Muslim scholars belonging to different schools of thought on Monday prayed inside a church of Peshawar in a show of solidarity with the Christian community. The act was done to show support for Pastor William Siraj, who was gunned down a day earlier. Special Representative to PM on Religious Affairs Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said that PM Imran Khan was personally overseeing the matter.
Despite all the perks enjoyed by Pakistan army officers, the recent hike in electricity tariff has forced the General Headquarters (GHQ) to ask for rebate on electricity bills. Quarter Master General of the General Headquarters (GHQ) has approached the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) through the Ministry of Defense, seeking a complete 50% rebate on electricity bills for all commissioned officers.
After being sealed for a considerable time, Monal Restaurant might now be turned into a Wildlife Educational Centre. The Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has prepared a proposal to establish this centre in order to raise awareness about protection and preservation of Margalla Hills National Park. The climate change ministry has lauded the decision to seal off Monal Restaurant and is likely to support the proposal for establishment of this centre.
The world is abuzz with news of cryptocurrency, and Pakistanis are still struggling to understand how investing works in the blockchain. Cryptocurrency recently came under the spotlight when crypto-enthusiast Waqar Zaka brought the Bitcoin network to limelight. While many mocked him earlier, it seems like he was right after all, when Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s crypto investment made rounds on news.
The registration for COVID-19 vaccination for Pakistanis of and above the age of 30 will begin from April 16 as vaccine supply continues to improve in the country. Registration for people of and above 40 is ongoing, while walk-in vaccination for the age group has begun as well. People can now visit any vaccination centre and get their COVID-19 shot.
Mucormycosis also called ‘Black Fungus’ has been detected among several Covid-19 patients across Pakistan. Four patients have thus far died due to the dangerous fungal infection. The infection affects the sinuses, brain, lungs, skin and kidneys, and symptoms depends on where in the body the fungi is growing. The infection is being largely reported in Covid-19 patients in India.
48 lives were lost after relentless air strikes by Israel targeting Hamas and other Islamist groups fuelled growing fears that violence between Israel and Palestinians could spiral into “full-scale war”. Palestinian militants have launched more than 1,000 rockets since Monday, said Israel’s army. It was the heaviest offensive between Israel and Hamas since a 2014 war in Gaza.
The World Health Organisation said on Monday that the B.1.617 variant first identified in India last year was being classified as a variant of global concern. The WHO has said the predominant lineage of B.1.617 was first identified in India last December, and available information suggests increased transmissibility. The variant has already spread to other countries, and many nations have moved to restrict movements from India.
Shehroze Kashif, a 19-year-old, has become the youngest Pakistani mountaineer to reach the summit of Mount Everest at 8,848.86 metres. Hailing from Lahore, Kashif is also the youngest Pakistani to have climbed Broad Peak (8,047m) at the age of 17. He used supplemental oxygen on his climbs to Broad Peak and Everest. His expedition to Broad Peak earned him the title “The Broad Boy”.
The World Health Organization has approved the emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China’s Sinopharm. WHO’s decision opens the possibility that Sinopharm’s offering could be included in the United Nations-backed COVAX programme in coming weeks or months, and distributed through United Nations children’s agency UNICEF and WHO’s Americas regional office. A summary posted online by WHO suggests the vaccine is about 78 percent effective.