Gunmen shot dead two Afghan women judges working for the Supreme Court during an early morning ambush in the country’s capital on Sunday, officials said, as a wave of assassinations continues to rattle the nation. Violence has surged across Afghanistan in recent months despite ongoing peace talks between the Taliban and government — especially in Kabul, where a new trend of …

Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur led an unlikely rescue mission as India reached 253 for six at tea on the third day of the series-deciding fourth Test against Australia at the Gabba on Sunday. Sundar and Thakur came together with India in huge trouble at 186 for six but defied expectations to share in an unbeaten 67-run partnership and help India move …

India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive had a successful start with more than 190,000 people receiving their first jabs and no one hospitalised for major side effects, the health ministry said, but reports emerged about concerns over the homegrown vaccine. Authorities have given emergency-use approval for two vaccines — Oxford-AstraZeneca and the homegrown “Covaxin”, which has yet to complete its Phase 3 trials — and plans …

ISLAMABAD: It is time for the government to consider civil society organisations (CSOs) as partners for development of the country, and policy measures need to be based on facilitation for the sector rather than over-regulations. These views were expressed at a webinar on ‘The state of civil society in Pakistan’ organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Pakistan Centre …

United States President-elect Joe Biden’s decision to immediately ask Congress to offer legal status to an estimated 11 million people in the country has surprised advocates given how the issue has long divided Democrats and Republicans, even within their own parties. Biden will announce legislation on his first day in office to provide a path to citizenship for millions of …

Prince William says he is concerned about the mental health of UK ambulance drivers, police officers and other first responders who are being exposed to extraordinary levels of trauma and death as coronavirus cases soar. William, a former search and rescue helicopter pilot, told emergency workers on a video call that they must not be afraid to ask for help …

• Sinopharm’s registration expected next week • Minister denies VIPs already vaccinated • NCOC reports over 2,000 infections ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) has approved AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use and was expected to register the Chinese state-owned firm Sinopharm’s medicine next week. Though Pakistan might not get the vaccine through a …

RAWALPINDI: As many as three patients died from Covid-19 on Saturday while 20 tested positive for the deadly virus. However, no patient was discharged from hospitals. Mohammad Altaf, 43, a resident of Sangal Town, was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) on Jan 15 where he died on Saturday. Taj Begum, 73, from Shah Faisal Colony Chaklala, was admitted …

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has requested National Highway Authority (NHA) to get the remaining work on the metro track from Peshawar Mor to Islamabad International Airport (IIA) completed before handing it over to the civic agency. The CDA in a letter dated Jan 8 informed the NHA: “A site visit was carried out by the undersigned on 7th …

KASUR: A 12-year-old boy who had suffered serious injuries for resisting a rape attempt at village Rasoolnagar died in a Lahore hospital on Saturday. Ganda Singh police arrested 17-year-old suspect, a resident of the same village, and lodged a criminal case against him. According to police, the suspect had molested the minor boy about two months back but the elders …