NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday retained Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman and S. Jaishankar in charge of the four high-profile ministries — Home, Defence, Finance and External Affairs — respectively in his new government. The four ministers in charge of these portfolios make up the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security headed by the prime minister. Among new …

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a US-drafted resolution supporting a ceasefire plan in Gaza, as Washington leads an intense diplomatic campaign to push Hamas to accept the proposal. The text — passed with 14 votes in favour and Russia abstaining — “welcomes” the truce and hostage release proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden, and …

LONDON: The United Kingdom and Schengen countries raised millions of pounds and euros in fees from rejected visa applications from Pakistan, new research published this month shows. The analysis released by Lago Collective, a community of researchers, policymakers and designers, shows that Pakistanis spent £5.3 million on rejected UK visa applications, with close to 40 per cent applications rejected from Pakistan …

MUZAFFARABAD: Rescuers faced immense challenges on Monday as they attempted to recover the bodies of the 10 missing persons and locate the wreckage of the vehicle that plunged into Neelum River, but there was no success, officials said. The tragic accident occurred on Sunday when a Taobutt-bound Land Cruiser jeep carrying at least 24 people — 18 inside, including the driver, …

ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory regarding the Primary Amoebic Meni­ngoencephalitis (PAM) also called Naegleriasis, or brain-eating amoeba, an infectious disease of the central nervous system. Deaths related to PAM have regularly been reported from some hospitals in Karachi during summers since 2008. According to advisory, high temperatures associated with poor chlorinated water during early …

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir on Monday said the government has allocated Rs7 billion for provision of free medicines in the healthcare centres of the province. “In the last few months, shortage of medicines was created many times deliberately. The health department has identified around 375 corrupt employees involved in this practice and action …

QUETTA: Security forces arrested 85 Afghan nationals in the border district of Chagai district for allegedly crossing into Pakistan illegally, officials said on Monday. The Afghan nationals were found on the Pakistani side near the border without legal travelling documents. According to sources, the Afghan nationals entered Pakistan illegally to cross into Iran for further journeys. A senior security official …

GILGIT: The Babusar road, the famous tourist destination, was reopened for light traffic on Monday after remaining closed for seven months. Heavy snowfall in the area triggered the closure of the road. After removing snow at Babusar top and nearby areas the Babusar road was reopened for light traffic on Monday, Diamer deputy commissioner Fayyaz Ahmed said. He said the movement …

ISLAMABAD: In a rare display of harmony between the government and opposition, all 42 Senate standing committees have been notified within the stipulated period. This was unlike in the National Assembly — which held its first session 40 days before the upper house — where the process of notifying standing committees has been stalled. On Monday, notifications regarding all 42 …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of the federal cabinet today (Tue­s­day) to review the upcoming federal budget, which is expected to be tabled before the National Asse­mbly tomorrow (Wednesday). The huddle will also provide the PM an opportunity to take his aides into confidence over decisions made during his recent visit to China, a source in the Prime …