Pakistan starts Covid-19 booster from today

Pakistan has started Covid-19 booster dose for all people who are over 30 years old.

National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), in a tweet, announced that citizens over 30 years will be eligible for booster dose of their choice.

However, the booster will be administered after 6 months gap from last dose.

Amid rising threat of Omicron variant of coronavirus, the forum has also urged people to follow SOPs, wear mask and ensure complete vaccination if eligible.

On the other hand, Pakistan has reported 2 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,297,235. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,943 on Monday.

According to the latest figures by the NCOC, 708 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

China to end subsidies for electric and hybrid cars

China will end subsidies for electric and hybrid cars at the end of the year, authorities have announced, saying the strength of sales in the sector meant state support was no longer needed.

In a statement published Friday, the Ministry of Finance said purchase subsidies would be reduced by 30% from the beginning of 2022 before being scrapped completely by the end of the year.

"Given the growth of the industry for vehicles with new energy, the sales trends and the smooth transition of manufacturers, the subsidies will end on December 31," the ministry said.

"Vehicles registered after December 31, 2022, will not be subsidised."

Sales of electric and hybrid cars have boomed in China, with increases of more than 100% year-on-year in recent months.

The cars are set to represent 18% of all vehicle sales in 2022, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) estimated last week. In 2019, they accounted for only 5%.

Of the 27.5 million vehicles set to be sold this year, according to CAAM, five million will be electric and hybrids.

Overall growth in the world's largest market for vehicles will likely come in at 3.1% for 2021, according to CAAM — the first year of sales growth since 2018.

China, the world´s largest polluter, has set ambitious goals for the widespread adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles and aims to have the majority of cars powered with clean energy by 2035.

BlackBerry phones to stop functioning completely after January 4

The legendary BlackBerry phones — which were very popular in the past — have been declared dead many times over since their decline some ten years ago. But now, the company has announced that the phones will be "completely dead" after January 4.

Phones running BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry 7.1 software or earlier versions will "no longer reliably function" on carrier networks or over Wi-Fi reported.

It is reported that BlackBerry phones will be deprived of making calls, using data and sending text messages or even making emergency calls to 911.

the company has stated: “We thank our many loyal customers and partners over the years and invite you to learn more about how BlackBerry provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world.”

Operating systems like the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and its earlier versions will be also suspended.

In 2020, BlackBerry announced that the company would "resurge and was all equipped", but unfortunately, Chinese Electronics Giant TCL Technology ditched it prior to 2020.

BlackBerry later partnered with OnwardMobility and FIH Mobile Limited to introduce new smartphones with the nostalgic QWERTY keypad.

But till today, there has been no sign of return and the promised new developments are remained to be witnessed. The return of BlackBerryOS is out of the question since more advanced phones are in the pipeline.

 

Pakistan, India exchange lists of prisoners, nuclear installations

In pursuance of various agreements signed between Pakistan and India, both the countries exchanged the lists of their prisoners in each other's custody as well as nuclear installations.

In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said: “In accordance with Article-II of the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India, signed on 31 December 1988 and ratified on 27 January 1991, a list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.”

Simultaneously, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi also handed over a list of Indian Nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Commission, he added.

The agreement provides, inter alia, that both countries should inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities within the definition of the agreement on 1st January of each calendar year.

Similarly, both the countries shared the lists of prisoners in each other's custody.

The Pakistan government shared with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad a list of 628 Indian prisoners in Pakistan including 51 civilians and 577 fishermen.

Meanwhile, the Indian government also shared the list of 355 Pakistani prisoners in India including 282 civilians and 73 fishermen with the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi, read the statement.

 

5.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.

Tremors were felt in Peshawar, Swat, Lower Dir, Swabi, Nowshera, Chitral, Bajaur, Malakand, Abbottabad, Mohmand and other surrounding areas.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the magnitude of the earthquake was measured 5.3 on the Richter Scale.

The epicentre was the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

People left their homes in panic for safer places but no loss of life and property was reported.

Meanwhile, Disaster Management Kashmir reported that an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 that occurred at the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border was also felt in Jammu and Kashmir at 6:45pm today, 

"An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 occurred 84-km South East of Fayzabad in Afghanistan," National Center for Seismology said.

Prevalent "bitterness” between the Opposition and the government be reduced: Fawad Ch

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry marked the beginning of the New Year (2022) by suggesting that the prevalent "bitterness” between the Opposition and the government be reduced.

In order to smoothen the relations between the government and the Opposition, the minister said: “At the beginning of 2022, I think we need to reduce the bitterness. The government and the Opposition should talk about elections, politics, economic situation, and judicial reforms.”

Throwing shade at the scuffle that took place at the National Assembly on Thursday when two female lawmakers slapped each other, he wrote: “Pakistan is a great country. We should know our responsibilities. Ruckus in the assembly lowers the image of the politicians.”

سال 2022 نئے سال کے آغاز پر سمجھتا ہوں ہمیں تلخیاں کم کرنے کی ضرورت ہے،حکومت اور اپوزیشن الیکشن، معیشت، سیاسی اور عدالتی اصلاحات کیلئےگفتگو کریں پاکستان ایک عظیم ملک ہے ہمیں اپنی ذمہ داریوں کے احساس کی ضرورت ہے پارلیمان میں فساد عام آدمی کی نظر میں سیاستدانوں کا وقار کم کرتا ہے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 1, 2022

Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb took to Twitter and shared her views about the New Year and a swipe at the PTI-led government.

She wrote: “InshaAllah, 2022 will bring good days and happiness for the masses. The country will get rid of the PTI regime and the year will be of constitutional supremacy and law."

She further said that the country will get rid of the high inflation, deteriorating economy, and unemployment brought by the government.

Aurangzeb went on to say that basic necessities like sugar, wheat, petrol, and medicines will have a price reduction in 2022 and that the country will be free of the promised "tabdeeli” 

انشاءاللہ ۲۰۲۲ پاکستان اور عوام کے لئے دوبارہ سے خوشحالی اور ، ’اچھے دنوں کا سال ہوگا
٢٠٢٢ پاکستان میں انشاءاللہ ووٹ چوروں سے نجات اور آئین اور قانون کی بالادستی کا سال ہوگا
2018 سے جو تباہی تبدیلی کے نام پہ ملک پر مسلط ہے، 2022 اس سے نجات کا سال ہوگا

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) January 1, 2022

COVID-19 positive person travelled from Dubai to Karachi via Emirates Airline

A COVID-19 positive person travelled from Dubai to Karachi via Emirates Airline.

According to the sources, the passenger was allowed to travel even after being tested COVID positive.

The passenger had tested positive for the virus at Dubai airport as well as Karachi airport. However, the passenger is now taken to a hospital for isolation, sources said.

Sindh Department of Health has forwarded the report to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).