- Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity rate jumps to 7.51% as virus spread spirals out of control
Coronavirus positivity rate in Pakistan exceeds 7.5%. Daily case count doubles in two days after NCOC reports 3,752 new COVID-19 cases. The number of active cases is 57,799.
- Major cities to vaccinate 40pc of population by end of August
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said over 25 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered in Pakistan and all major cities of the country were aiming to vaccinate 40pc of the eligible population by the end of August.
- Injured rape victim breathes her last at Pindi hospital
A 30-year-old woman, who was allegedly raped and later stabbed in front of her 14-month-old son, died after struggling for her life in the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.
The victim’s son Gulfam was also stabbed at the crime scene and later passed away while being shifted to the hospital.
- Door-to-door Covid vaccination drive to start in 4 KP districts
The inoculation drive is being launched on the recommendation of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Peshawar, and Mardan on July 28 to cover at least 40 percent target population by the middle of August.
Officials told this scribe that those districts had been selected on the basis of more population and infectivity. They said that those districts were hubs of commercial activities and visited by more people.
- PPP wins Sindh-Balochistan seat of AJK assembly
The Pakistan People’s Party-Azad Jammu and Kashmir (PPP-AJK) on Sunday night emerged victorious on an Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly seat, LA-40, reserved for refugees of occupied valley living in 24 districts of Sindh and Balochistan.
According to unofficial results, PPP-AJK candidate Amir Abdul Ghaffar Lone won the election by bagging 2,165 votes against Saleem Butt of rival Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-AJK who got 875 votes followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Tahir Ali Wani (442).
- Scottish climber killed in avalanche in Karakoram Range
The world’s second-highest peak K2 claimed the life of another climber on Sunday.
According to Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Secretary Karrar Haidri, Scottish mountaineer Rick Allen was attempting to open a new route on the southern face of K2 when he was killed by an avalanche.
The 52-year-old climber was part of a three-member team attempting to summit the 8,611-meter peak in the Karakoram Range.
- Polling for AJK election held amidst complaints of rigging in Punjab
At least 25 polling stations had been set up in Lahore for two seats – LA-34 Jammu-I and LA-41 Valley-II. The number of total votes for the two seats was 9,131.
Stringent security arrangements had been made to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the voters and 850 policemen, led by six deputy police officers (DSPs), were deployed outside the polling stations.
The opposition parties, however, alleged that the district administration and polling staff helped the ruling party (PTI) rig the polls at many places.
- Air strikes in support of Afghan troops to go on: US general
The United States will continue airstrikes in support of Afghan forces fighting the Taliban, a top US general said on Sunday, as the insurgents press on with offensives across the country. “The United States has increased airstrikes in the support of Afghan forces over the last several days, and we are prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks,” General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the US Army Central Command, told reporters in Kabul.
- UK minister apologizes for ‘cower’ Covid remark
British health minister Sajid Javid apologized for and deleted a tweet urging people to take a Covid-19 vaccine and not to “cower” from the virus, saying he had made “a poor choice of the word”.
- Death toll from India floods, landslides rises to 127
The country’s western coast has been inundated by torrential rains since Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department warning of further downpours over the next few days.
Flooding and landslides are common during India’s treacherous monsoon season, which also often sees poorly constructed buildings buckle after days of non-stop rain.
Experts say climate change has caused the annual deluge to increase in frequency and intensity.
- Al Qaeda present in 15 Afghan provinces: UN
Al Qaeda is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces, primarily in the eastern, southern, and southeastern regions, says a United Nations report prepared for the Security Council.
- West Indies, Pakistan agree to four-match T20 series
The two boards — who had initially planned a five-match T20 series — were forced into the alteration to the scheduled tour dates after West Indies’ current ODI series against Australia was rocked by a positive Covid-19 test which saw Thursday’s second match suspended.
It was finally played on Saturday with the third and final match pushed back to Monday — one day before the scheduled opener against Pakistan.
The revised dates allow for an opener in Barbados on Wednesday with three further matches in Guyana.
COVID-19 Updates
- With 3,752 new COVID-19 cases, 32 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours
- 57,799 COVID-19 cases are active in the country
- The total death tally of Covid-19 stands at 23,048
- 1,641 people recovered from Coronavirus in the last 24 hours
- The positivity rate of Covid-19 is recorded at 7.5%
- Over 195.1 million are infected globally
- More than 4.1 million have died due to the virus
- Over 170 million recovered from COVID-19
- KP reports highest daily cases in over a month
- Islamabad, GB and AJK collectively report 513 Covid-19 infections
- Punjab reports 556 cases, 5 deaths
- Pakistan reports 1,641 coronavirus recoveries
- Jill Biden calls on unvaccinated in Hawaii to get shots
- Coronavirus on rise in eastern Chinese city of Nanjing
- Australia’s Victoria eyes Covid-19 lockdown exit as cases fall
