Not considering closure of educational institutions: Shafqat Mahmood

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood has said no plan is under consideration for the closure of educational institutions across Pakistan amid rising coronavirus cases.

Shafqat Mahmood said in a statement that the country is witnessing another wave of COVID-19 and the health ministry advised to keep a tight eye on the developments.

Mahmood said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had chaired the session of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) where the participants reviewed the COVID-19 testing capacity in educational institutions.

He clarified that educational institutions could not be closed in the current situation. The minister said that the country fought the pandemic and produced exemplary results to curb COVID-19 as compared to the other nations. He termed the establishment of a science lab a step towards setting a standard.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had rejected the closure of businesses, schools and industries again in view of rising novel coronavirus cases during its second wave in Pakistan.

PM Imran Khan had given the statement while chairing the federal cabinet meeting today. A briefing was given to the cabinet members regarding an increase being witnessed in COVID-19 cases.

The federal cabinet was told that coronavirus cases are consistently increasing besides a hike in the number of critical patients put on ventilators and mortality rate.

PM Imran Khan had said that there is a need to strictly implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), however, the federal government will shut businesses, schools and industries again. He had ruled out possibilities to impose lockdown in the country.

He added that the government managed to stabilise the national economy after making efforts. The premier directed making nationals aware of the precautionary measures.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3kZS2oR

At least 30 of Parliament employees tested positive for coronavirus

The government on Wednesday sealed the Parliament House after at least 30 of the two houses' employees tested positive for coronavirus last week.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has assumed the responsibility of disinfecting the building, while Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar, and several other officials self-isolated themselves due to possible exposure and were working from home.

Owing to the coronavirus emergency, the Senate and National Assembly also cancelled scheduled meetings and announced a new date.

Sources stated that even after reopening the Parliament House complex, all staffers would not be allowed to resume work. Instead, only a select few will turn up for duty.

As against the directives of the government for strictly implement the coronavirus standard operation procedures (SOPs), people blatantly violated the rules during different Senate and National Assembly sittings last week.

A monitoring system, comprising closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, would now be installed in the Parliament House, while special staffers were to be deployed in the complex to ensure the strict implementation of the SOPs, sources added.

This is the second time that the Parliament House has been sealed after some staff members fell prey to the potentially deadly virus.

Earlier in March, when the country was undergoing the first wave of the pandemic, NA Speaker Asad Qaidar and his family had tested positive for the coronavirus; they recovered in less than a month.

Similarly, Senate Deputy Chariperson Saleem Mandviwala contracted the virus in September and regained his health within 15 days.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/34W5btt

German Defence Minister warns US may face "very explosive situation"

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Wednesday warned the United States was facing a "very explosive situation" and a possible systemic crisis after President Donald Trump prematurely declared election victory.

Following Trump’s remarks that he will go to the Supreme Court to stop ballots from being tallied, Kramp-Karrenbauer told public broadcaster ZDF "this election has not been decided... votes are still being counted".

She said Trump could create "a constitutional crisis in the USA", calling such a scenario "something that must deeply concern us".

The minister, who is also head of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party, said it appeared "the battle over the legitimacy of the result, however it turns out, has begun".

She admitted that the German-US relationship had faced "a tough test in the past four years" with fierce Trump criticism of Berlin over trade and military spending.

However, she said, "this friendship is more than a question of which administration is currently in the White House", saying she dismissed calls in Germany to "decouple ourselves from the United States".

But Kramp-Karrenbauer stressed that regardless of the ultimate outcome of the US vote, Europe would need to become more self-sufficient.

Read more: Who is winning US Election 2020?

"We will have to do a lot more for our own interests -- both as Germany and in particular with the other Europeans," she said.

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz echoed the sentiment, saying that given the developments in the United States, Europe needed to strengthen its own "sovereignty" so that "a rules-based global order can exist".

"That is why we need to take this opportunity to make Europe strong," he told reporters in Berlin.

from World News: International Headlines, Breaking News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3jWsuHZ

At least 30 of Parliament employees tested positive for coronavirus

The government on Wednesday sealed the Parliament House after at least 30 of the two houses' employees tested positive for coronavirus last week.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has assumed the responsibility of disinfecting the building, while Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar, and several other officials self-isolated themselves due to possible exposure and were working from home.

Owing to the coronavirus emergency, the Senate and National Assembly also cancelled scheduled meetings and announced a new date.

Sources stated that even after reopening the Parliament House complex, all staffers would not be allowed to resume work. Instead, only a select few will turn up for duty.

As against the directives of the government for strictly implement the coronavirus standard operation procedures (SOPs), people blatantly violated the rules during different Senate and National Assembly sittings last week.

A monitoring system, comprising closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, would now be installed in the Parliament House, while special staffers were to be deployed in the complex to ensure the strict implementation of the SOPs, sources added.

This is the second time that the Parliament House has been sealed after some staff members fell prey to the potentially deadly virus.

Earlier in March, when the country was undergoing the first wave of the pandemic, NA Speaker Asad Qaidar and his family had tested positive for the coronavirus; they recovered in less than a month.

Similarly, Senate Deputy Chariperson Saleem Mandviwala contracted the virus in September and regained his health within 15 days.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/34W5btt

German Defence Minister warns US may face "very explosive situation"

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Wednesday warned the United States was facing a "very explosive situation" and a possible systemic crisis after President Donald Trump prematurely declared election victory.

Following Trump’s remarks that he will go to the Supreme Court to stop ballots from being tallied, Kramp-Karrenbauer told public broadcaster ZDF "this election has not been decided... votes are still being counted".

She said Trump could create "a constitutional crisis in the USA", calling such a scenario "something that must deeply concern us".

The minister, who is also head of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party, said it appeared "the battle over the legitimacy of the result, however it turns out, has begun".

She admitted that the German-US relationship had faced "a tough test in the past four years" with fierce Trump criticism of Berlin over trade and military spending.

However, she said, "this friendship is more than a question of which administration is currently in the White House", saying she dismissed calls in Germany to "decouple ourselves from the United States".

But Kramp-Karrenbauer stressed that regardless of the ultimate outcome of the US vote, Europe would need to become more self-sufficient.

Read more: Who is winning US Election 2020?

"We will have to do a lot more for our own interests -- both as Germany and in particular with the other Europeans," she said.

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz echoed the sentiment, saying that given the developments in the United States, Europe needed to strengthen its own "sovereignty" so that "a rules-based global order can exist".

"That is why we need to take this opportunity to make Europe strong," he told reporters in Berlin.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3jWsuHZ

Pakistani nation gives great importance to the people of Bosnia: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the Pakistani nation gives great importance to its ties with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and both countries decided to further enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including trade.

PM Imran Khan made the statement while addressing a joint press conference after witnessing the signing of different agreements with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic today.

The premier welcomed Sefik Dzaferovic during his visit to Pakistan and expressed gratitude over Sarajevo’s support for Islamabad’s stance regarding Kashmir dispute.

He said that both countries decided to further enhance bilateral cooperation in trade and other fields. PM Khan said that he and Dzaferovic discussed the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France and condemned the act in the name of freedom of expression.

Imran Khan said that Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him and Muslims should not be targeted. He also condemned the advertisement of blasphemous caricatures in France.

The premier thanked Sefik Dzaferovic for inviting him to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While addressing the joint press conference, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic said he felt happiness while visiting Pakistan and both countries signed cooperation agreements in different fields.

He said that Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina have always supported each other in the time of need. Dzaferovic added that Pakistani peacekeepers in UN missions played an important role in his country.

“I have held detailed discussions with the Pakistan PM regarding trade and economic cooperation. Both countries have opportunity to increase their trade volume.”

He expressed concerns over the violation of human rights in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and urged resolution of the longstanding dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiris.

He said that terrorism is a global issue and joint efforts are needed to coup with the challenges. Sefik Dzaferovic raised voice for stopping desecration of Muslims in the name of freedom of expression.

He said that Pakistan devised a successful strategy to curb the spread of novel coronavirus.

Earlier, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in Islamabad on a two-day official visit.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/34TbsWO

Pakistani nation gives great importance to the people of Bosnia: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the Pakistani nation gives great importance to its ties with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and both countries decided to further enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including trade.

PM Imran Khan made the statement while addressing a joint press conference after witnessing the signing of different agreements with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic today.

The premier welcomed Sefik Dzaferovic during his visit to Pakistan and expressed gratitude over Sarajevo’s support for Islamabad’s stance regarding Kashmir dispute.

He said that both countries decided to further enhance bilateral cooperation in trade and other fields. PM Khan said that he and Dzaferovic discussed the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France and condemned the act in the name of freedom of expression.

Imran Khan said that Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him and Muslims should not be targeted. He also condemned the advertisement of blasphemous caricatures in France.

The premier thanked Sefik Dzaferovic for inviting him to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While addressing the joint press conference, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic said he felt happiness while visiting Pakistan and both countries signed cooperation agreements in different fields.

He said that Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina have always supported each other in the time of need. Dzaferovic added that Pakistani peacekeepers in UN missions played an important role in his country.

“I have held detailed discussions with the Pakistan PM regarding trade and economic cooperation. Both countries have opportunity to increase their trade volume.”

He expressed concerns over the violation of human rights in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and urged resolution of the longstanding dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiris.

He said that terrorism is a global issue and joint efforts are needed to coup with the challenges. Sefik Dzaferovic raised voice for stopping desecration of Muslims in the name of freedom of expression.

He said that Pakistan devised a successful strategy to curb the spread of novel coronavirus.

Earlier, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in Islamabad on a two-day official visit.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/34TbsWO