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Virus mutations unlikely to mean stronger strain

PARIS: The coronavirus’ constant mutation is unlikely to have changes its potency or its contagiousness, disease experts say, despite recent research suggesting the emergence of a more virulent strain. A pre-paper — that is, not reviewed by a collection of the researchers’ peers...




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US pulling Patriot missile batteries from Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON: The US is pulling out four of its powerful Patriot missile systems from Saudi Arabia, after determining the threat from Iran that sparked an arms buildup in the region last year had waned, a Defense Department official said Thursday. Two of the anti-missile batteries deployed following...




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US to remove Patriots, other military assets from Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON: The US is pulling out four of its powerful Patriot missile systems from Saudi Arabia, after determining the threat from Iran that sparked an arms buildup in the region last year had waned, a Defence Department official said late on Thursday.Two of the anti-missile batteries deployed...




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Virus mutations unlikely to mean stronger strain, say experts

PARIS: The coronavirus’ constant mutation is unlikely to have changed its potency or its contagiousness, disease experts say, despite recent research suggesting the emergence of a more virulent strain.A pre-paper—that is, not reviewed by a collection of the researchers’...




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U.S. prevents Security Council vote on pandemic resolution

The United States prevented a vote Friday in the UN Security Council on a resolution on the coronavirus pandemic, apparently because it made implicit mention of the World Health Organization, diplomats said.




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Life-threatening extreme heat set to trap millions indoors by 2060

Extreme heat and humidity are increasing across the globe, threatening millions of lives and economies in places where it could become fatal to work outdoors, scientists said Friday.




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If precautions not followed, lockdown will have to be reimposed: Shibli

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Friday said people's cooperation is vital for the success of lifting the restrictions of lockdown. In a tweet, he said Standard Operating Procedures for various businesses will have to be implemented strictly. He said...




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Cholistan land probe: NAB sends questionnaires to Shahbaz, Sanaullah, Baligh

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau Multan has sent a questionnaire to Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and President PML-N Shahbaz Sharif, ex-minister of state Balighur Rehman, former MNA Chaudhry Umair Mehmood and former law minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah Khan in the matter...




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Senior PM Office member approaches Ombudsman against D-12 plot allotments to a selected few

ISLAMABAD: A senior member of the Prime Minister’s Office has approached the Federal Ombudsman over the ‘extreme injustice’ of out of turn allotment of second residential plots in the federal capital to a selected few in the bureaucracy in a non-transparent and unjust manner.The...




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Covid-19 challenges: Imran stresses out-of-box solutions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said out-of-box solutions were needed to meet the present day economic challenges in the wake of COVID-19 situation.He was chairing a meeting to review the economic situation and future outlook of economy in the wake of COVID-19 situation. A detailed...




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Drugs import from India: Shahbaz demands probe into scandal of billions

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N President and National Assembly opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif has demanded an in-depth investigation into the medicine scandal through a parliamentary committee.“Coming on the heels of sugar, wheat and IPPs scandals, the latest drug scandal indicates how...




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Abnormal increase in asymptomatic cases, local infection

ISLAMABAD: Eight out of 10 coronavirus patients didn’t have symptoms but found positive only after they were tested, countrywide data obtained by The News has determined.Similarly, local transmission of pandemic has considerably increased as around nine in 10 patients have contracted virus...




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India escalating tension at LoC

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday said it had summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register a strong protest over the Indian ceasefire violations along the Line of Control .The statement by the FO said that in the unprovoked Indian firing across the LoC in Nezapir and Rakchikri sectors, six...




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If precautions not followed, lockdown will have to be reimposed, says Shibli

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Friday said people's cooperation is vital for the success of lifting the restrictions of lockdown.In a tweet, he said Standard Operating Procedures for various businesses will have to be implemented strictly.He said that...




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Senior PM Office member approaches Ombudsman against D-12 plot allotments to a selected few

ISLAMABAD: A senior member of the Prime Minister’s Office has approached the Federal Ombudsman over the ‘extreme injustice’ of out of turn allotment of second residential plots in the federal capital to a selected few in the bureaucracy in a non-transparent and unjust manner.The...




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US jobless rate spikes to 14.7pc, highest since Great Depression

ISLAMABAD: The US unemployment rate hit 14.7 percent in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The figures are stark evidence of the damage the coronavirus has done to a now-shattered economy.The losses, reported by...




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Taliban chief's properties seized for auction

KARACHI: Afghan Taliban chief Mulla Akhtar Mansour’s five properties of over Rs32 million in Karachi have been seized by the anti-terrorism court for auction, sources said on Thursday.Mulla Mansour, who was killed in a drone strike along the Pakistan-Iran border on May 21, 2016, had...




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COVID-19 challenges: Imran stresses out-of-box solutions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said out-of-box solutions were needed to meet the present day economic challenges in the wake of COVID-19 situation.He was chairing a meeting to review the economic situation and future outlook of economy in the wake of COVID-19 situation.A detailed...




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Cholistan land probe: NAB sends questionnaires to Shahbaz, Sana, Baligh

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau Multan has sent a questionnaire to Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and President PML-N Shahbaz Sharif, ex-minister of state Balighur Rehman, former MNA Chaudhry Umair Mehmood and former law minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah Khan in the matter...




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Drugs import from India: Shahbaz demands probe into billion-rupee scandal

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N President and National Assembly opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif has demanded an in-depth investigation into the medicine scandal through a parliamentary committee.“Coming on the heels of sugar, wheat and IPPs scandals, the latest drug scandal indicates how...




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Abnormal increase in asymptomatic cases, local infection

ISLAMABAD: Eight out of 10 coronavirus patients didn’t have symptoms but found positive only after they were tested, countrywide data obtained by The News has determined. Similarly, local transmission of pandemic has considerably increased as around nine in 10 patients have contracted virus...




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Delhi upping border tension: Indian CFVs cross 1,000 in 2020

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday said it had summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register a strong protest over the Indian ceasefire violations along the Line of Control .The statement by the FO said that in the unprovoked Indian firing across the LoC in Nezapir and Rakchikri sectors, six...




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If precautions not followed, lockdown will have to be reimposed, says Shibli Faraz

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Friday said people's cooperation is vital for the success of lifting the restrictions of lockdown.In a tweet, he said Standard Operating Procedures for various businesses will have to be implemented strictly.He said that...




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Senior PM Office member approaches Ombudsman against D-12 plot allotments to a selected few

ISLAMABAD: A senior member of the Prime Minister’s Office has approached the Federal Ombudsman over the ‘extreme injustice’ of out of turn allotment of second residential plots in the federal capital to a selected few in the bureaucracy in a non-transparent and unjust manner. The...




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Drugs import from India: Shahbaz Sharif demands probe into billion-rupee scandal

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N President and National Assembly opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif has demanded an in-depth investigation into the medicine scandal through a parliamentary committee. Sugar, wheat and IPPs scandals, the latest drug scandal indicates how powerful mafias within the...




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Deteriorating media environment: Protests for Mir Shakil's release continue throughout country

RAWALPINDI: The countrywide protests by the Geo-Jang Group workers against the deteriorating media environment, disrupting circulation of dailies Jang and The News and incarcerating Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman on fabricated charges continued on Friday.The countrywide protests by the...




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COVID-19 challenges: PM Imran Khan stresses out-of-box solutions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said out-of-box solutions were needed to meet the present day economic challenges in the wake of COVID-19 situation.He was chairing a meeting to review the economic situation and future outlook of economy in the wake of COVID-19 situation.A detailed...




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EU's highest court says it 'alone' has jurisdiction over ECB

BRUSSELS: The EU’s highest court on Friday said it alone had legal authority over the European Central Bank, firmly rejecting a German Constitutional Court ruling critical of the bank’s ambitious stimulus policies.The highly unusual intervention came after the German ruling issued...




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UK nations outline different plans for lockdown changes

LONDON: The UK looks likely to operate under slightly different lockdown rules next week after announcements by the leaders of the Welsh and Scottish governments suggested deviation between nations.Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said lockdown restrictions in the country will continue for a...




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India escalating tension at LoC

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday said it had summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register a strong protest over the Indian ceasefire violations along the Line of Control .The statement by the FO said that in the unprovoked Indian firing across the LoC in Nezapir and Rakchikri sectors, six...




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Artificial intelligence, and human education, needed to advance energy efficiency -- by Yongping Zhai (翟永平), Yoonah Lee, Dan Millison

To get energy efficiency programs back on track, governments need to focus on education, incentives and improved regulations, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning.




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How do you like them apples? Central Asia gets ready to help feed the world -- by Dorothea Lazaro, Loreli de Dios

Central Asia is improving food safety measures to share with the world some of the more than 8000 plant species, as well as livestock, from the region.




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Why it matters that one of the region’s biggest trade deals is being upgraded -- by Jayant Menon, Anna Cassandra Melendez

Important changes are underway for Southeast Asia’s relationship with its biggest trading partner, the People’s Republic of China.




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In Asia, young people are key to achieving national development goals -- by Chris Morris

Skills training, civic engagement and youth forums will help young people become active players in society’s shared efforts to grow and improve.




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Data on climate change an effective weapon in fighting India’s coastal erosion -- by Rajesh Yadav

Effective and planned shoreline management would trigger activities for tourism, and support development of ocean and beach landscape, conserve biodiversity along with coastal people’s livelihood.




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Why we need to act fast on international trade laws and standards -- by Steven Beck

There’s one big element missing before we can create a truly transparent, seamless and open international trading framework.




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Pension extension: Bringing informal workers into the retirement social safety net -- by Sri Wening Handayani

Millions of Asia’s informal workers – such as vendors, day laborers, and others – are left out of national pension systems. Here’s what we can do to help them in their later years.




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Promoting skilled labor mobility and migration in Southeast Asia -- by Aiko Kikkawa Takenaka, Eric Suan

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are working together to encourage the free flow of skilled labor within their countries. 




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Taking the quantum leap in international development -- by Arun Ramamurthy

Quantum computing could change the face of many international development programs, including those involving transport, financial services and health care.




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The impact of financial innovation on monetary policy -- by Irfan A. Qureshi

Central banks have powerful tools to affect national economies but they are being challenged by innovative financial practices




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Will robots take our jobs? It’s an age-old question. -- by Jayant Menon

The discussions around the impact of artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs could result in improved skills and greater adaptations by the world’s work force.




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What is the ‘graduation approach’? -- by Palak Rawal

Countries around the world are taking an integrated approach to address the complexities of poverty. 




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At your service: trade liberalization could bring huge benefits to Southeast Asia -- by Kakali Mukhopadhyay

Making it easier for workers to move between countries is key to liberalizing the trade in services and unleashing the benefits it will produce across national and regional economies.




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Hungry for solutions -- by Akmal Siddiq, Md. Abul Basher

Despite decreases in hunger due to economic growth, millions in Asia remain malnourished and without direct action the situation could get worse.




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Finding the right balance in food production -- by Akmal Siddiq, Md. Abul Basher

The transmission channels of perishables like fruits and vegetables from producers to consumers in developing countries need a revamp to provide benefits to all involved.




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What’s the value of a project evaluation if it is not influential? -- by Véronique Salze-Lozac’h

For quality evaluations of international development projects and programs to lead to better results, they need to be influential.




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Can big data help us make better development decisions? -- by Werner E. Liepach, Guntur Sugiyarto

Data-driven decision making can be a powerful tool in the world of international development but it requires careful planning and management. 




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The proliferation of FTDs: free trade disagreements -- by Jayant Menon

Simmering trade disputes are decreasing the beneficial effects of free trade and could in the long-term damage the rules-based order upon which global commerce is based.




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Five myths about population, aging and environmental sustainability -- by Jane O'Sullivan, Francesco Ricciardi, Susann Roth

For sustainable development, universal wellbeing should be the goal, rather than endless growth. Minimizing further growth in human populations is only part of the solution, but an essential part. 




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Cracking the secret code of international development work -- by Floyd Whaley

The over-use of acronyms turns the joy of reading into a tedious process of decoding. It also muddles the message of development communications.