Frankfurt am Main, Oct 14 (AFP/APP): Germany’s economy will shrink more than expected in 2020 and not regain strength until end-2021, leading research institutes said Wednesday, as a coronavirus resurgence weighs on the recovery.
German gross domestic product will contract by 5.4 percent, deeper than a previous prediction made in April of 4.2 percent, according to five think-tanks.
SARGODHA, Oct 14 (APP): A man gunned down his sister for honour in Laksiyan Police limits here on Wednesday. The police said the accused, Rashid of Chak Bhattiyanwala, shot dead his 16-year-old sister Bushra Bibi and fled.
The body was handed over to the family after postmortem while the police after registering a case against the murderer started raids.
Hanoi, Oct 14 (AFP/APP): A search operation has been launched for a missing rescue team as severe flooding and landslides battered central Vietnam, authorities said on Wednesday, as the country braced for further heavy rain.
Close to a million people have been impacted by heavy downpours and rising waters since mid last week, with more than 200,000 homes flooded, according to IFRC.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz Wednesday said Pakistan’s membership to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (HRCUN) for the next three years is a matter of honour and a big diplomatic achievement.
It is a clear proof that the world considers Pakistan as an advocate and protector of human rights, he added.
BERLIN, Oct 14 (Xinhua/APP): After five years of development and construction, Germany’s first space radar was installed near the city of Koblenz, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) announced on Wednesday.
The technology, worth 44.5 million euros (52.3 million U.S. dollars), is designed to detect and monitor space debris in low Earth orbit, according to the DLR.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP): Senator Faisal Javed Khan on Wednesday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership believes in democratic thinking and would never hinder any democratic process.
“It is the beauty of democracy to hold peaceful rallies but any statement that spreads chaos in the country or contributes to the deterioration of law and order will not be acceptable”, he said.
اطلاعات کے مطابق ، سائبر کرائم ونگ نے اداکارہ اور ماڈل عفت عمر ، فریحہ ایوب ، شہزاد رضا اور حمزہ رضا سے تفتیش کی ہے۔ جبکہ سائبر کرائم ونگ نے میشا شفیع کو ابھی تک کوئی نوٹس نہیں بھیجا ہے۔ دوسری طرف ، چھان بین میں شامل چاروں ملزمان نے اس جرم سے انکار کیا ہے
احتساب عدالت نے منگل کونیب کو توشہ خانہ ریفرنس میں نواز شریف کے اثاثوں کی ضبطی سے متعلق عدالتی ہدایت پرعملدرآمد یقینی بنانے کا حکم دیا۔نیب کے تفتیشی افسر نے عدالت کو آگاہ کیا کہ عدالت کے احکامات کی تعمیل میں نواز شریف کی جائیداد، نجی کمپنیوں میں حصص اور ان کے بینک اکاؤنٹس منجمد کرنے کا کام جاری ہے۔
MIRPUR (AJK) Oct 12 (APP): Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minster Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan Monday said the settlement of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people is the only way for establishing durable and lasting peace in the region.
He said Indian expansionist designs have destabilised regional peace and threatened war.
PESHAWAR, Oct 12 (APP): The district administration Monday continued the crackdown against violators of COVID19 SOPs and sealed over 400 shops, two commercial plazas and one complete market in the city.
Meanwhile the teams also inspected various bazaars and public places and appealed to the masses to strictly observe the COVID19 SOPs and avoid going to congested places.
Tunis, Oct 12 (AFP/APP): Nine more bodies have been recovered after a migrant boat sank off Tunisia, raising the death toll to at least 11 with several still missing, the National Guard said Monday.
National Guard Spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli told AFP they were found in the water overnight, after the boat headed for Europe went down on Sunday off Sfax city.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that since the promotion of society’s social, cultural and religious values is essential for tackling the challenges of current era, religious scholars hold a vital role in that respect.
He said that religious scholars have always guided the government and people in difficult times and would continue to do so.
ANTALYA, Oct 12 (AA/APP): Turkey’s Oruç Reis seismic research vessel left Antalya Port early Monday morning following the declaration of 10-day-long Navtex (navigational telex) in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In a Twitter post, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said the maintenance of Oruç Reis was concluded and it would hold seismic activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
ISTANBUL, Oct 12 (AA/APP): Kuwaiti authorities have extradited three Egyptian opposition figures, who called for protests against the Egyptian President Adel-Fattah al-Sisi, local media reported.
Quoting Kuwaiti security sources, the daily Al-Qabas reported: “Kuwait’s national security apparatus handed 3 Egyptian residents to their country’s Interpol over their incitement to chaos and to protests.”
By Sohail Ali
LAHORE, Oct 12 (APP): The head coaches of the six Cricket Associations have finalised the Second XI teams for the three-day non first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which begins on 18 October in Karachi.
The six teams have gathered in a local hotel in Karachi for the competition, which will be played on double-league basis at four venues.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): The Supreme Court on Monday reprimanded DIG Hyderabad Naeem Sheikh for non-arrest of the absconding accused involved in triple murder at Mehar, Sindh.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan heard the case filed by Umme Rubab Chandio.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): The exchange rate of Pakistani rupee strengthened by 2 paisas against the US dollar in the interbank trading on Monday and closed at Rs163.81 against the previous day’s closing of 163.83.
Meanwhile, according to Forex Association of Pakistan, the buying and selling rates of dollar in open market were recorded at Rs163.8 and Rs164.5 respectively.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) General Secretary Sanaullah Ghumman on Monday said smoking, increased consumption of sweets and fats are leading causes of heart diseases.
Addressing participants of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation workshop at PAEC General Hospital, he said unhealthy food and other factors causing heart diseases should be discouraged by sensitising the citizens about their adverse impact.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): Pakistani veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik has no plan of retirement from Twenty20 cricket, saying he would share his experience with youngsters as it was important for them to learn from seniors.
“I’m feeling good. I’m fit. I’m active. I’m enjoying my cricket and have no plans to announce retirement from T20s – domestic or international”, he said.
RIYADH, Oct 12 (Xinhua/APP): Saudi Arabia’s biggest lender National Commercial Bank said on Sunday that it will purchase rival lender Samba in a deal valued at about 15 billion US dollars.
The merger comes as Saudi Arabia is grappling with the shocks of the COVID19 pandemic and low crude oil prices against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown.
SUKKUR , Oct 12 (APP): Commissioner Sukkur Shafique Ahmed Mahesar on Monday has directed the authorities to launch crackdown against profiteers and hoarders and keep strict check on prices of daily use items.
Chairing a meeting to review prices of eatables and control inflation, he asked the Deputy Commissioners of the Sukkur division to take strict action against those creating artificial inflation.
MOSCOW, Oct 12 (Xinhua/APP): Russia registered 13,592 COVID19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing its national tally to 1,312,310, the country’s COVID19 response center said Monday.
Russia recorded 125 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the COVID-19 cumulative death toll in the country to 22,722. More than 51.1 million tests have been conducted in the country.
KARACHI, Oct 12 (APP): OPDs in different public sector hospitals in Karachi were closed for two hours (10 am to 12 noon) Monday as part of a token strike against the provincial government’s decision to stop, with immediate effect the Covid Health Allowance for doctors, nurses and paramedics.
TIANJIN, Oct 12 (Xinhua/APP): An international auto show will be held for the first time in the north Chinese port city of Tianjin to establish a new platform for showcasing international automobiles.
The exhibition will focus on new technologies, concepts, and modes such as electric vehicles, interconnected automobiles and driverless cars.
JAKARTA, Oct 12 (Xinhua/APP): The COVID19 cases in Indonesia rose by 3,267 within one day to 336,716, with the death toll adding by 91 to 11,935, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
The virus has spread to all the country’s 34 provinces. Specifically, within the past 24 hours, Jakarta recorded 1,211 new cases, East Java 296, West Java 286, Central Java 239 and Riau 209.
ANKARA, Oct 12 (AA/APP): The total number of coronavirus cases crossed 90,000 in Japan, as infections continued to rise in capital Tokyo the worst-hit city in the country. The capital Tokyo, which has the largest number of cases in the country’s 47 provinces, reported 78 new infections on Monday when the last reports came in taking the total to 27,793.
BUENOS AIRES, Oct 12 (AA/APP): Health authorities in several Latin American countries reported more coronavirus infections and fatalities on Sunday.
At least 290 more patients died in Brazil over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll in the world’s third worst-hit country to 150,488. The US, India and Brazil account for over half of the reported cases globally.
ANKARA, Oct 12 (AA/APP): The novel coronavirus survives on surfaces for 28 days, a study by Australian national science agency has found.
The research carried out at the CSIRO found that the virus was “extremely robust at 20°C [68F]”. The researchers used stainless steel, glass, vinyl, paper and polymer banknotes, and cotton cloth as surfaces during the study.
RAMALLAH , Oct 12 (AA/APP): The Israeli authorities issued 20 military orders preventing Palestinians from entering olive gardens in the occupied West Bank, according to a Palestinian official. Since the olive harvest began on Oct. 7, Jewish settlers have been carrying out attacks against the farmers in various places in the occupied West Bank.
LAHORE, Oct 12 (APP): Teenage cricketers from the six Cricket Associations begin their quest for the National U19 One-Day Tournament trophy from tomorrow.Tuesday.
The event, a stepping-stone for graduating to the Pakistan U19 side, will be played across Lahore, Muridke and Sheikhupura. Sindh will be eager to defend the title with PKR 2 million on offer as the winning prize.