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Author: World News

  • Pakistan International School strives for expatriates children’s bright future.

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    Pakistan International School educates children for more than five decades in collaboration of Pakistan Embassy, Saudi Arabia and strives for their bright future

    There are ten Pakistani community schools across Saudi Arabia, educating thousands of Pakistani students.

    These community schools founded in 1968 in the capital Riyadh, Pakistan International School Nasiriyah has also been providing education to thousands of Pakistani students.

    After the new tax imposed by Saudi authorities namely family tax, the number of students has decreased from ten thousand to three thousand, while the number of students has also decreased due to Covid 19.

    Naeem Akhtar, Retired Air Commodore and Principal of Pakistan International School Nasiriyah, said that we have always strived to provide better educational environment to the children so that the future of Pakistani children studying abroad can be made brighter.

    According to school principal, we hope the schools will reopen in September, as announced by the Saudi government, but school will continue to teach children online until then.

    Pakistan International School has also made arrangements to teach online to Pakistani students living in remote areas away from the capital Riyadh so that their educational activities can be continued especially in those areas where no Pakistani community schools.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Amazon builds laboratory in UK to test different corona variant.

    Muqeem Ahmad, London,

    Global retailer Amazon has begun testing its top employees in the UK to be infected with the Corona virus variant and providing data to the Health Department.

    Amazon is also collects and provides data from severely Corona affected areas and delta variant initiated areas in India.

    It set up laboratories in the UK and the US last year to test voluntarily its staff. Now it builds a laboratory in the UK to test different variants of the Corona.

    The UK is on the verge of reviving its economy which has been stalled for months after regular supply of vaccines.

    On the other end, reports of the presence and spread of the Delta variant, found in India. Especially in those areas where Amazon laboratories are working and it surprised everyone.

    Amazon could provide Corona virus testing facilities to British citizens in the near future. Amazon corona testing facility is also available to 30,000 front-line employees of the UK, mostly works in warehouses and the transport sector.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Extremist truck driver rammed truck on Muslim family in Ontario.

    Ontario , Canada,

    A 20 year old Nathaniel Veltman, religious radicalized truck driver rammed truck on a Pakistani-Canadian Muslim Family, consequential four family members succumbed to death on the spot while 9 year old child was severely injured.

    According to Canadian police Nathaniel Veltman was later arrested, he intentionally target the family standing and waiting on foot path while this committed  act was due to religious hatred.

    Among the dead were, old age mother, Physiotherapist Son and his wife and under age granddaughter while 9 year old grandson was severely injured in the incident.

    According to Justin Trudeau twitter, Canadian Prime Minister condemns the incident and tweet that we stand with the Muslim community across Canada including London.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • First solar eclipse of 2021 to be witnessed on June 10.

    Karachi, Pakistan,

    The first solar eclipse of the 2021 will be witnessed on June 10, Professor Dr Javed Iqbal, astronomer and Director Institute of Space Science and Technology Karachi University said on Monday.

    The eclipse would be visible in Russia, Greenland, Northern Canada, North Asia, Europe, and the United States, Dr Iqbal said.

    The eclipse can be witnessed at 1:12pm Pakistani time, while it would be at its peak at 3:42pm and expectedly end at 4:34pm. “A ring of fire will be visible during the solar eclipse,” he added.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Man slap Macron during crowd walkabout

    France,

    Two people were arrested after French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped by a man during a walkabout session with a crowd in the Drome region in southeastern France, BFM TV and RMC radio reported on Tuesday.

    A widely circulating video clip on Twitter, shows a man in a green T-Shirt, with glasses and a face mask, shout out “Down with Macronia” (“A Bas La Macronie”) and then deliver a slap to Macron’s face.

    Macron’s security team quickly intervened to pull the man to the ground and move Macron away from him. Macron’s security personals confirmed that a man had attempted to slap Macron.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Sikhs demonstrates outside Indian Frankfurt consulate against “Operation Blue Star

    Matiullah, Frankfurt

    This demonstration was first held on June 6, 1984 to commemorate the killing of Sikhs in “Operation Blue Star” by the Indian Army .

    The speakers said that India could never demoralize the Sikhs community with these operations and use of excessive force.

    The demonstration will be organized by Khalistan Sikh International Organization, “The Bub-bur Khalsa”. A large number of Sikh community members from different cities of Germany were participated.

    Sikh community leaders Rasm Singh Bub-bur and Gurmeet Singh said that the war with India would continue till the independence of Khalistan and Kashmir. India commits war crimes and massacre against Muslims in Kashmir, international community should take immediate notice.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Joint air exercise of Arab nations, Tuwaiq 2 launches in Saudi Arabia

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    A joint air exercise participating several Arab countries was launched on Sunday in Al-Kharj in central Saudi Arabia, the Saudi ministry of defense said.

    Maj. Gen. Mohsin bin Saeed Al-Zahrani, commander of the Prince Sultan Air Base, and heads of participating delegations were present, countries including Oman, the UAE, Jordan and Egypt taking part, and Kuwait and Bahrain are the observers.

    The two-week exercise “aims to ensure the highest levels of readiness, and achieve operational compatibility and integration,” the ministry said.

    Lt. Col. Mohammed Ibrahim bin Sufyan, commander of the exercise, said that the air exercise will be carried out in different stages, including planning and implementing flights.

    “The exercise aims to raise the operational and training readiness for tactical airdrops and raise the spirit of competition among the participants,” he added.

    Air force contingents taking part in the exercise arrived at the Prince Sultan Air Base on Friday along with their air, technical and administrative crews.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Indonesia cancelled Hajj 2021 pilgrimage for second year in a row

    Jakarta, Indonesia,

    Indonesia has cancelled the Hajj 2021 pilgrimage for people in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation for a second year in a row due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, the religious affairs minister said on Thursday.

    Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas told a briefing to Saudi Arabia, where the pilgrimage takes place, had not opened access to Hajj.

    Last year, more than 220,000 people from the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country were set to take part in Hajj, which all Muslims must perform at least once in their lives if able.

    Indonesia’s decision was a disappointment for some who have been on a pilgrimage waiting list for years.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Rs 2 million fine imposes on Juhi Chawla by Indian court

    Mumbai, India,

    An Indian court has rejected a plea filed by  Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla against 5G network technology.

    According to the  local media, the plea was struck down by the Delhi High Court stating that it was defective and filed for gaining media publicity.

    A single bench of the court noted tat Chawla had circulated the web link of the hearing on social media and said that it appears the suit was filed to garner publicity.

    Reports said that a fine of Rs 2 million was also imposed on the actress as well as other plaintiffs for “abusing the process of law and wasting the court’s time”

    According to the reports, the verdict said, “Plaintiffs abused process of law. Costs of Rs 20 lakh is imposed on plaintiffs. It appears suit was for publicity. Juhi Chawla circulated link of the hearing on social media,”

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • The ‘King Of Swings,’ Wasim Akram, 55th Birthday, Twitter Wishes.

    Web Desk,

    Wasim Akram, former Pakistan fast bowler celebrated his 55th birthday on Wednesday along with his former colleagues, fans, and cricket enthusiasts around the world wishing the former pacer many more happy years.

    Akram is mostly known for his deadly Yorkers, unplayable reverse swing deliveries, all along with perfection and accuracy. He used to terrorize batsmen around the globe.

    He served as a pillar in the 1992 world cup winning team and led Pakistan to their 1999 World Cup final as well.

    His beloved wife Shaniera wished him on Twitter as well with a lovely post

    ICC congratulates the Former Pakistan skipper by sharing his tremendous performance from the 1992 world cup.

    Wasim Akram’s performance all over his career is the best example for the newcomers and debuted players. He took 916 international wickets and scored 6,615 runs. The only Pakistani bowler to take four hat-tricks in international cricket. His biggest achievement was being a member of a 1992 World Cup Winning squad.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Indian corona variant arrives in Karachi, 48 positive cases reported.

    Karachi, Pakistan,

    A single flight from a gulf country has brought 48 passengers, who have tested positive for Covid-19 upon their arrival in Karachi. The health authorities fear they might carry the Indian variant, reported news Tv channel on Friday.

    According to sources, 48 passengers who boarded a flight to Karachi from Oman were reported positive when  their rapid corona tests were conducted at the airport. The health authorities suspect the positive passengers might be carrying the most deadly Indian variant as they were coming from a Gulf country where a large number of the Indian were living.

    The health authorities have sent their samples of corona tests to the laboratory for examining in details. However, most of the positive passengers from the district south and east of Karachi. Some positive cases belong to Larkana and Hyderabad. While the rest from other parts of the country.

    Earlier, the proteins sequencing was done on the returnees of Iraq and Oman who were positive and it was found that they were carrying the Indian variant.

    The authorities stressed to keep a vigilant eye on people who are coming down here from abroad. The authorities have restricted these travelers at their homes so that they would not spread the virus in the community.

    The India variant is the fastest spreading and most aggressive kind of coronavirus as its transfer rate is extremely high.

    The Ministry of National Health Services has asked the airlines to strictly implement SOPs for inbound travelers, including presenting a mandatory test report from an authentic lab in the country of origin. The government has also conducting the rapid testing’s of international travelers to curb the spread of the virus.

    The ministry has further urged the general public to strictly observe advised precautionary measures to protect themselves. The government is also gear up its vaccination campaign to control this pandemic.

    On Tuesday, Sindh Health Secretary Kazim Jatoi confirmed the existence of five cases in the province infected by the Indian variant.

    Four cases belonged to Karachi and one belonged to Ghotki. Three Iraq returnees and one Muscat returnee had brought the Indian variant in Sindh, health secretary added.

    The provincial government was following the trace and track policy to rapid curb the spread.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Coachella music festival, return in April 2022

    California,

    The Coachella music festival in the Southern California desert will return for the first time in two years in April 2022, the organizer announced on Tuesday.

    The 20-year-old music festival, one of the largest in the world, was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers had previously worked to bring it back in October 2021, according to media reports, but that plan was canceled.

    The festival brings half a million fans to an open-air site in Indio, east of Los Angeles, over two weekends. The 2022 dates are the weekends of April 15-17 and April 22-24, organizer Golden-voice, a festival and concert company, said in a statement. Tickets go on sale on Friday.

    Performers for 2022 were not announced. The acts that were supposed to headline the 2020 lineup included Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine and Travis Scott.

    Stagecoach, a country music festival also held in Indio, will follow Coachella from April 29 to May 1.

    Live performances were canceled around the world amid the spread of COVID-19. They are starting to return in the US and other countries where vaccinations have increased and cases of the disease are on the decline.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • India, Rise in coronavirus infections, 132,788 new cases in past 24 hours.

    New Dehli, India,

    India on Wednesday reported a daily rise in new coronavirus infections of 132,788 cases over the past 24 hours, while deaths rose by 3,207.

    The South Asian nation’s tally of infections now stands at 28.3 million, while the death toll has reached 335,102, health ministry data showed.

    The South Asia region India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka accounts for 18% of global cases and almost 10% of deaths. But there is growing suspicion that official tallies of infections and deaths are not reflecting the true extent of the problem.

    Last month, India opened its coronavirus vaccination campaign to everyone aged 18 or older. However, it has not been able to meet vaccine demand despite being one of the biggest vaccine producers in the world.

    India has been vaccinate its people with the AstraZeneca vaccine produced locally at the Serum Institute of India (SII), Covaxin made by local firm Bharat Biotech and has begun rolling out Russia’s Sputnik V.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Two Iranian air-force pilots killed in accident.

    Dezful, Iran,

    Two Iranian fighter jet pilots were killed on Tuesday when their ejector seats activated before take-off, smashing them into the hangar roof.

    State broadcaster reported the F-5 fighter jet had a ‘technical problem’ that killed both the pilots, identified as Kianoush Basati and Hossein Namni.

    The report said the incident unfolded at Dezful Vahdati Air Force Base, approximately 270 miles south of the capital Tehran, and near the Iraq border.

    The accident happened before the F-5 plane they were in took off from the base in Dezful, the city’s governor Ali Farahmandpour was quoted as saying by state news agency.

    The airbase was closed off and the cause of the accident, initially described as “technical”, was being investigated, he added.

    Farahmandpour said there was no “air accident or crash” and that further details on what happened would be made public after the investigation, according to state television’s website.

    Iran’s armed forces still mainly use aircraft purchased before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, with years of international sanctions making it increasingly difficult to purchase parts for maintenance.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Badminton champ Mahoor Shahzad represents green crescent flag in Tokyo Olympics.

    Karachi, Pakistan

    Pakistan’s number one badminton player Mahoor Shahzad will be representing Pakistan in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. The Pakistan Olympic Association and Pakistan Badminton Federation wished her luck for the international sporting event.

    POA President Syed Arif Hassan congratulated Shahzad on making it to the Olympics and said that she is Pakistan’s number one badminton player and is rapidly improving her world rankings.

    “She deserves to participate in the Olympics,” he said.

    Shahzad is ranked amongst the top 133 women players in the world.

    This is the first time a Pakistani woman has been given an invitational place on the Olympics considering her international status and ranking.

    “My dream has come true. I can’t believe I will represent Pakistan in the Olympics. I will live up to expectations and raise the green crescent flag,” Shahzad said.

    She said that had she had the opportunity to participate in international events during the last one year, she would have been on the list of the world’s top 100 badminton players. She was not able to do this, however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Pakistan KPK first cryptocurrency Advisory Committee Dissolves

    Peshawar, Pakistan,

    The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Government Has Dissolved The Advisory Committee On Digital Assets As The Decision On Digital Currency Can Only Be Taken By The Federal Government. The KP government launched Pakistan’s first advisory committee for cryptocurrency and crypto mining, marking a major step for the province’s plans on formulating a set of laws to regulate the use of cryptocurrency and crypto mining. An inaugural meeting of the committee was also held.

    However, as per the provincial Science and Technology Department, the federal government has the prerogative over digital currency and therefore, the decision on digital currency and cryptocurrency will be taken by the center.

    “As per provisions of the Fourth Schedule, Article 70 (4) clause (8) currency, coinage and legal tender on the Federal Legislative List Part 1 of the Constitution of Pakistan is the sole prerogative of the Federal government. The currency includes metal, paper, plastic, digital etc. Whereas, the Digitization including Information Technology is the mandate of the IT board is being carried out by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board,” read the notification.

    Therefore, the Advisory Committee formed on 9th February, 2021 is withdrawn and the sub committees formed as a consequence stand dissolved. It added that the matter of Digital Assets at allied matters will be submitted for consideration of the Provincial Cabinet as per the rules of business of the provincial government. The statement said that Science and Technology Advisor Ziaullah Bangash has also resigned. It should be noted that media personality Waqar Zaka and other provincial members were among the members of the Advisory Committee.

     

     

    Read also,

    KP Government Appoints Waqar Zaka as Crypto Expert.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Single dose covid-19, Pakistan made vaccine “PAK-VAC” launch.

    Islamabad, Pakistan,

    Pakistan on Tuesday launched the coronavirus vaccine developed in the country with Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, saying the country will soon be able to start the production of the important drug.

    Speaking at the launch ceremony, Dr Faisal Sultan said that there is an opportunity in every difficulty. He also added that during the pandemic, China stood out as a friend of Pakistan.

    “China was already a friend and came forward when covid-19 hit Pakistan,” said Dr Sultan.

    He also appreciated the National Institute of Health (NIH) for developing the vaccine.

    Developing the vaccine from raw materials is not an easy task. We are proud of the people that developed the vaccine at the NIH,” said Dr Sultan.

    Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong, in his address, said that the vaccine’s production is an example of the friendship between the two countries.

    Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief Asad Umar remarked that today was an “important day.”

    Umar also spoke about the coronavirus situation of the country and said that the number of patients in hospitals was higher in the third wave compared to the first wave. He added that the number of patients on oxygen support was 60% more than it was during the first wave.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Glimmer of life and choices to shine over rubble in Gaza.

    Gaza, Palestine,

    A family in Gaza Strip celebrates the birthday of their young boy over the rubble of one of the many buildings demolished by Israel aerial bombing.

    A lot of children in Gaza have lost one or more of their loved ones and the recent terrorism by Israel in the Gaza strip has indeed left some of the deepest traumas on children living there.

    Palestinians amidst such dark times, still ensure they gather whatever glimmer that teem of life and choices they have to shine on their children.

    This might not help them live a normal childhood but does help to retain their tenderness.

    The picture of birthday celebration is gone viral on social media which depicts sentiment as it shows how a group of children have come together to celebrate the birthday of their friend, The birthday boy is smiling in the picture while surrounded by his friends and father who are serenading to him the birthday song.

    In the background, the picture also shows concrete rubble from the building that was demolished by the Israeli missile attacks.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • First human case of infection with H10N3 strain, China NHC

    Zhenjiang, China

    A 41-year-old man in China’s eastern province of Jiangsu has been confirmed as the first human case of infection with the H10N3 strain of bird flu, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) said on Tuesday.

    The man, a resident of the city of Zhenjiang, was hospitalized on April 28 after developing a fever and other symptoms, the NHC said in a statement.

    He was diagnosed as having the H10N3 avian influenza virus on May 28, it said, but did not give details on how the man had been infected with the virus.

    The man was stable and ready to be discharged from hospital. Medical observation of his close contacts had not found any other cases.

    H10N3 is a low pathogenic, or relatively less severe, strain of the virus in poultry and the risk of it spreading on a large scale was very low, the NHC added.

    The strain is “not a very common virus,” said Filip Claes, regional laboratory coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases at the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

    Only around 160 isolates of the virus were reported in the 40 years to 2018, mostly in wild birds or waterfowl in Asia and some limited parts of North America, and none had been detected in chickens so far, he added.

    Analyzing the genetic data of the virus will be necessary to determine whether it resembles older viruses or if it is a novel mix of different viruses, Claes said.

    Many different strains of avian influenza are present in China and some sporadically infect people, usually those working with poultry. There have been no significant numbers of human infections with bird flu since the H7N9 strain killed around 300 people during 2016-2017.

    No other cases of human infection with H10N3 have previously been reported globally, the NHC said.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Kashmiris in Europe marks 2 weeks martyrs days during G7 summit.

    Matiullah, Berlin,

    Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe has announced protests to mark Martyrs’ Days from June 1 to June 15 on the occasion of G-7 summit.

    A condolence reference was organized by Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe in memory of Muhammad Ashraf Sohrai, chairman of Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir, a living legend and martyr of Tehreek-e-Azadi.

    Addressing a condolence reference, Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe President Muhammad Ghalib said that after the withdrawal of England from Europe, all communities, including Tehreek-e-Kashmir, have additional responsibilities to portray the Kashmir issue to the European Union and human rights organizations.

    There is an urgent need to raise Kashmir issue among the youth living in Europe so that they can present it in the best possible way in seminars in colleges and universities.

    Ghulam Muhammad Safi, leader of Kashmir Europe Movement, was the special guest of condolence reference, said that Indian forces imposed unannounced curfew in Jammu and Kashmir Valley last year and made changes in the constitution in anger of Kashmir’s sovereignty. Human rights Violations in Kashmir continued and Indian authorities made a paradise in to open air prison.

    Leaders of Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe and various human rights organizations expressed their views in a condolence reference held through Zoom.

    At the Zoom Conference, Muhammad Ghalib, Fahim Kayani, Farooq Baig, Riaz Ghuman and other leaders of European countries and Kashmir-related movements have appealed that England is no longer a member of the European Union.

    The Kashmir issue used to be highlighted there but now the representation of England in EU is completely gone. The Indian lobby gets the clear field for propaganda as there is no representation from England in EU.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Saudi collecting Chinese vaccine procedures data.

    Jeddah, KSA,

    Pakistan’s ambassadors to Saudi Arabia, Bilal Akbar, met with community members and journalists at Pakistan consulate in Jeddah.

    According to ambassador, Saudi official were collecting data on Chinese vaccine procedures. Saudi officials have also traveled to China for this purpose.

    A decision will be made regarding travelling after satisfaction with the effects of the Chinese vaccine.

    According to Bilal Akber, “Saudi officials also said that vaccine companies in Europe have already given access to the vaccine procedure and we are satisfied”. China has provided this facility and is working on it.

    “There will be some progress in the next few days or weeks”, Ambassador, Bilal Akbar added.

    Work needs to be done for a true picture of the Covid-19 situation in Pakistan. While the situation in Pakistan is rapidly returning to normal comparatively the situation in other countries is worsening, ambassador added.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Trade and tourism resume’s on Pak-China border with strict SOPs.

    Gilgil Baltistan, Pakistan,

    The Pak-China Border on Gilgit-Baltistan has been reopened for all kinds of trade and tourism activities after a closure of almost one and a half years due to fears of Covid-19 pandemic, reported Pakistan local News Tv Channel.

    The Pak-China border on Gilgit-Baltistan was closed for every kind of trade and tourism activity since 2019 in an effort to contain coronavirus spread. The border closure caused severe economic hardships for traders of not only GB but all over the country.

    In a notification released by the federal ministry for foreign affairs on Monday, it was stated that the Chinese embassy had informed about the reopening of the border (from Chinses side) for every kind of trade and tourism goings-on.

    The border area from the Pakistani side of Gilgit-Baltistan is also being reopened with stringent standard operating procedures in place, the notification said.

    The trader community has hailed both governments decision regarding the reopening of the border.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • PASNY organize anti Hate Crime dialogue in Long Island.

    Long Island, New York,

    The Pakistani American Society of New York’s-PASNY held an anti-hate crime dialogue at a local hotel on Long Island. This dialogue brings together the Muslim, American, Jewish and Christian communities.

    Participants strongly condemned the ongoing hate crimes against Muslims across the US and called on authorities to end hate crimes as soon as possible.

    Phil Ramos, the special guest of the ceremony, told the participants that people of all faiths have the right to live in complete freedom. Phil Ramos is the first Member of Parliament to speak out on behalf of the Palestinians.

    On this occasion, Ashraf Azmi, a well-known social figure of the Pakistani community, said that our community is facing hate crime due to some evil elements. We strongly condemn these crimes.

    US officials and other community figures involved in the dialogue said that there is no place for hate crime in the US. Hate crimes against Muslims and minorities must stop.

    At the end of the program, the PASNY thanked all participants for their participation.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Muhammad Bin Salman Football League played in Riyadh.

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

    The final of the Muhammad Bin Salman Football League was played between Al-Hilal and Al-Faisalia Club at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

    A large number of people came to the stadium to watch the final match

    Both teams scored one goal each in the first half of the final match, but Al-Hilal scored two more goals in the second half, while Al-Faisalia’s players could only score one goal in the second half.

    After a thrilling contest, Al-Hilal Club won the final match by three goals to two

    At the colorful closing ceremony, Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal presented the trophy to Al-Hilal Club, followed by a spectacular fireworks display.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Jia Ali’s tied knot with Hong Kong based businessman Imran Idrees.

    Lahore, Pakistan,

    Pakistani actress Jia Ali tied the knot with Imran Idrees, a Pakistani businessman from Hong Kong and a leader of the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf.

    This is a phase of turning point of actress Jia’s life, when she exhilarated to start a new chapter with a person she deems worthy of spending the remaining years of her life. The actress surely looked young but she is a 48-year-old.

    Imran Idrees is managing director at Imran Sports International, Hong Kong. He is also a founder of the United Cricket Club, Hong Kong and is famous for his passion for cricket and humanitarian works. He has been a member of PTI Hong Kong since 1998.

    Optimistically two lonely aged human beings found each other compatible and decided to spend the remaining years of their lives together. Jia and Imran have best of luck and may they find each other’s companionship enjoyable.

    Jia Ali is known for her roles in dramas Band Khirkyon Key Peechey, Hum Tehray Gunahgaqar, Pukaar and Meer Abru.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Ceasefire along LoC led to peace, Indian army chief.

    New Dehli,

    Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has said that the restoration of ceasefire in February between Indian and Pakistani militaries along the Line of Control (LoC) is holding and contributed to the overall sense of peace and well-being in border areas, reported News TV channel.

    According to Hindustan Times on Sunday, Indian Army Chief Naravane said: “This is the first step on the long road to normalization of ties between the two countries. We would like the ceasefire to continue. It has definitely led to an improvement in the security situation and benefited civilians living in the forward areas.”

    In a surprise development, Indian and Pakistani militaries announced on February 25 that they had begun observing a ceasefire along the LoC from midnight of February 24. India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire on the LoC in November 2003, but it was frequently violated.

    However, the Indian army chief also vowed that “Counterterrorism operations will continue.’

    Peace along the LoC is mutually beneficial, Naravane said. “The population living on either side suffers due to violence along the LoC. I am sure the Pakistan army is also concerned about the population and hopefully the ceasefire will hold,” the Indian army chief said.

    After February 24, there has been a solitary instance of cross-border firing along the LoC between the Indian Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • PML-N workers celebrate Yom e Takbir in Brooklyn New York.

    Brooklyn, New York,

    Yom e Takbir celebrations organized at a local Brooklyn restaurant begin with a recitation of the Quran.

    Later, recitations of Naat were offered to Rehmat-ul-Aalamin.

    The chief guest of the function was PML-N Punjab President and former Law Minister Rana Sanaullah telephonic addressed to the workers.

    According to Rana Sanaullah, Nawaz Sharif made Pakistan, nuclear power by allowing to detonating a nuclear bomb, today, no enemy can look on the country, PML-N will not be afraid by the political revenges. We will dismiss the selected government by the power of the people

    PML-N US President Rohail Dar, PML-N New York President Ahmed Jan, General Secretary Rana Saeed, PML-N USA leader Raja Razzaq, PML-N leader Danish Malik, Col (retd) Maqbool and other members of the Pakistani community and business Personalities also participated.

    In their speeches, PML-N President Rohail Dar, PML-N New York President Ahmed Jan and General Secretary Rana Saeed said that on May 28, 1998, Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif allowed to carry out the successful nuclear tests, despite international pressure. Thus, after five major nuclear explosions, Pakistan became the seventh nuclear power capable nation in the world and the first in the Islamic world.

    On the occasion, PML-N leaders Raja Razzaq and Danish Malik also addressed the participants. He said that Mian Nawaz Sharif made the country unconquerable by allowing detonating a nuclear bomb. Decision of Nawaz Sharif on May 28, 1998 secured the future of next generations and this achievement will be remembered forever.

    A cake was cut on the occasion of Yom Takbir and slogans of “Long live Takbir”, “Long live Nawaz Sharif” and “Long live Pakistan” were chanted.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Leading Hollywood writers invited in online AFS workshops.

    Islamabad,

    With an aim to facilitate Pakistani students and enhance the capacity of the Pakistani film industry, renowned Hollywood screenwriters, professors of cinematic arts, and other professionals were invited by the US Mission to Pakistan, local news publisher reported on Saturday.

    The prolific Hollywood writers include Janet Batchler (writer for Batman Forever and Pompei), Irving Belateche (best-selling author, screenwriter, and professor of cinematic arts), and Donald Bohlinger (award-winning screenwriter and lecturer).

    The five-day online workshops were attended by film and mass communication students from universities across Pakistan, including the National College of Arts, Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, Fatimah Jinnah Women University, University of Peshawar, and Gilgit University.

    The collaboration was part of the American Film Showcase (AFS), the premier American film diplomacy program connecting American filmmakers with their counterparts in more than 40 countries.

    AFS is a partnership between the US Department of State and the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

    The workshops are part of the US Mission to Pakistan’s efforts to help develop the capacity of the film industry in Pakistan.

    “The US Mission is proud to provide connections for Pakistani filmmakers with recognized American experts in the film industry,” said US Embassy Chargé d’affaires Angela P. Aggeler.

    “By sharing stories and experiences through film, we can build mutual cooperation and understanding between our two countries.”

    Speaking about the workshops, US filmmaker Irving Belateche said: “Strengthening the voices of the next generation of filmmakers in Pakistan allows for Pakistan’s unique stories to be told. Film preserves and elevates the culture and personal narratives, and provides a platform for a diverse range of voices.”

    Collaborating with US Embassies, each year AFS sends American filmmakers and film experts around the world to hold screenings, master classes, workshops, and press engagements.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Delhi announces gradually eases in lockdown.

    New Dehli,

    Indian authorities on Friday announced a tentative easing of the lockdown in the capital New Delhi as Covid-19 infections fall in major cities after weeks of restrictions.

    Rural areas of the country are now seeing the brunt of a surge in cases that has overwhelmed the health care system and killed at least 160,000 people since the start of March.

    Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s chief minister, said that from Monday construction work and factories can resume, “keeping the poorest section of our society, the laborer’s and daily wage workers, in mind”.

    “We are starting the process of reopening very, very slowly. We will reassess it after a week based on experts and people’s opinions,” he added.

    Daily infections reported across India have more than halved from more than 400,000 earlier this month, according to official statistics.

    Deaths per day have also fallen but by much less, with 3,660 reported on Friday in the previous 24 hours. This is widely seen as a major underestimate.

    Delhi reported Friday about 1,100 new infections, down from about 25,000 daily cases when the lockdown was announced six weeks earlier.

    Even as he announced reopening from Monday, Kejriwal urged people of Delhi to “not step out of your homes unnecessarily”.

    “This is a very sensitive time and we have to function with responsibility so that we can together save our Delhi and our country,” he said.

    The devastating surge was blamed on new virus variants and the government having allowed most activity to return to normal including mass religious and political gatherings.

    Coronavirus patients died in droves outside hospitals or at home because of a lack of beds, medical oxygen and drugs, prompting a flood of desperate pleas on social media.

    Since mid-April thousands of Covid-19 patients have also contracted the often deadly and usually very rare infection mucormycosis, or “black fungus”.

    Many other parts of India including the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are now also considering easing restrictions on activity.

    India’s vaccination program is making only slow progress due to shortages meanwhile, confusion between the central government and state authorities.

    So far about 160 million people, equivalent to only 12.5 percent of the Indian population, have received one dose, and 45 million, or 3.4 percent, two shots.

    India’s information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said the vaccination process would be completed by the end of the year.

    “Last week, the health ministry gave details in their press conference. They said that about 216 crore (2.16 billion) vaccine doses will be available by December. 108 crore (1.08 billion) people will be vaccinated,” the minister said.

    “They (the health ministry) also shared a breakdown of vaccines that will be available both locally manufactured and those that will come from outside,” Javadekar added.

    The crisis has put Prime Minister Narendra Modi under severe pressure, with critics accusing his government of being more focused on deflecting criticism than the pandemic.

    “I would request him (Modi) to stop worrying about his image and start worrying about the problem in front of him,” Rahul Gandhi from the main opposition Congress party said Friday.

    “Which is now killing people and will probably end up killing millions of people.”

     

    Read also

    India’s Unique wedding, plane booked to avoid covid-19 restrictions.

     

    India, over 240,000 test positive in 24 hours

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Demonstrations in US against Israeli aggression and brutal occupation of Palestine.

    Manhattan, New York,

    A protest was held in the Manhattan area in New York on the request of the Islamic Circle of North America in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The protest was attended by various organizations including Majlis-e-Shura, Mona Mass Care and human rights organizations.

    Demonstrators held placards and chanted slogans against Israeli aggression. Demonstrators also chanted slogans against Israel and in favor of Palestinian peoples freedom.

    Demonstrators criticized the US government for providing large-scale aid to Israel.

    On the occasion, ICNA New York President Arshad Jamal said that one day the Palestinians will definitely celebrate their Independence Day.

    The children and adults, in the protest, continued to raise their voices in favor of the Palestinians.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.