German health authorities declared Britain and Northern Ireland a virus-carrying region, thus requiring the residence of British citizens in Germany for two weeks following arrival. A coronavirus strain first identified in India spread to Britain. “The German government wants to play it safe during this critical phase of the vaccination campaign.” “Any problems with mutations need to be prevented as far as possible.”
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson honours four Pakistanis for their humanitarian efforts. He granted the rewards to a campaign, ‘Points of Light Award’, founded by four Pakistanis. They were providing exceptional service to the NHS, homeless people in the UK. In 2020, a group of Pakistani people staryed a campaign known as “One Million Meals”.
The Government of Pakistan has approved ten goods for GI registration to claim them as the products of Pakistan in the international market. A federal law was in March 2020 calling for the registration of geographical indications and protecting Pakistan’s products. The first phase of GI registration will include Chaunsa Mango, Hunza Ruby, Kinnow, Kashmir Tourmaline, Peridot Stone, Peridot Valley.
Pakistan signed two MoUs for the establishment of software technology parks in Rawalpindi & Faisalabad on Thursday in order to boost its IT industry. The first-ever software technology park will set up at Sitara Chemical’s Ali Fatima College of Science & Technology in Faisalabad. In addition, the software technology park in Rawalpindi will set up in the future at the Amazon Outlet Mall.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the foreign minister for Pakistan, has said Israel is losing out, and the tide is turning. They are losing the media war, he said, despite their connections. He commented during an interview with CNN on Thursday in New York, where he also addressed the emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly on Palestine.
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”.