ISLAMABAD: While national positivity rate of Covid-19 cases dropped to 1.35 per cent, the country reported 572 more infections and six patients died in the last 24 hours. The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), an international body responsible for assessing the state of the world’s preparedness for pandemics and other health emergencies, has warned that the world does not have …

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commis­sion of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday gave 15 more days to Minister for Railways Azam Swati to submit his reply to the show-cause notice issued to him for his caustic remarks and allegations against the commission and the chief election commissioner (CEC). Azam Swati, along with a junior counsel, appeared before a two-member ECP bench comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani …

At least four policemen were shot dead when unidentified assailants sprayed their vehicle with bullets in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday night, police said. According to police officials, the cops were patrolling in a van near a local hotel, located around six kilometres off Lakki City when gunmen riding a motorcycle waylaid them and opened fire. As …

India’s top court on Wednesday established a committee of experts to look into accusations that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi used Israeli military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists and activists. The Supreme Court order came in response to petitions filed by a group of Indian journalists, rights activists and opposition politicians following an investigation by a global media …

The currency market bounced back on Wednesday to gain Rs2.27 against the US dollar in intra-day trading in the inter-bank market after Saudi Arabia announced a support package of $4.2 billion for Pakistan, traders and bankers said. The Saudi money will help shore up the country’s foreign reserves, which have been shrinking. The dollar was being quoted at Rs173.00/173.11 around midday. On …

LAHORE: During its brief proceedings on Tuesday, the Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution seeking inclusion of oath of Khatm-i-Nabuwat in the Nikah (marriage) documents, as speaker skipped other agenda items, including a debate on the rising inflation. Proceedings of the first sitting of the 36th session of the assembly requisitioned by the opposition began after around two hours delay, presided …

QUETTA: After Jam Kamal Khan Alyani’s resignation from the office of chief minister and nomination of Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo by the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) for the top slot of next leader of the house, a political void has appeared in the provincial capital that different political parties are vying to fill. A coalition partner in Alyani-led government, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s …

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said neither the judiciary nor a jirga could be a substitute to the Islamic law of inheritance when “Deen-i-Elahi” (divine religion) had already settled the matter 1,400 years ago. “The law of inheritance in Islam is final and neither the courts nor any jirga can change this,” observed Justice Qazi Faez Isa, adding that …

GENEVA: The Covid-19 crisis is far from over, the World Health Organisation’s emergency committee said on Tuesday as it called for research into next-generation vaccines for long-term control of the pandemic. The 19-member committee meets every three months to discuss the pandemic and make recommendations. “While progress has been made through increased uptake of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics, analysis of …