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  • ‘79.3 per cent effective’: Govt to order 1.2m doses of Chinese vaccine

    ‘79.3 per cent effective’: Govt to order 1.2m doses of Chinese vaccine

    Pakistan has decided to purchase 1.2million doses of a Chinese vaccine, developed by China’s state-owned company Sinopharm, amid a worsening coronavirus outbreak across the world.

    According to Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry, the vaccine will be available in the first quarter of 2021 and it will be administered to frontline health workers in the first phase.

    “The Cabinet Committee has decided to initially purchase 1.2 million doses of the vaccine from the Chinese company Sinopharm, which will be provided free of cost to frontline workers in the first quarter of 2021,” the federal minister wrote on Twitter.

    Meanwhile, China has approved its first homegrown coronavirus vaccine, developed by state-owned pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm.

    CNN reported that the vaccine is 79.34% effective as per the interim analysis of Phase 3 clinical trials. China has drastically scaled up its vaccine emergency use program in recent weeks.

    Since December 15, the Chinese government has administered more than 3 million vaccine doses on “key groups” in the population, Zeng Yixin, vice-minister of China’s National Health Commission, said at a news conference.

    According to the report, fewer than 0.1 per cent developed a light fever, and about two people per million developed “relative serious adverse reactions” such as allergies.

    Beijing Biological Products Institute Co., a Sinopharm subsidiary, has said that interim results show the Sinopharm vaccine is safe and people who received two doses produced high-level antibodies.

  • Pakistan students win top 2 prizes at global tech competition

    Pakistan students win top 2 prizes at global tech competition

    Pakistani students have won the top two positions at the Huawei ICT Competition Middle East 2020.

    The team of three Pakistani students, Kalim Ullah (MS IT SEECS-NUST), Maria Aftab (MS IT, SEECS-NUST) and Asadullah (Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro), won first place in the competition in the Middle East category of the tech contest and qualified for the final global competition.

    According to details, a virtual event happened this year in which more than 15,000 students and 440 universities from all over the world participated.

    The final leg included 13 teams from 27 universities in which Pakistan’s team emerged victorious, winning prizes that include US$20,000 prize money, laptops smartphones and also a chance to join Huawei Pakistan.

    The winning students are from National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro.

    The students were glad that the Chinese tech company offered them a learning opportunity during the pandemic that affected the global education system.

    Thousands of students from Pakistan applied for the contest but only 500 were selected.

    “The list was further narrowed down to 150 students” who were offered free training and virtual classes during the preliminary round

    Lastly, the best 30 students from Pakistan were finalized for the final national round and the top six were shortlisted for the competition.

  • Nine people arrested after mob sets ablaze Hindu temple in Karak

    Nine people arrested after mob sets ablaze Hindu temple in Karak

    After a mob provoked by local clerics destroyed a Hindu temple in Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Wednesday, police have detained nine suspects in the case.

    Videos making rounds on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the site as men used hammers to damage the walls of the building. They also set it on fire.

    Local clerics had told authorities that they would be organising a peaceful protest against the alleged expansion of the 100-year-old temple, Rahmatullah Wazir, a police officer told news agency, Reuters. But the clerics started giving “provocative speeches,” prompting the mob to set the temple ablaze.

    Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari condemned the attack and urged the provincial government to “ensure culprits [are] brought to justice.”

    District police chief Irfanullah Khan told Reuters nine suspects had been arrested following the attack.

    The temple, first built in the early 1900s as a shrine, was vandalised in 1997. In 2015, the Supreme Court ordered it be reconstructed. 

    “We will stage a protest in front of the Supreme Court against the attack on our temple which is one of the four largest holy sites of the Hindu community in Pakistan,” Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, head of the Pakistan Hindu Council and a ruling party lawmaker, told Germany’s dpa news agency.

    “This is not the first incident of its kind, unfortunately intolerance towards religious minorities has been growing in Pakistan for the last five years, with more frequent attacks on places of worship,” said Hindu rights activist Kapil Dev.

    In July, a mob attacked the construction site of the first Hindu temple in the capital, Islamabad.

  • Anushka Sharma glows as she poses with her baby bump

    Anushka Sharma glows as she poses with her baby bump

    With weeks to go before baby Sharma-Kohli arrives, Anushka Sharma has opened up about her pandemic pregnancy and posed for the cover of Vogue India with her baby bump.

    Sharing details about her pregnancy, Sharma revealed that she felt exhausted and nauseous during her first trimester. She said that couldn’t go near the kitchen as she couldn’t stand the smell of things.

    “Smells would revolt me, I couldn’t go near the kitchen. I swear, I could smell people’s skin. I thought it was never going to end,” said Anushka. “I didn’t think I could feel so tired. I am an active person and it was startling, but even when you’re in pain, or uncomfortable, you are still thinking: have I eaten at the right time? Is the baby okay?”

    The actor also revealed that she was hooked to eating toast and crackers during the first three months and when that ended she wanted to eat vada pao and bhel puri. But other than that she did not have any major cravings, unlike Gigi Hadid who shared that she was hooked to eating spices.

    Anushka also said that the pandemic turned out to be a “weird blessing” for the couple.

    “The pandemic has been a weird blessing in a way. Virat was around and I could keep it a secret. We only left to go to the doctor’s clinic. No one was on the streets so we couldn’t be spotted,” said the actor.

    Meanwhile, a self-confessed planner, Sharma revealed that her child’s animal-themed nursery is complete.

    “I just want to be prepared. Everything is slower because of the times we are living in and I don’t like to rush things. This time in my life, even more so,” she says. “I want the nursery to be very calm. It’s the place where you spend the most amount of time, where you are bonding with your baby, so it has to be peaceful.”

    Sharing details about the nursery’s theme, Sharma said: “I don’t believe that boys have to wear blue and girls pink. The nursery has all colours. Both Virat and I love animals and we want our baby to have that bond too. They are a big part of our lives and we really believe they can teach kindness and compassion to children.”

    Anushka and Virat are expected to welcome their bundle of joy in January 2021. Their announcement tweet was the most-liked tweet of 2020.

  • Newsletter- 30th December 2020, Wednesday

    Newsletter- 30th December 2020, Wednesday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Good morning. Today is Wednesday, 30th December and the weather is going to be cold and sunny in almost all the cities. Sunny days are usually pleasant as most people like doing activities outdoors when the sun is up and shining, par corona hai so going out isn’t safe. Lekin ghar ki chhat par kinnow enjoy kiye ja saktay hain, have a good and happy day. 

    Morning Meme

    Know your politician 

    She is an author, parliamentarian and a diplomat, worked as a professional journalist for 20 years. She also worked closely with the late Benzair Bhutto. Here is what else you need to know about her.

    Check out

    #100MostHandsomeFacesOf2020 trends on Twitter, here are a few nominees

    #100MostHandsomeFacesOf2020 is trending on Twitter and people are tweeting pictures of their favourite celebrities, politicians and stars. Here are a few faces that have been nominated by social media users for the title. Kuch Twitter users ko lagta hai kay Prime Minister Imran Khan is one of the most handsome faces of 2020.

    Check out

    Khawaja Asif arrested; ‘had a bag packed already’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former foreign minister Khawaja Asif was arrested on Tuesday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from Islamabad, a spokesperson for the bureau and PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed.

    Read on

    VIDEO: American social media star Ricky L. Pond grooves to ‘Shakar Wandaan’

    A video of American social media star Ricky L. Pond grooving to Shakar Wandaan Re with his son has gone viral on social media. The song is from the film Ho Mann Jahaan featuring Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar and Adeel Hussain.

    Check out

    Current Baba’s prediction

    This week will teach you that there are certain things that really can’t be faked, such as love, respect and a British accent.

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  • Bomb scare creates panic at Karachi airport

    Panic gripped at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport following the detection of an unclaimed suspicious bag beeping on a motorbike in the parking area by the Civil Aviation Authority.

    As per details, around 03:15 pm in the afternoon, CAA viligance and cargo staff informed the security staff about a suspicious cotton pooch hanging from a motorbike, with a beeping sound coming from it.

    A bomb disposal squad (BDS) was immediately called. They reached the site and defused the device.

    The BDS confirmed that the device did not carry any explosive material but it did carry flammable material which was capable of starting a fire.

    The airport police took the motorbike in custody and the area was marked clear.

    The bike owner was identified as Sundeep Kumar who works as a guard at the Royal Airport Services, Malir SSP Irfan Ali Bahadur confirmed.

    According to the owner, he had installed a flashing device at the Chota Gate, Malir and insisted that it was just a flashing device. Police verified the bike owner’s statement by the mechanic who had installed the flash device and later handed over the bike back to Sundeep.

  • 8 Pakistani women among world’s ‘100 outstanding nurses and midwives’

    Eight women from Pakistan have been listed among the World’s 100 outstanding Nurses and Midwives.

    To acknowledge the work of nurses and midwives amidst a global pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nursing Now, International Council of Nurses (ICN), International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), and Women in Global Health (WGH), have compiled a list of World’s 100 Outstanding Nurses and Midwives.

    The list features the achievements and contributions of nurses and midwives from 43 countries and across six global regions.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also congratulated the women on being recognised for their work.

    Here are the details of five of the eight women who made it to the list :

    Rozina Karmaliani, Board & Management – Midwife Nurse

    Dr Rozina Karmaliani is a Professor and Interim Dean at the School of Nursing and Midwifery and joint faculty with the Department of Community Health Sciences at Aga Khan University (AKU). Dr Rozina Karmaliani has spent decades working to inspire and empower others. Her efforts are currently focused on improving adolescent health, the development and strengthening of research capacities, and the integration of research into education and practice.

    Samina Vertejee, Community Hero – Nurse

    Samina Vertejee is an Assistant Professor at Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSONAM). She brings together her practical and academic expertise to effect policy change for the care of older people. Recognising the gap in knowledge needed to properly care for Pakistan’s ageing population, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their unique vulnerabilities, Vertejee has taken up the challenge at the policy level to improve the welfare of the country’s growing number of older people.

    Saima Sachwani, Human Capital Development: Midwife Nurse

    Ms Sachwani is an Assistant Professor and Section Head of the Public Health Stream, Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSONAM). As a determined public health advocate and educator, her current focus is on creating awareness about the role of nurses in helping achieve universal health coverage. She was the first in Pakistan to introduce simulation into the community health nursing curriculum, with a lasting positive impact on teaching.

    Yasmin Nadeem Parpio, Community Hero: Nurse

    Yasmin Nadeem Parpio is an Assistant Professor at Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSONAM). Yasmin works tirelessly to strengthen nursing curricula and to optimise the learning experiences of nursing students. She is currently undertaking a PhD on the subject of how building social skills among adolescents can reduce stress and improve resilience and quality of life. She also works on a voluntary basis with the local geriatric population, arranging regular educational sessions and working on yearly activity plans, and has established a peer support group.

    Marina Baig, Innovation, Science & Health: MidwifeNurse

    Marina Baig is a senior instructor at the Aga Khan University (AKU) School of Nursing and Midwifery. Her work on the use of mobile health (mHealth) technology to improve antenatal care coverage and skilled delivery in rural settings is exemplary and could serve as an innovative strategy in improving maternal health outcomes. Her contributions in developing an interactive e-book on women-centred reproductive health care focused on family planning and post-abortion care has been recognised as another key development in midwifery education in Pakistan.

  • Buzdar tells DCs to promote ‘qawali’, wants pictures of programmes

    Buzdar tells DCs to promote ‘qawali’, wants pictures of programmes

    As Punjab grapples with coronavirus outbreak and poor economic situation, the provincial government has asked its deputy commissioners to promote ‘qawali’ in the province.

    The News reported that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed the DCs to have qawali performance in their respective areas and also promote them on cable networks.

    In addition, these civil servants have also been asked to send weekly reports to the Chief Minister’s Office about the concerts.

    It reported “a regular monitoring mechanism” has been devised and the CM wants the DCs to send his office the pictures of the programmes as well.

    The report claimed that the order to promote qawalis in the province might have come from Banigala — residence of PM Imran Khan where he lives with his spouse Bushra Bibi.

    The chief minister has faced a lot of criticism for his inability to run the province. During the two-year tenure of Buzdar, there has been a decline in almost departments of the provincial government.

    During his rule, at least six police chief of the province have been changed, five chief secretaries have been shown the door, but things have remained the same.

    However, despite all the odds, the PM has decided to stick with Buzdar and said he would emerge as the best chief minister of Punjab.

  • International furniture brand ‘IKEA’ is coming to Pakistan

    IKEA, a multinational conglomerate that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, is ready to launch its operations in Pakistan, Pakistan’s ambassador to Germany Dr Mohammad Faisal has announced.

    Dr Faisal said that he recently met with an official of IKEA, Dieter Mettke who will lead the launching of IKEA’s operations in Pakistan.

    “Met Dieter Mettke IKEA Deutschland. He is going to Pakistan to be in charge of Ikea operations,” Ambassador Faisal had written in a now-deleted tweet. “We look forward to Ikea opening up stores in major cities of Pakistan.”

    Read more – In a first, Hugo Boss places sportswear order with Pakistan

    Founded in Sweden in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA is one of the world’s largest furniture retailer since 2008. It has 271 stores in Europe, 65 in North America, 14 in the Middle East, 11 in Oceania, 2 in Africa and 82 in Asia. In August 2018, IKEA launched its sore in India. IKEA opened its first store in 1958 in Älmhult, Sweden.

  • Govt says will cancel Nawaz’s passport on Feb 16

    Govt says will cancel Nawaz’s passport on Feb 16

    In a bid to bring former prime minister Nawaz Sharif back to Pakistan, the federal government will cancel his passport on Feb 16, said Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said that the passport of the ex-PM will be revoked owing to his refusal to return to Pakistan.

    Nawaz had left for London for a medical check-up last year after his health deteriorated in jail. The ex-premier, who was convicted in two graft cases, has refused to return since.

    Rasheed also said that now people will be able to obtain visas for any country online.

    It may be noted that the interior ministry’s decision to revoke the passport of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader came two months after a request by the National Accountability Bureau.

    According to Geo, NAB had sought cancellation of the passport and the CNIC of the ex-PM in OCt. “During the course of proceedings, the said accused [Nawaz] deliberately absented himself from the court and after the due process…whenever accused is arrested, he be produced before the court.”

    “In view thereof, copies of the said court order and perpetual non-bailable warrant of arrest are forwarded for processing of blacklisting/cancellation of the passport and blockage / impounding of CNIC of the accused through the Ministry of Interior,” NAB said in an order.