Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched on Saturday one of the world’s largest vaccination campaigns, as part of efforts by the populous nation to bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control starting with two locally-manufactured shots. Modi, who addressed healthcare workers through video conferencing, will not immediately take the vaccine himself as India is initially prioritising nurses, doctors and others on …

Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) elect a new chairman on Saturday, aiming to unite their conservative party behind a new leader who they hope can succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor when she steps down after federal elections in September. At stake is the leadership of Europe’s biggest economy in the era after Merkel, who has vowed not to run again after …

PESHAWAR: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan would continue supporting the ongoing intra-Afghan dialogue as peace in the neighbouring country means peace in Pakistan. Talking to officers here at Corps Headquarters on Friday, Gen Bajwa highlighted the dividend of border control measures. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, the army chief …

RAWALPINDI: The National Socioeconomic Registry survey under the Ehsaas programme will begin in the district from Jan 25, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar said on Friday. Addressing a press conference at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Dr Nishtar said a door-to-door survey would be carried out in the country to gather …

ISLAMABAD: The government is confident of acquiring the anti-Covid vaccine by the first quarter of the current year but is adopting a ‘look-before-you-leap’ strategy to ensure procurement of a medicine of the highest efficacy. On the other hand, 45 more people succumbed to the virus during the last 24 hours while 2,417 new patients surfaced in the country. “Our target …

ISLAMABAD: Four Nepali Sherpas on Friday broke the previous record during winters of climbing as high as 26,000 feet while attempting to scale K2. According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), the maximum height achieved by teams in winters in the past was 25,320 feet. “Tomorrow, Nirmal Purja, Mingma David, Mingma Tenzi and Mingma Gyalje will leave Camp 4 …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued notices to the Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan as well as other respondents in a petition filed by paramedical staff, nurses and doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) against Presidential Ordinance on Medical Teaching Institute (MTI). Dozens of paramedics, nurses and doctors of Pims are currently on protest against …

KARACHI: Begum Zarin Musharraf, mother of former president and chief of the All Pakistan Muslim League Gen Pervez Musharraf, passed away in the UAE on Friday after a long illness. She was 100. Talking to Dawn, APML spokesperson Amaan Khan Tareen said Begum Zarin had been critical since 2013 and under treatment in the UAE. He said Mr Musharraf was also …

ISLAMABAD: As barbs flew in the Senate on Friday with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle engaged in war of words, the opposition rejected an inquiry by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) into the recent countrywide power breakdown and called for an impartial inquiry. “If the appointments in Nepra are made by the federal government then how …

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Friday said it would no longer broadcast its Urdu service news and current affairs programme – Sairbeen – on Aaj TV owing to “interference” with its bulletins. The move means BBC Urdu bulletins will no longer be available for television viewers in Pakistan. BBC World Service Director Jamie Angus said the BBC had experienced “interference in our news bulletins since October 2020” and that the organisation …