Wednesday, April 15th, 2020
117m children worldwide face measles risk from COVID-19 response: UN
Around 117 million children worldwide risk contracting measles because dozens of countries are curtailing their vaccination programmes as they battle COVID-19, the United Nations warned Tuesday. Currently 24 countries, including several already dealing with large measles outbreaks, have suspended widespread vaccinations, the World Health Organisation and the UNICEF said. An additional 13 countries have had their vaccination programmes interrupted due to COVID-19. In a joint statement, the Measles and Rubella Initiative (M&RI) said it was vital that immunisation capacity was retained during and after the current pandemic. “Together, more thanRead More
President of Georgia and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev hold video talk
On the initiative of the Georgian side, President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev have had a conversation through a video conference on April 15. President Salome Zourabichvili: – Mr. President, I would like to talk to you not in such difficult but better times. I do hope that everything is good with you, your family and your team. I look forward to continuing our cooperation in this difficult situation as soon as possible. President Ilham Aliyev: – Thank you, Mrs. President. IRead More
Ponting names Akhtar’s spell as the fastest he’s ever faced
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has said that ex-Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar’s spell to him was the fastest he ever faced. “Got plenty of questions the other day after calling the Andrew Flintoff over the best I’d faced,” Australia’s two-time World Cup winning captain tweeted. “This from Shoaib Akhtar was the fastest spell I’d ever faced and trust me Justin wasn’t backing up too far at the other end.” Akhtar forced Ponting into some awkward ducks and leaves in a hostile spell of bowling during in the third Test atRead More
‘Half of rural and urban Pakistanis unaware of COVID-19 facts’
Diabetics, smokers and asthmatics are at a higher risk of falling severely ill from COVID-19 but only half of the rural and urban population is aware of this, suggests a new study by the Aga Khan University. Researchers surveyed 738 men and women across Pakistan to assess their knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, its mode of transmission and ways to protect oneself from the disease. Participants included 403 people across Pakistan who completed an online survey, 198 respondents in urban Karachi who were interviewed by telephone and 137 individuals who tookRead More
Section 144 extended till April 30 in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, APR 15 (DNA) – The Islamabad administration on Wednesday extended Section 144 for two more weeks following the countrywide extension in lockdown till April 30. According to a notification, there will be a complete ban on public gatherings and public transport across the capital city. Restrictions on social distance and businesses that previously exempted will remain in place, the notification reads. The total number of COVID-19 cases reached 5,988 in Pakistan after the emergence of 151 cases during the last 24 hours, according to the latest statistics releasedRead More
Ramadan to begin from April 25: Fawad Ch
ISLAMABAD, APR 15 (DNA) – Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that Ramadan moon will be sighted on April 24 and masses will fast from April 25. In a tweet, Fawad Chaudhry said that Maulana Muneeb-ur-Rehman is respectable but he does not see such a big moon, how can he see such a small coronavirus. Fawad further wrote that he brought into attention of Ministry of Religious Affairs that if heads of its ministerial committee would make fun of government orders, what could be expectedRead More