discounted prices. It is expected to get vaccines from Gavi by the end of 2021. A session of ECC will be held under the chair of the finance advisor Abdul Hafeez Shaikh today where it is expected that the s