An alarmingly high rate of HIV/AIDS cases in Pakistan has raised concern globally, resulting in United Nations labelling the country among 11 countries with highest ratio of the disease. Newly released report states that sharp increase in cases in Pakistan, despite grant of “massive funding” by international health partners, has proved to be a severe blow to global efforts to curtail HIV/AIDS.
In order to extend maximum hospitality to Muslims, a Tokyo sports and cultural events organisation has launched initiative of Moving Mosques. A white and blue coloured 25-tonne truck that opens from back and doubles in width from side, will create enough room for 50 Muslims to pray. It also has a washing section where taps are positioned for cleansing purposes.
The US State Department has announced on its Twitter account that Trump administration is ready to approve $125 million for Pakistan to provide technical support to its fleet of F-16 aircraft. The programme has been sent to Congress for approval after being given a go-ahead by State Department. The good news comes immediately after PM Imran Khan’s visit to USA.
5-year-old, Riham, held her two baby sisters, as the building in Ariha Town, Idlib province, collapsed on top of them after a Syrian Government air strike. While she was herself trapped under the rubble, She held on to her two sisters to stop them from falling off the edge. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
Pakistan’s ace bowler, Mohammad Amir has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. The bowler however, reaffirmed his commitment to playing white ball cricket for Pakistan. The 27-year-old cricketer shared that he was considering retirement from the format “for some time”, adding that it “has not been an easy decision to make”.
Internet and broadband services prices are about to reach a new high in Sindh, after the provincial government has decided to slap sales tax on the services. Effective from July 1, the exemption of sales tax has been withdrawn and all internet and broadband customers, irrespective of their speed or charges, will pay sales tax at the statutory rate of 19.5%.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi was has been unanimously elected as one of the four vice presidents of the Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), the economic arm of the UN. Ambassador Lodhi, who was elected by acclamation after her candidature was endorsed by the 54-member body, will assume the Asia Pacific seat in the Ecosoc bureau.
In a federal cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government has decided to allow dual national Pakistanis to contest elections. Keeping the PM’s vision to utilise talent and resources of overseas Pakistanis, five major regulatory bodies were brought under the cabinet to approve a proposal for removing the column of profession from the national passport.
PML-N President, Shehbaz Sharif, has filed a defamation against The Mail on Sunday, a British tabloid and sister paper of the Daily Mail, for accusing him of misappropriating UK aid funds. The article published earlier this month had accused Sharif and his family of misappropriating UK government funds meant for flood and earthquake survivours during his tenure as Punjab chief minister.
In a latest development, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has announced that Pakistan will send its “first person to space” in 2022. In a Tweet, the minister said that selection process shall begin from February 2020. Starting with 50 pilots, the list will come down to 25 and finally one will be selected to carry out the mission.