Category: World

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

The World Health Organization (WHO) have announced it was looking for the greatest scientific minds to advise on investigations into new high-threat pathogens that jump from animals to humans and could spark the next pandemic.

Launching a request for applications, it said that its Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens would also review progress on the next studies into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that emerged in China in late 2019.

“We need to bring in the best minds here. And it needs to be multi-disciplinary,” Maria van Kerkhove, head of WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, told Reuters.

The panel, announced by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in July, will be composed of 25 experts expected to meet first virtually in late September, a statement said.

“In the last 20 years we’ve had many of these pathogens emerge or re-emerge: SARS, MERS, different avian influenzas, Zika, yellow fever and of course SARS-CoV-2,” van Kerkhove said.

Van Kerkhove, an American epidemiologist and WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, recalled that it took more than a year to establish that dromedary camels were the intermediary source of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) carried by bats.

The new group would draw up a global framework for studies into animals, humans, food, the environment, biosafety and protocols for lab audits when new pathogens emerge, she said.

“Given the geopolitics of all of this, we want to make sure that we have a very solid technical and scientific framework… for the next time, because there will be a next time,” she said.

A WHO-led team of experts spent four weeks in and around the central city of Wuhan with Chinese scientists and said in a joint report in March that the SARS-CoV-2 virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal but that further research was needed.

 

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Angelina Jolie strongly condemned the United States for its “betrayal and failure” in Afghanistan as Taliban regained control.

Writing for Time, the 46-year-old actress and humanitarian worried for the people of Afghanistan after America “lacked the will” to plan this transition in a managed way. The recipient of numerous accolades said she is ‘ashamed’ to be American after their withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“Giving up the idea of a peace agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban, appearing to cut and run, and abandoning our allies and supporters in the most chaotic way imaginable, after so many years of effort and sacrifice, is a betrayal and a failure impossible to fully understand,” she wrote.

Jolie penned: “…After all the bloodshed and effort and sacrifice and time, America seems to have lacked the will to plan this transition in a managed way. It was never going to be easy or perfect but could have been better, more decent and safer.”

Angelina Jolie, who recently posted letter by an Afghan girl, shared her thoughts on Taliban’s rapid advance across the country after foreign forces announced their withdrawal.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

American blogger Cynthia Ritchie is feeling better, said doctors, a day after she was admitted to a hospital unconscious. Hospital authorities confirmed the US citizen is still undergoing treatment at the Polyclinic hospital in Islamabad, adding that she is feeling better now.

The American vlogger will be discharged from the hospital and sent home after doctors have thoroughly checked her medical report, hospital authorities said.

A day earlier, Ritchie had been rushed to the hospital after she was found unconscious at her flat in the federal capital. Doctors had quoted Ritchie as saying that she had been given an intoxicant.

Hospital sources informed Geo News that her stomach had been washed, and that the stuff extracted from it had been sent to a laboratory for further tests.

Ritchie had made headlines last year in June when she accused senior PPP leader and former interior minister, Rehman Malik, of raping her and had alleged that ex-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani had “physically manhandled” her a couple of years ago. Both Malik and Gillani had rubbished her allegations and said that Ritchie was lying to malign the PPP.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Facebook has announced to block the WhatsApp accounts linked to the Taliban after the radical Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan and sought to use the messaging service to help it govern. “The Taliban is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies,” a Facebook spokesperson told AFP.

The Facebook move shut down a WhatsApp hotline the Taliban had set up to receive complaints about violence and looting, according to the Financial Times. A WhatsApp spokesperson said in an email to AFP that the company is required to follow US sanctions.

“This includes banning accounts that appear to represent themselves as official accounts of the Taliban. We re seeking more information from relevant US authorities given the evolving situation in Afghanistan,” the company said.

“This means we remove accounts maintained by or on behalf of the Taliban and prohibit praise, support, and representation of them.”

The news comes with social media platforms facing pressure to block accounts used by the Taliban since the offensive which led to the takeover of the war-ravaged country.

Facebook said it was using “a dedicated team of Afghanistan experts, who are native Dari and Pashto speakers and have knowledge of local context,” to help guide policy.

“Our teams are closely monitoring this situation as it evolves. Facebook does not make decisions about the recognized government any particular country but instead respects the authority of the international community in making these determinations,” Facebook said.

A Taliban spokesman meanwhile criticized Facebook for blocking “freedom of speech” in the country as a result of the crackdown by the US firm.

At a news conference streamed online, the Taliban official responded to a question about freedom of expression by saying, “The question should be asked to those people who are claiming to be promoters of freedom of speech who do not allow publication of all information.. the Facebook company, this question should be asked to them.”
 

(Lahore NUT-DESK)

The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) programme has crossed a major milestone and hit the $2 billion mark as overseas Pakistanis continued to pose trust in the central bank’s initiative that was launched in September last year.

Economist circles are sharing that overseas Pakistanis invested a record $2 billion in various products offered by the RDA platform and it will continue to attract more inflows as the central bank is keen to add more investment options for non-resident Pakistanis.

The record investment shows the confidence of the overseas Pakistanis in the product launched by the incumbent government.

The amount received through the RDA to the government is hassle-free and without any condition. “The conditions would be tougher if the government borrowed the same amount from any international financial firm,” source added and now it will be the responsibility of the government to return the amount with profit to the account holders when they want to withdraw.

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) with the support of eight major banks in the country is leading the project under which Pakistani diaspora are able to avail the banking facility from a digital payment system and the consumers are able to open their bank accounts without visiting bank, embassy or consulate.

Under the initiative, the Pakistanis living abroad are able to operate their accounts without visiting the country and could avail facilities of direct banking, bill payment and other e-commerce facilities.

These accounts could also be used for investments in the stock exchange and property within Pakistan. The consumers would also have the option to either open a Pakistan currency or foreign currency account.

 

Lahore (NUt-DESK)

Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong has been released from a South Korean prison and is now on parole. He served 207 days in jail – just over half the sentence he received after being convicted of bribery and embezzlement in January.

The case involved the country’s former President Park Guen-hye, who is also in jail for bribery and corruption. Samsung Electronics was founded by Lee’s grandfather and he has been the de facto head since 2014. Lee made a brief statement to reporters outside the prison.

“I’ve caused much concern for the people. I deeply apologise,” Lee said. “I am listening to the concerns, criticisms, worries and high expectations for me. I will work hard.”

The 53-year old was sent to prison for two-and-a-half years by a high court in January.

He was accused of paying 43bn won ($37.7m; £26.7m) to two non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a friend of Park’s, in exchange for political support – alleged to include backing for a controversial Samsung merger which paved the way for Lee to become eventual head of the conglomerate.

The deal needed support from the government-run national pension fund. At the time of his verdict, the court said that Lee “actively provided bribes and implicitly asked the president to use her power to help his smooth succession” at the head of Samsung.

The court found Lee guilty of bribery, embezzlement and concealment of criminal proceeds worth about 8.6 billion won ($7.8m; £5.75m).

The Justice Ministry said it made the decision to release Lee after considering the effects of the pandemic on South Korea’s economy and global markets.

In a statement, President Moon Jae-in’s office said his release was made in the national interest and asked for understanding.

“We are well aware that there are supporting and opposing views on Vice-Chairman Jay Y Lee’s parole. The views of the people who are opposed are also right,” it said.

“On the other hand, there have been many people who called for his parole in this severe crisis, hoping that he will help the country with respect to semiconductors and vaccines.”

However, Lee’s parole conditions include five years of business restrictions – it is unclear if he will be able to run the company unless he gets an exemption. He will also need approval for any trips abroad.

Dubai (NUT-DESK) “Pakistan The Hidden Treasure” Expo 2020 Campaign was launched on Pakistan independence day with an impressive performance, as the Pakistan flag unveiling happened on Burj Khalifa. While crowd gathered at the fountain area of Burj Khalifa in the evening to see the Pakistan flag, and after the national anthem, they were surprised to witness a contemporary cultural performance with high energy moves and dances on a national song “Hum Aik Hain” (We are One) giving a quick peek into Pakistan’s participation in Expo2020.

The performance was also a dedication to Expo 2020 Dubai’s vision of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. It carried well integrated messages as the nation plans to showcase its vast opportunities in tourism, commerce & investment to the global audiences. The Pakistan Pavilion is designed to leave a lasting impact on the visitors by inspiring them through a poetic narrative on the past, present and future revealing its rich history, culture and traditions, as well as the potential and possibilities for the future. The audience at the Burj Khalifa were enthralled with the impressive campaign launch by Pakistan.

Lahore (Nut-Desk)

Google has commemorated Pakistan’s Independence Day with a doodle artwork that depicted the medieval Derawar Fort located in Punjab’s Cholistan Desert.

The tech giant said, “Seventy-four years ago today, Pakistan achieved independence. Today’s Doodle celebrates Pakistan Independence Day, a public holiday commemorating the day on which the nation became a sovereign republic.

“Pakistanis across the subcontinent join to celebrate their freedom and honor the centuries of history that comprise its cultural foundation.”

In honor of this historic day, today’s Doodle artwork depicts the medieval Derawar Fort, a massive square edifice with a symmetrical perimeter of 40 massive circular bastions built in the 9th century.

Located in the vast expanse of western Pakistan’s Cholistan Desert, each of these ancient stone fortresses rises nearly 100 feet from the sand and comprise an imposing symbol of Pakistani adaptability and antiquity.

The Mughal-style forts once facilitated trade and transportation in a largely inhospitable environment. The forts served as critical infrastructure for both the protection and nourishment of desert caravans on their journeys across Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. In 2019, the provincial Pakistani government announced a conservation initiative to protect this landmark from being lost to the sands of time.

“Happy Independence Day, Pakistan!”

Lahore (NUT-Desk)

England will tour Pakistan for two-match T20I series ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in October, PCB announced Friday. Both matches will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on 13th and 14^th October.

The Eoin Morgan-led unit will arrive in Islamabad on October 9 and while the men’s squad will depart for Dubai on 15 October. Meanwhile, England women will stay back for the three ODIs to be played on 17, 19 and 21 October at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

“We are delighted to welcome both the England men’s team for what will be their first tour to Pakistan since 2005, and the England women’s team, who will be touring Pakistan for the first time,” said Wasim Khan, PCB Chief Executive.

“Both are additional tours with England men’s side scheduled to return to Pakistan in the last quarter of 2022 for white-ball and ICC World Test Championship fixtures,” he added.

Series schedule

9 Oct – England men and women sides’ arrival

13 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women; Pakistan Men v England Men (T20I double-header)

14 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women; Pakistan Men v England Men (T20I double-header)

17 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women, 1st ODI

19 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women, 2nd ODI

21 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women, 3rd ODI