Court excuses Hamza’s absence from Ramzan Sugar Mill hearing

LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday accepted Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shahbaz’s plea to excuse him for skipping today’s hearing of the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

Accountability Judge Amjad Nazir directed jail authorities to present him at the next hearing on December 7.

Also Read: Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza released from Kot Lakhpat jail

Hamza’s lawyer stated before the court that his client has been released from prison on five-day parole to attend the funeral of his grandmother Begum Shamim Akhtar and receive people coming to offer their condolences.

The judge expressing resentment over the accused’s absence asked who visits in the morning to extend condolences? Hamza should have appeared, he remarked.

Also Read: Rs9.5bn money laundering detected in Ramazan Sugar Mills: Shahzad Akbar

The counsel requested the judge to excuse his client’s absence as there is only one day left before he returns to prison.

On November 27, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz were released from Kot Lakhpat Jail on a five-day parole.

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Two cars developed for first-ever contest on Moon surface in 2021

Two remote-controlled race cars will be landed on the lunar surface which will be driven by high school students for the first-ever race on Moon in 2021.

Moon Mark, an entertainment and education company, is sponsoring the race that will see teams of students compete to design and drive one of two racers.

The winning teams will then work with McLaren P1 designer Frank Stephenson to create a vehicle that will race across the low-gravity environment of the Moon, Dailymail UK reported.

The cars will be launched to the Moon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and descend to the surface inside the first privately developed lunar lander.

In the interesting contest of eight weeks of qualifying by high-schoolers from around the world, six teams of five members will compete to become the final two that race on the Moon.

Those challenges included e-gaming, drone racing and a space commercialisation entrepreneurship contest until a final two teams were confirmed.

Their adventures will be captured, produced and globally distributed by Moon Mark so people can follow their progress on the run up to the October launch.

The two racers will deploy on the Moon via the Nova-C lander by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, following a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch in late 2021.

It is a heavy load going to the lunar surface – each car will weight 5.5lb and the lander to get them to the surface will weigh another 6.6lb – a total of 17.6lb.

While the cost of the launch hasn’t been revealed – other firms quote $544,000 per lb to send objects to the Moon – a nearly $10 million cost.

The Nova-C lander is the ‘first lunar lander wholly developed by a private company’ and is expected to touch down in the Oceanus Procellarum.

The lander is heading to the Moon next year to survey the grand canyon-sized Schröter’s Valley but will deploy the pair of race cars at the same time.

The final two teams of students will complete the racer designs in Houston, Texas, before being loaded onto the lander that will transport them to the Moon.

Moon Mark is working with a number of private space firms, including Lunar Outpost who have expertise in developing lunar rover vehicles.

The final track and layout on the Moon hasn’t been confirmed by the Moon Mark team but it is being designed by Hermann Tilke – who has designed all the recent Formula One tracks around the world.

If the Nova-C lander successfully touches down on the Moon it will be the first private spacecraft to do so – and one of only a few projects to succeed.

So far only the US, China and Russia have made a successful soft landing on the lunar surface – others have tried including India – but missions have failed to land safely or have been lost.

Assuming Nova-C lands safely, not only will this be the first race on the surface of the Moon, but will also be the first private landing – potentially spearheading a new commercial Moon race.

The Moon is back in the global news due to China sending a mission to bring back rock samples from the lunar surface – due to return in December, and the US sending the first woman and next man to the surface by 2024.

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SHC bans entry of irrelevant people amid COVID-19 spike

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday slapped a ban on the entrance of irrelevant people in the court premises as part of precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

According to the administration of the SHC, irrelevant people and lawyers have been directed not to enter the court premises without any cogent reason.

Staff and lawyers scheduled for hearings can only appear before the court and the relevant parties in cases can only appear before the court if they have been specifically summoned.

Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,458 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours.

Read more: Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,091. 1,863 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,165 patients are in critical condition.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases reaches up to 5.9 per cent during 24 hours. The total count of active cases increased up to 49,105.

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SHC bans entry of irrelevant people amid COVID-19 spike

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday slapped a ban on the entrance of irrelevant people in the court premises as part of precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

According to the administration of the SHC, irrelevant people and lawyers have been directed not to enter the court premises without any cogent reason.

Staff and lawyers scheduled for hearings can only appear before the court and the relevant parties in cases can only appear before the court if they have been specifically summoned.

Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,458 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours.

Read more: Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,091. 1,863 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,165 patients are in critical condition.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases reaches up to 5.9 per cent during 24 hours. The total count of active cases increased up to 49,105.

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FBR achieves five-month tax target

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has achieved its five-month target with a total tax collection of Rs1.686 trillion during the first half (July-November) of this fiscal year.

The revenue machinery’s tax collection in November stood at Rs346 billion, falling short of the set target of Rs348 billion. However, it recorded more than 3 per cent year-on-year growth from Rs335 billion collected in the same month last year.

Also Read: FBR felicitates historic quarterly tax collection exceeding Rs1tr mark

The tax body collected Rs1.686 trillion during July-November exceeding the projected target of Rs1.669 trillion by Rs17billion.

Income tax collection stood at Rs109bn as against the projected target of Rs130 billion in the month under review. Sales tax collection rose 14pc to Rs173bn in November from Rs152bn in the same month last year.

Also Read: Pakistan’s foreign direct investment up 151% to $317.4m in October

The federal excise duty (FED) collection fell by 18pc to Rs23bn as against Rs27bn projected target. Customs collection increased by 4pc to Rs57 bn as against the set target of Rs49bn.

FBR was able to amass a revenue of Rs1004 billion (Rs1.004 trillion) in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, exceeding the projected target of Rs970 billion.

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Police officer, paramedic save drowning woman by jumping into freezing cold canal

An unconscious woman has been saved from drowning by a heroic police officer and paramedic who rescued her by jumped into a freezing cold canal in Nottingham.

The police released bodycam footage of the rescue which showed the police constable Lee Lane and an East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic, who wishes to remain anonymous, were pulling the woman out of the canal.

It showed that other police officers running to the scene to help PC Lee Lane and the paramedic pull her out of the water

According to Dailymail UK, the officers were called to rescue the woman who fell into the Nottingham Canal near London Road on Saturday, November 21.

The heroic police officer said that he saw the drowning woman lose consciousness as he was running towards the canal. ‘I could see the woman struggling to keep her head above the murky water. As we ran closer she then became unconscious and was drowning,’ he said.

‘As I was running towards her with the paramedic I took my Taser vest and stab vest off before we both jumped in the water. I was just thinking we had to get to her before she died.’

The paramedic reached the woman first, but in a joint effort, PC Lane helped lift her onto his shoulders and bring her to safety.

PC Lane added: ‘The water was freezing cold and I didn’t realise how deep it was, with the water coming up to my shoulder. The paramedic grabbed hold of her first but was struggling to pull her. I managed to put her on my shoulders and we were then able to drag her out of the water to safety.’

‘She was really cold and pale. My colleagues were able to provide first aid and clear the water from her lungs as she regained consciousness. We then covered her with a blanket to keep her warm until the ambulance arrived.’

The EMAS paramedic, who ran to the scene after being flagged down by a member of the public, said: ‘When I arrived I could see that the woman was already in the water and I could see that she was starting to go under.’

‘Myself and the police officer realised that she would not resurface and both of us knew then that we had to jump in to rescue her.

‘Despite how cold the water would have felt, I didn’t feel it at the time because my ultimate goal was to save this woman, so the adrenaline had kicked in.’

The woman was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre for treatment and was later discharged.

PC Lane has served with the force for just over three years and is a response officer based at Byron House. He and the unnamed EMAS paramedic have now been put forward for a future Nottinghamshire Police Award in recognition of their brave actions.

PC Lane’s colleagues who helped at the scene were PCs Cai Bawden, Matthew Bower, Lawrence Verney and Leah Madhani.

Inspector John Lees, of Nottinghamshire Police, said that it was an exemplary piece of work by all of the officers involved, working together to save the woman in very challenging circumstances. He added that PC Lane’s and his paramedic colleague’s quick-thinking actions undoubtedly saved the woman’s life.

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California at COVID-19 ‘tipping point’ as Trump administration hopes for vaccines by Christmas

LOS ANGELES: California’s governor said on Monday the state was at a “tipping point” in the COVID-19 pandemic that would soon overwhelm hospitals as political leaders nationwide turn to increasingly aggressive measures to hold back the latest surge.

Governor Gavin Newsom said he may clamp new “stay-at-home” orders on California’s roughly 40 million residents in the face of infections and hospitalizations that are still rising weeks before emergency vaccines are predicted for release.

“(California) has worked hard to prepare for a surge – but we can’t sustain the record high cases we’re seeing,” Newsom said on Twitter. “Current projections show CA will run out of current ICU beds before Christmas Eve.

The governor told reporters discussions were underway among state health officials over the potential stay-at-home order. He expects to issue a decision in the next day or two.

Last week he ordered a daily curfew barring social gatherings and other non-essential activities across most of the state between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily.

Newsom, who has largely banned indoor dining in the state, has apologized after photos surfaced of the first-term Democrat eating dinner with 11 other people, including a prominent lobbyist, at a French restaurant near Napa. None wore masks.

More than 4.2 million new COVID-19 infections and 36,000 COVID-19 related deaths were reported across the United States in November, according to a Reuters tally. Hospitalizations are at a pandemic high and deaths the most in six months.

Nearly 93,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, up 11% from last week and double the number reported a month ago, according to a Reuters analysis of state and county public health reports.

Americans who have endured eight months of restrictions, lockdown and business closures in the face of the pandemic are pinning their hopes on vaccines developed by drug companies Pfizer Inc and Moderna that are awaiting U.S. government approval for emergency use.

VACCINES BY CHRISTMAS?

US Health Secretary Alex Azar said Pfizer’s medication could be authorized and shipped within days of a Dec. 10 meeting of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration.

Moderna’s vaccine could follow a week later, Azar said, after the company announced on Monday it would apply for emergency authorization both in the US and Europe.

“So we could be seeing both of these vaccines out and getting into people’s arms before Christmas,” Azar said on CBS’ “This Morning.”

Health officials in many states say that even after the vaccines are approved the rollout to Americans nationwide could be slowed by shortages of personal protective equipment and other factors.

The non-partisan Government Accountability Office reported on Monday that some diagnostic test kits and accompanying reagents, as well as PPE are hard to come by “due to a supply chain with limited domestic production and high global demand.”

In Los Angeles, health officials on Friday banned all public and private gatherings for at least three weeks and urged residents to stay home as much as possible.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday ordered all elective surgeries to cease in one county and told hospitals statewide to plan on increasing their capacity by 50% if necessary or set up and staff field hospitals.

“Hospital capacity is the top concern,” Cuomo said.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that as of Saturday he was re-tightening the limit on most outdoor gatherings to 25 people.

Murphy, who has brought back a series of COVID-19 restrictions in recent weeks, also said all indoor youth and adult sports will be put on hold from Dec. 5 through Jan. 2, 2021, also with exemptions.

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SHC bans entry of irrelevant people amid COVID-19 spike

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday slapped a ban on the entrance of irrelevant people in the court premises as part of precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

According to the administration of the SHC, irrelevant people and lawyers have been directed not to enter the court premises without any cogent reason.

Staff and lawyers scheduled for hearings can only appear before the court and the relevant parties in cases can only appear before the court if they have been specifically summoned.

Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,458 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours.

Read more: Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,091. 1,863 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,165 patients are in critical condition.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases reaches up to 5.9 per cent during 24 hours. The total count of active cases increased up to 49,105.

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FBR achieves five-month tax target

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has achieved its five-month target with a total tax collection of Rs1.686 trillion during the first half (July-November) of this fiscal year.

The revenue machinery’s tax collection in November stood at Rs346 billion, falling short of the set target of Rs348 billion. However, it recorded more than 3 per cent year-on-year growth from Rs335 billion collected in the same month last year.

Also Read: FBR felicitates historic quarterly tax collection exceeding Rs1tr mark

The tax body collected Rs1.686 trillion during July-November exceeding the projected target of Rs1.669 trillion by Rs17billion.

Income tax collection stood at Rs109bn as against the projected target of Rs130 billion in the month under review. Sales tax collection rose 14pc to Rs173bn in November from Rs152bn in the same month last year.

Also Read: Pakistan’s foreign direct investment up 151% to $317.4m in October

The federal excise duty (FED) collection fell by 18pc to Rs23bn as against Rs27bn projected target. Customs collection increased by 4pc to Rs57 bn as against the set target of Rs49bn.

FBR was able to amass a revenue of Rs1004 billion (Rs1.004 trillion) in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, exceeding the projected target of Rs970 billion.

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Police officer, paramedic save drowning woman by jumping into freezing cold canal

An unconscious woman has been saved from drowning by a heroic police officer and paramedic who rescued her by jumped into a freezing cold canal in Nottingham.

The police released bodycam footage of the rescue which showed the police constable Lee Lane and an East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic, who wishes to remain anonymous, were pulling the woman out of the canal.

It showed that other police officers running to the scene to help PC Lee Lane and the paramedic pull her out of the water

According to Dailymail UK, the officers were called to rescue the woman who fell into the Nottingham Canal near London Road on Saturday, November 21.

The heroic police officer said that he saw the drowning woman lose consciousness as he was running towards the canal. ‘I could see the woman struggling to keep her head above the murky water. As we ran closer she then became unconscious and was drowning,’ he said.

‘As I was running towards her with the paramedic I took my Taser vest and stab vest off before we both jumped in the water. I was just thinking we had to get to her before she died.’

The paramedic reached the woman first, but in a joint effort, PC Lane helped lift her onto his shoulders and bring her to safety.

PC Lane added: ‘The water was freezing cold and I didn’t realise how deep it was, with the water coming up to my shoulder. The paramedic grabbed hold of her first but was struggling to pull her. I managed to put her on my shoulders and we were then able to drag her out of the water to safety.’

‘She was really cold and pale. My colleagues were able to provide first aid and clear the water from her lungs as she regained consciousness. We then covered her with a blanket to keep her warm until the ambulance arrived.’

The EMAS paramedic, who ran to the scene after being flagged down by a member of the public, said: ‘When I arrived I could see that the woman was already in the water and I could see that she was starting to go under.’

‘Myself and the police officer realised that she would not resurface and both of us knew then that we had to jump in to rescue her.

‘Despite how cold the water would have felt, I didn’t feel it at the time because my ultimate goal was to save this woman, so the adrenaline had kicked in.’

The woman was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre for treatment and was later discharged.

PC Lane has served with the force for just over three years and is a response officer based at Byron House. He and the unnamed EMAS paramedic have now been put forward for a future Nottinghamshire Police Award in recognition of their brave actions.

PC Lane’s colleagues who helped at the scene were PCs Cai Bawden, Matthew Bower, Lawrence Verney and Leah Madhani.

Inspector John Lees, of Nottinghamshire Police, said that it was an exemplary piece of work by all of the officers involved, working together to save the woman in very challenging circumstances. He added that PC Lane’s and his paramedic colleague’s quick-thinking actions undoubtedly saved the woman’s life.

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California at COVID-19 ‘tipping point’ as Trump administration hopes for vaccines by Christmas

LOS ANGELES: California’s governor said on Monday the state was at a “tipping point” in the COVID-19 pandemic that would soon overwhelm hospitals as political leaders nationwide turn to increasingly aggressive measures to hold back the latest surge.

Governor Gavin Newsom said he may clamp new “stay-at-home” orders on California’s roughly 40 million residents in the face of infections and hospitalizations that are still rising weeks before emergency vaccines are predicted for release.

“(California) has worked hard to prepare for a surge – but we can’t sustain the record high cases we’re seeing,” Newsom said on Twitter. “Current projections show CA will run out of current ICU beds before Christmas Eve.

The governor told reporters discussions were underway among state health officials over the potential stay-at-home order. He expects to issue a decision in the next day or two.

Last week he ordered a daily curfew barring social gatherings and other non-essential activities across most of the state between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily.

Newsom, who has largely banned indoor dining in the state, has apologized after photos surfaced of the first-term Democrat eating dinner with 11 other people, including a prominent lobbyist, at a French restaurant near Napa. None wore masks.

More than 4.2 million new COVID-19 infections and 36,000 COVID-19 related deaths were reported across the United States in November, according to a Reuters tally. Hospitalizations are at a pandemic high and deaths the most in six months.

Nearly 93,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, up 11% from last week and double the number reported a month ago, according to a Reuters analysis of state and county public health reports.

Americans who have endured eight months of restrictions, lockdown and business closures in the face of the pandemic are pinning their hopes on vaccines developed by drug companies Pfizer Inc and Moderna that are awaiting U.S. government approval for emergency use.

VACCINES BY CHRISTMAS?

US Health Secretary Alex Azar said Pfizer’s medication could be authorized and shipped within days of a Dec. 10 meeting of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration.

Moderna’s vaccine could follow a week later, Azar said, after the company announced on Monday it would apply for emergency authorization both in the US and Europe.

“So we could be seeing both of these vaccines out and getting into people’s arms before Christmas,” Azar said on CBS’ “This Morning.”

Health officials in many states say that even after the vaccines are approved the rollout to Americans nationwide could be slowed by shortages of personal protective equipment and other factors.

The non-partisan Government Accountability Office reported on Monday that some diagnostic test kits and accompanying reagents, as well as PPE are hard to come by “due to a supply chain with limited domestic production and high global demand.”

In Los Angeles, health officials on Friday banned all public and private gatherings for at least three weeks and urged residents to stay home as much as possible.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday ordered all elective surgeries to cease in one county and told hospitals statewide to plan on increasing their capacity by 50% if necessary or set up and staff field hospitals.

“Hospital capacity is the top concern,” Cuomo said.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that as of Saturday he was re-tightening the limit on most outdoor gatherings to 25 people.

Murphy, who has brought back a series of COVID-19 restrictions in recent weeks, also said all indoor youth and adult sports will be put on hold from Dec. 5 through Jan. 2, 2021, also with exemptions.

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FBR achieves five-month tax target

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has achieved its five-month target with a total tax collection of Rs1.686 trillion during the first half (July-November) of this fiscal year.

The revenue machinery’s tax collection in November stood at Rs346 billion, falling short of the set target of Rs348 billion. However, it recorded more than 3 per cent year-on-year growth from Rs335 billion collected in the same month last year.

Also Read: FBR felicitates historic quarterly tax collection exceeding Rs1tr mark

The tax body collected Rs1.686 trillion during July-November exceeding the projected target of Rs1.669 trillion by Rs17billion.

Income tax collection stood at Rs109bn as against the projected target of Rs130 billion in the month under review. Sales tax collection rose 14pc to Rs173bn in November from Rs152bn in the same month last year.

Also Read: Pakistan’s foreign direct investment up 151% to $317.4m in October

The federal excise duty (FED) collection fell by 18pc to Rs23bn as against Rs27bn projected target. Customs collection increased by 4pc to Rs57 bn as against the set target of Rs49bn.

FBR was able to amass a revenue of Rs1004 billion (Rs1.004 trillion) in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, exceeding the projected target of Rs970 billion.

The post FBR achieves five-month tax target appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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Police officer, paramedic save drowning woman by jumping into freezing cold canal

An unconscious woman has been saved from drowning by a heroic police officer and paramedic who rescued her by jumped into a freezing cold canal in Nottingham.

The police released bodycam footage of the rescue which showed the police constable Lee Lane and an East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic, who wishes to remain anonymous, were pulling the woman out of the canal.

It showed that other police officers running to the scene to help PC Lee Lane and the paramedic pull her out of the water

According to Dailymail UK, the officers were called to rescue the woman who fell into the Nottingham Canal near London Road on Saturday, November 21.

The heroic police officer said that he saw the drowning woman lose consciousness as he was running towards the canal. ‘I could see the woman struggling to keep her head above the murky water. As we ran closer she then became unconscious and was drowning,’ he said.

‘As I was running towards her with the paramedic I took my Taser vest and stab vest off before we both jumped in the water. I was just thinking we had to get to her before she died.’

The paramedic reached the woman first, but in a joint effort, PC Lane helped lift her onto his shoulders and bring her to safety.

PC Lane added: ‘The water was freezing cold and I didn’t realise how deep it was, with the water coming up to my shoulder. The paramedic grabbed hold of her first but was struggling to pull her. I managed to put her on my shoulders and we were then able to drag her out of the water to safety.’

‘She was really cold and pale. My colleagues were able to provide first aid and clear the water from her lungs as she regained consciousness. We then covered her with a blanket to keep her warm until the ambulance arrived.’

The EMAS paramedic, who ran to the scene after being flagged down by a member of the public, said: ‘When I arrived I could see that the woman was already in the water and I could see that she was starting to go under.’

‘Myself and the police officer realised that she would not resurface and both of us knew then that we had to jump in to rescue her.

‘Despite how cold the water would have felt, I didn’t feel it at the time because my ultimate goal was to save this woman, so the adrenaline had kicked in.’

The woman was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre for treatment and was later discharged.

PC Lane has served with the force for just over three years and is a response officer based at Byron House. He and the unnamed EMAS paramedic have now been put forward for a future Nottinghamshire Police Award in recognition of their brave actions.

PC Lane’s colleagues who helped at the scene were PCs Cai Bawden, Matthew Bower, Lawrence Verney and Leah Madhani.

Inspector John Lees, of Nottinghamshire Police, said that it was an exemplary piece of work by all of the officers involved, working together to save the woman in very challenging circumstances. He added that PC Lane’s and his paramedic colleague’s quick-thinking actions undoubtedly saved the woman’s life.

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California at COVID-19 ‘tipping point’ as Trump administration hopes for vaccines by Christmas

LOS ANGELES: California’s governor said on Monday the state was at a “tipping point” in the COVID-19 pandemic that would soon overwhelm hospitals as political leaders nationwide turn to increasingly aggressive measures to hold back the latest surge.

Governor Gavin Newsom said he may clamp new “stay-at-home” orders on California’s roughly 40 million residents in the face of infections and hospitalizations that are still rising weeks before emergency vaccines are predicted for release.

“(California) has worked hard to prepare for a surge – but we can’t sustain the record high cases we’re seeing,” Newsom said on Twitter. “Current projections show CA will run out of current ICU beds before Christmas Eve.

The governor told reporters discussions were underway among state health officials over the potential stay-at-home order. He expects to issue a decision in the next day or two.

Last week he ordered a daily curfew barring social gatherings and other non-essential activities across most of the state between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily.

Newsom, who has largely banned indoor dining in the state, has apologized after photos surfaced of the first-term Democrat eating dinner with 11 other people, including a prominent lobbyist, at a French restaurant near Napa. None wore masks.

More than 4.2 million new COVID-19 infections and 36,000 COVID-19 related deaths were reported across the United States in November, according to a Reuters tally. Hospitalizations are at a pandemic high and deaths the most in six months.

Nearly 93,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, up 11% from last week and double the number reported a month ago, according to a Reuters analysis of state and county public health reports.

Americans who have endured eight months of restrictions, lockdown and business closures in the face of the pandemic are pinning their hopes on vaccines developed by drug companies Pfizer Inc and Moderna that are awaiting U.S. government approval for emergency use.

VACCINES BY CHRISTMAS?

US Health Secretary Alex Azar said Pfizer’s medication could be authorized and shipped within days of a Dec. 10 meeting of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration.

Moderna’s vaccine could follow a week later, Azar said, after the company announced on Monday it would apply for emergency authorization both in the US and Europe.

“So we could be seeing both of these vaccines out and getting into people’s arms before Christmas,” Azar said on CBS’ “This Morning.”

Health officials in many states say that even after the vaccines are approved the rollout to Americans nationwide could be slowed by shortages of personal protective equipment and other factors.

The non-partisan Government Accountability Office reported on Monday that some diagnostic test kits and accompanying reagents, as well as PPE are hard to come by “due to a supply chain with limited domestic production and high global demand.”

In Los Angeles, health officials on Friday banned all public and private gatherings for at least three weeks and urged residents to stay home as much as possible.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday ordered all elective surgeries to cease in one county and told hospitals statewide to plan on increasing their capacity by 50% if necessary or set up and staff field hospitals.

“Hospital capacity is the top concern,” Cuomo said.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that as of Saturday he was re-tightening the limit on most outdoor gatherings to 25 people.

Murphy, who has brought back a series of COVID-19 restrictions in recent weeks, also said all indoor youth and adult sports will be put on hold from Dec. 5 through Jan. 2, 2021, also with exemptions.

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‘Pandemic’ chosen as Word of the Year

NEW YORK: The 2020 prize for Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year went to an obvious choice: pandemic.

The term had the most online dictionary lookups of any word, Merriam-Webster said on its website, after a year in which at least 1.4 million people globally have died from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sometimes a single word defines an era, and it’s fitting that in this exceptional – and exceptionally difficult – year, a single word came immediately to the fore,” the dictionary publisher said.

Pandemic is defined as “an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affects a significant proportion of the population,” according to Merriam-Webster.com.

The word’s Greek roots are “pan,” meaning all or every and “demos,” meaning people, Merriam-Webster said.

Dictionary lookups skyrocketed on March 11 when the World Health Organization officially labeled COVID-19 a pandemic.

The word “saw the single largest spike in dictionary traffic in 2020, showing an increase of 115,806% over lookups on that day in 2019,” said the company, founded in 1831.

Last year’s winner was “they” as used to describe someone who does not identify as male nor female. That follows winners “justice” in 2018, “feminism” in 2017 and “surreal” in 2016.

The post ‘Pandemic’ chosen as Word of the Year appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a session of the federal cabinet today in order to discuss a 14-point agenda which includes mulling over the reduction in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients, as well as reviewed notification regarding rates of medicines, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

A summary will be presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the federal cabinet members for taking the policy decision to end diplomatic ties with France. It is pertinent to mention here that the high court had issued directives for presenting the summary for taking policy decision by the federal cabinet.

Moreover, the federal cabinet members will be given briefings on Bundal Island, Ravi Riverfront urban development project and Naya Pakistan Housing Authority (NPHA), as well as utilisation of state assets in Jammu and Kashmir.

Read: FO rejects Indian propaganda against Pakistanis residing in France

The federal cabinet is expected to approve cut in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients. The cabinet members will also decide on reviewed notification regarding the prices of medicines.

Earlier on Monday, Federal Minister for Planning and Development and the head of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Asad Umar had said that the forum finalised its recommendations for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine.

Asad Umar, after chairing a session of NCOC, said in his Twitter message that the task force of experts headed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had developed the recommendations which were discussed and finalised today.

Read: Pakistan to approach China for COVID-19 vaccine: sources

The recommendations will be presented to the federal cabinet tomorrow for its approval, he added.

On November 23, it emerged that the federal government had decided to approach international donors for financial assistance to purchase COVID-19 vaccine.

The government is likely to contact the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNICEF for funding for the bulk-buying of doses of the vaccine. The health ministry will approach the multilateral donors through the Economic Affairs Division.

Read: At UN webinar, Pakistan urges equitable access to coronavirus vaccine

It will negotiate with them for financial assistance or a loan with no strings attached, the sources said, adding the health ministry has begun working on a coherent plan for the purpose.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had earlier approved a technical supplementary grant worth $150 million for the advance purchase of coronavirus vaccine.

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‘Pandemic’ chosen as Word of the Year

NEW YORK: The 2020 prize for Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year went to an obvious choice: pandemic.

The term had the most online dictionary lookups of any word, Merriam-Webster said on its website, after a year in which at least 1.4 million people globally have died from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sometimes a single word defines an era, and it’s fitting that in this exceptional – and exceptionally difficult – year, a single word came immediately to the fore,” the dictionary publisher said.

Pandemic is defined as “an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affects a significant proportion of the population,” according to Merriam-Webster.com.

The word’s Greek roots are “pan,” meaning all or every and “demos,” meaning people, Merriam-Webster said.

Dictionary lookups skyrocketed on March 11 when the World Health Organization officially labeled COVID-19 a pandemic.

The word “saw the single largest spike in dictionary traffic in 2020, showing an increase of 115,806% over lookups on that day in 2019,” said the company, founded in 1831.

Last year’s winner was “they” as used to describe someone who does not identify as male nor female. That follows winners “justice” in 2018, “feminism” in 2017 and “surreal” in 2016.

The post ‘Pandemic’ chosen as Word of the Year appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a session of the federal cabinet today in order to discuss a 14-point agenda which includes mulling over the reduction in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients, as well as reviewed notification regarding rates of medicines, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

A summary will be presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the federal cabinet members for taking the policy decision to end diplomatic ties with France. It is pertinent to mention here that the high court had issued directives for presenting the summary for taking policy decision by the federal cabinet.

Moreover, the federal cabinet members will be given briefings on Bundal Island, Ravi Riverfront urban development project and Naya Pakistan Housing Authority (NPHA), as well as utilisation of state assets in Jammu and Kashmir.

Read: FO rejects Indian propaganda against Pakistanis residing in France

The federal cabinet is expected to approve cut in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients. The cabinet members will also decide on reviewed notification regarding the prices of medicines.

Earlier on Monday, Federal Minister for Planning and Development and the head of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Asad Umar had said that the forum finalised its recommendations for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine.

Asad Umar, after chairing a session of NCOC, said in his Twitter message that the task force of experts headed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had developed the recommendations which were discussed and finalised today.

Read: Pakistan to approach China for COVID-19 vaccine: sources

The recommendations will be presented to the federal cabinet tomorrow for its approval, he added.

On November 23, it emerged that the federal government had decided to approach international donors for financial assistance to purchase COVID-19 vaccine.

The government is likely to contact the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNICEF for funding for the bulk-buying of doses of the vaccine. The health ministry will approach the multilateral donors through the Economic Affairs Division.

Read: At UN webinar, Pakistan urges equitable access to coronavirus vaccine

It will negotiate with them for financial assistance or a loan with no strings attached, the sources said, adding the health ministry has begun working on a coherent plan for the purpose.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had earlier approved a technical supplementary grant worth $150 million for the advance purchase of coronavirus vaccine.

The post Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients appeared first on ARY NEWS.

from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/3fT751N

‘Pandemic’ chosen as Word of the Year

NEW YORK: The 2020 prize for Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year went to an obvious choice: pandemic.

The term had the most online dictionary lookups of any word, Merriam-Webster said on its website, after a year in which at least 1.4 million people globally have died from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sometimes a single word defines an era, and it’s fitting that in this exceptional – and exceptionally difficult – year, a single word came immediately to the fore,” the dictionary publisher said.

Pandemic is defined as “an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affects a significant proportion of the population,” according to Merriam-Webster.com.

The word’s Greek roots are “pan,” meaning all or every and “demos,” meaning people, Merriam-Webster said.

Dictionary lookups skyrocketed on March 11 when the World Health Organization officially labeled COVID-19 a pandemic.

The word “saw the single largest spike in dictionary traffic in 2020, showing an increase of 115,806% over lookups on that day in 2019,” said the company, founded in 1831.

Last year’s winner was “they” as used to describe someone who does not identify as male nor female. That follows winners “justice” in 2018, “feminism” in 2017 and “surreal” in 2016.

The post ‘Pandemic’ chosen as Word of the Year appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a session of the federal cabinet today in order to discuss a 14-point agenda which includes mulling over the reduction in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients, as well as reviewed notification regarding rates of medicines, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

A summary will be presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the federal cabinet members for taking the policy decision to end diplomatic ties with France. It is pertinent to mention here that the high court had issued directives for presenting the summary for taking policy decision by the federal cabinet.

Moreover, the federal cabinet members will be given briefings on Bundal Island, Ravi Riverfront urban development project and Naya Pakistan Housing Authority (NPHA), as well as utilisation of state assets in Jammu and Kashmir.

Read: FO rejects Indian propaganda against Pakistanis residing in France

The federal cabinet is expected to approve cut in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients. The cabinet members will also decide on reviewed notification regarding the prices of medicines.

Earlier on Monday, Federal Minister for Planning and Development and the head of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Asad Umar had said that the forum finalised its recommendations for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine.

Asad Umar, after chairing a session of NCOC, said in his Twitter message that the task force of experts headed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had developed the recommendations which were discussed and finalised today.

Read: Pakistan to approach China for COVID-19 vaccine: sources

The recommendations will be presented to the federal cabinet tomorrow for its approval, he added.

On November 23, it emerged that the federal government had decided to approach international donors for financial assistance to purchase COVID-19 vaccine.

The government is likely to contact the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNICEF for funding for the bulk-buying of doses of the vaccine. The health ministry will approach the multilateral donors through the Economic Affairs Division.

Read: At UN webinar, Pakistan urges equitable access to coronavirus vaccine

It will negotiate with them for financial assistance or a loan with no strings attached, the sources said, adding the health ministry has begun working on a coherent plan for the purpose.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had earlier approved a technical supplementary grant worth $150 million for the advance purchase of coronavirus vaccine.

The post Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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2,458 COVID-19 cases, 67 deaths reported in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,458 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,091. 1,863 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,165 patients are in critical condition.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases reaches up to 5.9 per cent during 24 hours. The total count of active cases increased up to 49,105.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 400,482.

A total of 40,969 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 343,286 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,549,779 samples have been tested thus far.

The post 2,458 COVID-19 cases, 67 deaths reported in Pakistan appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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2,458 COVID-19 cases, 67 deaths reported in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,458 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,091. 1,863 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,165 patients are in critical condition.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases reaches up to 5.9 per cent during 24 hours. The total count of active cases increased up to 49,105.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 400,482.

A total of 40,969 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 343,286 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,549,779 samples have been tested thus far.

The post 2,458 COVID-19 cases, 67 deaths reported in Pakistan appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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2,458 COVID-19 cases, 67 deaths reported in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,458 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,091. 1,863 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,165 patients are in critical condition.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases reaches up to 5.9 per cent during 24 hours. The total count of active cases increased up to 49,105.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 400,482.

A total of 40,969 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 343,286 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,549,779 samples have been tested thus far.

The post 2,458 COVID-19 cases, 67 deaths reported in Pakistan appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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Bus, van collision leaves 7 dead, over 20 wounded in Sheikhupura

SHEIKHUPURA, Punjab: At least seven persons lost their lives and more than 20 persons including women and children sustained serious wounded in a horrible collision between a bus and van in Sheikhupura, ARY News reported on Monday.

Rescue officials told media that both vehicles caught fire after the collision took place near Narang Mandi Meran stop. Relief activities are underway to take out the affected passengers of both vehicles for taking them to the hospitals.

They added that many among injured persons are in critical condition.

Earlier on Sunday, at least 11 people had died and four others sustained injuries after a truck overturned at Sangi area in Sukkur district of the Sindh province.

Read: Six killed as van catches fire after accident in Faisalabad

Rescue sources said at least 11 people including women and children succumbed to their injuries so far after a truck carrying the passengers and bricks overturned.

“The vehicle was coming from Lahore to Karachi when it overturned near Sangi area in Sukkur,” they said adding that the deceased included six children and three women and hailed from the same family.

The bodies and injured had been shifted to a Pano Aqil hospital for medico-legal formalities and treatment respectively.

Road accidents occurred frequently on highways linking different cities owing to overspeeding or negligence from drivers.

The post Bus, van collision leaves 7 dead, over 20 wounded in Sheikhupura appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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Kaavan departs for Cambodian sanctuary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s loneliest elephant, Kaavan, departed for Cambodia in the wee hours of Monday on a special chartered cargo plane from Russia.

A ten-member team, comprising veterinarians and technicians, accompanied the 35-year-old bull elephant on a long journey from Pakistan to a Cambodian sanctuary. On Sunday morning, Kaavan was sedated before being shifted into a special cage in which it was transported to the Islamabad airport.

The plane with the pachyderm on board was to depart yesterday but its departure was delayed by about 10 hours due to India creating obstacles to the elephant’s smooth, non-stop transportation to Cambodia.

Also Read: India hinders smooth transportation of elephant Kaavan to Cambodia

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said India should desist from its policy of hatred in the matter involving an animal’s rescue. He demanded of the Indian authorities to allow the plane carrying Kaavan to use the country’s airspace without making any stopover.

He said a reception committee would be ready at the Cambodian airport to receive Kaavan. Initially, a 10-acre area would be given to the elephant where the animal could see other elephants.

It is worthwhile to mention here that renowned pop star and animal rights activist Cher visited Pakistan to see the elephant off.

Also Read: PM lauds US singer for her efforts in retiring ‘Kavan’ to elephant sanctuary

Kaavan was brought in Pakistan back in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was one-year-old, whose inappropriate living conditions in Marghazar Zoo had irked onlookers as he remained chained and that, too, in a tiny enclosure.

Back in May this year, the Islamabad High Court decreed relocation of Kaavan since he was treated cruelly by the authorities concerned. Kaavan’s plight was given a boost over the years by American pop icon Cher, who publicly campaigned for the elephant’s relocation.

The post Kaavan departs for Cambodian sanctuary appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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PDM to hold public rally in Multan today

MULTAN: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is all set to hold a public rally at Multan’s Qilla Kohna Qasim Bagh today (Monday) at any cost.

The Punjab government and local administration had denied permission to the opposition parties for the meeting owing to increasing virus cases in the second wave of the COVID-19 in the country.

The district administration of Multan has sealed the roads going towards Qila Qasim Bagh by placing containers. Meanwhile, Ghanta Ghar Chowk and several other roads have also been sealed by the administration to stop the arrival of the PDM workers.

The leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and others are scheduled to address the public meeting.

Read more: PDM rally: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari orders PPP leaders, workers to reach Multan

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address the PDM public meeting in Multan via video link as he is in isolation after being tested for coronavirus.

Raja Basharat vows to establish its writ

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat has vowed that the government would establish its writ at any cost.

He stated this after an emergency meeting of Punjab sub-cabinet committee on the interior in the wake of PDM public meeting in Multan. The meeting was attended by Raja Basharat and other top-level officials.

The meeting decided that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands, and violators of law would be taken into custody. It was also decided the more routes to the venue of the PDM public meeting would be blocked.

We will hold rally in Multan at any cost: Fazlur Rehman

Yesterday, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman had announced that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would hold its rally in Multan’s Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh stadium at any cost.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman had made the announcement while addressing a press conference alongside Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Yousaf Raza Gillani and others in Multan.

Read more: PM Imran slams PDM leadership, says ‘they want jalsas not caring for lives of people’

He had asked political activists to break all barriers by using ‘batons in the response to batons’ by police or any other forces. Fazlur Rehman said that PDM leadership would never accept lawlessness and usage of police forces against the political campaigners.

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Allergic to sunlight: Boy born with ‘one-in-a-million’ genetic condition

A Victorian boy, George Maddern, was born with an extremely rare genetic condition which made him allergic to sunlight as the disorder affects one-in-a-million people across the United States and Europe.

Doctors told Maddern’s mother Skie after his birth that the boy was one-in-a-million due to Xeroderma pigmentosum which made him allergic to sunlight.

The toddler’s parents Skie and Paul saw it harder to perform everyday activities as the 18-month-old boy was heavily wrapped in a blanket while being taken to daycare, whereas, all blinds of their house were kept close and heavily-tinted windows for his playing area.

The precautions are necessary to protect George Maddern who is ultra-susceptible to skin cancer. According to 7News, George’s parents were fortunately on the condition early.

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Fourth and last lunar eclipse of 2020 to occur today

KARACHI: The fourth and last lunar eclipse of the year would not be visible across Pakistan, ARY New reported quoting Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).    

“It will not be visible in Karachi or other parts of the country,” the PMD said adding that the eclipse would begin in the country today (Monday) at 12:32 pm.

It will be at its peak at 2:42 pm and will end by 4:53 on Monday, the met office said while terming it a penumbral lunar eclipse, something different from a complete and partial eclipse.

It would be visible in South and North America, Australia and some other countries of Asia.

It is pertinent to mention here that the eclipse occurs when the Earth obstructs the way between the sun and the moon. During the process, Earth moves in between the sun and the moon and obstruct the sunlight that is reflected by the moon.

There are three types of a lunar eclipse – a total eclipse, partial eclipse and penumbral lunar eclipse.

Read more: Third Lunar Eclipse of Year 2020 tonight, not to be sighted in Pakistan

During the eclipse, 90 percent of the moon’s surface partially covered by the Earth with only the outer part of the shadow appearing.

While these eclipses are usually a little darker, they cannot be easily distinguished from a regular full moon sighting but can be easily seen, as long as the sky is clear.

The first lunar eclipse of the year 2020 was witnessed in January, second in June and the third eclipse of the year was sighted on July 05.

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Bus, van collision leaves 7 dead, over 20 wounded in Sheikhupura

SHEIKHUPURA, Punjab: At least seven persons lost their lives and more than 20 persons including women and children sustained serious wounded in a horrible collision between a bus and van in Sheikhupura, ARY News reported on Monday.

Rescue officials told media that both vehicles caught fire after the collision took place near Narang Mandi Meran stop. Relief activities are underway to take out the affected passengers of both vehicles for taking them to the hospitals.

They added that many among injured persons are in critical condition.

Earlier on Sunday, at least 11 people had died and four others sustained injuries after a truck overturned at Sangi area in Sukkur district of the Sindh province.

Read: Six killed as van catches fire after accident in Faisalabad

Rescue sources said at least 11 people including women and children succumbed to their injuries so far after a truck carrying the passengers and bricks overturned.

“The vehicle was coming from Lahore to Karachi when it overturned near Sangi area in Sukkur,” they said adding that the deceased included six children and three women and hailed from the same family.

The bodies and injured had been shifted to a Pano Aqil hospital for medico-legal formalities and treatment respectively.

Road accidents occurred frequently on highways linking different cities owing to overspeeding or negligence from drivers.

The post Bus, van collision leaves 7 dead, over 20 wounded in Sheikhupura appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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Kaavan departs for Cambodian sanctuary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s loneliest elephant, Kaavan, departed for Cambodia in the wee hours of Monday on a special chartered cargo plane from Russia.

A ten-member team, comprising veterinarians and technicians, accompanied the 35-year-old bull elephant on a long journey from Pakistan to a Cambodian sanctuary. On Sunday morning, Kaavan was sedated before being shifted into a special cage in which it was transported to the Islamabad airport.

The plane carrying the pachyderm was to depart yesterday but was delayed by about 10 hours due to India creating obstacles to the elephant’s smooth, non-stop transportation to Cambodia.

Also Read: India hinders smooth transportation of elephant Kaavan to Cambodia

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said India should desist from its policy of hatred in the matter involving an animal’s rescue. He demanded of the Indian authorities to allow the plane carrying Kaavan to use the country’s airspace without making any stopover.

He said a reception committee would be ready at the Cambodian airport to receive Kaavan. Initially, a 10-acre area would be given to the elephant where the animal could see other elephants.

It is worthwhile to mention here that renowned pop star and animal rights activist Cher visited Pakistan to see the elephant off.

Also Read: PM lauds US singer for her efforts in retiring ‘Kavan’ to elephant sanctuary

Kaavan was brought in Pakistan back in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was one-year-old, whose inappropriate living conditions in Marghazar Zoo had irked onlookers as he remained chained and that, too, in a tiny enclosure.

Back in May this year, the Islamabad High Court decreed relocation of Kaavan since he was treated cruelly by the authorities concerned. Kaavan’s plight was given a boost over the years by American pop icon Cher, who publicly campaigned for the elephant’s relocation.

The post Kaavan departs for Cambodian sanctuary appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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PDM to hold public rally in Multan today

MULTAN: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is all set to hold a public rally at Multan’s Qilla Kohna Qasim Bagh today (Monday) at any cost.

The Punjab government and local administration had denied permission to the opposition parties for the meeting owing to increasing virus cases in the second wave of the COVID-19 in the country.

The district administration of Multan has sealed the roads going towards Qila Qasim Bagh by placing containers. Meanwhile, Ghanta Ghar Chowk and several other roads have also been sealed by the administration to stop the arrival of the PDM workers.

The leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and others are scheduled to address the public meeting.

Read more: PDM rally: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari orders PPP leaders, workers to reach Multan

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address the PDM public meeting in Multan via video link as he is in isolation after being tested for coronavirus.

Raja Basharat vows to establish its writ

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat has vowed that the government would establish its writ at any cost.

He stated this after an emergency meeting of Punjab sub-cabinet committee on the interior in the wake of PDM public meeting in Multan. The meeting was attended by Raja Basharat and other top-level officials.

The meeting decided that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands, and violators of law would be taken into custody. It was also decided the more routes to the venue of the PDM public meeting would be blocked.

We will hold rally in Multan at any cost: Fazlur Rehman

Yesterday, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman had announced that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would hold its rally in Multan’s Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh stadium at any cost.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman had made the announcement while addressing a press conference alongside Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Yousaf Raza Gillani and others in Multan.

Read more: PM Imran slams PDM leadership, says ‘they want jalsas not caring for lives of people’

He had asked political activists to break all barriers by using ‘batons in the response to batons’ by police or any other forces. Fazlur Rehman said that PDM leadership would never accept lawlessness and usage of police forces against the political campaigners.

The post PDM to hold public rally in Multan today appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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