Coronavirus updates, April 28: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world

Nationwide death toll jumps to 327 after Punjab tally hits 100, confirmed cases cross 14,700; over 3 million infected globally

Web Desk

Updated Tuesday Apr 28 2020

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 14,787 on Tuesday after new infections were confirmed in the country.

The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 11:27pm, April 28, is as follows:

Total confirmed cases: 14,787

• Sindh: 5,291

• Punjab: 5,827

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 2.160

• Balochistan: 853

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 261

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 330

• AJK: 65

Deaths: 327

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 114

• Sindh: 92

• Balochistan: 14

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3

• Punjab: 100

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 4

Officials have recorded more than 3 million cases and 210,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.

Read on for the latest updates from Pakistan and around the world.

Disclaimer: There may be some discrepancy in the number of confirmed cases reported at the country level due to differences in figures quoted by federal and provincial authorities.

Geo News is constantly gathering fresh information from concerned authorities and striving to keep our readers up to date with the most accurate information available.

Orange: General updates coming in from Pakistan

Red: Reports on new cases in Pakistan

Maroon: Reports on new deaths in Pakistan

Green: Reports on recovered patients in Pakistan

END OF LIVE UPDATES FOR APRIL 28

Live updates for April 27 to continue here.

11:40pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Third batch of medical, food supplies arrive from UAE

The prime minister's aide on human resource development, Zulfi Bukhari, has confirmed the arrival of a 14-metric tonne consignment containing food and medical supplies from UAE.

"Thank you for caring about our COVID frontline heroes! I pray this people to people relationship between our two countries prospers and flourishes," wrote Bukhari, in a message of gratitude to UAE.

11:27pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab reports five more deaths, taking tally to 100

The Punjab disaster management authority has reported five more deaths, taking the grim total to 100 in the province.

Also, 97 new cases were reported since 2pm today, taking the total number of infections in the province to 5,827.

11:16pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Coronavirus advisory group says 'no scientific evidence' that walkthrough disinfection tunnels should be installed

10:45pm — Gilgit, Gilgit Baltistan — Region reports rise in cases by 10

According to an update by the Gilgit-Baltistan health department, 10 new cases have surfaced in the last 24 hours, taking the region's total number of infections to 330.

Of these, 224 have recovered, 103 are under treatment and three have died.

10:39pm — London, UK — British foreign office says 19,000 stranded Britons now back home

10:34pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Senate chairman tests negative for COVID-19

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has tested negative for COVID-19, a spokesperson has said.

According to the spokesperson, Sanjrani had met PML-N Senator Mirza Afridi, who tested positive for the disease a day earlier.

09:42pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Graphs show Sindh in lead for testing per million people

08:45pm — Karachi, Pakistan — 'We may have gone overboard with the lockdown': Imran Ismail

Sindh governor Imran Ismail, while stressing on the need for easing restrictions, said: "We may have gone overboard with the lockdown."

He said Pakistan's economic conditions are not such that would withstand a strict lockdown.

Ismail noted that Ramadan "is a shopping season" and that a lot of people who are in fact struggling to make ends meet, but might not want to make it apparent "will not want to accept donations".

"We also have to bear in mind their difficulties."

08:40pm — Karachi, Pakistan — 'Have no symptoms of the virus': Imran Ismail

Sindh governor Imran Ismail, in a programme on PTV, has said that he had started to experience symptoms of COVID-19 two to three days ago but currently has no symptoms of the disease.

He said that all his staff and family members have been tested and none had tested positive.

08:22pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — WHO lauds Pakistan for continued immunisation efforts

7:52pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Cabinet approves package for COVID-19 related healthcare workers

The federal cabinet approved an assistance package for COVID-19 pandemic related healthcare workers, APP reported.

Any healthcare worker, who dies while performing duties related to COVID-19 shall be entitled to the same package as is applicable to a government servants in cases of security-related deaths contained in the Shuhadaa Package. It will be applicable in the domain of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

7:45pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Nearly 12,000 Pakistanis repatriated: FM Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the government had repatriated nearly 12,000 Pakistanis and that 63,000 more had registered with the ministry to be brought back.

"In the third phase we are attempting to bring back 7,000 Pakistanis," FM Qureshi said, in a meeting with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari and SAPM on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Moeed Yusuf,

FM Qureshi said that with the support of the provinces, the Centre was able to repatriate more Pakistani citizens stranded abroad.

7:35pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — WHO commends country's efforts made to continue immunisation services in context of COVID-19

6:51pm — Paris, France — PM Says time to ease virus lockdown

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Monday that a lockdown imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic had saved 62,000 lives in a month, but that keeping the restrictions in place would mean risking economic collapse, Reuters reported.

Speaking in parliament, he said it was time to explain to the country how the lockdown would gradually be eased. French citizens will have to learn to live with the virus and to protect themselves, he said.

6:43pm — Peshawar, KP — Ten more deaths in province with 176 new cases

6:18 — London, UK — Country on track to become one of Europe's worst hit in COVID-19 pandemic

Britain is on track to become one of Europe’s worst-hit countries in the coronavirus pandemic, according to data that showed deaths from COVID-19 had already topped 20,000 by April 17, including a fast-rising toll in care homes, Reuters reported.

The Office for National Statistics said the death toll involving COVID-19 in England and Wales was 52% higher than the daily figures for deaths in hospitals released by the government as of April 17, according to official data that include deaths in the community.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 21,284 people overall had died as of April 17 with mentions of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on their death certificates.

That was some 52% higher than the 13,917 people who died in hospitals, as published by the government on April 18.

That takes the United Kingdom’s total death toll as of April 17 beyond those reported by France - which also includes deaths in care homes - and Spain, according to Reuters calculations, though lower than Italy’s total toll.

A trebling of deaths in care homes in England and Wales within the space of a few weeks contributed to a far higher toll.

The ONS said that overall 7,316 people had died in care homes overall during the 16th week of 2020, almost treble the number reported in the 13th week.

According to figures released by the health ministry on Monday, 21,092 people had died in hospitals across the United Kingdom after testing positive for COVID-19.

6:12pm — Images of workers defying COVID-19 pandemic worldwide

6:06pm — 376 healthcare workers sickened with COVID-19 in Pakistan: report

Nearly 400 healthcare workers have contracted coronavirus in Pakistan, and five have died, states a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The daily situation report, generated by the WHO on Monday, with information gathered from the ministry of national health services, records 376 healthcare professionals who have been sickened with the novel coronavirus to date. The majority, 181 are doctors and 55 are nurses.

The report also notes that five medics have died in Pakistan since the outbreak of the deadly virus in February.

Providing a further breakdown, it records that 132 healthcare providers have been hospitalized, while 152 are isolated at home and 87 have recovered.

5:56pm — Washington, US — Accidental disinfectant poisoning rises in children amid pandemic

5:50pm — Edinburgh, Scotland — Sturgeon recommends wearing face masks in enclosed public spaces

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged people to start wearing a face mask if they are in enclosed places such as public transport and shops, diverging for now from the official advice from London, Reuters reported.

Sturgeon said that while the evidence was limited, wearing face coverings could help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus by those people who are not yet showing symptoms.

“We are recommending that you do wear a cloth face covering if you are in an enclosed space with others where social distancing is difficult, for example public transport or in a shop,” Sturgeon told her daily briefing.

“Let me emphasise the key point here which is that you should not really be in situations very often like that right now, if you are complying with the stay-at-home rules.”

5:46pm — London, UK — Country mot ready to change social distancing measures: PM Johnson's spokesman

Britain is not yet at the point of wanting to change its strict guidelines on social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19, with the government focusing on reviewing the measures by May 7, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said, Reuters reported.

“It is important that they remain in place for now. We need to pass five tests before we can think about moving on to the next phase in the coronavirus response. We are not there yet,” the spokesman told reporters.

“What we need to be focused on is everybody following the social distancing rules and ensuring that we have got the spread of this virus fully under control.”

5:32pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh bans congregations and processions during Ramadan

The Sindh government announced that no religious gathering would take place during the month of Ramadan, including, "Majalis and processions during Youm-e-Ali, Mefil-e-Shabeenas."

5:20pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — US Embassy's American centre donates 3D printed face shields to health workers

5:05pm - Shah Mahmood writes to OIC foreign ministers regarding coronavirus campaign against Muslims in India

4:50pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Govt utilising all resources to bring back standed Pakistanis: Shah Mahmood

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says government is utilising all possible resources to bring back stranded Pakistanis to home in phased manner, reported Radio Pakistan.

Qureshi passed the remarks during a surprise visit to the Emergency Crisis Management Unit at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

The minister said the government is fully aware of the pains and difficulties of overseas Pakistanis, who wish to return to their home country.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Qureshi was briefed that so far 11,529 stranded Pakistanis have been brought back, while 62,709 registered citizens are waiting for their repatriation from abroad.

4:30pm - Washington, US — US records 1,303 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours Johns Hopkins

The United States recorded 1,303 more novel coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, according to figures reported late Monday by the Johns Hopkins University, with confirmed US cases nearing one million.

The country now has an overall death toll of 56,144, with 987,022 infections, according to a tally by the Baltimore-based institution at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Tuesday).

At least 111,109 people have recovered from the virus.

The 24-hour toll on Monday was in line with Sunday's, but a sharp drop on Saturday's figure of 2,494. More states began lifting coronavirus lockdown orders on Monday but officials said New York — America's economic engine and coronavirus epicenter — was in no hurry with hospitalization rates still high.

4:25pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP police says 7,352 cases registered for lockdown violations in one month

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have registered cases against 7,352 people for violating the lockdown in a month, Inspector General of Police Sanaullah Abbasi told Geo News.

The IG shared that action was taken against 13,978 people and most cases were from Peshawar. He added that social distancing was being followed in the mosques.

4:10pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Cabinet approves package for daily wage earners

The federal cabinet approved the two packages passed by the Economic Coordination Committee for the daily wage earners, reported Radio Pakistan.

The meeting chaired by PM Imran approved the relief package worth Rs75 billion to provide financial assistance to labourers and daily wagers, who lost their jobs due to coronavirus pandemic.

3:55pm - Geneva, Switzerland — WHO stepping up shipments but warns on disruption of vaccine, food supplies

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday that it is stepping up shipments of diagnostic tests and protective equipment, with a new focus on Latin America where COVID-19 is spreading.

Paul Molinaro, chief of WHO operations support and logistics, said that global vaccine shipments were disrupted in April and if it continued into May there will be gaps in immunisations as well as disruption in some food supply chains.

“We saw the international air transport system on which we are quite dependent for movement of cargo gradually shut down. So we are at the point now where we need to look for solutions to this,” Molinaro told a UN virtual news briefing in Geneva. It was “always willing to take more offers” of commercial aircraft.

3:40pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP health dept report shows 92 health professional have tested positive for virus

A report issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department shows that 92 medical staff in the province have tested positive for the virus.

According to the report, 42 doctors, 13 nurses and 37 medical staff have been tested positive for the virus. It added that 20 health officials have recovered from the virus.

President of provincial doctors association Amir Taj said that positive cases are rising in the province, adding that the government is not issuing protective equipment to them.

3:30pm - London, UK — UK on track to become one of Europe's worst hit in COVID-19 pandemic

Britain is on track to become one of Europe’s worst-hit countries in the coronavirus pandemic, according to data on Tuesday that showed deaths from COVID-19 had already topped 20,000 by April 17, including a fast-rising toll in care homes.

That was some 52% higher than the 13,917 people who died in hospitals, as published by the government on April 18.

3:20pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — President Alvi finds one mosque violating govt measures

3:15pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Flights carrying stranded Pakistanis lands in Karachi

Civil aviation officials announced Pakistani stranded in Dubai and Sri Lanka have arrived at the Karachi airport.

According to the CAA officials, 27 passengers arrived from Sri Lanka, while 250 passengers arrived from Dubai to Pakistan. They added that the screening process of the passengers is underway and they will be quarantined after that.

3:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan – Nationwide tally of confirmed cases rise to 14,504

Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 14,504 after new cases were detected in Punjab.

According to spokesperson of Punjab Primary and Secondary Health Care Deparmtnent, 204 cases have been recorded in the province today, taking the provincial tally to 5,730.

2:50pm - Tokyo, Japan — Next year's Olympics will be cancelled if pandemic not over: Games chief

The postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics will have to be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn't brought under control by next year, the organising committee's president warned, ruling out further delays.

The comments, in an interview with a Japanese sports daily published on Tuesday, come as medical experts doubted whether the pandemic can be sufficiently contained by next year to hold an event drawing participants and spectators from around the world.

The pandemic has already forced a year-long delay of the Games, which are now scheduled to open on July 23, 2021.

But Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori was categorical when asked by the Nikkan Sports daily whether the Games could be delayed until 2022 if the pandemic remains a threat next year, replying: "No."

"In that case, it's cancelled," Mori said.

2:30pm - London, United Kingdom — COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales 35% higher than early stats showed: ONS

LONDON (Reuters) - The death toll involving COVID-19 in England and Wales was 35% higher than the daily figures for deaths in hospitals released by the government as of April 17, according to official data that include deaths in the community.

That was some 35% higher than the 13,917 people who died in hospitals, as published by the government on April 18.

That takes the United Kingdom’s total death toll beyond those reported by France and Spain as of April 17, according to Reuters calculations, though lower than Italy’s total toll.

A trebling of deaths in care homes in England and Wales within the space of a few weeks contributed to a far higher toll.

The ONS said that overall 7,316 people had died in care homes overall during the 16th week of 2020, almost treble the number reported in the 13th week.

2:20pm - Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia reports 415 new coronavirus cases, eight deaths

Indonesia confirmed on Tuesday 415 new coronavirus infections, taking the total in the Southeast Asian country to 9,511.

Health ministry official Achmad Yurianto also reported eight new deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 773. He said 1,254 people have recovered.

2:20pm - Madrid, Spain — Spain's daily coronavirus death toll falls to 301

Spain recorded 301 fatalities from the novel coronavirus overnight, down from 331 on the previous day, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

The overall death toll from the virus rose to 23,822 while the number of diagnosed cases rose to 210,773 from 209,465 on Monday, the ministry said.

2:20pm - Prague, Czech Republic — Czechs report six-week low in daily rise of new coronavirus cases

The Czech Republic has reported its lowest daily rise in new coronavirus cases in more than six weeks as it eases out of a lockdown imposed to curb the spread of infection.

The number of cases rose by 41 on Monday, bringing the total to 7,449, with 223 deaths.

The central European country with a population of 10.7 million has seen far fewer cases than its western European neighbours after taking quick action to close schools and most shops and require face masks in public.

The daily increase in new cases has been below 100 since April 22 while businesses have put pressure on the government to lift some of its lockdown measures in place since mid-March.

Consequently the government has sped up its phased re-opening, even though some health experts have cautioned against moving too quickly.

2:15pm - Multan, Pakistan — YDA president warns of a shortage of doctors in Nishtar Hospital

President of Young Doctors Association Dr Masood Haraj said that there is a shortage of medical staff in Multan's Nishtar Hospital, adding that there has been a spike in cases in the city due to the easing of the lockdown.

Dr Masood, in a press conference, urged the people to stay in their homes to stop the spread of the virus. He also asked the government to pace up the process of recruiting doctors and paramedical staff in the province.

Dr Masood warned that new employees were not recruited than it would be difficult to carry out duties in the isolation ward.

2:05pm - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysia reports 31 new coronavirus cases and one death

Malaysian health authorities on Tuesday reported 31 new coronavirus cases, raising the cumulative total to 5,851.

The health ministry also reported one new death, bringing total fatalities to 100.

2:05pm - Washington, USA — US coronavirus deaths projected at over 74,000 by August

The US death toll from the coronavirus outbreak could exceed 74,000 by August, according to the University of Washington's predictive model, often cited by White House officials and state public health authorities.

Late on Monday, the university's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) model raised its projected US death toll to 74,073 by August 4, up from nearly 67,000 predicted a week ago, and 60,000 predicted two weeks ago.

The figure is down from about a month ago, when it projected around 90,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States.

IHME director Christopher Murray said the death toll would climb if states reopen their economies too early.

Several US states have eased restrictions on businesses, and more are ready to follow.

2:00pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Tiger force to be given a test run today in Sialkot: SAPM Usman Dar

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Usman Dar has announced that a test run of the tiger force will be carried out today in Sialkot.

Dar stated that 20,000 youth have signed up for the tiger force in Sialkot. He added that they will be asked to provide their services in mosques, hospitals and other important places.

“Public representatives will lead the tiger force above their party lines,” said Dar. He added that the Sialkot authorities have sent a letter to PML-N leader Khawaja Asif to lead the tiger force as he is the MNA of the city.

1:45pm - Lahore, Pakistan — GDA claims Punjab govt hiding facts regarding testing capacity

Grand Health Alliance has alleged that the provincial government is hiding the facts regarding the testing capacity of the province.

The alliance has claimed that the provincial government has claimed that it can carry out 5,000 tests per day, but carried out 1,755 tests on April 25. The doctors suggested that the Punjab government was hiding its incompetency by decreasing the number of tests in the province.

1:35pm — Lahore, Pakistan – Death toll rises to 312

Death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 312 after Punjab reported new deaths in the province.

Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid, in a press conference, stated that four more people lost their lives due to the coronavirus in the province.

1:30pm - Moscow, Russia — Russia reports record daily rises in new cases and deaths

The number of new coronavirus cases in Russia climbed on Tuesday to 6,411, a record daily rise, bringing its nationwide tally to 93,558, the country’s coronavirus crisis response centre said.

The number of deaths rose by 72, also a daily record, taking the total number of fatalities to 867.

1:25pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP govt forms panel of senior doctors for awareness campaign

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has formed a panel of senior doctors to spread awareness regarding the coronavirus in the province.

The panel includes Dr Khalid Rehman, Professor Dr Zia ul Haq and Dr Iftikhar ud Din.

1:20pm - Colombo, Sri Lanka — Pakistan high commission successfully repatriates stranded Pakistanis

Second tranche of ADB funded supplies arrive in Islamabad

1:00pm — Karachi, Pakistan – Death toll rises to 308

Death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 308 after Sindh reported new deaths in the province.

According to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, seven more people lost their lives due to the coronavirus in the province.

1:00pm - Karachi, Pakistan – Sindh reports 335 new cases, confirmed cases rise to 14,414

Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 14,414 after new cases were detected in Sindh.

According to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, 335 cases have been recorded in the province today, taking the provincial tally to 5,291.

He added 963 people have recovered in the province so far.

12:55pm - Vienna, Austria — Austria loosens lockdown further, allowing gatherings of up to 10 people

Austria is loosening its general lockdown rules by allowing gatherings of up to 10 people, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said on Tuesday.

The rules, which include guidance that the public only leave their homes for a limited number of reasons including shopping or exercise, are due to expire on April 30. Anschober told a news conference there was no need to extend them

12:50pm - Singapore — Singapore confirms 528 new coronavirus cases

Singapore’s health ministry on Tuesday confirmed 528 more coronavirus infections, the smallest daily rise in almost two weeks, taking the city-state’s tally of cases to 14,951.

Most of the new cases are among migrant workers living in dormitories in the city-state, which has among the highest number of coronavirus infections in Asia.

12:45pm - Islamabad, Pakistan – IHC directs interior ministry to submit written response over 3G/4G services for online classes

The Islamabad High Court has directed the interior ministry to submit a written response over the availability of 3G/4G services for online classes in erstwhile FATA.

The court gave the directives while hearing a case pertaining to the availability of internet services in the region to attend online classes during the coronavirus pandemic.

The petitioner in his appeal had stated that he had lost 60 marks already this semester because he could not attend online classes.

12:35pm - Matiari, Pakistan — Minister asks Hyderabad commissioner to quarantine all who met governor Sindh during visit

Sindh Minister for Revenue Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman has asked commissioner Hyderabad to quarantine all those individuals that met Governor Sind Imran Ismail.

Zaman, in a letter, also asked the official to test all those people who attended the programme held by the governor during his visit to the district.

Five countries worst hit by coroanvirus

12:30pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran chairs cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Imran Khan is chairing a meeting of the Federal cabinet that will overview the coronavirus situation in the country, sources told Geo News.

The federal cabinet will also approve the decision made by the Economic Coordination Committee regarding the fallout due to the coronavirus crisis.

How coronavirus leads to oxygen deprivation

12:20pm — New Delhi, India — China says Indian criticism of coronavirus test kits is ‘irresponsible’

China has criticised India’s decision to stop using Chinese testing kits for the novel coronavirus because of quality issues as unfair and irresponsible in the latest strain in their ties.

The Chinese embassy said it was deeply concerned by the Indian decision and Chinese authorities had validated the equipment produced by the two firms, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics.

“It is unfair and irresponsible for certain individuals to label Chinese products as ‘faulty’ and look at issues with preemptive prejudice,” embassy spokeswoman Ji Rong said in a statement.

Global coronavirus cases over 3 million, death toll crosses 210,000

Some 3.03 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 210,263 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

12:10pm - PML-N Senator Mirza Afridi tests positive for coronavirus

12:05pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP PDMA delivers protective equipment to health dept

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Disaster Management Authority announced that it has delivered more protective equipment to the provincial health ministry.

The authority tweeted that it delivered 2,000 N-95 masks and 50,000 face masks to the provincial government. Other equipment delivered includes 21,000 protective suits, 5,000 surgical caps, 4,000 gloves, 2,000 face shields, 4,326 shoe covers, 8000 goggles, 1,500 small hand sanitizer bottles.

11:55am - Lahore, Pakistan — Test Captain Azhar Ali to auction bat and Champions Trophy winning shirt

Pakistan’s Test Team Captain Azhar Ali has announced that he will auction his Champions Trophy shirt and the bat with which he scored a triple century to raise funds for the coronavirus.

“The bat and shirt are very close to my heart,” said Ali. He added that he’s trying to ensure that the bat and shirt become useful for people in these difficult times.

The Test skipper scored a triple century against West Indies in 106 with the bat and was part of the team that won the Champions Trophy in 2017.

Arab doctor leads Israel's fight against coroanvirus

11:45am - Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran praying for speedy recovery of Governor Sindh Imran Ismail

11:30am - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab minister deplores politicking over virus by opposition

Punjab Minister for Power Akhtar Malik has expressed disappointment over the opposition playing politics over the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister urged the people to cooperate with the government to defeat the coronavirus. He added that precaution was the best strategy to deal with the crisis, adding that the aim of the lockdown is the protect the lives of the citizens.

11:10am - Islamabad, Pakistan — Hearings of important cases postponed

Hearings in Islamabad’s special courts of important cases could not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The Anti-Terrorism Court postponed the hearing of the money laundering case against MQM founder till May 29. The judge Arshad Malik video scandal case’s hearing has been suspended till May 14, while the case against former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been postponed till June 9.

11:00am - Berlin, Germany — Germany reports 1,144 new cases, 163 more deaths

The number of Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 1,144 to 156,337, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.

The death toll rose by 163 to 5,913, according to the tally.

10:50am - PPP leader questions decrease in testing capacity of provinces

UN commends health workers

10:30am - Lahore, Pakistan — Buzdar orders crackdown against hoarders

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has instructed the cabinet committee on price control to launch a crackdown against food hoarders in the province.

The CM also instructed the committee to ensure that essential food items were being sold at the right price. He added that those creating an artificial increase in price should be held accountable under the Anti-Hoarding Ordinance 2020.

Major film festivals to unite for YouTube event ‘We Are One: A Global Film Festival’

More than 20 film festivals around the world have joined together to stream movies free on YouTube after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered movie theatres and forced the cancellation of annual showcases in Cannes and New York.

The 10-day “We Are One: A Global Film Festival” will feature content curated by the Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca film festivals, among others, starting on May 29.

'Project Restart': UK government wants Premier League back 'as soon as possible'

The UK government's cabinet minister responsible for sport said he has been in talks with the Premier League to get football back on the field as quickly as possible, reported BBC.

Speaking at a parliamentary questions session, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “I have been in talks with the Premier League to get football up and run as soon as possible to support the whole football community.