Pakistani healthcare startup wins $75k award at Harvard
PatientFirst.AI, a groundbreaking healthcare startup from Pakistan, has emerged victorious in a prestigious Harvard University competition, securing a $75,000 prize for its innovative electronic health record (EHR) platform. The Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge, which seeks to identify and support cutting-edge startups with the potential for global impact, recognised PatientFirst.AI's vision of revolutionising the healthcare ecosystem for developing nations. Determined to find a solution to this problem, Fiza and her brother, both engineers, began developing PatientFirst.AI. The startup's platform is designed to be easily implemented in countries with limited resources and infrastructure. The startup is actively seeking connections with investors interested in the healthcare space and raising their next funding round.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 05, 2023 20:38 UTC
Senate approves SC judgments, orders review bill amid protest
The Supreme Court (Review of Judgments of Orders) Bill, 2023 was passed by the Senate on Friday as the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vehemently protested, surrounding the chairman's dias. For live streaming 👉🏼 https://t.co/jAAEyvvggd — Senate of Pakistan (@SenatePakistan) May 5, 2023The bill gives the National Assembly (NA) the right to review judgments and orders passed by the Supreme Court (SC) in exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184 of the Constitution. It aims at facilitating and strengthening the apex court in exercise of its powers to review judgments and orders by enlarging the review jurisdiction. Importantly, the new bill will have a retrospective effect and judgments or any orders passed before the enactment of the bill can be reviewed, according to the mover of the legislation. Another clause of the bill states that an appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree, final order or sentence.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 05, 2023 20:16 UTC
9 defendants charged in a fentanyl and money laundering ring in Jefferson County
The indictment includes special findings of the grand jury regarding the amount of fentanyl attributable to various defendants as part of the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Castaneda, Flores, and Johnson are charged with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is 20 years in prison. This investigation is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation “Wildcard.” OCDETF is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice. OCDETF leverages the resources and expertise of its partners in concentrated, coordinated, long-term enterprise investigations of transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 05, 2023 16:31 UTC
TTP’s Gohar group agrees to surrender before security forces
Following the heavy loss in the operations being carried out by the Pakistan security forces, a group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has agreed to surrender. The TTP Gohar Group, known for their terror activities, agreed to surrender their weapons in front of the security agencies after suffering the heavy loss. Sources reveal that the TTP Gohar Group has been grappling with internal rifts, which have resulted in a breakdown of the group’s unity. Gohar group has accused, Shafirullah Group, of plotting murders and defamation them. Moreover, the TTP Gohar group has requested help from local clerics to facilitate their surrender.
Source:The Nation
May 05, 2023 12:01 UTC
SCBA challenges PBC’s notices in SC
The dispute between the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has reached the Supreme Court. Later, matters turned further ugly when the PBC removed the SCBA secretary and Additional Secretary Shakeel-ur-Rehman from their posts. It assigned the additional charge of the SCBA secretary to the association's Finance Secretary Hifza Bokhari. In a statement, the PBC said the SCBA secretary and additional secretary had violated the Legal Practitioner and Bar Council Act. It added that both individuals had not appeared before the PBC Executive Committee.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 05, 2023 09:56 UTC
TTP commander gunned down in police operation in DI Khan
ISLAMABAD - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police in one of the most challenging counter terrorism operations yesterday killed Iqbal alias Bali Khiara who was a most-wanted terrorist by the KP and Punjab police in different high profile terrorism cases. Sources said that terrorist Iqbal was involved in 26 terrorism incidents in Pakistan and was linked with Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Khiara faction. According to details, the KP police on a tip-off conducted a raid in DI Khan and surrounded Iqbal along with his associates near Fateh Morr. The sources said the killed terrorist was involved in several terrorist attacks, target killings and kidnapping of local people. The sources further said Iqbal was also wanted by the Multan police in five cases.
Source:The Nation
May 05, 2023 05:40 UTC
Groove to the finest
Let the drums roll as ‘VELO Sound Station’ has yet again hit the nation. What is VELO Sound Station upto with the Diva? Velo Sound Station may have made us wait, but with this promo, we can say good things come to those who wait. VELO Sound Station is around and here to stay. VELO Sound Station is surely setting the tone right.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 22:55 UTC
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FYI, Irfan and Ducky have no hard feelings for one another
YouTubers Irfan Junejo and Ducky Bhai have waved the white flags and would like for their fans and the media to do the same. Irfan held that he knew things would get messy, because of which he called Ducky at 2:00 am to discuss what had happened. Following this, a blog post alluded that Irfan had targeted Maaz and Ducky in the podcast, which the latter shared on his Twitter. I still love Irfan though. I still love Irfan tho.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 16:58 UTC
Irondale amends zoning ordinance, honors outstanding employees
By Terry Schrimscher, For the TribuneIRONDALE – The Irondale City Council gathered Tuesday night, May 2, for the first regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The Council moved quickly through the agenda with some discussion on zoning ordinances and a focus on employee excellence. Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. used his time in his report to single out five employees who were deserving of extra praise. A special exception to the zoning requirement for façades was granted to a development at 300 Ruffner Road. The property would be eligible to be grandfathered in if the Council amends the zoning further.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 16:35 UTC
Eight schoolteachers killed in ghastly attack in KP's Kurram district
Unidentified assailants on Thursday killed eight schoolteachers in Parachinar in two incidents, prompting the Kohat board to cancel the ongoing matriculation examination. According to police, unidentified persons opened fire on teachers who were on exam duty in Teri Mengal school’s staff room. In the other instance, teacher Muhammad Sharif had been killed while he was travelling on Shalozan Road. Police launched a search operation to find the attackers and rescue authorities shifted the dead bodies to Parachinar hospital. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his anguish while condemning the incident and demanded that the authorities take action against the attackers.
Source:The Nation
May 04, 2023 16:14 UTC
India allows PAF plane carrying Bilawal to Goa
Pakistani authorities had earlier requested Indian Civil Aviation for granting special permit to Pakistan for the use of PAF special Aircraft. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari now would fly from Karachi Thursday morning to Indian city Goa to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Minister Conference being held on 4th and 5th of May. Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier in the day consulted key political leaders on his visit to India and took them into confidence. He spoke to JUI-F Moulana Fazl ur Rehman on phone and took him into confidence on his visit to India. Bilawal has already consulted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his visit to India last week.
Source:The Nation
May 04, 2023 09:04 UTC
IMF wants Pakistan to hike interest rates
“Inflation has continued to rise in Egypt, Pakistan and Tunisia, with the comparison of current policy interest rates relative to natural policy rate estimates suggesting that further interest rate increases are needed to stabilise inflation,” reads the report. The IMF defines the natural policy rate as the real natural rate plus one-year-ahead inflation expectations from the World Economic Outlook databases. But the increase in the interest rates has caused a significant surge in the government’s debt servicing cost, which is now estimated at around Rs5.3 trillion as against the budgeted figure of Rs3.95 trillion. Since the start of the IMF programme in July 2019, Pakistan has doubled the policy rate. At the start of the policy talks in January this year, the IMF had demanded increasing the the interest rates by at least 6%.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 08:54 UTC
Imran asks supporters to take to streets in solidarity with CJP
Former prime minister Imran Khan speaking to his supporters in a video on May 3, 2023. SCREENGRABPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged his supporters to take to the streets on Saturday to express solidarity with Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial. According to Imran, the country is on a critical juncture with inflation and unemployment at an all-time high, and with the “mafia's grip on the nation”. Imran also accused the "mafia" of spreading propaganda against the CJP and other SC judges, calling on the nation to come out and express unity with them in upholding the rule of law. The SC was informed that members of both teams – the PTI and the PDM/alliance – deliberated and held a dialogue with full sincerity over three days.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 07:52 UTC
The Kerala Story: Indian propaganda film targets Muslims
After The Kashmir Files, another Bollywood propaganda film has been making headlines across the border. Helmed by Sudipto Sen, The Kerala Story couldn't be farther from the truth, several Indian media outlets and politicians said. The film has also been slammed by the state govt, critics, Indian media and many social media users. Kerala govt and Indian politicians call out the filmCongress MP Shashi Tharoor has already expressed his disapproval of Sen's Kerala Story. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the movie is to further India's ruling party's propaganda [against Muslims].
Source:The Express Tribune
May 03, 2023 12:15 UTC
Inflation jumps to 59-year high at 36.4%
A year ago when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government tenure ended, the annual inflation rate was 13.4%, which skyrocketed within a year. It was the highest pace of inflation since 1964 that edged closer to the record ever inflation rate of 37.8%. The inflation rate remained elevated in rural areas where it was recorded at 40.7% - already crossing the historical barrier of 37.8%. There was a huge increase in the food inflation rate, mostly because of disruption of supply chains and weak checks. The food inflation rose steeply to 52.2% in rural areas and 46.8% in cities last month, the PBS data showed.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 03, 2023 10:54 UTC