World stocks, oil rally on eying China reopening Oil prices rose to over $115 a barrel, their highest in about seven weeks. Updated 18 May, 2022 07:20am
Random testing of air travellers from Gulf states, S. Arabia begins Decision taken in wake of detection of Omicron sub-variant. Mohammad Asghar Updated 14 May, 2022 10:44am
North Korea reports first Covid-19 death as fever 'explosively spreads' About 187,800 people are being treated in isolation; the country is only one of two globally without a vaccination campaign. Reuters Published 13 May, 2022 10:51am
US crosses milestone of one million deaths from Covid “Today, we mark a tragic milestone,” President Joe Biden said and urged Americans to remain vigilant as cases tick back up. AFP Updated 13 May, 2022 08:51am
Bilawal all praise for Pakistan’s Covid-19 response The foreign minister voiced this praise at a global summit on the pandemic co-hosted by the White House. Anwar Iqbal Updated 13 May, 2022 08:43am
New Covid-19 nasal spray works exceptionally well: health expert The spray works both before a person is infected and after. The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Updated 12 May, 2022 09:36am
EU-wide mask rules to be eased next week Agency for aviation safety says masks no longer considered essential for flights and airports. AFP Updated 12 May, 2022 09:27am
Govt advises vigilance in view of new Covid variant Amid reports about NCOC's restoration, NHS clarifies that NIH body has replaced the forum and will function till pandemic ends. Ikram Junaidi Updated 11 May, 2022 08:30am
Transmission of Covid variant from mother to baby rare: KU study It suggests vaccination of pregnant women against the virus to prevent the spread of the disease to newborns. The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Updated 11 May, 2022 09:06am
WHO terms China’s Covid strategy unsustainable China has imposed draconian measures, trapping most of Shanghai's 25mn people at home for weeks as country combats worst outbreak. AFP Updated 11 May, 2022 08:14am
PM Shehbaz orders immediate restoration of NCOC after first case of Omicron sub-variant detected Prime minister has also sought a report from the NIH over the current Covid-19 situation. Dawn.com Updated 10 May, 2022 01:28pm
First case of Omicron sub-variant detected in Pakistan The sub-variant is causing an increasing number of cases in different countries, NIH says. Dawn.com | AP Published 09 May, 2022 05:06pm
Asian Games postponed as China battles Covid Olympic Council of Asia says decision was taken by "all stakeholders", new dates to be announced in the near future. AFP Published 06 May, 2022 12:55pm
Half of ‘uncounted’ Covid deaths occurred in India: WHO India says WHO report has been released “without adequately addressing India’s concerns” over “questionable” methods. Reuters Published 06 May, 2022 07:17am
Health ministry dispels varying perceptions about Covid-19 deaths Says its Covid death numbers are accurate and verified by defunct NCOC through analysis of graveyard data of major cities. The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Updated 06 May, 2022 10:32am
India releases 2020 death data ahead of WHO Covid mortality study it objects It registered about 475,000 total deaths in 2020 but some experts estimate the actual Covid death toll in India is as high as 4mn. Reuters Published 04 May, 2022 09:53am
Setback for Shanghai’s Covid battle as 58 new cases ring alarm bells Images on social media have unnerved the public at a time when hospitals and mortuaries in the city are overwhelmed. Reuters Updated 03 May, 2022 12:12pm
Shanghai fences up Covid-hit areas, fuelling fresh outcry The lockdown has forced much of the city’s 25 million people indoors. Reuters Updated 25 Apr, 2022 09:59am
Australian all-rounder Marsh in hospital with Covid The Delhi Capitals medical team is closely monitoring Marsh’s condition, team says. Reuters Updated 20 Apr, 2022 10:33am
Shanghai reports first Covid deaths since start of lockdown Authorities say deaths were three people ages 89 to 91, all of whom had underlying health issues. AFP Updated 19 Apr, 2022 09:53am
UK PM Johnson shredded law with lockdown breaches, says expert Says the prime minister has thrust Britain into a constitutional crisis. Reuters Updated 18 Apr, 2022 10:25am
UK PM Johnson, Sunak apologise after being fined over parties “Let me say immediately that I’ve paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology,” says Johnson. AFP Updated 13 Apr, 2022 10:15am
Daily Covid cases fall below 100 first time in two years The number of critical patients has dropped to 273 and not a single death has been reported for the last eight days. Ikram Junaidi Updated 11 Apr, 2022 08:51am
US warns of ‘arbitrary’ Covid measures in China Says it will let some staff leave its Shanghai consulate amid a surge of infections in the locked-down megacity. AFP Updated 10 Apr, 2022 09:52am
Saudi Arabia to allow 1m Haj pilgrims Pilgrims must be under age 65 and fully vaccinated against coronavirus. AFP Updated 10 Apr, 2022 09:08am
Health emergency extended in KP again to deal with Covid-19 threat DG Dr Shaheen says cases are on decline but pandemic is not over. Ashfaq Yusufzai Updated 08 Apr, 2022 09:57am
West Indies series could be played in 'normal conditions' without bio-secure bubble: Ramiz Raja Information from medical board shows that things can be a bit "relaxed [now] since the virus isn't that bad anymore", he says. Mir Shabbar Ali Published 06 Apr, 2022 08:28pm
Shanghai defends move to keep Covid-hit children away from parents Under China’s unbending virus controls, anyone found positive must be isolated from non-infected people. AFP Updated 05 Apr, 2022 09:38am
WTO hails Pakistan’s economic performance during pandemic Members praise timely adoption of proactive measures by govt. The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Updated 03 Apr, 2022 09:46am
US lifting pandemic expulsion policy Advocacy group says Title 42 expulsions had led to nearly 10,000 reports of kidnap, torture, rape and other violent attacks. AFP Updated 02 Apr, 2022 09:48am
PCAA issues new guidelines for international, domestic passengers Only fully vaccinated passengers aged 12 years and above will be allowed to undertake international air travel to Pakistan. Mohammad Asghar Updated 02 Apr, 2022 08:57am
Curtain falls on NCOC as nation looks beyond Covid The National Institute of Health Centre for Disease Control will now deal with Covid-related matters. Ikram Junaidi Updated 01 Apr, 2022 08:41am
UK police to issue 20 initial ‘Partygate’ fines PM Boris Johnson not among those hit in first wave of sanctions; opposition politicians reiterate calls for his resignation. AFP Updated 30 Mar, 2022 08:01am
More Covid cases in Australia squad in Pakistan, team strength down to 13 Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis tested positive on Monday, while spinner Ashton Agar failed his test today. Reuters Published 29 Mar, 2022 01:23pm
Pandemic pushes 90m in Asia-Pacific into extreme poverty: report Over 150m and 170m live on less than $3.20 and $5.50 a day, respectively, due to the pandemic’s adverse impacts on livelihoods. Amin Ahmed Updated 29 Mar, 2022 09:28am
Pakistan dealt well with Covid: UN According to a UN report, the cost of vaccinating 40pc of the population was 13.95pc of the country’s current health expenditure. Anwar Iqbal Updated 29 Mar, 2022 09:26am
‘E-Learn Punjab’ hardly worked during Covid lockdown Probe finds programme partially successful but not impactful. Imran Gabol Updated 28 Mar, 2022 09:53am
Shanghai to lock down in phases to rein in Covid-19 The metropolis of 25m has in recent days become the leading hotspot in a nationwide outbreak that began to gain pace in March. AFP Updated 28 Mar, 2022 09:44am
NCOC marks two years of its successful fight against Covid-19 Earlier this month, SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan had said that the govt had started deliberations to close the NCOC. Ikram Junaidi Updated 28 Mar, 2022 08:21am
Another day passes without single Covid death The number of critical care patients has decreased by three times in less than two months. Ikram Junaidi Updated 25 Mar, 2022 08:57am
No Covid deaths for the first time in two years Health expert says virus still has potential to spread, advises citizens to not take it lightly. Ikram Junaidi Updated 24 Mar, 2022 09:03am
China reports first Covid deaths in over a year China is maintaining a “dynamic clearance” approach that aims to cut transmission as soon as possible using stringent measures. Reuters Updated 20 Mar, 2022 07:51am
Govt lifts all Covid-related restrictions as pandemic wanes All restrictions on those not vaccinated against the coronavirus will remain, says Asad Umar. Dawn.com Updated 16 Mar, 2022 01:04pm
Millions locked down as China wrestles with worst virus outbreak in two years The lockdown and a suspension of public transport will last until March 20, authorities say. AFP Updated 14 Mar, 2022 10:46am
Govt mulls NCOC closure as cases drop The responsibility to deal with the Covid data will be given to the National Institute of Health, Centres for Disease Control. Ikram Junaidi Updated 13 Mar, 2022 10:00am
China locks down Changchun amid surge in Covid cases Daily coronavirus case count soared past the 1,000 mark this week for the first time since the pandemic’s early days in 2020. AFP Updated 12 Mar, 2022 10:09am
Covid-19 death toll nears 6m as pandemic enters 3rd year The large majority of the deaths and the severe cases are in the unvaccinated, vulnerable segment of the population. AP Updated 07 Mar, 2022 09:35am
Pakistan surpasses milestone of fully vaccinating over 100m Asad Umar says the country is "very close" to achieving vaccination of all eligible citizens. Ikram Junaidi Updated 07 Mar, 2022 09:31am
Saudi Arabia lifts most Covid restrictions Vaccinated travellers will not need to provide negative PCR or rapid test before their arrival in the kingdom or to quarantine. AFP Published 06 Mar, 2022 02:01pm
Sri Lanka ends policy on burial of Muslim Covid patients The shift came as a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva was set to discuss Sri Lanka’s treatment of religious minorities. AFP Updated 04 Mar, 2022 09:58am
70pc targeted students fully vaccinated: NHS official NHS spokesperson says 9.7 million or 86 per cent of students have already received at least one shot of the Covid-19 vaccine. Ikram Junaidi Updated 03 Mar, 2022 09:36am
Queen Elizabeth returns to work after Covid A palace statement indicates she is now well enough to hold virtual engagements. AFP Updated 02 Mar, 2022 10:12am
100pc stadium capacity allowed for Australia Test series Only fully vaccinated spectators of 12 years and above age group are allowed to attend the matches. Ikram Junaidi Updated 02 Mar, 2022 09:07am
Pakistan reports lowest daily cases in 50 days Only two cities, Swabi and Nowshera, report a positivity rate of over 10pc. Published 28 Feb, 2022 07:53am
Pakistan eases Covid-19 curbs for inbound passengers Pre-boarding negative PCR requirement has been abolished for fully vaccinated inbound travellers. The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Updated 24 Feb, 2022 08:16am
KP government to stop payment to Covid-19 vaccinators showing poor performance Health department meeting expresses concerns over the low vaccination rate and less utilisation of some vaccines nearing expiry. Ashfaq Yusufzai Updated 24 Feb, 2022 10:27am
UN investigator says North Koreans in distress, need 60m Covid vaccines Warns some of the most vulnerable populations appear at risk of starvation. Reuters Published 24 Feb, 2022 07:15am
Ban on indoor weddings, dining lifted as Sindh eases Covid curbs Only fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to attend indoor, outdoor events. Tahir Siddiqui Updated 23 Feb, 2022 09:32am
Senior PPP leader Rehman Malik passes away at 70 in Islamabad He was put on a ventilator earlier this month after his health deteriorated due to Covid-related complications. Nadir Gurmani Updated 24 Feb, 2022 09:57am
Hong Kong orders mandatory Covid-19 tests for all residents The population will be tested three times in March, says Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam. Reuters Updated 23 Feb, 2022 11:03am
Conflicting reports make number of Covid-19 tests in KP suspicious Health dept claims conducting 6,013 tests during last 24 hours while field workers put the number at 101. Ashfaq Yusufzai Updated 23 Feb, 2022 10:06am
UAE abolishes rapid PCR test requirement for Pakistanis travelling to Dubai, Sharjah: CAA The passengers will still have to submit a valid negative PCR test certificate for a test conducted within 48 hours of departure. Qazi Hassan Updated 22 Feb, 2022 06:26pm
Strike of KP Covid response teams enters third day Members say they will resume work only after dues are cleared. Ashfaq Yusufzai Updated 22 Feb, 2022 10:51am
Gilgit, Mardan, Quetta report highest positivity rate Thirty-one patients die, 1,360 test positive across the country in one day. Ikram Junaidi Updated 22 Feb, 2022 11:38am
Islamabad sees drop in Covid-19 positivity ratio Health official links the reduced number of cases to vaccination. Ikram Junaidi | Aamir Yasin Updated 21 Feb, 2022 10:37am
Covax to be approached for vaccinating under-11s Booster dose to be made mandatory in coming days. Ikram Junaidi Updated 21 Feb, 2022 10:15am
Covid rapid response teams in KP boycott duty over prolonged stipend denial Health department official promises payments from tomorrow. Ashfaq Yusufzai Updated 20 Feb, 2022 11:33am
Karachi witnesses drop in Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations Over 10,700 cases were reported in Karachi in February compared to 49,992 in January. Faiza Ilyas Updated 20 Feb, 2022 11:19am
Canadian police in bid to end siege of parliament Scores of trucks left under the increasing pressure, raising authorities hopes for an end to the three-week protest. AP Updated 20 Feb, 2022 10:42am
Canada police ready to move in to clear trucker-led protests “Illegal blockades and occupations are not peaceful protests,” says PM Trudeau. AFP Updated 18 Feb, 2022 10:30am
National Covid positivity remains under 5pc Only Muzaffarabad, Peshawar and Mardan reported a positivity rate of over 10 per cent. The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Updated 17 Feb, 2022 09:51am
Pollution causing more deaths than Covid: UN Report says pollution from pesticides, plastics and electronic waste is causing widespread human rights violations. Reuters Updated 16 Feb, 2022 10:03am
NCOC eases Covid curbs in cities with positivity rate of less than 10pc Restrictions will remain in place in six cities with a positivity rate of more than 10pc, including Karachi and Hyderabad. Naveed Siddiqui Published 15 Feb, 2022 04:23pm
Novak Djokovic 'not anti-vax' but would rather skip events than be forced into jab Says he does not want to be associated with the anti-vax movement but supports an individual's right to choose. AFP Published 15 Feb, 2022 02:36pm
Ontario does away with vaccine proof, but protests persist The busiest US-Canada border crossing opens again after police remove the last of the protesters. AP Updated 15 Feb, 2022 08:51am
Pakistan records lowest number of Covid cases since Jan 11 NCOC says over 200 million vaccine jabs have been administered. Ikram Junaidi Updated 15 Feb, 2022 08:27am
17 more fall prey to coronavirus in KP Efforts on to achieve vaccination target in high-risk districts. Ashfaq Yusufzai Updated 14 Feb, 2022 10:54am
Capital sees considerable drop in weekly Covid-19 positivity rate Health authorities hopeful to achieve target of fully vaccinating 90pc of population next month. Aamir Yasin | Ikram Junaidi Updated 14 Feb, 2022 09:24am
Paris police hold 81 over anti-vaccine convoy Police used teargas to disperse protesters in scenes reminiscent of the “yellow vest” riots of 2018-2019. AFP Updated 14 Feb, 2022 10:10am
60pc of eligible population vaccinated: NCOC Govt urged not to withdraw sales tax on syringes. Ikram Junaidi Updated 14 Feb, 2022 08:34am
Police fire tear gas, fine Paris anti-vaccine protest convoy Canada border blockade clearing peacefully as police move in. Agencies Updated 13 Feb, 2022 10:58am
Covid-19 positivity drops to 5pc So far over 29,731 people have died during the five waves of Covid-19 in Pakistan. Ikram Junaidi Published 13 Feb, 2022 08:27am
Smart lockdowns ensured protection of downtrodden people: PM Imran WHO hails Pakistan’s response to Covid-19. Amin Ahmed Updated 12 Feb, 2022 09:11am
Thousands head to Paris for protests against Covid curbs A police source says around 1,800 vehicles are closing in on the capital. AFP Updated 12 Feb, 2022 08:17am
Most Pakistanis have developed short-term immunity against Covid: expert Deadly virus claims another 47 lives across country. Ikram Junaidi Updated 11 Feb, 2022 08:58am
Only five Afghanistan hospitals still treating Covid-19 patients Healthcare system’s near-collapse deepening humanitarian crisis in the country. AP Updated 11 Feb, 2022 08:04am
Pakistan administers over 190m doses of Covid-19 vaccines National positivity ratio recorded at 8.2 per cent while nine cities register an infection rate of over 10pc. Ikram Junaidi Updated 10 Feb, 2022 10:30am
No Covid death recorded in four KP districts Officials say populous areas prone to virus due to mass movement. Ashfaq Yusufzai Updated 10 Feb, 2022 10:12am
Truckers take their protest to Canada-US border Since Sunday night, police have started slowly taking back control, seizing thousands of litres of fuel. Agencies Updated 09 Feb, 2022 08:04am
Saudi Arabia eases travel restrictions for Pakistani pilgrims Directives will apply with effect from Feb 16 to people intending to perform Umrah regardless of vaccination, immunity status. Ikram Junaidi Published 09 Feb, 2022 07:28am
9 held for issuing fake negative reports in Islamabad The negative Covid test reports were issued by two labs located in G-8 and Blue Area of the capital. Ikram Junaidi Updated 09 Feb, 2022 09:43am
France to scrap Covid test rule for vaccinated travellers from outside EU Currently, anyone coming from outside the EU, including Britain, has to show a negative test result from the previous 48 hours. AFP Published 08 Feb, 2022 06:06pm
Contractual doctors in KP threaten to boycott Covid-19 duty Positivity rate is 33pc in Kohat, 30pc in Khyber, 26pc in Malakand and 22pc in Peshawar. Bureau Report Updated 08 Feb, 2022 09:36am
Regulatory authority fixes rates for Covid-19 tests RAT for inbound passengers on arrival at airports abolished from today. Published 08 Feb, 2022 07:34am
US counts Pakistan among lowest Covid-risk countries Countries like China, Brazil, Anguilla, Kosovo, Mexico and a dozen others are among the high Covid-risk countries. Anwar Iqbal Updated 08 Feb, 2022 08:12am