Current Final

Tag: UK

  • ‘Pakistan, the friend in need’: Millions of COVID-19 drugs to be exported to US, UK, KSA, others

    ‘Pakistan, the friend in need’: Millions of COVID-19 drugs to be exported to US, UK, KSA, others

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has announced the federal cabinet’s decision to send chloroquine tablets — an anti-malarial medicine that some studies found has a strong antiviral effect on COVID-19 — to “friendly nations” to help them in their time of need.

    Addressing a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting, she said that one million chloroquine tablets will be sent to Saudi Arabia and the United States each, 500,000 to Turkey and Italy each, five million to the United Kingdom, 700,000 to Kazakhstan and 300,000 to Qatar.

    Firdous revealed that leaders of some countries had called Prime Minister Imran Khan and expressed a desire to import the tablets from Pakistan following some encouraging results in treating the coronavirus.

    “Pakistan has always been asking these countries for something or the other. So, for the sake of humanity and to improve Pakistan’s credibility and face value, this is a good chance to help them in this time of need,” she said.

    She also said that Pakistan had some 40 million tablets in stock and possessed the raw material to make even more.

  • ‘Won’t deny Nawaz met establishment officials from UK, US’

    ‘Won’t deny Nawaz met establishment officials from UK, US’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has said that he won’t deny former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with officials from establishments of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).

    The former premier had last month held a meeting with a “mystery man” at his London residence. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had brought the man for a meeting with his elder brother Nawaz. The man, who had covered his face, had held a meeting with Nawaz for around 40 minutes until he was guided out the back door of Avenfield Apartments.

    A British journalist of Pakistani origin had, however, recorded a video of the mysterious visitor who didn’t utter a word in response to any questions asked about the meeting. With the video making headlines, speculations regarding the person’s identity had run rife.

    “I won’t deny these meetings. I am not in a position to comment as I have no permission of the party for it,” Sanaullah said when asked about such reports as he spoke to journalists outside the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday.

    “Shehbaz Sharif intends to return home in March,” he further said, adding that the PML-N president would return after the cardiac surgery of ailing ex-PM and his brother Nawaz in London.

    To another question, the PML-N leader said a legal team was holding consultations for extension in bail term of Nawaz as he seeks medical treatment abroad despite jail term after conviction in a corruption case against him.

  • Sajid Javid resigns ‘on principle’ after tensions with British PM

    Sajid Javid resigns ‘on principle’ after tensions with British PM

    British Conservative Party leader of Pakistani origin, Sajid Javid, has resigned as chancellor of the exchequer as Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson carries out a post-Brexit cabinet reshuffle.

    According to BBC, Javid rejected an order to fire his team of aides, saying “no self-respecting minister” could accept such a condition.

    He had been due to deliver his first budget in four weeks’ time.

    The former home secretary was appointed chancellor by Johnson when he became PM in July.

    His resignation follows rumours of tensions between Javid and the British premier’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings. “He has turned down the job of chancellor of the Exchequer,” the report quoted a source close to Javid as saying.

    “The PM said he had to fire all his special advisers and replace them with Number 10 [10 Downing Street, the headquarters of the UK government] special advisers to make it one team. The chancellor said no self-respecting minister would accept those terms.”

    Javid has been replaced by Rishi Sunak.

    Sunka may enact a looser monetary policy, in line with Johnson’s promises to spend on infrastructure. That would allow the Bank of England to step back with monetary easing, thus supporting the pound.

  • Islamophobia heightened after Boris Johnson’s victory: report

    Islamophobia heightened after Boris Johnson’s victory: report

    Following Boris Johson’s ascent to the premiership, several British Muslims have started the process of leaving the United Kingdom (UK) over fears for their ‘personal safety’, a private media outlet has reported.

    The report comes as racist taunts increased sharply in wake of Johnson’s victory and far-right activists linked with his party urged Muslims to leave the UK or face the consequences.

    Manzoor Ali, the head of a Muslim charity organisation that provide food parcels for poor people in Manchester, says he wants to leave the country because he is “insecure about the future of my children.”

    In the past, Johnson has been accused of Islamophobic and racist comments on several occasions. For example, he has compared Muslim women to “letterboxes and bank robbers” in a column for The Telegraph. In another article, he called Islam a ‘problem.’

    Moreover, fear arose after several people complained that after Johnson’s victory, they were told online to leave Britain. Those who were targeted included prominent figures from immigrant backgrounds.

  • ‘Nawaz is really sick,’ confirms Pakistan High Commission in UK

    ‘Nawaz is really sick,’ confirms Pakistan High Commission in UK

    A cardiothoracic surgeon at London’s University College Hospital, Dr David Lawrence, has confirmed that ailing former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in the United Kingdom (UK), is really sick and his health can deteriorate further.

    As per the details, Advocate Amjad Pervez, who is representing the former premier in the Al-Azizia and Chaudhary Sugar Mills references, on Friday submitted Nawaz’s medical reports to the Lahore High Court (LHC).

    According to the medical report, the ex-PM is seriously ill and suffering from various health problems, including the coronary artery disease. It added that Nawaz’s platelets were also not stable even now and a platelet count of at least 50,000 to 100,000 was required for proper treatment and recovery.

    The report by Dr Lawrence, which has also been verified by Pakistan High Commission in UK, further said that the health of the ex-premier had improved after bypass surgery; however, they were far from diagnosis and so further medical tests had to be done.

    While his deteriorating health can also lead to a stroke, Nawaz might be suffering from a serious disease such as an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in some part of the body, it added.

    Last month, the LHC, in its order regarding permission to Nawaz to go to London for treatment, had ordered the ailing former premier to continue submission of his health report to the court.

    He had earlier been granted bail in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases against him and allowed to fly to London on medical grounds for eight-weeks.

    The premier can stay out of the country for as long as his treatment continues.

  • US, UK govts issue safety travel advisory for women citizens visiting India

    US, UK govts issue safety travel advisory for women citizens visiting India

    India is fast building a reputation of being an unsafe place for women, resulting in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) governments issuing a detailed information sheet for survivours of rape and sexual assault for its citizens travelling or staying in India, Times of India reported.

    The advisory by the British government to their citizens was released on its websites, and stated that rape and sexual assault survivours should insist on a police report. It also added that the police are not bound to provide an English translation, but the survivour could get the statement read and explained in English before signing it.

    Referring to this, Kartikeya Tripathi, a lecturer from University College London (UCL), said that in an unfortunate case, if a British national is sexually assaulted in India, the advisory tells them about their rights and that it needs to be dealt with by a female police officer, which many are not aware of.

    Also, the US government’s India travel advisory, which was issued earlier in March 2019 and which places India at ‘level 2’ security, advises travellers to ‘exercise increased caution’. It also stated that Indian authorities report rape as one of the fastest-growing crimes in India, and violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations.

    The advisories have explained everything in detail, and also urge women to be aware of their rights when they are visiting India.

  • VIDEO: Firdous reluctant to name Malik Riaz in front of media while talking about £190m UK case

    VIDEO: Firdous reluctant to name Malik Riaz in front of media while talking about £190m UK case

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan refrained from naming Malik Riaz in front of the media while giving details about £190 million property settlement case in the United Kingdom (UK).

    Firdous avoided saying Malik Riaz’s name when a journalist asked her about the family who had settled with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

    The special assistant while replying to the question said, “The report contains the name of the family who made settlement”.

    The UK’s crime agency had earlier agreed to a settlement worth £190 million with the family of property tycoon Malik Riaz. The statement from the agency said, “The £190 million settlement is the result of an investigation by the NCA into Malik Riaz Hussain, a Pakistani national, whose business is one of the biggest private sector employers in Pakistan”.

    Meanwhile, the special assistant to the PM on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar has said, “The money has been transferred to the Supreme Court and we have already filed a request before the apex court that the money should be given to us [state of Pakistan]”.

    However, Mirza Akbar did not remove the ambiguity as to how the money can be transferred to the Supreme Court, if the NCA anno­unced in its official press release that it will be given to the state of Pakistan.

  • Muhammad is the most popular name in UK for third consecutive year

    Muhammad is the most popular name in UK for third consecutive year

    BabyCentre, a popular website for baby names and parenting, has released its annual list of most popular baby names in the United Kingdom and the name Muhammad has topped the list for the third consecutive year.

    Names like Marium, Fatima, Zara, Nur, Noah, Ibrahim, Ahmad, Ali, and Muhammad are all among the top 100 names of 2019. Muhammad was also the most popular name in the UK in 2014 and 2015.

    Noah take the second spot on the list while Leo is third. Oliver has failed to keep its place in the top 3 for the first time in 9 years. As per details, Muhammad entered into the list of top 100 names in 1924 and its popularity has been increasing ever since.

    On the other hand, when it comes to girls, the top three names are Olivia, Sophia, and Eva. Fatima has been ranked at 57th position and Marium at 59th place while Nur is on 45th.

    Baby-names from kids and musical movies are also included in the list with names Simba, Nala, Freddie, Brian, Mary, Elton, Bernie, Taran, Sheila, Ivy, Ally, Jaxon, Eleanor, and Penny all becoming favorites for parents.

  • Malik Riaz agrees to hand over assets worth £190m to UK crime agency

    Pakistani business tycoon, Malik Riaz has agreed to hand over cash and assets worth £190 million to National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom (UK).

    NCA in recent tweet disclosed the news about a settlement with a Pakistani businessman. The tweet said, “The NCA has agreed a £190m settlement with a family that owns large property developments in Pakistan and elsewhere after a frozen funds investigation”.

    The NCA has accepted a settlement offer in region of £190 million which includes a UK property, 1 Hyde Park Place, London, W2 2LH, valued at approximately £50 million and all of the funds in the frozen accounts.

    The agency also said that agreement had been reached with Hussain to hand over the cash and ownership of the exclusive address, which overlooks Hyde Park, adding that the assets will be given to the government of Pakistan.

    In August 2019 eight account freezing orders were secured at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in connection with funds totalling around £120 million.

    These orders followed an earlier freezing order secured in December 2018 linked to the same investigation for £20 million. All of the account freezing orders relate to money held in UK bank accounts.

  • UK events featuring Saqib Nisar, Faisal Vawda cancelled due to ‘lack of public interest’

    UK events featuring Saqib Nisar, Faisal Vawda cancelled due to ‘lack of public interest’

    At least three fundraisers in the United Kingdom (UK), planned with former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar and Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, have been cancelled owing to “lack of public interest”.

    According to The News, I am Pakistan Worldwide Movement (IAPWM) had announced the “awareness dinner galas” in Birmingham, London and Manchester to raise funds for Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams with Nisar and Vawda.

    However, the three events to be held on June 24 at Piccadilly Banquetting Suite, Birmingham; June 21 at Royal Nawab Restaurant, London; and Royal Nawab in Manchester on June 23 were cancelled due to “lack of public interest”.

    Nisar has been in London for over two weeks now and dates of the events were announced in consultations with him as well as Vawda, however, the response from the local chapter as well as the community groups led to the events being cancelled, the report said.

    “Ex-CJP Saqib Nisar made London travel plans with his family to attend the fundraising events and to watch the ICC World Cup, but upon arrival, the organisers told him that the events had been cancelled due to lack of interest from the members of the public,” The News quoted sources as saying.

    The report further said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s close aide Aneel Musarrat “didn’t show any interest in the event unlike previously when he took lead in arranging a fundraiser when Saqib Nisar was the chief justice”.

    Vawda, on the other hand, said he failed to attend the events because “he was busy with the budget session and other commitments”.