Saturday, January 2nd, 2021
Pakistan urges UN to prevent Andrabi’s ‘judicial murder’
WASHINGTON: Pakistan urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday to prevent the “judicial murder” of a Kashmiri leader and human rights activist and to persuade India to drop all “fabricated charges” against her. Aasiya Andrabi, who risks conviction by a sham court on Jan 18, is the founder of a Kashmiri rights group called the Dukhtaran-i-Millat, or Daughters of the Nation. In a letter addressed to Mr Guterres, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram said the world must stop giving a “free pass” to India over its “systemicRead More
Uzbekistan to use drones to detect traffic rule violations
Tashkent – Uzbekistan’s eastern Fergana region will use drones to detect traffic rule violations starting from January 1, 2021, the first time in the most populous Central Asian nation. “The devices will patrol the region’s roads round-the-clock to fix traffic rule violations…as well as violation of public order and non-observance of pandemic restrictions such as not wearing masks,” the regional police department said on December 29. Earlier this year, the Uzbek government allowed citizens to report traffic rule violations using their cellphones, and such reports will be rewarded with money startingRead More
Pandemic likely to end by summer: Tajik minister of health
Dushanbe – The pandemic may decline as early as next year and may end in the summer, says the Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population Jamoliddin Abdullozoda. “The only condition necessary for the development of such an optimistic scenario is to make the pandemic manageable,» he notes. “I think we will not have an increase in COVID-19 infections after the New Year holidays. To the contrary, there will be a decrease.» Abdullozoda hopes that vaccination will also significantly improve the situation. Tajikistan has joined the COVID-19 Vaccines GlobalRead More
Kyrgyzstan adds 122 new COVID-19 cases
Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan added on Friday 122 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total caseload to 81,156. The Republican Headquarters for Combating COVID-19 said that of the total number 4,118 cases are medical workers, including 3,927 recoveries. 230 patients recovered while one other died, taking the total recoveries to 76,148 and fatalities to 1,356. 991 people are currently hospitalized across the country and 1,746 patients are receiving treatment at home. The country has conducted 806 coronavirus tests over the past day.
Pakistani-American doctor wipes away $650,000 in debt for cancer patients
Dr Omar Atiq, a Pakistani oncologist who lives in the US, has made headlines for wiping away $650,000 in debt for patients at his cancer treatment centre in Arkansas. Dr Atiq told his 200 patients of the news in a Christmas greeting card. “I hope this note finds you well. The Arkansas Cancer Clinic was proud to serve you as a patient. Although various health insurers pay most of the bills for majority of patients, even the deductibles and co-pays can be burdensome,” the card read. “The clinic has decidedRead More
Herschelle Gibbs appointed head coach of Karachi Kings
Former South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs has been appointed as the new head for Karachi Kings, reigning champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the franchise announced on Saturday. In a statement, Karachi Kings said Gibbs had been signed on for his “aggressive batting style and brilliant fielding” in a move that was “sure to strengthen the strong management core at the team under Wasim Akram”. The appointment comes after former Australia batsman and the Kings’ head coach Dean Jones had died of a cardiac arrest in September 2020. “It was alwaysRead More